Fangalot Fink (aka FINK!)

Fangalot Fink (aka Fink!): The Sci-Fi SuperSpy Age

When 1976 had finally passed, 1977 had propelled us into a completely altered dimension. Science Fiction literally ruled the media and the fashion. Especially with the Jetsonesque modern furniture of the late-Seventies, and the endless TV shows which had primarily centered around some form of space travel. From 1977 until 1980, the airwaves were bombarded with such programs as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Quark (no relation to the DS9 Ferengi, sorry)--a Star Trek parody focusing on the exploits of Interplanetary Sanitation Workers in deep space. These shows ironically competed with more 'down-to-earth' shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and SuperTrain.

However, while the small screen and literature had concentrated on the sci-fi genre, the silver screen had decided (excluding Lucas' Star Wars) in resurrecting the SuperSpy craze with James Bond. Overall, kids of the mid and late-Seventies were now replacing the typical western/action heroes with Luke Skywalker and Flash Gordon.

Observing the transformation with the weathering trend, I had instantly realized I'd have to drastically re-invent the format form which Fangdini had failed acquiring with his former audience. Confidentially, if I had known then what I know now, I probably would've never pursued this concept, and settle for being a Star Trek researcher for the NCCT's Sci-Fi Department.

Notwithstanding, requiring some intricate research, I had began viewing every current sci-fi show which had been available on television (remember, this was the pre-TVR/DVD age, folks). After watching endless amounts of space operas, time travel and the usual schlock, I had realized why it had taken me awhile getting used to science fiction: the formulas always came out a bit too serious for entertainment. Admittingly, some shows did attempt injecting a little humor, but the process would always revert back into pure, hard adventure. Even though I could see nothing faulty with having adventurous tales, I had wanted something slightly more fun and entertaining for audiences to enjoy.

After all, during the Seventies' Sci-Fi, one had always felt intellectually deficient whenever one would view a hardcore program. When all you really wanted was some good, old-fashioned escapism instead. Taking these intriguing factors into account, I had conjured up a new series that was a hybrid of Quark and Get Smart. The yield product came in the form of a new character known as Fangalot Fink.

Fink! - The Illustrated Series
Fink! was the infamous series about an intergalactic, wolf-detective known as Fangalot Fink, who was known purely by his wondrous reputation for his ingenious, investigative skills. In reality, not unlike his predecessor--Maxwell Smart (Agent 86)--Fink would normally bumble into these mystifying cases, and somehow, miraculously solving them by pure luck. But unlike his human counterpart, Fink wore a trenchcoat, spoke with a Humphrey Bogart voice, and was a freelance private investigator. Strangely, it had always appeared out-of-the-ordinary most of Fink's cases centered around an infamous criminal organization known as PLUNK (to this day, I have never deciphered what the letters had originally stood for).

PLUNK had been headed by the (then) anonymous, nefarious Dr. Fangerstein, who unceasingly despised Fink's uncanny knack for dismantling his most carefully thought out schemes for dominating the Free Intergalactic Worlds. But what had definitely infuriated the fiendish Dr. F to no end, was the perplexing fact an incompetent detective like Fink, could successfully manage on ruining most of PLUNK's intricate plans.

One prime example was a case where Fink had been hired to locate a missing IntergalacPolka CD Program (Fink! had been remarkably advanced for its Time, and researching Omni magazines and watching old Jetson episodes, didn't exactly hurt either.). During his investigation, he accidentially uncovers PLUNK's latest diabolical plot: Dr. Fangerstein has developed a sinister invention, The YaYa RayCannon, and intends on using it for overthrowing the Intergalactic Leaders.

Apparently what makes this scheme works is this: whenever the YRC's beam attacks a person, its bizarre emissions renders the victim into a helpless, dance-like trance. They end up moving their bodies rhythmically up-and-down while uttering a peculiar chant: ya-ya-ya-Yo-yo-ya-ya-ya (get the picture? Hey, considering the strict guidelines at NCE, it was the best we could go for). By sheer coincidence, Fangalot unwittingly defeats Dr. F's plans by inadvertently sabotaging the weapon's programming system. Mistaking the YRC for a new CosmiDisc Player, Fink removes the Yaya/Chacha Programming Disc, and replaces it with the recently discovered I-Polka Disc.

When the YRC activates once more, Fink unintentionally causes the Intergalactic Worlds to undergo an Intergalactic Polka craze, which enigmatically spreads throughout the Universe. As always, the result ends up annoying and baffling PLUNK and Dr. Fangerstein to no end, not really certain on how Fink managed screwing up his invention in the first place.

Taking such creative episodes, one would expect Fink! to last for about two years at least. Unfortunately, Fangalot had never gotten the chance to last over three months. This time the cause wasn't poor readership, but instead a live-action Saturday Morning show being re-aired, which threatened Fangalot Fink's Toon career.

Fangalot Fink vs. Lancelot Link
One thing about the late-Seventies, the economy had taken its toll on everything. Because of this, some networks would recycle old shows from their vaults in order to save on production costs. On March 1977, NBC had temporarily re-aired episodes from Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, as a midseason replacement. And this is where the controversy had begun.

For those who used to view it on Nickelodeon, you already know the concept. If not, imagine Get Smart amalgamated with Planet of the Apes, and you'll obtain a clear image of the program. Seriously, however, even though both characters had similar names, I hadn't seen any problems, since Fink! had nothing else in common with LLSC, and nobody had seemed on caring about the dubious circumstances.

Mainly because I, myself, had never actually seen the show until 1985 (specifically because when NBC re-aired it, I was usually watching other programs, or going out with the family), most of the NCCT fans had preferred Fink! over Lancelot. And that's when the real trouble had begun.

First off, Fink!'s obligations had gotten drastically altered from its two-year committment to one month, then a transfer student, Sheila, had developed the delusion the producers of LLSC had been in cahoots with Mr. Parsons. Despite the fact LLSC had been created in 1970, six years prior to Fangalot's creation. But when you're a second grader, you don't consider the chronological nature of things, and Sheila kept on developing many conspiracy theories against LLSC and Fink!

One was the delusion the LLSC producers had sneaked in an agent, who stole my concept, then gave it to them. Whereas they simply then took the concept on a more 'down-to-earth' level and substituted live chimps for the cast. As if things weren't confusing enough, Sheila had insisted the school take legal action against LLSC for copyright infringement of my clever idea. As I had aforementioned, since (at the time) I had never witnessed a LLSC Episode, I had merely considered the whole shebang as nothing more than an inexplicable coincidence. Nevertheless, due to Sheila's constant persistance, and the possibility of getting NCE involved in a ridiculous, messy lawsuit, my teacher and I had sagely chosen to cancel the series.

Although Fink! had ended, the character was hardly forgotten. Later when I did a FANGARIUS/Tenchi Muyo crossover, Fanger admitted Kiyone was his cousin, and her father happened to be Fangalot Fink. Whereas she recalls being the one helping Fink solve his cases, which is why she has such patience with Mihoshi.

Dr. Fangerstein was eventually spun off later from the series in 1983, except here he was reanimated into a wacky, mad scientist due to technique being botched in Texsylvania. Of course, Dr. F and Edgar (his Lurchesque manservant) would make obscure references about Fink from time-to-time.

Anyway, after Fink!'s cancellation, my drawing and reporting abilities were far from over. For the remainder of the second grade, I had been appointed as NCCT's freelance cartoonist, scientific reasearcher, and proofreader. During that time I had made infinite experiments with other characters, however, none of them were quite alluring as Fangalot Fink had been. And like him and Fangdini, I had never predicte my next school year would hear another odd creation. A creation which would end up being the most unlikely component towards Fanger's on-coming existence.