TV CENTURY 21 ANNIVERSARY

Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the first issue of TV Century 21.

I know most of you will know all about this bible of the Gerry Anderson universe but for those that don't ,or perhaps just want to enjoy a reminder here's a quick run through of that first issue.

January 1965: Gerry Anderson's brand new puppet series, Stingray took centre stage in this glossy publication ,which also carried Gerry's other series' Fireball XL5  and Supercar.  Gerry's next  series, Thunderbirds wouldn't join the comic for another year, but by way of a prequel, London agent Lady Penelope and her chauffeur, Parker along with FAB 1 did get their own colour strip.

The free gift in this first issue was the Identicode, which helped readers decipher coded messages within the pages of the comic.

The colourful centre pages with art by Ron Embleton featuring Stingray, and the Submarine Aircraft Carrier.

The first TV Century 21 Fireball XL5 strip with art by Graham Coton. This story has a rare appearance of Lieutenant Ninety, although oddly he's wearing a similar uniform to hero, Steve Zodiac.

Elegance, charm and deadly danger -In this strip, drawn by Eric Eden we see Lady Penelope's first meeting with Parker.

To compliment all this adventure in the 21st Century, there were other strips set in contemporary times.

Gerry's earlier series, Supercar which had previously appeared in colour in  TV Comic was relegated to black and white in TV Century 21, and played for laughs, as was popular American sitcom of the time, My Favourite Martian. 

One contemporary strip I did enjoy at the time (and still do) was Burke's Law, which managed to stay with the comic for a year.

There was even a treat on the back page. The Daleks drawn by Richard Jennings.

This first issue also carried a letter from editor, Alan Fennel, introducing the world of the future:

The world of TV Century 21.