Last update
18th July 2008
TV21 COMICS GALLERY
1st Series: #1 January
1965 ~ #242 September 1969 
nb. "CENTURY" dropped from the title #154 onwards.
'TV TORNADO' comic merges #190
STINGRAY (ends #189) * LADY PENELOPE, FIREBALL XL5, THUNDERBIRDS # 52 on.
MY FAVOURITE MARTIAN, THE DALEKS, AGENT 21, BURKE'S LAW, CAPTAIN SCARLET
#141 on
SAINT #190 ~ 230, DEPARTMENT S #218 on, THE MUNSTERS, ETC
Straight to:
current stock list
TV CENTURY 21 Comic... a futuristic history in the making!
| Although stories based on
television series' that were associated with Gerry Anderson (FOUR
FEATHER FALLS, SUPERCAR, FIREBALL XL5) appeared in 'TV COMIC', it was
the launch of 'TV CENTURY 21' that gave children a broader perception
into the world of SUPERMARIONATION! Apart from the odd still
appearing in television guides, etc, this was the first time that we
were treated to photographs of characters, crafts, and the sets. Early
annuals and story books pertaining to the Gerry Anderson series'
consisted of drawings. In fact, apart from the AVENGERS annuals, the
only 1960's British annuals based on television programmes that included
photographs were THUNDERBIRDS, LADY PENELOPE, CAPTAIN SCARLET, JOE
90. Being of broadsheet format, TV Century 21 comic created an impact from the start. As the comic became established, large advertisements appeared for Century 21 toys. These were certainly prolific during the heyday of Thunderbirds! Many of the stories of Fireball, Thunderbirds, etc, were reprinted in later comics and annuals. But these were in smaller form, with most proofs taken from other publications, and therefore of inferior quality. Therefore, the Gerry Anderson related strip stories drawn by the likes of Ron Embleton, Eric Eden, Mike Noble, and the legendary Frank Bellamy, will most probably never be available to enjoy in superior form other than in the original TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope comics. With changes in trends and the emergence of the next generation of children, owning a set of the 242 issues provides an interesting insight into the rise and decline of this publication. |
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| No 6 first
Fireball XL5 story. No 51 final LADY PENELOPE (see below) as she is now to appear own her 'own' comic, and final SUPERCAR (no acknowledgement). No 52, dated January 15 2066 (1966), was the first issue featuring a THUNDERBIRDS strip story in the form of 2-page colour center, as well as a photograph (TB3) on the front page, while the back cover advertised the new LADY PENELOPE comic, depicting issue no 1  However, the first issue of TV21 to include Thunderbirds was no 41, depicting a large photograph of Thunderbird 1 within a full page advertisement for the launch of the first six EP's on PYE's new Century 21 label  ,
with a similar half page ad in no 43. Then, in issues 44 and 45
was the comic's introduction into Thunderbirds, with a full page feature
titled "Lady Penelope Investigates THUNDERBIRDS"  .
This was followed by the next five consecutive issues each having a
colour photograph of a Thunderbird craft as a countdown 
. Strangely? no 46 had a double page "SPACE RACE" game that
included TB1 as a 'Space Ship', and TB5 as 'Space Station X2'. To 'milk'
the Thunderbirds launch campaign, issue 51 had a full page
"THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! IN NEXT WEEK'S TV21", with the 2-page
Lady Penelope strip story introducing Jeff Tracy.Issue 101 dated December 24 1966 has the commencement of a 4-part photo story of the feature film 'THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!'. Strangely, there was no advertisement in this or the preceding issues for this cinema presentation. The LADY PENELOPE comic was also used as exploitation for this film, with three of their consecutive issues leading up to Christmas each having the front cover featuring a photograph pertaining to the movie 
. Again, no cinema advertisement within. Also included in TV21 #101 was
a page of 'THE MUNSTER'S CHRISTMAS GAME'. Issue 140 first Spectrum appearance (front cover), with 141 having the first Captain Scarlet appearance (front cover) and 2-page story. Back covers 207 & 208 1st Joe, 90 appearance in a comic, with back cover of no 209 advertising No 1 of the new JOE 90 comic; 210 no. 2; 211 no. 3 
Although set out predominantly as a Gerry
Anderson series' contents comic, "THE DALEKS" grace the full
back covers in strip form of issues 1 to 104 inclusive. Three different
headers (logo titles) were employed. All original stories, with art by
Richard Jennings 1-49; Ron Turner 50/ 51 & 59-104; and Eric Eden
52-58. Note that due to copyright, Doctor Who or any named characters
from the television series did not appear in any of the stories! |
Current stock list:
A "Free Gift" originally came with issues:
#1 Identicode * #2 Century 21 Special
Agent Badge * #3 press-out card Fireball XL5
#90 Thunderbirds Hat * #105 Target Trainer * #106 Agent
I.Q. Card * #141 Video Specs
#155 ~ 157 Scarlet Album & Stickers ; ref 'Spectrum File' (ad on back
cover of #154 
)
#192 Soccer Stars Colour Pics x 5 * #218 Jet Glider (red &
white)..
None of the comics listed on this page include any of these unless
otherwise stated.
- - - - -
| You will observe that the highest grade employed here is VG+. Therefore, any that are graded this are VG+... or better! May / may not have small name on border * Can supply wrapped individually in cellophane (clear film) @ 30p each. Please email the specific issue numbers listed here that are required. A current price will be included in the reply (Ordering info foot of this page) |
TV CENTURY 21 COMIC
|
8 VG (+ piece miss. back
border; small coupon removed 13~14 affecting SUPERCAR) |
*************
Second series titled TV21/ JOE 90,
along with the later issues, are still listed on the Comics
page.
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TV CENTURY 21 S P E C I A L S
- - - - - - - - -
THUNDERBIRDS EXTRA c 1966
Front cover is TB1, with TB3, TB2, TB2 at foot ~ 48 pgs.
One tear through all at closed left white border, right border tear through 6
last pages, border 45/46 damaged,
back page torn and pieces missing (see photo). Remainder clean, complete, with
no defacing 
@ £45
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