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Shaqui Le Vesconte looks at the story behind the launch of the Redan Thunderbirds Magazine, now in its sixth year.
Thunderbirds: Thunderbirds Magazine
Part One: 2000-2002
For a television series to achieve a successful revival as a series of repeats is something of a rarity, even with modern high-powered marketing campaigns. For it to do so twice might be considered nigh on impossible. But as we reached the real 21st century, that is exactly what Thunderbirds managed to do. No-one can deny the impact the early 1990s repeats had, and consequent merchandising success, on both those who fondly remembered the series from their 1960s childhood and younger viewers seeing the series for the first time. And the year 2000 saw the same thing happening again. This time, the children's educational publisher Redan had the license for a Thunderbirds magazine (not comic), and quite rightly (in this writer's opinion) chose to go back to basics and ignore the continuity of the TV21 universe that only older readers would recollect.
 Diana Turner was the editor at Redan involved with launching the title. An ex-teacher who took a degree in publishing at the London College of Printing, she had joined Marvel Comics in 1985 as an assistant editor on The Get Along Gang, rising to editor on The Care Bears. 'With the expansion of titles for younger readers,' she recalled recently, 'I was Group Editor of the nursery magazines, working on a large number of titles including the launch of Fun to Learn - Thomas the Tank Engine. I left Marvel to help Robert Sutherland and Jenny O'Connor set up The Redan Company Ltd, bringing Fun to Learn with me. Redan specialised in publishing magazines for younger readers with an educational slant. I launched several more Fun to Learn titles, including Rosie and Jim, Peter Rabbit, Mr Men, Fireman Sam, and Postman Pat. We went on to publish titles for older readers such as Batman and DC Comics Superheroes Quiz Quest. The majority of Redan's magazines have strong links to popular licenced TV characters.'
Carlton, who had recently acquired the back-catalogue of Anderson series from Polygram, were doing their best to re-market the series, which had been released on DVD for the first time the previous year. According to Diana Turner, 'Carlton, as license-holders, were involved at every stage of the publication of the Thunderbirds magazine, as they were in all the Thunderbirds merchandise. Every page was submitted to them for approval at rough, black and white, and colour proof stage.' She explained, 'The launch of the magazine was planned to tie in with the rerun of the TV series, and to capitalise on the attendant publicity and merchandising.' Even with this in mind, and the fact artwork for the first issue was commissioned as early as July 2000, meant Redan had to work quickly. 'The time it takes to launch a magazine varies, but generally I think there would be about four months between conception and first on sale date.' Diana Turner recollects, 'We particularly wanted to launch the magazine before Christmas, for maximum impact, which meant we had to move quite fast.'
Aiming at a readership approximately in the 4-7 year old range, with the accent firmly on 'learning while having fun' in line with other Redan titles, this move somewhat alienated the now mature fan base, most of whom were middle-aged or, if they first saw the early 1990s repeats, in their teens to early 20s by now. On the subject of the age grouping, Diana commented, 'We pitched our magazine to reflect the TV programming timing and also to mirror the appeal of modern merchandising which was geared towards children of 6 - 7 years old.' Thunderbirds has is pretty much a family show but the related merchandise has almost always been aimed at children than adults, rather than the other way round. Tthe idea behind any successful commercial release is that it sells now and continues to do so, and in that alone the publication admirably achieved its goal and - at the time of writing - is still running.
Picture: A selection of 'Mission File' pages.
It is not enough now to just have exciting stories and colour artwork. Children also want to be occupied - how many parents dread the cry "I'm bored!" - and titles are more interactive, with puzzles and pages of activity for the readers that keep them going for far longer than a quick flick-through of the colourful strip/photo stories. The new Thunderbirds title had 'Mission Files', effectively a series of puzzles and games which revolved around a common story thread, combining all these in one clever move - and the successfully completed 'document' could then be posted off in the hope of winning a prize. These were conceived by illustrator Alan Willow (see interview), who had previously worked as cover artist for TV21 & Joe 90 back in 1969. Willow would work out each of them, and another illustrator would provide the finished artwork. As someone who had worked in educational publishing and at schools for children with special needs, Willow's idea was that the Mission File would be more of a cohesive story with puzzles rather than the final, looser theme that saw print.
Another factor associated with the new title was the free gift that accompanied each issue. Obviously most of these are quite nice (if produced on a low budget) and unique to the publication though they tend to present problems to a/ the shopsellers shoehorning the bulkier issues into narrow shelf spaces and b/ parents storing a growing collection of freebies somewhere in little Johnny/Joanna's bedroom! But this is a reflection of the publishing market as a whole, not just Redan or the Thunderbirds magazine. Diana Turner comments, 'Free gifts are vitally important to the sale of each issue, both because they are appealing in themselves and also because all magazines for the younger age ranges these days offer gifts. Personally I think they add to the fun of the overall package and provide a further enticement for children to buy the magazine. Enjoying comics may help encourage a reading habit that will last a lifetime!'
Picture: The complete set of flyer discs that were given away with five separate issues of the magazine.
Thunderbirds Issue Guide - part one:
 Issue 1 (Undated - November 2000)
Text story: Crash Course, 3 pages, colour.
Writer: Sam Denham. Artist: Steve Kyte.
After International Rescue's first mission, the Hood has eluded the police to threaten an atomic oil tanker of the south coast of England.
Free Gift: Stickers of the 5 Thunderbirds
Photo Story: 'Trapped In The Sky' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Thunderbird 1
Character Data: The Hood
Poster Page: Photo composite of Scott, Virgil, Thunderbirds 1 and 2, and Lady Penelope
Mission File: Spaceship Sirius (artist: Steve Kyte)
Notes:
• This first issue is printed on notably thicker stock than subsequent issues.
• One of Steve Kyte's illustrations, in the Mission File, is dated July 2000 suggesting this issue may have been produced a while before the second as a 'pilot' to sell the line.
Issue 2 (Undated - on sale December 2000)
Strip story: Catastrophe On Peace Island, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Steve Kyte. Colourist: Unknown.
A world summit on the artificial Atlantic 'Peace Island' is endangered by the Hood, posing as the Security Chief.
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Notebook
Photo Story: 'Day Of Disaster' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Thunderbird 2
Character Data: Brains
Poster Page: Drawing of Thunderbird 1 launching, with inset of Scott
Mission File: Station Manta (artist: Steve Kyte)
Notes:
• The strip story begins on page 3, moving the photo-story to the back and setting the format for subsequent issues.
• Lady Penelope's dress mysteriously changes colour from pink to green at the end of the strip!
• The Hood escapes in a boat called 'Seajet' - the name of an ice lolly from the 1960s based on Stingray!
• Steve Kyte's artwork is dated October 2000.
Issue 3 (Undated - on sale 11 January 2001)
Strip story: Some Like It Hot!, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Scientists studying a volcanic Pacific island are endangered when it unexpectedly erupts.
Free Gift: Tracy Island Action Scene, plus stick & lift Thunderbirds
Photo Story: 'Attack Of The Alligators'
Cross Section: Thunderbird 3
Character Data: Parker
Poster Page: None in this issue
Mission File: Operation Icon
Notes:
• Doctor Who artist Lee Sullivan takes over the strip and cover artwork.
• In Some Like It Hot!, Virgil is seen wearing the protective suit used in the episode 'Pit Of Peril'.
 Issue 4 (On sale 08 February 2001)
Strip story: Up Up And Away!, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Explorer Robert Blackwell has travelled three-quarters of the way round the world by balloon but crashes by a Saharan desert sand storm.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 1 Badge
Photo Story: 'Terror In New York City'
Cross Section: Thunderbird 4
Character Data: Jeff Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 1 landing, with Thunderbird 2 added
Mission File: Mission Comet
Notes:
• Robert Blackwell (left), the explorer in the strip, is clearly based on Virgin entrepeneur Richard Branson and his ballooning exploits.
• Read the original script for 'Terror In New York City' submitted by Sam Denham here.
Issue 5 (On sale March 2001)
Strip story: Fun And Games!, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Alan Tracy's video game skills come in handy when a meteor storm threatens to hit the Earth.
Free Gift: Brains' Specs
Photo Story: 'Move - And You're Dead!'
Cross Section: Thunderbird 5
Character Data: Lady Penelope
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 3 and Thunderbird 5 amidst the meteor storm.
Mission File: Mission Mars
Notes:
• The poster for this issue sets the precedent for using the full artwork for the cover, which is usually cropped in some way.
Issue 6 (On sale 05 April 2001)
Strip story: No Smoke Without Fire!, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The Hood causes a fire at a Texan oil field, to lure the Thunderbirds into an another attempt to learn their secrets.
Free Gift: Mini-Basket Ball Game
Photo Story: 'End Of The Road' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Gray Houseman Highway Pathfinder (from 'End Of The Road')
Character Data: Tin-Tin
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 2 flying over the Firefly
Mission File: Quake Rescue
Notes:
 • Having reprinted the five Thunderbirds from Graham Bleathman's F.A.B. Cross Sections book, this issue sees the start of new cross sections of vehicles from the series. These were only drawn in black and white by Graham Bleathman, and coloured by Redan.
• A more detailed version of the Highway Pathfinder had already been detailed in a cross section in issue 25 of Thunderbirds The Comic.
Roxy Watch:
• 'Manzo' is based on Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. The men rescued are (Bryan) 'Ferry', 'TGPT' (The Great Paul Thompson) who is still carrying his drumsticks, and (wearing glasses) Andy Mackay! (right)
• Lee Sullivan comments, 'He (Andy Mackay) and The Great Paul Thompson were aware of their appearances in the comic, at least at one time. But they probably didn't buy copies!'
Issue 7 (On sale 03 May 2001)
Strip story: Avalanche!, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The Thunderbirds are dispatched to the Swiss Alps to rescue a tour bus which has been hit by an avalanche.
Free Gift: Thunderbird Watch
Photo Story: 'Perils Of Penelope' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: FAB 1
Character Data: Scott Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of Scott on a hoverjet with Thunderbird 2 flying overhead.
Mission File: Shuttle Andromeda
Notes:
• With this issue, the magazine goes on sale every four weeks.
• A Recovery Vehicle from the episode 'Pit Of Peril' is used in the strip story, as is the Excavator from 'Martian Invasion'.
• The poster art uses a different drawing of Scott on the hoverjet to the one seen on the cover.
Roxy Watch:
• The bus belongs to 'Roxyrama Tours' (Roxyrama being the name of the Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry archive website), and driven by Phil Manzanera (in dark glasses).
Issue 8 (On sale 31 May 2001)
Strip story: Birthday Honours, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Plans for Grandma's birthday surprise are put on hold while Thunderbirds 1 and 2 are sent to save people trapped by a fire in New York.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 2 Flyer
Photo Story: 'Brink Of Disaster' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Pacific-Atlantic Monorail
Character Data: Virgil Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of the Domo amidst fire, with Thunderbird 1 overhead.
Mission File: Mission Antarctica
Notes:
• From this issue, the price rises 5p to £1.50.
• The strip story Birthday Honours unwittingly predicts some of the horror of the impending September 11th tragedy, with people trapped atop the Bank Of America office skyscraper, and similarly ends with the building collapsing.
• International Rescue are shown to have more of the jet-air transporters, seen in 'Move And You're Dead!', and these can go quite high on their hover-jets.
• The Domo from 'The Duchess Assignment' is also used.
• The poster art has Thunderbird 1 more in the background than the cover allows, requiring more space for the masthead.
• This issue also saw the first use of the original b/w art for the cover/poster being added as a page to colour.
Roxy Watch:
• Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera are among the people trapped on top of the building.
Issue 9 (On sale 28 June 2001)
Strip story: Danger From Above, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
A mysterious explosion causes a massive fire in Los Angeles. While Scott and Virgil attempt to bring it under control, John discovers it was caused by debris from an old space station re-entering the atmosphere. Thunderbird 3 is launched to try and stop the main body from causing a bigger disaster.
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Stickers
Photo Story: 'Danger At Ocean Deep' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Ocean Pioneer II (from 'Danger At Ocean Deep')
Character Data: Alan Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 3 lifting off from Tracy Island
Mission File: Amazon Rescue
Notes:
• In Danger From Above, Thunderbird 3 has a tractor beam.
Issue 10 (On sale 26 July 2001)
Strip story: Shipwrecked, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The cruise liner Miranda hits a sand bank and starts to sink. Another mission for International Rescue.
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Collectable Card, and Agent's Micro Mission Game Case
Photo Story: 'Cry Wolf'
Cross Section: Hover Jet
Character Data: Gordon Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 4 launching from pod, with Thunderbirds 1 & 2 added
Mission File: Mission Kidnap
Notes:
• With this issue, the magazine goes on sale every three weeks.
• The four passengers watching Thunderbird 2 drop life rafts are Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson.
Issue 11 (On sale 16 August 2001)
Strip story: Pleasure Cruise, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Jeff Tracy is taking a holiday in the Mediterranean with Lady Penelope on her yacht FAB 2. But the Hood has other plans...
Free Gift: Pinball Game
Photo Story: 'Pit Of Peril'
Cross Section: Recovery Vehicle, from 'Pit Of Peril'
Character Data: John Tracy
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 1 flying over FAB 2, with Thunderbird 2 added
Mission File: Desert Mystery
Notes:
• The Hood is seen operating in his mini-sub, previously used in the episode 'Desperate Intruder', and also referred to in the text story in issue 1.
• The poster art is composed slightly different from the cover.
Roxy Watch:
• The books behind Tin-Tin on the first page of the strip are awash with Roxy Music references, and thanks to Lee Sullivan on enlightening us on them:
Another Place, Another Time - not, as an Anderson fan might expect, a reference to the Space:1999 episode of similar name but 'Another Time, Another Place' is Bryan Ferry's second solo album.
Contradictions Revisited - 'Resolving Contradictions' is one of Roxy saxophonist Andy Mackay's solo albums
The Diamante Noggin by Target Adams - 'Diamond Head' was Roxy guitarist Phil Manzanera's first solo album. His real name is Philip Targett-Adams.
Failing Applications - 'Your Applications Failed' is the B side of 'All I want Is You', Roxy Music's fourth single.
Umberer - 'The Numberer', by Andy Mackay.
Find Eddie Riff! - 'In Search Of Eddie Riff' is another Andy Mackay album
Vosero - 'Vozero' is Phil Manzanera's latest solo album
Brown Fury - a play on Bryan Ferry's name
The Siren's Wail - 'Siren' was Roxy Music's fifth album, and also the Sirens were Roxy Music's backing singers in the Siren tour.
The 18 Year Gap - the time between albums, and the group packing up and reforming recently.
My Life In The Country by Baron Ferrari - the fourth Roxy Music album 'Country Life', another play on Bryan Ferry's name.
Catspaw Blues - Eno and Fripp's 'No Pussyfooting'
• Lee Sullivan on the book titles: 'Well done for finding out most of those! My god, you're telling this stuff and I haven't even thought about this since I drew it so it's very funny to have those - because I can't remember doing them! I know I did them but... what a stupid boy! It's easy to do that until about the sixth or seventh one, and then you run out of ideas.'
Issue 12 (On sale 06 September 2001)
Strip story: Fire And Ice, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The retros on experimental space plane Z23 have failed, and Thunderbird 3 is launched to effect a rescue before it burns up on re-entry.
 Free Gift: FAB 1 Notepad (right)
Photo Story: 'The Duchess Assignment'
Cross Section: The Domo, from 'The Duchess Assignment'
Character Data: Kyrano
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 2 landing on ice, with Thunderbird 1 added
Mission File: Mountain Rescue
Notes:
• This issue sees the return of the poster art page to colour as an increasingly regular feature.
Issue 13 (On sale 27 September 2001)
Strip story: Bird Brain, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
International Rescue have put out a fire on the tanker Jolly Fox, but an oil slick threatens a nearby island that is the home of several rare species of bird.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 4 Flyer
Photo Story: 'The Uninvited' (adapted by Sam Denham)
Cross Section: Pyramid of Khamandides, from 'The Uninvited'
Character Data: Grandma
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 5 in orbit
Mission File: Mission Meltdown
Notes:
• With Grandma, the Character Data pages come to an end.
Issue 14 (On sale 18 October 2001)
Strip story: Deep Trouble, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The International Marine Centre at the bottom of the Pacific calls on International Rescue when Walter, a humpback whale they have been studying, becomes tangled in one of its power cables.
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Bag Tag
Photo Story: 'The Mighty Atom'
Cross Section: The Hood's Temple
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 4 moving through underwater power cables
Mission File: Mission Minotaur
Notes:
• A more detailed version of the Hood's Temple had already been detailed in a cross section in issue 12 of Thunderbirds The Comic.
Issue 15 (On sale 8 November 2001)
Strip story: Costume Ball, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
In the midst of concern over Thunderbird's latest mission to combat an Australian bush fire, Jeff Tracy forgets his costume for Lady Penelope's fancy dress party.
Free Gift: Two Thunderbirds Pencils
Photo Story: Rescue Under Ground ('City Of Fire')
Cross Section: The Firefly
Thunderbirds Data: Tracy Island
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbirds 1 and 2 overflying International Rescue fire-fighting vehicles
Mission File: Mission Mercury
Notes:
• The first of a new series of files to collect, on International Rescue, begins - but no more appear after this issue!
• The cover art of Thunderbird 5 used for issue 13 appears as a page to colour.
• A more detailed version of the Firefly had already been detailed in a cross section in issue 15 of Thunderbirds The Comic.
Issue 16 (On sale 29 November 2001)
 Strip story: Cliffhanger, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett.
Artist: Lee Sullivan.
Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Lady Penelope undertakes one final mission for the Federal Agent's Bureau, with a little help from International Rescue.
Free Gift: Stickers
Photo Story: 'Give Or Take A Million'
Cross Section: None
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 2 overflying FAB 1 amidst icy mountains
Mission File: Arctic Rescue
Notes:
• Lady Penelope's opening escape in the strip, ski-ing over the edge of a cliff and using a mini parachute, is seemingly inspired by a similar scene in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
• This issue also contains a Thunderbirds 2002 pull-out calendar.
Roxy Watch:
• Penelope's boss at the FAB (a call-back to the continuity of TV21) is Bryan Ferry (left).
Issue 17 (On sale 20 December 2001)
Strip story: Hoodwinked, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
After stopping a rogue Crablogger in Australia, Scott is unaware the Hood has placed a tracking device on Thunderbird 1 to lead him to their base.
Free Gift: Badge
Photo Story: 'Sun Probe'
Cross Section: Transmitter Truck, from 'Sun Probe'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 1 lifting off from Tracy Island
Mission File: Farini Rescue
Notes:
• While the text of Hoodwinked refers to a Crablogger, the machine seen is clearly a Sidewinder from Pit of Peril.
• The crop of the poster art is quite different from the cover.
Issue 18 (On sale 10 January 2002)
Strip story: Come In Thunderbird 5, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
Thunderbird 5 fails to respond to a routine check, and Alan and Brains in Thunderbird 3 find the space station is in a decaying orbit.
Free Gift: Fridge Magnet
Photo Story: 'The Cham-Cham'
Cross Section: RTL2 Transport Aircraft, from 'The Cham-Cham'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 3 docking with Thunderbird 5 as it enters the atmosphere
Mission File: Mayday Distress
Notes:
• There are five different designs of fridge magnet - one for each Thunderbird.
Issue 19 (On sale 31 January 2002)
Strip story: Ice Ship, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The Ice Maiden is the world's largest refrigerated storage vessel in the world, but a malfunction in the cooling system engulfs it in ice...
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Note Pad
Photo Story: 'Desperate Intruder'
Cross Section: The Hood's Mini-Submarine, from 'Desperate Intruder'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbirds 1 and 2 flying over an explosion in the sea.
Mission File: Alien Landing
Notes:
• A different composition is used for the poster from the cover
Issue 20 (On sale 21 February 2002)
Strip story: Creepy Crawly, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
During a flood rescue mission, the Hood manages to sneak a robotic spider aboard Thunderbird 4 which will spy on Tracy Island.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 3 Flyer
Photo Story: 'The Impostors'
Cross Section: Jeremiah Tuttle's House, from 'The Impostors'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 2 lifting off from its ramp, with Thunderbird 1 flying overhead.
Mission File: Zero Alpha
Notes:
• This issue is dedicated to Alan Fennell, the editor of TV21 and the 1990s Thunderbirds comic, who died at the end of 2001.
• The cover just shows Thunderbird 2 lifting off.
Issue 21 (On sale 14 March 2002)
Strip story: Bridge To Nowhere, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett. Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
An earthquake strikes the west coast of America, causing the Pacific Rim Suspension Bridge to collapse. Thunderbirds are able to save the day, but a coach whose brakes have failed is approaching the collapsed structure at high speed...
 Free Gift: Thunderbirds Stickers
Photo Story: 'Lord Parker's 'Oliday'
Cross Section: Thunderbird 1 Launch Bay
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbirds 1 and 2 flying over the shaking the Pacific Rim Suspension Bridge.
Mission File: Rig Rescue
Notes:
• The 'Pit Of Peril' Recovery Vehicle and Domo make another appearance in the strip.
• The cover and poster art is a composite using the opening panel of the strip, Thunderbird 2 with a pod full of foam, and Thunderbird 1.
• The 'cross section' this issue is more a detailed look at the Thunderbird 1 Launch Bay.
Issue 22 (On sale 04 April 2002)
Strip story: Dig Deep, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett (?). Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
The world's largest bank vault is attacked, but air pressure sensors seal the vault - with the robbers inside! They will suffocate within hours unless International Rescue can get them out.
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Maze Puzzle
Photo Story: 'Ricochet'
Cross Section: Pirate Satellite TV Station KLA, from 'Ricochet'
Poster Page: Cover art of the Mole outside the World Bank, with Thunderbirds 1 and 2 in the background.
Mission File: Missing Icon
Notes:
• The poster and page to colour are presented landscape, instead of portrait as the cover is.
Issue 23 (On sale 25 April 2002)
Strip story: Shock Tactic, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett (?). Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
A scientific mini-sub, the Minnow, is attacked by a giant squid. Meanwhile, Brains has invented a versatile robotic servant called M.I.S.F.I.T.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 1 Window Sticker
Photo Story: 'Martian Invasion'
Cross Section: The Excavator, from 'Martian Invasion'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 4 attacked by the squid, with M.I.S.F.I.T. added
Mission File: Mission Miami
Notes:
• M.I.S.F.I.T. stands for Multi-Shaped And Functional Technik... almost.
Issue 24 (On sale 16 May 2002)
Strip story: Sun Spot, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett (?). Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
An orbital solar mirror, designed to focus and project the Sun's energy as a cheap resource, malfunctions and sends a destructive heat beam on a scorching path of destruction around the globe. This is a job for Thunderbirds 1, 2 and 3...
Free Gift: Thunderbirds Are Go! Collector Sticker Album, plus 6 stickers
Photo Story: 'The Man From MI5.'
Cross Section: FAB 2, from 'The Man From MI5.'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 3 and an explosion
Mission File: Space Rescue
Notes:
• From this issue, the price rises 15p to £1.65.
• The strip story sees the Firefly aided by two remote control Fireflies, in a similar manner to other recovery vehicles in the series.
• A more detailed version of FAB 2 had already been detailed in a cross section in issue 16 of Thunderbirds The Comic.
Issue 25 (On sale 06 June 2002)
Strip story: Twister, 5 pages, colour.
Writer: Dan Abnett (?). Artist: Lee Sullivan. Colourist: Robin Smith (?).
A tornado cuts a path of destruction across Kansas so Brains, aboard Thunderbird 2, tries to use the Firefly to stop it.
Free Gift: Thunderbird 5 Flyer
Photo Story: 'Path Of Destruction'
Cross Section: The Crablogger, from 'Path Of Destruction'
Poster Page: Cover art of Thunderbird 2 and Firefly, with Thunderbird 1 and the tornado in background
Mission File: Tracy Island
Notes:
• A more detailed version of the Crablogger had already been detailed in a cross section in issue 18 of Thunderbirds The Comic.
With all this going on, you could quite easily think the strip stories and photo adaptations were secondary to the publication. Issue 1 featured 'Trapped In The Sky', and its placing as the opening story - both in the series and in the magazine - suggests these were to be the main highlight. After this pilot issue, a re-think was evident and while the photo-stories continued at the back of the publication, an opening strip was introduced. Diana Turner reflects, 'We always wanted to have a drawn strip. Time constraints prevented this for the first issue, then we came up against some contractual problems with our original artist and finally settled with Lee Sullivan, who has been providing the artwork ever since.'
 Picture: One of Steve Kyte's pages for Catastrophe On Peace Island, issue 2.
The original artist was Steve Kyte, a long-standing fan-come-professional illustrator, and in both plot, execution and artwork, the first strip in issue 2 was very different from consequent stories. A one-time committee member of the appreciation society Fanderson, Kyte had quite distinct views how the series should perhaps be handled by Redan, 'Their core audience is very young children, and I understand Carlton had to pressurise them into aiming the comic at a higher age level.' Having worked extensively on the earlier Fleetway titles in the 1990s, Kyte adds, '(Editor) Alan Fennell was obviously in tune with the subject matter and realised early on that he could make use of fans who had grown up with the series. I wouldn't exactly say he 'welcomed' fan involvement, but he wasn't afraid to acknowledge in the comic that it was an old series that had different generations of fans, nor to reflect this in the letters page and elsewhere. Redan prefer to blank this out completely and stick with what they know: little kids.' The comments may seem a little unfair, but reflect the feelings of some older fans mentioned earlier. Kyte would also provide the finished illustrations for the first few Mission Files, before he parted company with Redan.
Artist Lee Sullivan (see separate interview), better known for his work for the Doctor Who Magazine and Transformers comics, was chosen as the new resident artist for the strip. Sullivan, a self-confessed fan of the series and its comic counterparts in TV Century 21, worked hard to make sure he got the position when there was a possibility it would be offered to him. A series of samples were drawn, as he worked with Redan on a compromise style between the slight caricatures of the puppets, a more realistic body proportion, and an acceptable simpler style of drawing the strip. Harking back to the production technique used for the Century 21 annuals in the 1960s, the artwork was drawn in black and white and coloured afterwards. This reduced costs, as black and white line artwork is far less expensive to commission than one in full colour, and time, as the colourist could be working on completed pages as the artist finished the others. Also evident was the re-use of artwork - drawings of the Thunderbirds craft, and occasionally characters - dropped into frames with a newly drawn background, and then coloured accordingly to match it. Again, this would be a considerable saving of time, and reflects the changes modern technology can make to efficient and cost-effective publishing, though conversely it might be thought this 'production line method' deprives the process of some creativity.
 Sullivan also contributed the artwork for the posters, which doubled up as pages to colour and - with slight changes to composition - the front cover illustrations. Occasionally, his work would also be used for some of the free gifts - the cover art for issue 26, of Thunderbird 4, was re-used for one of the Best of Thunderbirds issues, and for a 'Thunderbird 4 Mug Mat' (left) with issue 40 - but Sullivan was directly responsible for the art of the five Thunderbirds craft used to make the set of free gift flyers (see top of page) and comments, 'I was very pleased with the modelling that whoever converted them from 2D to 3D achieved. Thunderbird 4 was not the original art I supplied, and may in fact have been done by someone else eventually but the rest were mine.'
Of course none of the strips could exist without scripts to start with, but unlike the recognisable style of the artwork, the writers remain uncredited. But almost all of those listed above, with the exception of issue 2, were the work of Dan Abnett, a well-established writer of comics too numerous to mention. Some time during 2003, Geoff Cowan took over - a name familiar to Gerry Anderson fans as someone attributed to the latter issues of TV21, Countdown, and also assistant editor on Look-In in its early years. Because the strip was only five pages, each story was pared down to basic elements and explained in broad terms - sometimes even the secondary characters are unnamed. It is no minor talent in itself do make a strip of such brevity entertaining and self-contained, and the writers do a fair job, with many elements based more directly on the series characterisations and vehicles.
Technical artist Graham Bleathman remained as sole thread of continuity with the 1960s and 1990s comic, with his ever-growing list of impressive cross-section drawings. These had originally been a feature of TV Century 21, both the regular issues and annuals, and Bleathman was commissioned by Alan Fennell to revive the line for the 1990s comics. The cross-sections that first appeared in the Redan title were reprinted from his book Thunderbirds: FAB Cross-Sections, published in late 2000, and were advertised as such. These gave way to specially commissioned ones, again drawn in black and white but coloured in production, from issue 6. Bleathman himself admits that the budget for such illustrations is small in comparison to other publications - another reason for the re-use of artwork and material.
Picture: How artwork is reused by Redan: as cover artwork, a coloured poster, and a picture to colour. The use of individual elements - Thunderbird 1, the Domo, the building and flames - mean the composition can be altered, and new variations of pictures created.
The most obvious re-use of material came with the launch of The Best Of Thunderbirds in the summer of 2002. This took material from two previous issues and re-issued them in a bi-monthly 44 page publication. Again, this is nothing new in publishing - even the 1990s Thunderbirds published two collections for those who missed the early issues - and they remain a pleasing mini-series in their own right.
In Part Two, we will look at issues 26 to 50,
The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History would like to thank:
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Graham Bleathman •
Frevisse Dearsley-Hitchcock •
Sam Denham •
Anderw Foxley •
Steve Kyte •
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Andrew Skilleter •
Lee Sullivan •
Diana Turner •
Alan Willow •
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- for their valued assistance and contributions to this feature.
Version 1.1 - 01.10.06
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
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Issue 1 (June/July 2002)
Issue 6