Thunderbirds ™ and © ITC Entertainment Group Limited 1964, 1999 and 2017
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THE COMIC COLLECTION A GERRY ANDERSON PRODUCTION TM CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR ROBIN Happy Christmas Bro. Hope this brings back some memories! Thunderbirds ™ and © ITC Entertainment Group Limited 1964, 1999 and 2017. Licensed by ITV Ventures Limited. All rights reserved. This edition is produced under license by Signature Gifts Ltd, Signature House, 23 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL. Printed and bound in the UK. GDTEST0123456789 THE COMIC COLLECTION A GERRY ANDERSON PRODUCTION TM CMYK: Black=10c10m10y100k, Yellow=100y or Pantone: Pantone Black, PantoneYellow Use outline logo on dark backgronds CONTENTS THUNDERBIRD 2 TECHNICAL DATA . P68 Artist: Graham Bleathman INTRODUCTION . P4 THE SPACE CANNON . P70 Artist: Frank Bellamy THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER . P6 THE OLYMPIC PLOT . P76 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Frank Bellamy VISITOR FROM SPACE . P18 DEVIL’S CRAG . P88 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Frank Bellamy THE ANTARCTIC MENACE . P34 THE EIFFEL TOWER DEMOLITION . P96 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Frank Bellamy BRAINS IS DEAD . P48 SPECIFICATIONS OF THUNDERBIRD 3 . P104 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Graham Bleathman THUNDERBIRD 1 TECHNICAL DATA . P64 LAUNCH SEQUENCE: THUNDERBIRD 3 . P106 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Graham Bleathman LAUNCH SEQUENCE: THUNDERBIRD 1 . P66 LAUNCH SEQUENCE: THUNDERBIRD 4 . P107 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Graham Bleathman LAUNCH SEQUENCE: THUNDERBIRD 2 . P67 SPECIFICATIONS OF THUNDERBIRD 4 . P108 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Graham Bleathman THE NUCLEAR THREAT . P110 CHAIN REACTION . P186 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Frank Bellamy HAWAIIAN LOBSTER MENACE . .P120 THE BIG BANG . P202 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: John Cooper THE TIME MACHINE . P132 THE MINI MOON . P210 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: John Cooper THE ZOO SHIP . P144 THE SECRETS OF FAB 1 . P224 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Graham Bleathman SPECIFICATIONS OF THUNDERBIRD 5 . P162 CREIGHTON-WARD STATELY HOME . P226 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Graham Bleathman THE CONSTRUCTION OF THUNDERBIRD 5 . P164 MR STEELMAN . P228 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Eric Eden THIS IS TRACY ISLAND . P165 THE ISLE OF ARRAN RIDDLE . P250 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Frank Bellamy TRACY ISLAND . P166 THE VANISHING RAY . .P268 Artist: Graham Bleathman Artist: Eric Eden CITY OF DOOM . P168 THE ENEMY SPY . P284 Artist: Frank Bellamy Artist: Frank Hampson INTRODUCTION hunderbirds blasted onto British TV on 30th September space travel and new technology were an everyday part of 1965 and the exciting adventures of International how children played. It became a multimillion-pound empire, TRescue immediately became a huge success. The with merchandise and magazines key to the business. iconic Thunderbirds vehicles and characters were must-have AP Films (Merchandising) Ltd, later renamed Century toys. But fans could also read about their thrilling 21st 21, was one of Gerry Anderson’s most successful ventures century adventures in a brand new comic featuring full which licensed a huge range of toys, games and spin-offs, colour comic strips. TV Century 21 was one of the most such as popular comic strips in TV Comic. While filming influential and best-selling British boys’ adventure comics of Thunderbirds in 1964, Gerry Anderson decided that the time the 20th century and a fantastic showcase for Thunderbirds. was right to launch the exciting adventures of International It launched the exciting adventures of International Rescue Rescue in a brand new comic featuring his other science into another spectacular dimension. fiction TV series. He found a willing publisher in City When Thunderbirds were ‘go’, Gerry Anderson had Magazine, part of the News of the World Group, and the idea already built up a successful company, originally known as AP for TV Century 21 was born. Films and later renamed Century 21 Productions, with In contrast to TV Comic, which was a traditional comic partners Arthur Provis, Reg Hill and John Read. They had strip, Gerry Anderson wanted TV Century 21 to present itself produced the hit TV series Supercar, Fireball XL5 and Stingray as a futuristic tabloid newspaper with sensational scoop using Supermarionation, an electronic control system that ‘news’ stories on the cover reporting events taking place in a made puppets more lifelike and convincing. Thunderbirds was single future world. Alan Fennell, an experienced comic strip to become Gerry Anderson’s most famous and successful writer who had also written screenplays for AP Films, was TV series. With the support of the TV mogul Lew Grade, who chosen as the Editor and Dennis Hooper as the Art Director. bought AP Films in 1962, Thunderbirds used lavish models They kept Gerry Anderson’s newspaper front cover idea, but and special effects for its thrilling 21st century adventures, decided to format the insides in a more traditional style making it the most expensive TV show ever made in Britain. based on the classic Eagle comic, which had a reputation for Thunderbirds tapped into the mood of the time when there high quality artwork and presentation. This included using was enormous excitement about the future, and rockets, the same photogravure process which gave the artwork 4 INTRODUCTION greater depth and tone. Gerry Anderson’s amazing vision of Thunderbirds with only one break through to the middle of the 21st century would be presented through news items 1969. Although Thunderbirds ceased production in 1966, the and comic strips set a hundred years in the future. comic strips featured in TV21 until its final issue in 1969. The first issue of TV Century 21 (later renamed TV21) Many of his iconic strips are featured in this collection. was published on 23rd January 1965. It focused on Fireball Frank Bellamy’s successor was John Cooper, who had XL5, Stingray and Supercar, but also featured a new strip a lively, sketchy style and illustrated strips such as The Big based on two of Thunderbirds more minor characters. Bang and The Mini Moon published in the merger title, TV21 Mr Steelman was published nine months before Lady and Joe 90. Cooper would also return to the strips in the Penelope and Parker appeared on TV in the opening episode 1990s when Fleetway published a Thunderbirds comic of Thunderbirds. It was illustrated by ex-Eagle artist Eric Eden following renewed interest in the TV series. This Comic and was an inspired move to prepare readers for the eagerly Collection includes a special selection of Thunderbirds launch awaited Thunderbirds. In the autumn of 1965, The Vanishing sequences and cross-sections of the vehicles and buildings Ray, which featured Lady Penelope’s first encounters with illustrated by Graham Bleathman for those later Fleetway Jeff Tracy, Brains and the Hood, further prepared readers Thunderbirds comics. for Thunderbirds’ long-awaited arrival. The strips are included The Thunderbirds comic strips from the 1960s and in this collection, along with the Lady Penelope comic strips, 1970s were part of the golden age of British comics. These The Isle of Arran Mystery and The Enemy Spy. iconic comic strips captured all the thrill and excitement of Thunderbirds finally blasted out of TV Century 21’s the cult TV series as International Rescue took off on their centre pages on 15th January 1966. Blazing Danger was spectacular missions. In Gerry Anderson’s words, “I was drawn by legendary comic strip artist Frank Bellamy, who tremendously proud that TV21 was such a nationwide was highly regarded for his work on the Eagle. His exciting, success and even more that it remains so highly regarded. inventive comic strips for TV Century 21 proved to be their We never imagined over 40 years ago that these tales of the star attraction. Frank Bellamy’s layouts display a mastery of 21st century would still be enjoyed in the 21st century itself!” graphic technique with their dynamic compositions and Just turn the page and begin the adventure. imaginative use of colour, tone and texture. He illustrated 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Thunderbirds are go! 5 6 THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER Part 1 - dateline 30 September 2067 Artist: Frank Bellamy THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER 7 8 THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER Part 2 - dateline 07 October 2067 Artist: Frank Bellamy THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER 9 10 THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER Part 3 - dateline 14 October 2067 Artist: Frank Bellamy THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER 11 12 THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER Part 4 - dateline 21 October 2067 Artist: Frank Bellamy THE EARTHQUAKE MAKER End of Sample 13.