Thunderbirds The Comic was a comic published by Fleetway. The first issue went on sale on October 19th 1991 and originally retailed @ 65p, rising to £1.15 by the time of the last issue. The editor was Alan Fennell, who was previously the original editor for TV Century 21 in the 1960s, as well as a scriptwriter on the original Thunderbirds television show.
Each of the first three issues came with a free Thunderbird badge on the cover and the series ran for 89 issues before being cancelled in March 1995. The comic was a mixture of the original comic strips produced in the 1960s for TV Century 21, as well as newly produced stories, and the centre pages usually contained a cutaway drawing by Graham Bleathman.
Comic Stories[]
Alongside reprinting old stories from TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope (and, later, The Funday Times), the magazine would also produce brand new comics. Originally just adaptations of episodes, they would eventually begin to create brand new stories based on original ideas.
Episode Adaptations[]
Beginning with issue 4, The Comic began printing newly produced comics based on original television stories written by Alan Fennell, who also presumably adapted them himself into comic format. These would be drawn by a number of rotating artists that included Steve Kyte and Keith Page.
| #No | Title | Issues | Publication dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pit of Peril | 4 - 5 | November 30th - December 14th, 1991 |
| 2 | Sun Probe | 6 - 8 | December 18th, 1991 - January 25th, 1992 |
| 3 | Terror in New York City | 9 - 11 | February 8th - March 7th, 1992 |
| 4 | The Uninvited | 12 - 14 | March 24th - April 18th, 1992 |
| 5 | City of Fire | 15 - 17 | May 2nd - May 30th, 1992 |
| 6 | 30 Minutes After Noon | 18 - 20 | June 13th - July 11th, 1992 |
| 7 | The Man From MI.5 | 21 - 23 | July 25th - August 22nd, 1992 |
| 8 | Martian Invasion | 24 - 26 | September 5th - October 3rd, 1992 |
| 9 | Atlantic Inferno | 27 - 29 | October 17th - November 14th, 1992 |
| 10 | Brink of Disaster | 30 - 33 | November 28th, 1992 - January 9th, 1993 |
Original Stories[]
After exhausting the supply of Fennell-penned episodes, the comic turned to producing brand new original stories. Although usually confined to just one new story running per issue, issues 61 to 66 would have two of these new stories running at the same time. These new stories would last until December 1994 (issue 82), at which point they would be replaced by reprints of the comparatively new The Funday Times stories.
Many of the new stories acted as sequels for original television stories, with Wall of Death taking place in the San Miguel valley five years after Move - And You're Dead, The Return of the Zombites showing the Zombites taking revenge on International Rescue following the destruction of their pyramid base in The Uninvited, and Sunprobe Sensation! featuring the creator of the Sunprobe rocket from Sun Probe.
| #No | Title | Issues | Publication dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Weather Watch | 34 - 36 | January 23rd - February 20th, 1993 |
| 12 | Wall of Death | 37 - 39 | March 6th - April 3rd, 1993 |
| 13 | Operation Icefloe | 40 - 42 | April 17th - May 15th, 1993 |
| 14 | Journey to Oblivion | 43 - 45 | May 29th - June 26th, 1993 |
| 15 | Rescue the Rescuers | 46 - 48 | July 10th - August 7th, 1993 |
| 16 | The Fire | 49 - 51 | August 21st - September 18th, 1993 |
| 17 | The Shaft of Doom | 50 - 52 | September 4th - October 2nd, 1993 |
| 18 | Disasters Unlimited | 53 - 57 | October 16th - December 11th, 1993 |
| 19 | Killer in the Streets | 58 - 60 | December 25th, 1993 - February 4th, 1994 |
| 20 | The Bullion Trick | 61 - 63 | February 18th - March 18th, 1994 |
| 21 | The Return of the Zombites | 61 - 63 | February 18th - March 18th, 1994 |
| 22 | Highway to Disaster | 64 - 66 | April 1st - April 29th, 1994 |
| 23 | Machine Mystery | 64 - 66 | April 1st - April 29th, 1994 |
| 24 | Visions of the Past! | 67 - 69 | May 13th - June 10th, 1994 |
| 25 | Sunprobe Sensation! | 70 - 72 | June 24th - July 22nd, 1994 |
| 26 | The Virus! | 73 - 75 | August 5th - September 2nd, 1994 |
| 27 | The Unwelcome Visit | 76 - 78 | September 16th - October 14th, 1994 |
| 28 | The Whirlpool | 79 - 82 | October 28th - December 9th, 1994 |
Issues[]
Number 1[]
- Date Published: 19th October 1991
- Comic Strip (1): The Earthquake Man, part 1.
- Comic Strip (2): The Atlantic Tunnel, part 1.
- Comic Strip (3): The Big Freeze, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Thunderbird 1.
- Poster: The Hood.
- Profile: Scott Tracy.
- Cover Price: 65p
- Notes: "Thunderbird are go" badge, Free gift.
Number 2[]
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- Date Published: 2nd November 1991
- Comic Strip (1): The Earthquake Man, part 2.
- Comic Strip (2): The Atlantic Tunnel, part 2.
- Comic Strip (3): The Big Freeze, part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Thunderbird 2.
- Profiles: Virgil and Parker.
- Notes: Thunderbird 1 badge, Free gift.
Number 3[]
- Date Published: 16th November 1991
- Comic Strip (1): The Earthquake Man, part 3.
- Comic Strip (2): The Atlantic Tunnel, part 3.
- Comic Strip (3): The Big Freeze, part 3.
- Cutaway Drawing: Thunderbird 3.
- Profile: Alan Tracy.
- Notes: Thunderbird 2 badge, Free gift.
Number 4[]
- Date Published: 30th November 1991
- Comic Strip (4): Pit of Peril, part 1.
- Comic Strip (2): The Atlantic Tunnel, part 4.
- Comic Strip (5): Depthprobe, part 1.
- Comic Strip (6): The Trapped Spy, Part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Thunderbird 4.
- Profile: Gordon Tracy.
Number 5[]
- Date Published: 14th December 1991
- Comic Strip (4): Pit of Peril, part 2.
- Comic Strip (5): Depthprobe, part 2.
- Comic Strip (6): The Trapped Spy, Part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Thunderbird 5.
- Profile: John Tracy.
Number 6[]
- Date Published: 28th December 1991
- Comic Strip (7): Sun Probe, part 1.
- Comic Strip (6): The Trapped Spy, Part 3.
- Cutaway Drawing: Tracy Island.
- Profile: Jeff Tracy.
Number 7[]
- Date Published: 11th January 1992
- Comic Strip (7): Sun Probe, part 2.
- Comic Strip (8): Operation Earthquake, part 1.
- Comic Strip (9): Tracy Island Exposed, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing:Creighton-Ward Stately Home.
- Profile: Lady Penelope.
Number 8[]
- Date Published: 25th January 1992
- Comic Strip (7): Sun Probe, part 3.
- Comic Strip (8): Operation Earthquake, part 2.
- Comic Strip (9): Tracy Island Exposed, part 2.
- Cutaway: Braman.
- Cutaway Drawing: The Mole.
- Spotlight On: The Pod Vehicles.
- Profile: Brains.
Number 9[]
- Date Published: 8th February 1992
- Comic Strip (10): Terror in New York City, part 1.
- Comic Strip (9): Tracy Island Exposed, part 3.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray, part 1.
- Comic Strip (8): Operation Earthquake, part 3.
- Cutaway Drawing: Fireflash.
Number 10[]
- Date Published: 22nd February 1992
- Comic Strip (10): Terror in New York City, part 2.
- Comic Strip (12): Talons of the Eagle, part 1.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray , part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Moving the Empire State building (Terror In New York City).
Number 11[]
- Date Published: 7th March 1992
- Comic Strip (10): Terror in New York City, part 3.
- Comic Strip (12): Talons of the Eagle, part 2.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray, part 3.
- Comic Strip (13): The Revolution, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Sidewinder (Pit of Peril)
Number 12[]
- Date Published: 24th March 1992
- Comic Strip (14): The Uninvited, part 1.
- Comic Strip (12): Talons of the Eagle, part 3.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray , part 4.
- Profile: The Hood.
- Cutaway Drawing: The Hood's Temple and 3E Submarine (Desperate Intruder).
- Note: Comic strip The Invisible Ray has been renamed "The Vanishing Ray" in error.
Number 13[]
- Date Published: 4th April 1992
- Comic Strip (14): The Uninvited, part 2.
- Comic Strip (13): Revolution , part 2.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray, part 5.
- Comic Strip (12): Talons of the Eagle, part 4.
- Profile: Tin-Tin.
- Cutaway Drawing: The President (Ocean Liner - non related)
Number 14[]
- Date Published: 18h April 1992
- Comic Strip (14): The Uninvited, part 3.
- Comic Strip (15): The Space Mirror, part 1.
- Comic Strip (11): The Invisible Ray, part 6.
- Comic Strip (16): Antarctic Menace, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: The lost pyramid of Kamandadees (The Uninvited)
- Notes: Comic strip The Invisible Ray has been renamed "The Vanishing Ray" in error again. No price on comic cover.
Number 15[]
- Date Published: 2nd May 1992
- Comic Strip (17): City of Fire, part 1.
- Comic Strip (15): The Space Mirror, part 2.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Riddle, part 1.
- Comic Strip (16): Antarctic Menace, part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Firefly.
- Note: Cover price 70p.
Number 16[]
- Date Published: 16th May 1992
- Comic Strip (17): City of Fire, part 2.
- Comic Strip (16): Antarctic Menage, part 3.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Riddle, part 2.
- Comic Strip (19): Visitor From Space , part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: FAB 2 (Lady Penelope's Yacht).
Number 17[]
- Date Published: 30th May 1992
- Comic Strip (17): City of Fire, part 3.
- Comic Strip (19): Visitor From Space, part 2.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 3.
- Comic Strip (20): Brains is Dead, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Monotrain.
Number 18[]
- Date Published: 13th June 1992
- Comic Strip (22): 30 Minutes After Noon, part 1.
- Comic Strip (19): Visitor From Space, part 3.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 4.
- Comic Strip (20): Brains is Dead, part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Crablogger (Path Of Destruction)
Number 19[]
- Date Published: 27th June 1992
- Comic Strip (22): 30 Minutes After Noon, part 2.
- Comic Strip (20): Brains is Dead, part 3.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 5.
- Comic Strip (19): Visitor From Space, part 4.
- Cutaway Drawing: Unity City (Non related).
Number 20[]
- Date Published: 11th July 1992
- Comic Strip (22): 30 Minutes After Noon, part 3.
- Comic Strip (20): Brains is Dead, part 4.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 6.
- Comic Strip (23): The Space Cannon, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: City of Katania (Non related).
Number 21[]
- Date Published: 25th July 1992
- Comic Strip (24): The Man From MI.5, part 1.
- Comic Strip (25): The Olympic Kidnap Plot, part 1.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 7.
- Comic Strip (23): The Space Cannon, part 2.
- Cutaway Drawing: Bereznik Battle Tank (Non related).
Number 22[]
- Date Published: 8th August 1992
- Comic Strip (24): The Man From MI.5, part 2.
- Comic Strip (25): The Olympic Kidnap Plot, part 2.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 8.
- Comic Strip (23): The Space Cannon, part 3.
- Cutaway Drawing: Martian Space Probe (Day of Disaster)
Number 23[]
- Date Published: 22nd August 1992
- Comic Strip (24): The Man From MI.5, part 3.
- Comic Strip (26): The Devil's Crag, part 1.
- Comic Strip (18): The Isle of Arran Mystery (Riddle), part 9.
- Comic Strip (27): The Eiffel Tower Demolition, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Jumping Jack Helijet
Number 24[]
- Date Published: 5th September 1992
- Comic Strip (28): Martian Invasion, part 1.
- Comic Strip (27): The Eiffel Tower Demolition, part 2.
- Comic Strip (29): Lady Penelope Meets Parker, part 1.
- Comic Strip (26): The Devil's Crag, part 2.
- Poster Thunderbird Two.
Number 25[]
- Date Published: 19th September 1992
- Comic Strip (28): Martian Invasion, part 2.
- Comic Strip (30): The Hawaiian Lobster Menace, part 1.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 2.
- Comic Strip (31): Nuclear Threat, part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: The Gray & Houseman Road Builder (End Of The Road)
Number 26[]
- Date Published: 3rd October 1992
- Comic Strip (28): Martian Invasion, part 3.
- Comic Strip (30): The Hawaiian Lobster Menace, part 2.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 3.
- Comic Strip (31): Nuclear Threat, part 2.
- Poster: The Reconstruction of Thunderbird 5.
Number 27[]
- Date Published: 17th October 1992
- Comic Strip (32): Atlantic Inferno, part 1.
- Comic Strip (31): Nuclear Threat, part 3.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 4.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine , part 1.
- Cutaway Drawing: Lady Penelope's Ranch. (Bonga Bonga)
Number 28[]
- Date Published: 31st October 1992
- Comic Strip (32): Atlantic Inferno, part 2.
- Comic Strip (34): The Zoo Ship, part 1.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 5.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine, part 2.
- Profile: Kyrano.
Number 29[]
- Date Published: 14th November 1992
- Comic Strip (32): Atlantic Inferno, part 3.
- Comic Strip (34): The Zoo Ship, part 2.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 6.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine, part 3.
- Cutaway Drawing: World Navy Aircraft Carrier Atlantic
- Profile: Derek Meddings
Number 30[]
- Date Published: 28th November 1992
- Comic Strip (35): Brink of Disaster, part 1.
- Comic Strip (34): The Zoo Ship, part 3.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker), part 7.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine, part 4.
- Cutaway Drawing: Mateo Island, International Rescue's supply and repair base
- Posters: All 5 Thunderbird craft and the Mole.
Number 31[]
- Date Published: 12th December 1992
- Comic Strip (35): Brink of Disaster , part 2.
- Comic Strip (36): City of Doom , part 1.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker) , part 8.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine , part 5.
Number 32[]
- Date Published: 26th December 1992.
- Comic Strip (35): Brink of Disaster , part 3.
- Comic Strip (36): City of Doom , part 2.
- Comic Strip (37): Blazing Danger, part 1.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker) , part 9.
- Comic Strip (33): The Time Machine , part 6.
Number 33[]
- Date Published: 9th January 1993.
- Comic Strip (35): Brink of Disaster , part 4.
- Comic Strip (36): City of Doom , part 3.
- Comic Strip (37): Blazing Danger, Part 2.
- Comic Strip (29): Mr. Steelman (Lady Penelope Meets Parker) , part 10.
- Comic Strip (38): Chain Reaction , part 1.
Parts 2 and 3[]
For part 2 (issues 34 - 66), see Thunderbirds The Comic Part 2
For part 3 (issues 67 - 89), see The New Thunderbirds Comic