Spy magazine’s influence on my writing, my sense of humor, my career, my life cannot be understated. From that fated day I stumbled upon a 1988 issue in a Buy for Less grocery store in Oklahoma City of all places, I was hooked. Never before had a magazine been created seemingly just for me. Never mind I had spent a grand total of 10 days in New York, which served not only as the magazine’s home but the recipient of most of its well-aimed arrows – its unique mix of satire, investigative reporting and design went straight to my heart.
So why, then, did I hesitate to read SPY: THE FUNNY YEARS, a warts-and-all account of its dozen years of existence? Because the chintzy powers that be at Miramax Books ignored my two requests for a review copy? Perhaps.
But I also feared it might destroy my fond memories of the magazine, as well as just be a glorified collection of reprint material. Though full runs of other magazines – from Film Threat to Revolution – have long fell victim to either my trash can or eBay account, my near-complete collection of Spy sits proudly on its bookshelf, a home it may consider forever permanent. (Yes, I have long forgiven Spy for wanting to publish a piece I wrote for them in college, then nixing it at the last moment – rejection tantamount to having my amorous attention rebuffed by a girl.)
Whatever my worries, they were unfounded. SPY: THE FUNNY YEARS is an exceptional celebration of the fondly remembered periodical, still highly influential to this day. (Pull out any early issue of Spy and note how the design often looks like a webpage.) Not only did it revive my nostalgia, but heightened my appreciation for it. With as much insider info as in here, I dare say it’s essential reading for any true Spy fan.
Along with co-founders Kurt Andersen and E. Graydon Carter, Spy‘s longtime editor George Kalogerakis serves as ringleader on this wild, freewheeling trip of history. It’s not written in a lazy, transcribed quote-after-quote style, but like an honest-to-God Spy article would, with design just like the old days.
It’s interesting to read about how the magazine started almost accidentally and how close to death it was at numerous points in its life, despite sales that greatly exceeded expectations. It’s amazing to read how little money the staffers were paid – especially for the Big Apple – and how many of them went on to bigger and better things.
The stories behind some of Spy‘s most notorious article are here, from the “what’s in a Twinkie?” investigation and sending-celebrities-checks-for-pennies prank, to the allegation of Pres. George Bush’s infidelity and the wildly popular “Separated at Birth?” feature. Walter Monheit™ would approve. And if you get that line, you need this book. –Rod Lott
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