Marina, Girl of the Sea strip guide - part 2

Story Four
Writer: Alan Fennell.
Artist: Rab Hamilton. 1 page, colour.

Part 1: Lady Penelope Issue 48, dated 17 December 1966
Aphony convenes his general council as the king of Oceanis, an isolated underwater kingdom, has died and his heir is keen to establish contact with other marine nations. Rather than risk Oceanis ally itself to Titan, Aphony journeys with Marina to the kingdom by sea-horse drawn carriage. Travelling along through the only route through unknown and hostile looking land, the sea-horses take fright, and an arrow strikes the carriage...

Part 2: Lady Penelope Issue 49, dated 24 December 1966
Two Oceanian hunters appear, and tell them not to be afraid as the shot was in error. Aphony and Marina are welcome but the hunters cannot escort them as they have urgent work finding an escaped dog-shark which had savaged the king's counsellor. But dog-sharks are intelligent, and used by guardfish by some races, and this one evades the ambush the hunters set, turning instead on Aphony and Marina's carriage...

Part 3: Lady Penelope Issue 50, dated 31 December 1966
Stunned, Marina drifts into a deep precipice as rocks fall towards her. But the dog-shark dives after her and pulls her to safety as an amazed Aphony watches. The hunters arrive and level their bow-guns at the creature, but Marina throws herself between them...

Part 4: Lady Penelope Issue 51, dated 07 January 1967
The hunters tell Marina to step aside but she cannot believe the dog-shark is the same animal responsible for savaging the counsellor. She lunges at the hunters, giving the dog-shark the chance to escape. Angered, the lead hunter arrests them and carries on the chase, leaving the other to escort Aphony and Marina at spearpoint to the Oceanian king. But when they arrive in the throne-room, they find him to be little more than a boy...

Part 5: Lady Penelope Issue 52, dated 14 January 1967

As the king's counsellor was savaged by the dog-shark, it is up to him to decide the fate of Aphony and Marina for intervening. But the Pacifican telpathy reveals the truth - the counsellor is plotting to kill the king, and their thoughts are read by the new ruler. The dog-shark had been attempting to protect the new king and, discovered, the counsellor attempts to flee only to rounded upon by the returning dog-shark itself. Trapped he surrenders, the dog-shark is spared, and a new bond of friendship is forged between Oceanis and Pacifica - all due to Marina.

Reprinted:
TV2000 - issues 30/1967 to 34/1967

Notes:
• 'Dog-shark' is another name for dog-fish, but Rab Hamilton's depiction is more fanciful than the real appearance.


Story Five
Writer: Alan Fennell.
Artist: Rab Hamilton. 1 page, b/w.

Part 1: The New Lady Penelope issue 53, dated 21 January 1967
Titan asks Agent X20 what he knows about Oceanis, and the snivelling wretch relates what he knows. As Oceanis is said to have great wealth and many soldiers, Titan is keen on an alliance as well. Making a secret journey to a guarded cavern he confronts Staria, his imprisoned niece, and offers her freedom in return for a small errand. In Oceania itself, Aphony and Marina are being shown around by the new young king when soldiers bring forward a foreign girl found outside the city, apparently lost. Staria recognises the Pacificans, and knows if she is to be set free she must follow Titan's orders...

Part 2: The New Lady Penelope issue 54, dated 28 January 1967
Staria is made welcome
Marina tries to befriend Staria, but Aphony is troubled as he does not recognise her race yet there is something familiar about her. Given a room in the royal palace, Staria is quick to assess the kingdom could easily be taken by Titan, and swims out to his Terror Fish hidden nearby. but Marina and Aphony have seen her and followed...

Part 3: The New Lady Penelope issue 55, dated 04 February 1967
...a deadly potion!
Staria makes her report to Titan, with new orders to kill Aphony and Marina, and she returns. The Pacificans have not seen the meeting but Aphony is still troubled and decides to watch her carefully. The next day, the king shows them a school, where the children are being taught marine geography. At a break for refreshment, Staria sees her chance, and poisons the seaweed drink...

Part 4: The New Lady Penelope issue 56, dated 11 February 1967
...disaster!
At the last moment, Staria stops Aphony and Marina from drinking, and the truth is revealed. But Marina also reads her thoughts, and knows of the long years of captivity. The king vows to protect her, but Staria knows the kingdom would fall before Titan. And sure enough, Terror Fish are already approaching...

Part 5: The New Lady Penelope issue 57, dated 18 February 1967
Attack!
The king knows their armaments are old but as Titan expects Staria t have followed her orders, and Aphony and Marina to be dead, they may still have the element of surprise. Warriors warn of the approaching fleet, and the cannons open fire. Caught unaware, Titan is furious, and vows the destruction of Oceanis, and everyone within it...

Part 6: The New Lady Penelope issue 58, dated 25 February 1967
Inside A Terror Fish!
The Terror Fish fleet turns and retreats but Marina warns Titan is cunning and will be making further plans. Aphony has an idea, and swims out with Marina and Staria to one of the wrecked terror Fish. The radio equipment may give advance warning of Titan's plans as he relays orders to his fleet. But one of the Aquaphibians is still alive, and unseen it levels its weapon at them...

Part 7: The New Lady Penelope issue 59, dated 04 March 1967
Titan's Second Attack!
Marina senses the Aquaphibian's thoughts as it fires, and throws Aphony and Staria out of the way. The creature is killed by flying metal from the exploding radio equipment, and Aphony now has no way of listening in on Titan. The second attack begins but this time the Terror Fish stay out of range of the Oceanian weapons. The defences fall, and the warriors find their guns useless against the Terror Fish. But as Aphony, Marina and Staria swim back to help, they see Titan leave a Terror Fish to observe the destruction...

Part 8: The New Lady Penelope issue 60, dated 11 March 1967
Titan's Threat!
The three creep forward unseen and smash rocks over the heads of Titan and his two Aquaphibians. The Oceanians are amazed to see the Terror Fish fleet turn away, and the king thinks he knows why. With Staria holding them at gunpoint, Titan and his guards are awakened and ordered to free the girl and leave Oceanis in peace. Aphony then tells Titan to go, with the knowledge they could have killed them if they wished. Staria is left to leave freely in Oceania.

Reprinted:
TV2000 - issues 35/1967 to 42/1967

Notes:
• The change to black and white also signals a slight change in masthead, whith a different picture of Marina being used.
• The use of telepathy seems to be variable here - if Marina and Aphony could sense the treachery of the Counsellor in the previous story, and the Aquaphibian here, why could they not sense Staria's thoughts at first even though they could understand each other?


Story Six
Writer: Alan Fennell. Artist: Rab Hamilton. 1 page, b/w.

Part 1: The New Lady Penelope issue 61, dated 18 March 1967
The weed jungles of the Pacific... where primitive fish-men are fighting a battle for existence...

Killer sharks have driven them from their village to seek refuge in the natural fortress of a vast trench. Their leader, Gormog, vows they will never be driven from place to place by anyone ever again. In Pacifica, a crisis has arisen, and Aphony lies at death's door. There is a weed with healing properties, but it is only found in the Barian trench. Marina swims off to find it, but this is the new home of the fish-people, and they have fortified it...

Part 2: The New Lady Penelope issue 62, dated 25 March 1967
Marina is Accused!
Arriving at the trench, Marina finds a baby of the fish-people, but before she can act she is captured by them. Unlike the other marine races, they cannot read her thoughts, and take her silence as an admission of guilt for stealing the baby. Taken prisoner, she is to be brought before Gormog...

Part 3: Lady Penelope issue 63, dated 01 April 1967
Marina imprisoned!
Gormog cannot hear Marina either but a saviour appears in the mother of the baby. She asks for Marina to be spared, and for her to be given as a servant. Gormog refuses, and the girl is imprisoned. But at Pacifica, time is running out for Aphony, and a Captain is despatched to find Marina...

Part 4: Lady Penelope issue 64, dated 08 April 1967
...an attempt to help Marina!
Imprisoned in a cage some distance from the settlement, Marina cowers as killer sharks snap hungrily at the bars. meanwhile, the mother has decided Marina was not trying to steal her baby, and sets off to free her. But the Pacifican Captain and a soldier have found the cage, and fought off the sharks. As they try to free marina, the mother sees them and decides the leaders must be told...

Part 5: Lady Penelope issue 65, dated 15 April 1967
...Gormog's plan!
The mother warns warriors, who swim to attack Marina and the soldiers. All three are captured, and Gomrog confronts the Pacificans he now recognises. The Captain explains Aphony is ill and Marina was only searching for a cure. but now Gomrog realises they can take the leaderless Pacifica as their new home...

Part 6: Lady Penelope issue 66, dated 22 April 1967
The Plant!

Realising she has one chance, Marina slips from her captors and swims off, with guards in pursuit. In the weed jungle, she finds what she was loking for and escapes the trench. Back at Pacifica, the plants are given to the physicians, but it will take six days before Aphony is cured. But in that time, Marina is sure Gomrog will attack them...

Part 7: Lady Penelope issue 67, dated 29 April 1967
Marina's plan!
As Gomrog raises forces to attack, Marina devises a desperate plan. There is only one person who can defeat Gormog - and that is Titan. She swims to Oceanis, to be greeted by the young king and his new queen, Staria. Marina is sure Titan has spies in Oceanis, which Staria confirms, and her plan is to be imprisoned there - as a traitor to the people...

Part 8: Lady Penelope issue 68, dated 06 May 1967
Marina in jail!

First, Marina is to be disguised, and with different hair and clothes she is imprisoned in a cell next to one of Titan's agents. She tells him of Gomrog, but that he is moving to Pacifica as allies, to join forces against Titan. She is then taken away under the pretense of being interrogated, and the spy is allowed to escape by overpowering a guard. Marina, watching him depart, can only hope Titan will believe the story...

Part 9: Lady Penelope issue 69, dated 13 May 1967
The Battle!
The king is aware Marina is playing a dangerous game, and sure enough, the spy reports to Titan. A Terror Fish is launched to investigate, to find Gomrog's forces are seen nearing Pacifica, which are swiftly ambushed. A Pacifican captain reports the invasion is no more, and a recovering Aphony need never know the truth about what nearly happened.

Reprinted:
TV2000 - issues 05/1968 to 13/1968

Notes:
• Interestingly, Titan's spy resembles Surface Agent X20 but even though it is obviously not him, we are led to believe he may be of the same race.
• The order of stories was changed for the Dutch reprints in TV2000, with this story concluding the run.


The Ceremony of Neptunius (Story Seven)
Writer: Angus Allan. Artist: Colin Andrew. 1 page, b/w.

Part 1: Lady Penelope issue 70, dated 20 May 1967
An important day begins in Pacifica... everything is made ready for the ceremony of the jewel-stone of Neptunius...
Varnath, the chief of Aphony's household, busily arranges the preparations - a task not made easier by small daughter Leoni. Marina offers to look after the girl for a while, and tells her about the ceremony. At a certain time in his reign, the ruler of Pacifica officially passes the jewel - considered a talisman of good and right - to the heir. Suddenly, Marina hears the thoughts of Aphony summoning her, and she leaves Leoni for a few moments, unaware the girl has opened the casket holding the jewel...

Part 2: Lady Penelope issue 71, dated 27 May 1967
Leoni disobeys...

A guard has found the stray sea-otter Leoni has taken as a pet. but the girl has disappeared, and Marina sends someone to Varnath's home - where the girl has probably gone. The ceremony starts, and Aphony calls for the stone of Neptunius - but it has gone! Leoni has it, and with her pet sea-otter, the girl has swum outside of Pacifica...

Part 3: Lady Penelope issue 72, dated 03 June 1967
Leoni in danger!
In a low and shaking voice, Vernath tells Aphony he thinks Leoni is responsible as she was playing close to it. Marina vouches for this and, when Leoni cannot be found, she decides to look for the girl, knowing the places where she plays. But outside, a gigantic killer ray has already found the girl...

Part 4: Lady Penelope issue 73, dated 10 June 1967
Targax, the hunter!
As the ray fish swoops to attack, her playful pet 'otty' sinks his teeth into its underside and scares it off. Marina senses her thoughts, and sees the ray lurking above. but now, a man appears - Targax the hunter - who kills the ray, and wonders what prize he has in the girl and the rich jewel she has...

Part 5: Lady Penelope issue 74, dated 17 June 1967
Prisoners!
Marina intervenes, stating that Leoni is a daughter of Pacifica and she will take her home. But Targax is also a slaver, and takes both girls prisoner. He also knows the value of the stone of Neptunius. He scares Otty off, and leads the two girls away...

Part 6: Lady Penelope issue 75, dated 24 June 1967
Prisoners!
Targax takes them to his village and imprisons them in a cage. But his guards are impressed by their master's sudden rich find, and pot to have it themselves. As one steals away that night, Marina attempts to find a way out of the cage...

Part 7: Lady Penelope issue 76, dated 01 July 1967
No escape!
Pulling her arm tight around the guard's neck, Marina makes him blackout and uses his keys to free herself and Leoni. She surprises the other guard as he leaves Targax's hut with the stone, and takes it back. Leoni's cries wake the village but as the two girls swim to escape, they find themselves in a blind gulley...

Part 8: Lady Penelope issue 77, dated 08 July 1967
Targax's revenge!
Marina tells Leoni to take the stone and not stop swimming for anything, while she tries to hold the slavers at bay. But it does not take long for Targax to overpower Marina, and as punishment he plans to sell her to Titan. And the next day, a Terror Fish arrives...

Part 9: Lady Penelope issue 78, dated 15 July 1967
Marina's fare!

An aquaphibian disembarks, and tells Targax he has been instructed to pay whatever is asked. But Marina would rather die than be a slave to Titan, and strikes Targax down. Suddenly, a Pacifican guard appears from the fish and pulls her aboard. The guards had found Leoni and taken the Terror Fish as it received Targax's report. The Stone of Neptunius has proved to be the lucky talisman of legend again!

Reprinted:
TV2000 - issues 43/1967 to 51/1967

Notes:
• In tradition with most families in Gerry Anderson productions, Leoni does not have a living mother.
• The 'next week' caption for part 8 states 'Marina's fare' but this would seem to be a typo. 'Marina's fate' would be more appropriate.


Story Eight
Writer: Angus Allan. Artist: Colin Andrew. 1 page, b/w.

Part 1: Lady Penelope issue 79, dated 22 July 1967
The royal household of Pacifica prepares for an official visit by Voltis, king of a distant undersea nation, Caspia...
As Voltis approaches, Marina hopes his son, a spoilt and selfish boy called Boldar, is not with him. In the deep gorge below Narwhal Mountain, Aphony greets Voltis - but then disaster strikes! A rockfall mortally injures Voltis, and his dying words ask for Marina's hand in marriage - to Boldar...


Part 2: Lady Penelope issue 80, dated 29 July 1967
Boldar claims his bride!
Aphony has already given his word to the dying Voltis, and it looks as if Marina's fears were true, as Boldar shows no signs of respect. Aphony and Marina return to Pacifica, and see a messenger arrive from Caspia, telling King Boldar is on his way to claim his bride...

Part 3: Lady Penelope issue 81, dated 05 August 1967
Marina leaves Pacifica!
As a Caspian tradition, Boldar is to escort Marina back alone. In the submarine wilderness, bubbles rise turbulantly from holes in the ocean bed, and a volcano erupts. Marina warns to turn back but before either can act, Boldar is thrown from his sea-horse to the edge of a marine cliff. Marina could leave and be free of Boldar forever, but can she just leave him to die... ?

Part 4: Lady Penelope issue 82, dated 12 August 1967
Marina's Decision!

In the nick of time, Marina holds on to Boldar's ankle as the cliff crumbles. Calling her sea-horse Auroris, they pull him to safety. But while boldar is grateful and promises to award Marina the Order of the Oceans, the marriage will still go ahead. But nearby, a hammerhead shark has been driven to frenzy in fear of the volcano...

Part 5: Lady Penelope issue 83, dated 19 August 1967
Marina is hurt!
As the shark swoops to attack, Marina pushes Boldar clear. But when it strikes again, Boldar is too slow with his knife, and Marina is injured. Boldar now realises that although she hates him, Marina risked her life twice to save him. Carrying her to the sea-horses, he realises he must get her help quickly, or she will die...

Part 6: Lady Penelope issue 84, dated 26 August 1967
The Ceremony...

The awaiting Caspians cheer as they see their king arrive but quickly realise something is wrong. Carrying Marina into the Palace, Boldar summons the physicians. Hours later, Aphony arrives at th ceremony only to find Boldar making an announcement. He selfishly took advantage of the oath, but as Marina has proven, he is unworthy of her. Marina sees this change in him, and offers that one day, she may return of her own free will.

Reprinted:
TV2000 - issues 52/1967 to 04/1968

Notes:
• TBC


Captured by Titan! (Story Nine)
Writer: Angus Allan. Artist: Colin Andrew. 1 page, b/w.

Part 1: Lady Penelope issue 85, dated 02 September 1967
Wandering alone through her favourite part of the subaquan country outside Pacifica, Marina hears a far-off, unfamiliar sound.
Two miles away, the World Security Patrol submarine Sea Probe travels just below the ocean surface, when suddenly one of Titan's Terrorfish swoops from hiding and attacks it. The massive underwater explosion sends out a shockwave which stirs fish into panic, and throws Marina about into unconsciousness. As she recovers, the aquaphibian crew of the Terror Fish find her. Marina is taken before Titan, who is already beginning a campaign on the terrainean surface dwellers as they begin to probe his kingdom. He tells Marina to resign herself to slavery and aid in crushing them - if she does not, he will kill her within sight of her father...

Part 2: Lady Penelope issue 86, dated 09 September 1967
Stingray!
Titan shows Marina the image of another vessel of the surface beings - Stingray. A Terror Fish is standing by, and she will accompany the aquaphibian crew and relay messages by thought-wave, so they can maintain radio silence for a surprise attack. On board Stingray, Troy Tempest and Phones Sherridan detect interference but dismiss the large fish they spot. Marina attepmts a last gamble to sabotage the attack, but an aquaphibian restrains her while the other opens fire on the sub...

Part 3: Lady Penelope issue 87, dated 16 September 1967
Troy and Phones are wounded!

Crippled, Stingray sinks to the sea-bed, and an aquaphibian swims out to look for captives. Hours later, Troy and Phones regain consciousness beside Marina. Titan addresses, and condemns, them - held trial by Teufel, their great sea god. The bloated fish only looks upon friends of Titan, and if it looks away before one marine minute, they will die. With only seconds to go, Teufel flips from sight, and the two aquanauts are told they will be taken to the prison of Aquatraz to be executed...

Part 4: Lady Penelope issue 88, dated 23 September 1967
Marina's plan!
Marina pleads with Titan to spare the surface dwellers, but as punishment, he demands the girl accompany them to see how enemies are dealt with. As the Terror Fish moves off, Marina realises she must act, and frees Troy and Phones of their bonds. In a brief struggle, the aquaphibian crew are overcome, and Marina scribbles a note to tell the aquanauts who she is. She would rather go with the two men, who may help her to smash the evil rule of Titan forever.

Notes:
• An interesting conclusion to the strip, and reworking of the first episode of Stingray.
• However, in direct contrast to previous stories, it is shown that Titan can now understand Marina's thoughts.
• As Stingray was not shown on Dutch television, this adaptation - which would have been meaningless without seeing the series - was omitted from the TV2000 reprints. It has not been reprinted since its initial appearance.

Lady Penelope Summer Extra

Marina - Girl of the Sea
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Rab Hamilton. 2 pages, b/w.
Marina visits her friend Amanda who lives in a neighbouring city, and the two swim off to see a baby dragon. But when they approach the cavern, the mother angrily chases them back. Trapped in the city by the mother dragon, they ponder why the sudden change in the peaceful creature. Marina recalls being told by Aphony they act that way when hurt... or protecting their young. Then she notices smoke in the room and finds the baby dragon. Bravely, Marina takes it outside to the angry mother but when she stands her ground and offers the baby back, all is well again.

With Rab Hamilton busy with The Girl from UNCLE, and still working on Agent 21 for TV Century 21, a new artist took over for the last three stories. Colin Andrew gave the strip a less whimsical edge, and his style was more akin to standard girl's fare. The first of these, The Ceremony of Neptunius, is slightly less engaging than the previous stories, possibly due to the inclusion of little mermaid Leoni. But on its plus side is the tease of Marina becoming a prisoner of Titan once more in the concluding parts. The consequent, and last original, story returns to the aquatic fairy tale theme, with Marina unwittingly betrothed to a man who is spoiled and arrogant. It makes a nice twist that Marina could possibly contemplate leaving him to die, even though she does not, and it is her usual selflessness which wins the day again.



The final story actually brings us full circle, back to the subject of the original strip back in the Stingray Summer Special, and that is Marina's fateful capture by Titan and consequent rescue by Troy Tempest. However, this version is somewhat different in its playful adaptation, but with tighter connections to the episode on which it is based.

In all, the Marina strip remains a pleasing spin-off from Stingray, and provides a greater background for her silent character.

The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History would like to thank:
Angus Allan
and Gillian Allan
- 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.

All text © The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History, and its respective writers, and may not be reproduced without permission.
All images © their respective copyright holders