Jim's 12 Days of Christmas: Yes M'Lady, You've Got Your Own Comic

With Century 21 Publishing not wishing to lose out on any opportunity to exploit the release of THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO their sister publication to the amazingly popular TV CENTURY 21 comic for boys showcased Lady Penelope's involvement in the adventure. Published in weekly instalments like the 'TV21' photo-strip the text adaptation of THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO focussed on the beautiful London Agent for International Rescue and her companion Parker.

Seen today with less regularity even on eBay than TV21 LADY PENELOPE comic offers up many treasures in terms of comic art and background material. I have only managed to collect perhaps 40 or so issues but all have something of interest. Gorgeous Ron Embleton MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. artwork which far surpasses anything seen in the US Gold Key comics, an intriguing introduction to the CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS concept by way of a Jon Davis drawn ANGELS strip as well as one particularly appealingly LADY PENELOPE strip by the artist John Burns later known for his LOOK-IN SPACE:1999 work and the title strip in COUNTDOWN. Jim Lewis

Andy B's Xmas Card

Andy B.

Move Over Santa, It's the JR Easter Bunny

These new images of the JR [Rosenthal] Easter Bunny recently surfaced on Ebay US. Model Number 409, the toy clearly has the JR diamond monogram on it's base. I'm in the process of updating the JR/JR21 checklist [in the right hand side-bar], where there are more early JR friction toys if you're into them like yours truly. I am intrigued as to why there appear to be far more of these early JR toys in America than in, say, the UK. Did Rosenthal toys sell more in the US or have they simply been better stored than their British counterparts?

LIKE CHRISTMAS DAY! THE TOMY 'APOLLO SATURN' BY DARTH

All the Known Apollo Saturns - Above - Boxes, Below - the toys [L to R]: Sears, Tomy and Century 21 SWORD

Hi Paul,

Attached are the pics of the Tomy Ranger 7. It's EXACTLY the same size and shape as the Sears one, so my guess is that the internal capsule is also identical, but since I never had one for the Sears rocket I really don't know what the difference is. The pics I've attached are of the Tomy capsule that I got recently. Also the instruction sheet. It's all from the exact same mold as the Sears toy, so still no logos, however the box clearly states Tomy as you can see. The opposite sides and ends of the box are identical.

The blue plastic is much darker on the Tomy version. It was damaged around the wheels (same place as my Sears one). Both appear to have "heat" damage. I still haven't figured out exactly HOW it was supposed to make smoke. I took it apart and repaired the cracks and wasn't able to see the smoke maker. It is underneath a rotating metal drum with swiss-cheese holes in it. As the wheels turn, the drum turns. There is a grey plastic "tailpipe" and what appears to be a light bulb inside the drum (presumably for flashing). I just can't see how it heats up, where the smoke oil goes or anything about how it works. But clearly it must heat up quite a bit to cause the brown heating of the plastic. Must have been a real fire hazard.

Thanks to you and Wotan for the tip about the Japanese auction. Made me very happy. My shelf is starting to look like the Cape in its heyday! Now all I need is a VAB...

Cheers

Darth

Space Tract Memories

I came across your web site by accident the other day, while researching a thrift store find which I think may be a collectible space toy... anyway, I have no idea what S.W.O.R.D. means, but your main page had several pictures of a toy I dearly loved back around 1969-1970. It was the MEGO "Space Tract", which looks like a NASA lifting body, in gray plastic, but also has a very non-aerodynamic spherical capsule attached at the rear, with an astronaut "observer" inside. If I recall right, twisting the turret ball was the power switch and lighting effects came on as well. The toy had stop-and-go action.

I never knew what this toy was called and have been looking for another one of these for about....oh... forty years! Any ideas where I can find one, or even one of it's "sister ships" by another brand? I have been buying back bits of my childhood on Ebay for some time now. It would keep company with my Major Matt Mason collection:-) If not, at least thanks for posting the pictures of it, you brought back many happy memories.

Regards,

Mark Suszko, 

USA

Mike B's Christmas Crackers

The latest festive stocking fillers from reader Mike B. Swordtastic!

Andy B asks What Would You Do?

From the Lion and Eagle Comic during the 1970's, Andy B has sent in this brainteaser. So as the comic asks 'What would you do?'

Answers please!

[Correct answer from the comic will be published next week.]

Fireball XL5: New Video and Music by Dominic Halpin and the Honey B's

Made by reader and music meastro Dominic Halpin [and the Honey B's].

So cool I can't describe it: rockets, rock 'n' roll, the Works!

Check out Dominic and the Honey B's other music Videos! The new Cool!

And I want one of those Space Helmets for Christmas!