![]() The spidery lines seen in Spectre's 'bullet-hole' octopus recall the scored appearance of the bat motif used for The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. The thicker body and straight sides of the octopus in Diamonds Are Forever mirrors the thicker body and straighter sides of the bat motif that appeared in the 1966 TV series and in comics in 1970. Thus, the octopus motif of Thunderball and You Only Live Twice has curved, enclosing sides, as does the bat motif used in Batman comics in 19. What is curious, though, is that the various designs of the SPECTRE symbol share certain traits with roughly contemporaneous Batman motifs. The Batman symbol has had a long history and has undergone many changes, far more than we have seen on the SPECTRE device. There is one other comparison worth making. It is possible that its resemblance to an octopus was coincidental, but was enough to influence the design of the symbol two films later. The exception is, of course, the first incarnation, and it is telling that in that case, the motif looks the least like an octopus, as if the designer was influenced mainly, if not solely, by the principal meaning of the word 'spectre'. It's also worth noting that the 'shoulders' of the octopus are raised, and that the head lacks eyes.Įach incarnation of the SPECTRE/octopus motif is obviously different from the last, yet each could not have existed without those that preceded it. Interestingly, the octopus only has seven tentacles. The body of this octopus is relatively thin and wide, while the tentacles are short and curve towards the centre, except the central tentacle, which is longer than the others and is straight and tapers like a dagger. SPECTRE itself adopts a more corporate-looking octopus logo, which is seen on the outside surface of a ring and on a computer screen. A similar motif was created within the film itself. Teaser posters for the film cleverly incorporated the octopus symbol within bullet-damaged glass, the tentacles and body being formed by the fissures surrounding the bullet hole. Almost to make up for it, however, Spectre (2015) contains two designs. With SPECTRE off the screen until the latest film (apart from Never Say Never Again), there have been no developments in the symbol in the intervening period (although Stromberg's Atlantis has a certain resemblance to the octopus device). Adorning the front of Blofeld's bath-o-sub, the octopus has gained a thicker body and straighter and broader outer tentacles, giving the impression perhaps of an octopus wearing a cape or shawl. In Diamonds Are Forever (1971), however, the symbol is rather different. The design is largely retained for You Only Live Twice (1967) and is seen on a ring worn by Blofeld. The facial features of the octopus are reduced to alien-like eyes. The outer tentacles curve round to enclose the others, perhaps as much to fit the circular frame of the ring as for aesthetic reasons. This time, the device is more octopus-like, presumably symbolising SPECTRE'S reach and omnipresence. The SPECTRE symbol next makes an appearance in Thunderball (1965), placed in a ring worn by SPECTRE No. The device is seen again as an intaglio on a ring worn by Blofeld. The symbol, with its four wavy tentacles and ghoulish head, is less an octopus than a jellyfish out for an evening's trick or treating. The symbol is on a paper coaster delivered with a glass of water and a summons for Kronsteen, a chess grandmaster and SPECTRE agent. The first time we see the SPECTRE symbol is at a chess match in From Russia With Love (1963). The motif has seen a number of changes over the years. The organisation's octopus-like symbol made an appearance too. The name of SPECTRE isn't the only aspect of the organisation last seen – officially, at least – in Diamonds Are Forever to have been resurrected in the latest James Bond film.
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