Spy vs Spy:

Danger! Intrigue! Stupidity!

by
Antonio Prohias

Watson-Guptill, August 2009, 192 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-8230-5052-9

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Spy / Humor
Reviewed: 3/2/2010

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Comic Page

Synopsis

Spy vs Spy: Danger! Intrigue! Stupidity! contains a collection of MAD Magazine's Spy vs Spy comics by Antonio Prohias. This book includes cartoons the were originally published in MAD's Spy vs Spy Follow-Up File in 1968 by Signet Books. The cartoons have appeared in black and white in each monthly installment of MAD Magazine since 1960 until he died in 1986. Today, the comic strip continues in MAD and is written and illustrated by Peter Kuper. This collection contains the 23 untitled stories.

"'Spy vs Spy' was the brainchild of Cuban-born political cartoonist Antonio Prohias, who fled his country after receiving death threats from Fidel Castro. Prohias settled in America, and in 1960 he began a 26-year run of Spy misadventures in MAD Magazine. This book by Prohias, long out of print, showcases his genius as an artist, storyteller, and graphic designer."

Review

Spy vs Spy: Danger! Intrigue! Stupidity! is chocked full of explosions. It is crammed with action. This book is stuffed with dynamite. There are so many things blowing up in this book that you need to count your fingers after reading it to make sure none were blown off. The book is highly unstable and liable to go off at any moment.

Spy vs Spy: Danger! Intrigue! Stupidity! contains 23 short stories about Antonio Prohias' two infamous spies that are always trying to outsmart each other.  The only problem with this is that both of the spies, although very cunning, couldn't split a brain between them. Neither are very intelligent, which is what makes this book so entertaining.

The artwork is beautiful and the stories, although short, are entertaining. Not a single word is spoken by the spies, so the reading is quick and easy.

Overall,  Spy vs Spy: Danger! Intrigue! Stupidity! is an action-packed, TNT-filled novel.  It is crammed with deception, overflowing with trickery, and just a plain ol' crazy book. Kids will love it. KABOOM!