In case you hadn't already read my earlier blogs on the subject, this issue of TV21 is a special one-off edition that is part of the package of goodies within the Supermarionation box set. The concept of this comic is that it's issue No.243 of TV21, dated September 13th 2069, - the issue that one imagines might have been published in 1969 had Joe 90 comic not merged into its pages. An issue of TV21 from an alternate reality if you like!
The Brains behind this brilliant idea is editor Martin Cater of Network, the company responsible for the excellent box set. Assembling a team of comic creators he has constructed a 24 page comic that perfectly echoes the TV21 of yesteryear. It's even the exact size of those early editions and carries the same story logos that were designed in the 1960s. The content though is all-new!
The strips include all the Gerry Anderson shows produced in the 1960s, so in addition to Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet plus Zero X we also have Joe 90 (who never appeared in the first series of TV21 until the relaunched merger with his own comic) and The Secret Service (which never previously appeared in TV21 at all). There's also a pitch perfect Agent 21 strip by Brian Williamson and a Zoony the Lazoon strip by myself, plus a Project Sword prose story. Graham Bleathman is also on board with a new cutaway of the Mars Space Probe.
It's good to see my old friends Mike Collins and Bambos contributing good stuff, and Antonio Barreti's Secret Service is a spot-on sixties homage, but I'm sure they'll forgive me when I say the highlight for me was the centrespread strip, - Lady Penelope by John Burns! The veteran artist is still a master of his craft and these pages look so authentically 1960s that for a moment I felt I was back in that decade. Rest assured though that this is definitely brand new material!
John Burns isn't the only veteran artist involved, as Martin Asbury has contributed a two page Captain Scarlet strip and Gerry Embleton is back at the helm of Stingray! Embleton's style may be a little looser than it was but the skill is as sharp as ever. This is good stuff!
The comic even comes with a free gift in the form of six postcards of TV21 covers for the following few issues! Sadly those issues do not actually exist, but wouldn't it be great if they did?
Lest we forget though, this issue of TV21 is only available as part of Network's Supermarionation box set and the main content of that set are the blu-ray discs with a brand new documentary, selected episodes in High Definition, and Stephen La Riviére's book Filmed in Supermarionation. For the full details see Network's website here:
http://networkonair.com/shop/2038-supermarionation-box-set-pre-buy-5027626708146.html
It's been an absolute pleasure to contribute to the history of TV21, - my favourite adventure comic of my childhood, and certainly my favourite comic of this year! For one day, the brighter, optimistic 21st Century is with us once again.
Hoping this will be redelivered tomorrow...missed it yesterday!
ReplyDeleteWith this and John Lawrence's Daleks in your posts - its '65 all over again!
ReplyDeleteYes, the only sad thing is that it's a one-off, and limited, so only 2,500 people will see it. On the positive side who could have imagined TV21 would ever be back at all?
ReplyDeleteI know it's close to blasphemy but I always enjoyed the comics more than the shows. I'd love a copy of this without all the rest of the box set.
ReplyDeleteI loved the TV shows and the strips but I know what you mean. Freed from restrictions of budget and strings the TV21 strips were far more dynamic than some of the shows.
ReplyDeleteSadly, part of the deal with ITV is that this issue of TV21 can only be sold as part as the box set. (Even if it was available on its own I think it'd cost a few quid as it wasn't cheap to produce.) I only have one copy myself unfortunately.
Hi Lew, I think the special edition of TV21 was FAB thanks for your own contribution. Only one gripe I had was that the cover was not printed on glossy paper like the original and looked rather flat as a result. But, however, it was brilliant to have issue 243!
ReplyDeleteCheers Peter
Thanks Peter. It was great to get a chance to draw Zoony for the comic. I know what you mean about the lack of glossiness, although the paper quality is very good. I think it would have perhaps been too expensive to use the old process for such a limited print run.
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