I've just been in the garage looking for something completely unrelated and noticed these old magazines sat on top of a box. Engale Marketing's 'Action 21' magazine from 1988. A lavishly produced reprint of classic TV21 stories and additional material, in a recognisable TV21 format. I used to buy these everytime I saw them in my local comic shop and it's interesting to see the mention of Thinderbooks 2 opening in Preston (the main branch being Blackpool). David Nightingale ran Thunderbooks and Engale and were the premier source for all Anderson materials at the time.
Publication was as I recall, sporadic, but fairly regular and I have ten consecutive issues running up to October 1989. Did it carry on beyond that date? Am I missing further issues?
10 issues is correct. Engale then went on to produce 'Century 21' which combined classic comics strips with articles on Anderson TV shows and movies. 15 issues of that - finished in Winter 1993. Engale then produced 'Sci Fi and Fantasy Models' for the SF model and hardware fans. That had some great behind the scenes articles of TV and movie professional model making. And of course they did the original classic 'SIG' (Supermarionation Is Go) magazine back in the early 80s. I used to go for a day trip to Blackpool once a year just to visit Thunderbooks. It was a gold mine of Anderson stuff back in the 80s and 90s. Visited Thunderbooks 2 once but didn't think it was as good as it was more of a generic comic shop. Both long since gone now.
ReplyDeleteThat's good news Yorkie. I have a few of the earlier SiG magazines, but they were much inferior in quality. Thunderbooks in Blackpool was a great shop, I recall dealing with Dave to swap some old toys for manga comics! I'd spend a small fortune in there every couple of months. TB2 was a pale imitation, but at the time, the comics business was in its infancy. Bill
DeleteGreat set and what a garage find. Surprised the mice didn't have them! I loved reading SIG when I could find them. I preferred the old school style David and Brendan had in them. Your mags are fab tho too. I have a feeling. One has the reprint in with the atomic Submarine Aircraft Carrier in it. Coincidence of coincidence, David owned that very JR21 toy, one of the few known to exist! A pioneer, Dave Nightengale RIP. He was doing it before any of us.
ReplyDeleteIt's the first issue and probably what reminded me of seeing the toy a few years later!
DeleteI went to the opening of Thunderbooks 2. Someone had an old Yugo car done up as an SPC!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are any press clippings knocking around?
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