Mike Hazard: the Marx Double Agent, is often underrated or overlooked by collectors, who favour Gilbert's popular 007 and UNCLE figures for their spy fix.
Yet arguably, Mike was one of the most imagination-inspiring toys of the 1960s.
Market leaders like GI Joe and Action Man, always arrived at the birthday party empty handed and unarmed, but sensing the danger ahead, danger man Mike rolled up in an action packed box, brimming with an explosive arsenal of gadgets, guns and gimmicks, that would've done any Mission Impossible screenwriter credit.
Mike was a master of disguise.
He could be a tinker, tailor, soldier, spy. Wearing a curious rubber mask and rather disturbing wig, he could blend in amongst the other toys seemingly unnoticed... often eavesdropping on subversive Action Men with the sonar machine pistol, sound pick-up cone, attached movie camera and headphones.
Few action figures could have equaled his imaginative inventory with over 50 pieces of equipment.
Mike didn't have a back story... but then he didn't need one.
The Cold War telly of the 60's and early 70's was smoking hot with spy stories to brainwash impressionable kids like me. Movies such as The IPCRESS File provided indoctrination for the hazardous world Mike would inhibit within the border-crossings of my espionage infatuated young mind.
He was the spectacled, working class Harry Palmer of my toy world.
To other Cold War kids he would have been Jim Phelps or Rollin Hand of the IMF... possibly John Steed, or even the evasive Number Six... always trying to escape a village patrolled by toothy, grinning, space hoppers.
A product of the 60s, Mike didn't infiltrated my toy collection until the early 70's.
He was part of a spy exchange... a troubled, hardened, hand-me-down, from an older cousin who sold him out him for a leather football.
When Mike and I teamed up, he was in good shape and still had many of the tools of his trade, including his trench coat with secret pockets, hat, specs, booby-trapped attache case, pipe gun and even a neat little stiletto blade tucked behind his tie. He was the real covert deal.
Marx, the toy company, not the revolutionary socialist, had equipped this trouble shooter for every eventuality.
Like Checkpoint Charlie, Mike has been all but forgotten and faded into Cold War obscurity.
Occasionally he does step out of the shadows and can be glimpsed on internet auction sites, reliving old tales of espionage with other bygone toys from those adventurous days.
For me, he really is the toy spy who came in from the cold. Here's to you Mike Hazard old friend!
Tony K
I thought I wasn't entirely ignorant about vintage action figures, but this is the first I've ever seen of this chap. Very nice toy and a very imaginative concept. Good to see the box and instructions too.
ReplyDeleteAnd my compliments to Tony for the superb photographs and the beautiful write-up, which really do justice to Mr Hazzard. I've learned something new this morning, thanks! :)
Best -- Paul
Hi Paul, Thank you for your very kind comments. They're very much appreciated. To be honest, it was a fun to write about a memorable childhood plastic pal... and a good excuse to open the toy cabinet and once again get involved in Mike's secret world of spymasters and sleepers :)
ReplyDeleteAlso a 'thank you' to Woodsy for posting the article on his astronomical blog. Thank you fellas :)
You're welcome Tony. We love spies at Moonbase and have covered many attache cases before and a few figures but never Mike Hazzard. Its a gorgeous collection you have. Marx really went to town on accessories for their figures and I loved all that tacky soft plastic. I had Chief Cherokee and Johnny West as a kid in the Sixties, which, along with the horses, I loved. I had a boxed Jane West for awhile which was a real draw on my toy stall at fairs in the late 90's. Another beautiful set and box. Thanks for the article Tony. Cool.
DeleteTop class page.
ReplyDeleteThought he had gone "dark" but all is now revealed.
Thanks for all this effort in saving memories for others.
Our Mike defected to another household after being abducted by agent Dad.
You never know what you had, until it's gone.
Thanks again Agent Paul,
Agent Adrian.
Hi Agent Adrian, Thank you for sharing your memories of Mike Hazard. Hopefully you may be able to replace your original missing agent via ebay. It's a good place to start a search for these old trusted friends who disappeared during childhood. Really hope you find Mike Hazard again and thank you for taking the time to post a comment. It's very much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteTHIS RECORDING WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN FIVE SECONDS... :)
Mike Hazard was Marx's response to losing out to Gilbert on a James Bond franchise---so they made their own spy range! Mike's Aston Martin DB5-clone car is truly awful though,check it out!
ReplyDelete