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The Diabolical Masterminds...The Best of 'em!
Where would John Steed have been without the various insane masterminds who constantly sought to overthrow the British government and/or subvert the human condition to their own diabolical ends? Out of a job, of course! But, no fear! In the 1960's, the world was full of mad scientists, rampaging butlers and master spies with plots to be foiled! My favorite Avengers episodes are often based on the quality of villain that Steed & Partner faced. A villain with a flash of brilliance and more than a 'touch of evil' can make an Avengers episode, while the butter-soft clowns Steed faced in the later episodes, broke a number of them. My votes for Top Villains: 
John Cartney, A Touch of Brimstone. The Avengers attracted big-name stars, but only Peter Wyngarde as John Cartney, could steal a scene from Patrick Macnee. By the time Cartney finishes his "Hell Fire" club toast, you're almost rooting for him to win!
Dr. Armstrong, The Cybernauts. Maniacal scientist Dr. Armstrong builds cybernauts on his own after the government spurns his work. Armstong is the best of the mad scientist villains, and his cybernaut creations were carried on in the sequels Return of the Cybernauts, and The Last of the Cybernauts (from The New Avengers).
Horatio "King" Kane, Death at Bargain Prices, plans a real Blue Light Special at Pinter's Department Store. This embittered tycoon may have relegated himself to the Department of Discontinued Lines, but he exercises an iron hand in devising a plot to hold the government to ransom via an atomic bomb planted in the store's basement. The rumors of his senility are just that--rumors. Kane could strike terror in the heart of any boardroom.
 Max Pendergrast, The Joker. Peter Jeffrey's Max Pendergrast only appears in the last 10 minutes of this extraordinary episode, but his insanity pervades the entire episode.
Waldo Thyssen, Escape in Time. Waldo Thyssen, played by Peter Bowles (who in recent years has been giving Rumpole fits on Mystery) is a schizophrenic little nerd with a bad studder. Waldo can only assert himself when he takes on the guise of his more aggressive ancestors, in particular the murderous torturer Matthew Thyssen. Janet Crane, aka "Madame Guillotine" in Too Many Christmas Trees is the the most threatening of the too-few female villains in The Avengers. Her telepathic abilities give the villains the edge they need to ferret secrets from Steed's mind. Murdersville, Murdersville. Yes, the whole village of Little Storping on the Swuff! As Miss Marple said, "one sees so much evil in a village." And most of the residents of Little Storping have decided to make a (financial) killing out of... murder! Of particular note of these deadly denizens are the delightful domino-playing couple, Hubert & Mickle, who run Emma down with a helicopter and then duck her in the village pond. No wonder so many tourists stick to London... the hinterlands are not safe!Return to Index Page The Extraordinary Agents |