Supercar strip guide - part two

It's fantastic! It's tremendous, it's SUPERCAR.
It flashes across the sky - it zooms through water - it speeds over land! It's the Marvel of the Age!

Story One/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 508, 09 September 1961
Mike Mercury was showing young Jimmy Gibson over the vast and beautiful Grand Canyon. As the ace pilot banked Supercar, the wonder machine of the age, he gave a shout.

The dust cloud of something at speed brings Mike to descend and investigate. The cause is the new turbo car - the Sanderson Special - on a test run. But further up the canyon road Masterspy and Zarin, disguised as patrolmen, have set up a roadblock. Screeching to a halt, the driver is forced out at gunpoint. Recognising the two spies as they drive off, Mike lands is told by the driver two previous attempts to steal the car had failed and it is due to tryfor the Cross-States speed record in three days. But Masterspy and Zarin, heading for Los Angeles, have a far more evil use for it...

Part 2: Issue 509, 16 September 1961
Dropping the driver off, Mike returns to Black Rock where Popkiss believes Masterspy has a scheme. But Beaker has already headed out, and a sand storm is blowing up. Mike goes off to help but the sand clogs the motors, and Beaker too is stuck in the desert...

Part 3: Issue 510, 23 September 1961
Mike uses a hood Beaker had designed to protect the motor intakes and sets off again using the Clearview. He finds Beaker, who was delivering his plans for the atomic submarine to the navy yard at San Diego. Mike thinks this is what Masterspy is really after so Beaker designs a signal transmitter which he wears in his hat if Masterspy tries anything. This is the case, and Beaker is abducted, but in the high speed sports car, the hat blows off...

Part 4: Issue 511, 30 September 1961
Popkiss finds Beaker's signal tracer and gets Mike to set off. He finds the tied-up courier, and hopes Masterspy is taking Beaker on a straight road. But Masterspy has driven off-road, and taken Beaker into a barn...

Part 5: Issue 512, 07 October 1961
Mike overflies the barn and Masterspy thinks they have give given him the slip. But Beaker pushes the car horn, alerting the pilot. As Supercar turns and closes in, Masterspy and Zarin are forced to abandon Beaker to make their getaway. They still have the blueprints so Beaker joins Mike and the chase is on! But it may be short lived as the car dives into a tunnel to the Grand Canyon, leaving Supercar hurtling at a rock wall...

Part 6: Issue 513, 14 October 1961
Mike manages to avoid the rock wall by going into a steep climb, and then dives back into the Grand Canyon, where Masterspy and Zarin try every manoevre to shake off Supercar but to little avail. The two spies are left to walk home as Mike returns the Sanderson Special to its rightful owners, and a successful record breaking drive.

Notes:
• A brilliant, action packed start to the colour strips. Bill Mevin's artwork matches the style of the new quirkier scripts perfectly.
• The idea of having Beaker secret a transmitter in his bowler hat would seem to originate in the episode 'Supercar Take One'.
• While artist Bill Mevin does not believe he wrote any actual scripts for the Supercar strip, the opening parts of this story are remarkably similar to one story he wrote for Sammy and his Speedsub in the third Swift annual in 1957, and it is possibly one of the ideas he discussed with writer Alan Fennell.
• Issues 509 and 510 offered readers the chance to join the Supercar Club (below left). Members would be given a Supercar Pilot's Licence in a transparent wallet and a gold-coloured metal Supercar wings badge. Each licence was numbered, and throughout the strip's three year colour run, a 'lucky number' would be printed at the bottom of the centrespread. Winners would win all four of the Pelham puppets of Mike Mercury, Dr Beaker, Professor Popkiss and Jimmy Gibson.

• In the episode 'Precious Cargo', Zizi is seen reading a Supercar comic (above right). While the main panel of the octopus would appear to be specially drawn, the second pages uses one of Bill Mevin's strips, notably part 2 of this story from issue 509, which would have gone on sale shortly before the episode was filmed.


Supercar and the Atomic Submarine! (Story Two/C)
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 514, 21 October 1961
Dr. Beaker designed a new atomic submarine for the U.S. Navy. After months of hard work the sleek craft was ready to undergo the vigorous trials necessary before being put into service.

With Mike and Popkiss watching from Supercar the submarine, with Beaker aboard, submerges. But a plane carrying Masterspy and Zarin flies into the restricted area and Mike intercepts. Masterspy opens fire, a useless gesture against Supercar's bullet-proof cockpit, and the plane ditches as it attempts to bank for an escape. Picking up the spies, Mike is unaware that is all a diversion, and someone is after the sub...

Part 2: Issue 515, 28 October 1961
Dressed in a frogman's outfit, the spy attaches a mine to the hul of the submarine. But Beaker has equipped the craft with a new contact warning system which gives the alarm. Calling Supercar, Mike and Popkiss dive under the sea to investigate. Meanwhile, Masterspy and Zarin have escaped their police guard at the quayside...

Part 3: Issue 516, 04 November 1961
The frogman sets the mine timer for 10 minutes. Unable to leave the pressurised cabin of Supercar, Mike uses the nose of the craft to prise the bomb free - just in time as it explodes. Watching from the shore, Masterspy and Zarin declare the blast to be the end for the sub...

Part 4: Issue 517, 11 November 1961
It is Supercar which takes the brunt of the explosion, and it spins out of control to the seabed. But fortunately, there is no damage to either Supercar or the sub, and when Masterspy, Zarin and the spy Carlson go to collect their payment from their 'benefactors', they find news of the sub's world cruise is still going ahead. With this failure around their necks, the spies are despatched to get more information on the sub...

Part 5: Issue 518, 18 November 1961
Supercar escorts the sub as it starts its voyage, unaware Masterspy and Zarin are following at a safe distance in a motor yacht. Masterspy has a spy aboard the sub, making detailed drawings of the machinery. Passing the equator, mike takes Supercar under the sea to cool off, and is warned by Beaker something is closing on them...



Part 6: Issue 519, 25 November 1961
It is a giant Manta Ray, more commonly known as the Devil Fish. Beaker tells Mike to cut engines and be still, in the hope the manta ignores them, which it does. Meanwhile, Masterspy is getting impatient for results and sends a fake radio message to beaker, diverting the sub to a remote island on the pretence of picking up an American weather expert. Mike takes Supercar to scout ahead but is surprised to find the island apparently deserted bar a lone habitant...

Part 7: Issue 520, 02 December 1961
The man is the victim of a shipwreck, and the natives are hiding from something they call 'the spirit of the devil'. Mike takes Jimmy in Supercar to ivestigate, but masterspy and Zarin have arrived and take Beaker and popkiss hostage, demanding to be taken aboard the sub. Meanwhile, Mike has spotted something in the sea...

Part 8: Issue 521, 09 December 1961
The 'spirit' turns out to be the giant Manta Devil Fish they saw previously, and it takes a few swipes at Supercar before Mike uses the motors on it. But this has no effect, and the Devil Fish closes in again...

Part 9: Issue 522, 16 December 1961
Supercar races out of its way and into the air as Mike has an idea and jettisons some fuel. Returning at full boost, the fuel ignites, scaring the Devil Fish away. but Masterspy and Zarin now have Beaker and Popkiss in the sub's brig, and plan to use a guided torpedo to destoy Supercar...

Part 10: Issue 523, 23 December 1961

As Masterspy prepares to fire, Mike begins to suspect something is wrong as the sub has not answered and plunges Supercar underwater to investigate. This means Masterspy has to redirect the torpedo, giving the shipwreck survivor a chance to get aboard and try and stop them. But in the brief fight, Masterspy presses the button and launches the torpedo...

Part 11: Issue 524, 30 December 1961
Mike takes Supercar back out of the sea but the guided torpedo launches after them! The survivor forces Zarin to free Beaker and Popkiss, and the two scientists try to think of a solution. But the powerful missile is gaining on Supercar with every second...



Part 12: Issue 525, 06 January 1962
Jamming the radio beam proves futile, and Popkiss and Beaker can only watch as Mike's skills as a pilot are stretched to the fullest. Diving towards a hill on the island, Supercar pulls up at the last moment, causing the missile to fly into an explode harmlessly. Back on the sub Mike thanks the survivor, and Masterspy and Zarin are left marooned on the island with supplies, to keep them out of the way - for a while at least!

Notes:
• This story follows on from the previous one, with the atomic submarine mentioned previously being built and tested.
• It is also one of the few Supercar strips to actually have a title.
• The Christmas issue, number 524, had a grand prize for six lucky licence members, who would win a Supercar LP record, A stroy book about Mike Mercury and his friends, and a Supercar adventure jig-saw puzzle..


Story Three/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 526, 13 January 1962
Off the coast of South America, Supercar is refuelling from the atomic submarine. Popkiss tells Mike a cyclone is approaching and, curious, he goes to take a look in Supercar. A boat has been caught right in the path of the storm and when it capsizes, Mike rescues a man and a girl from the sea. But now Supercar itself is caught by the powerful cyclones and spun into the air...

Part 2: Issue 527, 20 January 1962

Mike figures the best way out of the cyclone is straight up and out through the centre. Dropping the tourist and his daughter off, Supercar rejoins the atomic submarine to see of Popkiss and Beaker as it sets of under the Antarctic. Mike and Jimmy fly on to Australia to await the sub's arrive, where Jimmy buys an old boomerang as a souvenir for his brother Billy. But two oriental strangers are also interested in the boomerang, and knock Mike out and kidnap Jimmy as they return to Supercar at the airfield...

Part 3: Issue 528, 27 January 1962
The orientals bundle Jimmy into a jet aircraft and take off. recovering, Mike sets off in pursuit in Supercar but can do nothing while the plane is in flight. He calls Beaker and Popkiss on the atomic submarine, which has just completed its journey under the Antarctic, and diverts them to Hong Kong. But on arriving, Mike is held up by immigration, and finds the abductors have diplomatic priviliges...

Part 4: Issue 529, 03 February 1962
Mike speaks to the inspector of police, who tells him the diplomats are from Lu Tang, a small island in the China Sea. This is outside the inspector's jurisdiction and power but, once he has the right papers, not that of Mike Mercury! Supercar arrives at the Lu Tang embassy but the doorman is unco-operative. Walking around the outside of the building, Mike sees the two men putting a sack containing a body into a car and drive off. A short time later, at the harbour, they dump it in the sea...

Part 5: Issue 530, 10 February 1962
Mike has been following in Supercar and is close behind, and arriving he dives into the harbour and finds the sack - which contains Jimmy! Back on the quayside, Jimmy tells Mike all they were after was the boomerang, so the two travel back to the embassy to find out what is going on. But the two diplomats see Supercar arrive, and the leader declares, "By the power of the Golden Dragon of Lu Tang, he will die before the sun rises!"

Part 6: Issue 531, 17 February 1962
Mike and Jimmy dodge the gunfire and dive into the bushes. But Mike feels he has to take care of the thugs and evading the bullets once more smashes back into the embassy through a window. In a spectacular fight, Mike knocks the thugs out and finds the boomerang is hollow - a container for diamonds! But when the police arrive, it is Mike who is arrested, for assaulting members of a foreign legation...

Part 7: Issue 532, 24 February 1962
The diplomats tell the inspector they will press charges later, and Mike is led away. Watching from the bushes, Jimmy flies Supercar to the police station, where Mike shows the inspector the diamonds he found. Realising they were stolen from Lady Fortesque's collection, the inspector contacts the Lu Tang government and gets permission to arrest the rogue diplomats. Mike and Jimmy are freed, and return to the atomic submarine.

Notes:
• The atomic submarine makes a third appearance.
• Merging with TV Express in issue 527, part 2 features a large opening panel reintroducing the format and characters to new readers (see top of page).
• Issue 529 of TV Comic, dated 03 February, saw the TV Terrors seeing and flying the full-size Supercar used in the Wizard of Oz Ice Show at the Empire Pool, Wembley around Christmas 1961 (right).
• Issue 531 of TV Comic has a half-page advert offer to purchase a 12 inch plastic Supercar model, for 9'11 (Nine shillings and eleven old pence - approximately 49p). A special bonus to Supercar Club members was three packets of the Supercar sweet cigaettes, each containing a full colour card, and an album in which to collect them.


Story Four/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 533, 03 March 1962
The submarine is ready to return to the United States so Mike and Jimmy fly ahead in Supercar to meet Bill Gibson in New York. Jimmy's cousin Janet is going to holiday with the Supercar team in Nevada but when they arrive in New York they find she is sight-seeing at the Statue of Liberty. With Bill, Mike and Jimmy fly in Supercar to pick her up but as they approach, Bill points in horror...

Part 2: Issue 534, 10 March 1962
Janet is apparently hanging from the observation deck in the lantern! But closer inspection reveals it is simply her dress, and the mischeivous girl is told to retrieve it and put it back on. Bill is furious, and warns Mike to keep a close eye on her. Back at the workshop, Beaker resumes work on 'Project X', which even Popkiss doesn't know the details of. But in his laboratory, Beaker is so engrossed in his paperwork, he doesn't see Janet pull a lever on the wall, and a panel slide back to reveal a robot...

Part 3: Issue 535, 17 March 1962

The robot advances on Beaker, still engrossed in some equations and who doesn't fully realise it is free until it grabs him. Janet makes 'Rupert' - the name by which Beaker calls the robot - shake him until Mike and Popkiss arrive. Meanwhile, in a mine some miles away, a cave-in traps old prospector Fuzzy. His friend Luke rushes to Black Rock for help, and is amazed as they set off in Supercar to help. But water id flooding into the blocked mine, threatening to drown Fuzzy...

Part 4: Issue 536, 24 March 1962
Mike arrives at the mine and decides this is just the job for 'Rupert'. Beaker, Popkiss, Jimmy and Janet bring the robot by car, and power him with Supercar's batteries. But when Beaker activates it, 'Rupert' starts flinging rocks about as if out of control...

Part 5: Issue 537, 31 March 1962
Everyone dives for cover as 'Rupert' continues to hurl rocks, except Mike who tries to cut the robot's power leads. It's as if someone else has control of the robot - and this turns out to be Masterspy and Zarin, who have escaped from the desert island. They gained access to the workshop while the team were away and now, using a duplicate remote control, Masterspy plans to kill Mike by getting the robot to crush him with a boulder...

Part 6: Issue 538, 07 April 1962
It is Janet who comes to the rescue, hurling a stone at 'Rupert's head which breaks the remote control. Carrying the large boulder aloft, the robot now homes in on Masterspy and Zarin and chases them across the desert, leaving Mike to rescue Fuzzy the prospector.

Notes:
• The atomic submarine makes a fourth and final appearance at the start of this story.
• Jimmy's brother Bill Gibson makes his only appearance in the strip, serving by way to introduce mischievous cousin Janet to the team.


Story Five/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 539, 14 April 1962
Mike Mercury takes off in Supercar to test Dr. Beaker's latest attachment to the wonder machine of the age.
The new booster rockets are working fine, so Mike starts out on a series of checkpoints to test Supercar's new speed. Over the first point, the State Penitentiary, Mike sees two convicts have made a jailbreak. Stopping the test, Mike gives chase as they drive off in a car, and flies ahead to make a road block. But at a sharp turn, the booster fin attachment hits a rock, breaking off and sending Supercar out of control...

Part 2: Issue 540, 21 April 1962
Supercar crashlands further up the canyon, and a dazed Mike is forced to take cover when the convicts drive up and start shooting. From the cover of some rocks, Mike watches as they use the car to shove Supercar out of the way and escape. With one wing badly damaged, Mike decides to return to Black Rock for repairs. But on his approach, the vertical motors give out, sending Supercar on a crash course with the laboratory...

Part 3: Issue 541, 28 April 1962
Struggling with the controls, Mike is only just able to bring Supercar out of its dive. As the controls are damaged, beaker brings the craft down by remote control outside the workshop. There is a lot of damage and it will take days to repair Supercar, and Mike vows to go after the convicts when this is done. The special chemical in the paint of Supercar is traceable, and the signals bring Mike to a hotel in a nearby city, outside of which is the convict's getaway car...

Part 4: Issue 542, 05 May 1962

Mike spots the convicts through the window of their room on a high floor, but they see him and open fire. Getting Dr. Beaker to hold Supercar level by remote control, Mike smashes through the window and in a brief fight knocks the convicts out. Bundling them into Supercar, Mike returns the to the State penitentary they escaped from.

Notes:
• A brief stand-alone story, and which almost reworks some of the early instalments of the Supercar strip. Only here, the crooks are escaped convicts rather than bank robbers.


Story Six/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 543, 12 May 1962
"Supercar to Workshop. I've collected the mail... and there's a big fat envelope from Peru for you, Dr. Beaker."

The envelope is from Beaker's father, who is on another expedition to find a lost civilisation. He would like Beaker to join him so the entire team, including Jimmy, Janet and Mitch, set off in Supercar. But in Peru, Professor Beaker feels a rumble beneath his feet and sees a volcano explode to life nearby,,,

Part 2: Issue 544, 19 May 1962
Supercar is already flying overhead, and Jimmy spots a man on the side of the volcano. Beaker recognises his father but he is right in the path of the lava. Supercar lands nearby, allowing Beaker Snr to jump aboard, but the lava is almost upon them...

Part 3: Issue 545, 26 May 1962
"Emergency Boast Vertical!" cries Mike as Supercar leaps out of the way of the lava. Beaker's camp is on the edge of Lake Titicaca, and there the scientist tells them he believes the city of the lost civilisation may be under the water. The next morning, Mike takes Supercar out over the lake and uses the clearview to probe its depths. There, he sees something quite unbelieveable...

Part 4: Issue 546, 02 June 1962
Some kind of monster seems to guard the mouth of a large cave and, with Supercar returning to camp, Beaker Snr believes the city could be within. Mike takes the two Beakers in Supercar to the underwater cave but the monster seems to have gone. In a vast subterrainean cavern they find the city and investigate but unknown to them the monster has followed and pulls itself out of the water behind them...

Part 5: Issue 547, 09 June 1962
In one of the buildings, Profesor Beaker finds some sign-writing that suggests there is a temple in a valley betond the cave which contains treasure. But what at first seems like a cave-in heralds the fact the monster has caught up with them! The three men race back to Supercar and out through an exit, only to encounter a flying pterodactyl...

Part 6: Issue 548, 16 June 1962

The pterodactyl attacks Supercar, putting it into a crashdive which Mike barely pulls out of. Using its flaming motors, Supercar scares the creature off but Professor beaker spots the temple in the jungle below. Inside are fantastic sights but a trapdoor drops the three men into a treasure store - guarded by another fearful looking monster...

Part 7: Issue 549, 23 June 1962
Dr Beaker knows how to deal with the situation, as giant iguanas are quite friendly, as this is when tickled under the chin! The pots and carvings in the store represent a fantastic archeological find, and with the help of the iguana, they are able to get back out the trapdoor. Loading up Supercar, they are amazed to see a mammoth charge the temple, and start to bring the walls down...

Part 8: Issue 550, 30 June 1962

The mammoth hurtles down the side of the temple, just giving Mike and the two Beakers a chance to get back to Supercar and fly off as the raged creature recovers and hurtles a rock at them. But as they return to base they see a plane has landed nearby. The pilot is another explorer who has heard about the treasure and the lost valley, and enquires if it is difficult to find. As usual, Mike has a witty response to the situation!

Notes:
• This strip marks the reappearance of Professor Beaker, who - as Mike reminds us in part 1 - had previously lost himself in Brazil.
• Issue 547, dated 9 June 1962, carries the first appearance of a halfpage advert for the Super National chain of garages helping the Supercar Club, and asked readers to watch out for an exciting competition soon .


Story Seven/C
Writer: Alan Fennell.
Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 551, 07 July 1962
Leaving Professor Beaker and the valuable relics at a museum, Mike, beaker, Popkiss, Jimmy, Janet and Mitch return to Black Rock. But at an experimental weapon base, Masterspy and Zarin have drugged the guards and stolen a ray gun mounted on a tractor base. Beaker is also taking Mike to the base to see the weapon, powerful enough to demolish a mountain which - dear me! - it has...

Part 2: Issue 552, 14 July 1962
The explosion throws Supercar out of control but Mike manages to bring it back under control. Masterspy and Zarin, having tested the demolition ray machine, make good their escape with it in their van, leaving Mike and Beaker to ponder the machine's disappearance. But later that day, an unmanned space probe lifts off, which Masterspy plans to destroy to get the U.S, Government to listen to his demands...

Part 3: Issue 553, 21 July 1962
With a single blast, the rocket is destroyed and Masterspy is ready to make his demands. General Corby calls Black Rock to tell them of the incident, and it seems conclusive the ray gun was used. Mike spots the van he and beaker saw near the experimental base and give chase. But leaving Zarin to drive, Masterspy aims the ray gun at Supercar and fires...

Part 4: Issue 554, 28 July 1962
The shot is wide but blasts rocks from a nearby cliff which Supercar has to avoid, and they lose the van. Mike decides another course of action is necessary, and takes Beaker back to Black Rock. The scientist toils all night and, with a massive explosion which wakes everyone, arrives at a solution. The State Department in Washington calls, and the team are amazed to hear Masterspy is now threatening to destroy Niagara Falls...

Part 5: Issue 555, 04 August 1962
As Masterspy drives the demolition ray machine to a strategic point from which to destroy the Falls, a modified Supercar closes in. A chemical smoke barrier prevents Masterspy from targeting and, using the ClearView, Mike is able to grab the machine with the magnets and tip Masterspy and Zarin out into the water below.



Notes:
• In one of the final frames (above right), Bill Mevin draws Supercar without wings.


Story Eight/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 556, 11 August 1962
"Supercar Team Foils Niagara Plot - Mike Mercury in dramatic rescue"
"Quite a write-up they gave us, eh Doc?" Mike asks as they read the headlines in the Daily Tribute, but Beaker is more engrossed in the story about two geologists looking for a new type of metal in the Himalayas. State Security tells Mike the geologists are actually lost, and Supercar is the only thing fast enough to get to there swiftly. Mike, Beaker, Popkiss and Jimmy set off but at a village in the Himalayan foothills, the headman tells them no-one will act as guide because of 'the beast of the snows'. Mike and Beaker set off in Supercar alone but the headman thinks they will not come back alive...

Part 2: Issue 557, 18 August 1962
From the air, Beaker spots the camp, which appears to have been torn apart by something very powerful - and has left large animal tracks in the snow. Meanwhile, Popkiss and Jimmy have followed the headman to a hut, which has a periscopic aerial hidden in its roof. He is contacting someone to see the monster does not let Mike and Beaker return alive...



Part 3: Issue 558, 25 August 1962
Beaker believes the footprints could belong to a Yeti. Meanwhile, Popkiss and Jimmy are investigating the furtive headman, who ties them up at gunpoint! A storm is beginning to blow up in the mountains, and when Popkiss doesn't respond by radio, Mike uses the ClearView to find the shelter of a cave. Inside, they find equipment which could belong to the lost geologists but a strange creature is coming up behind them...

Part 4: Issue 559, 01 September 1962
Mike grapples with the creature but another is approaching - which Beaker knocks out with a rock. The Yetis are fakes - foreign agents who are trying to get the new metal for themselves. The geologogists are found and rescued, but the headman still has Popkiss and Jimmy and, when his agents do not respond, plans to kill them...

Part 5: Issue 560, 08 September 1962
Held at gunpoint on the edge of a sheer drop, Popkiss and Jimmy are pleased to see Supercar overhead. Mike takes the craft in fast and low and, as his friends drop for cover, knocks the headman to the ground. With the authorities informed, Mike takes the team home, but Beaker has a souvenir of the new metal to examine.

Notes:
• Mike can be seen wearing a cap with a Supercar emblem on it, similar to one he is seen wearing in adverts for the Supercar Club (left).


Story Nine/C
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.

Part 1: Issue 561, 15 September 1962
Flying back to Black Rock by way of Europe, Popkiss is amazed when they reach the French coast earlier than expected. No-one has touched Supercar's engines so it is put down to exceptional flying conditions. In the Atlantic, the trawler Suzy Belle has engine trouble so in response to their call for help, Mike drops Beaker on board to help out. But before he can even touch the engines they start up and the tanker takes off like a speedboat...

Part 2: Issue 562, 22 September 1962
The captain desperately calls down to Beaker to stop the engines but the bemused scientist isn't responsible! When the ship comes to a halt, Beaker is forced to jump ship for the safety of Supercar to escape the angry skipper. Still pondering the mysterious rock, Beaker wonders why no-one believes him. Stopping off in a little town in Nevada so Jimmy buy a present for Janet, Mike and Beaker decide to get a haircut but in the barbers the new clippers suddenly go haywire giving one bemused customer a trim he'll never forget! It seems everywhere Beaker goes, machinery accelerates...

Part 3: Issue 563, 29 September 1962
Hiya folks! Some strange things have been happening ever since Dr beaker was given a lump of special rock. Since then, every engine he goes near speeds up, causing havoc. Now we;re going to buy a present for Janet. let's hope nothing goes wrong this week!
Crazy things do continue to happen, and the 'walking doll' Mike tries to buy does a sprint out of the shop and across the desert! Supercar returns to Black Rock, where Beaker makes an astounding discovery...

Part 4: Issue 564, 06 October 1962
The hands of his clock are spinning round - and it is the new rock which is causing it! Mike decides the rock would be better off with State Security and calls on John Simpson at the town they just left. Simpson takes the rock to the research lab, noting that his car is running well because of its effects - but quite unaware that all the toys in the shop he passes have gone berserk and are running after him across the desert!



Notes:
• When Beaker jumps to Supercar after the boat accelerates, Mike asks him if he was after the Blue Riband - a reference to the award for the fastest transatlantic crossing by sea.
• The last two parts feature Mike Mercury speaking to the reader as an introductory recap of what has been happening.

TV Comic Summer Special 1962
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Bill Mevin. Colour centrespread.
Pages 24 and 25
The Supercar team were heading for Miami to spend their holidays at the famous American seaside resort when Jimmy spots a mine drifting towards the beach. Using the nets from a fishing vessel, they are able to haul out of the way of a pleasure launch, and drop it to explode harmlessly on a rocky outcrop.

Notes:
• Short and to the point, this has little dialogue but some nice dynamic views of Supercar in flight.
• This was the first TV Comic special.

Story arcs continued to predominate, though with better defined beginnings and ends to individual tales, and the first three strips form a loose trilogy about an atomic submarine. The fourth strip segues seamlessly between giving the readers a last glimpse of the sub, and an introduction to mischievous cousin Janet, with Jimmy's brother Bill Gibson making his only strip appearance into the bargain. Initially, red-haired Janet is just a comic relief trouble-maker but becomes an unofficial sixth member of the Supercar team while spending her holidays at Black Rock.



Janet's inclusion is something of a mystery because, as the returning character of Beaker's father points out in the subsequent story, Supercar is getting a little crowded! It could be speculated that this was an attempt to make the strip more appealing to girl readers, in these predominantly male-orientated adventures. And with Fireball XL5 due to appear by the end of the year and featuring the first main female character in an Anderson series, perhaps it was felt this was the way to go. As it was, Janet - while still appearing in the background - became less involved in the stories themselves and disappears without mention by the end of the year.

Continuity is also very nicely maintained within the strip, and when Professor Beaker reappears, mention is made of the first encounter with him. The same applies when Masterspy and Zarin return after being marooned on a desert island, and there's a very nice picture of Mike and the team returning to Black Rock after their protracted submarine adventures around the world - you share the joy of familiar surroundings and 'home' to the characters and strip. It is a small touch, superfluous to the plot, but it shows an intimacy with the reader lacking in the later, more action orientated strips of TV Century 21 and Look-In.

On to Part Three of this series.

The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History would like to thank:
Bill Mevin
Alastair Roxburgh
and Keith Williams
- for their help with this feature.

Version 1.1 - 01.09.05


Any comments or notes about any of the strips, please contact technodelic@blueyonder.co.uk.

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