Lot of spoilers in this appreciation I'm afraid, it's the only way to give an adequate impression.
Businessmen are being killed off (again) - this time by a huge avian creature. The closeups of it climbing up buildings with its claws are excellent - unfortunately they use the same ones for two different buildings, and they don't match the masonry on either. But that's the only flaw here, the Winged Avenger is made to seem very frightening.
The trail leads Steed to the bickering writer/artist duo behind the Winged Avenger comic. The identity of the Avenger becomes clear, and as Steed is driven to the location where Mrs Peel's gone to follow up some misdirection, he flips through the latest Winged Avenger storyboards, which show a certain Elma Peem in dire peril. There's a brilliant dissolve between each successive board and Mrs Peel's identical situation.
When Steed arrives to save the day, he defeats the Avenger by whacking it over the head with boards bearing legends like POW!, BLAM! and SPLAT!, all to the cheeky accompaniment of the Batman TV theme. This scene is genuinely hilarious, and the closing gag features a PING! of its own.
I noticed at the start of series 4 that it took them a while to get into their stride with the new format, and similarly this seems to be the point in series 5 where they've found the right kind of story to tell with the new-style show. One of my favourite episodes so far.
Jack MacGowran as the flight-obsessed Professor is excellent, just the right blend of naivety and obsession.
Also seen: Neil 'The Maylin' Hallett. Frank Bellamy at the pen for the comic art.
Previously and also seen: Colin 'Max Quordlepleen' Jeavons back from A Touch of Brimstone.
Previously seen: A.J. Brown returning from Small Game for Big Hunters, Hilary Wontner from Silent Dust. Roy Patrick making his third appearance.
