"The Vanishing Ray" is the first story in Thunderbirds Versus the Hood, the first full-cast audio adventure from Anderson Entertainment. It was adapted from the Lady Penelope comic strip of the same name, which was originally published in TV Century 21.
Unlike the original story, the audio edition is set after Lady Penelope has joined International Rescue, yet still concerns her going up against both the Hood and MI5 over the invisible ray torch.
Synopsis[]
When Lady Penelope gets a strange new invention in the post, MI5 and International Rescue's evil nemesis the Hood soon comes calling... And now it's up to her ladyship and the stalwart Parker to solve the mystery of the vanishing ray!
Cast[]
- Genevieve Gaunt - Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
- Jon Culshaw - Jeff Tracy, Parker
- Justin T. Lee - The Hood
- Wayne Forester - Brains, Head of MI5
- Joe Jameson - Steel
- Andrew Clements - Driver
IR Equipment Used[]
Trivia[]
- The Vanishing Ray apparently takes place between the events of Terror from the Stars and Peril in Peru, as Jeff and Penelope seem fairly unfamiliar with the Hood's identity, whilst the Hood seems fairly familiar with Lady Penelope.
- The Vanishing Ray is most likely set before the events of The Abominable Snowman, as the Hood still intends to kill Lady Penelope after he makes his escape from M.I.5.
- Brains makes use of his Mr. Hackenbacker alias, and on at least one occasion would forget it was supposed to be his name. Previous stories in TV21 would often make out that Mr. Hackenbacker was indeed Brains' real name (with his first name being Horatio), meaning it doesn't quite make sense that Brains would struggle to remember it. However, it does line up with the television episode Alias Mr. Hackenbacker.
- The reason for the Vanishing Ray being sent to Penelope is different to the one in the original comic strip. In the original, which takes place before Introducing Thunderbirds/Blazing Danger and Trapped in the Sky, the ray was used to test Penelope to see if she would be suitable to become an International Rescue agent. In the audio version however, which takes place after these episodes, Brains intended to give the ray to the British Secret Service, but had to send it to Penelope to keep it safe when the Hood tries to steal it.
- Unlike in the original comic strip, after supposedly stealing the ray from Creighton-Ward Manor, the Hood tests it on himself, instead of one of the seats in his car and when Penelope gives the ray to the Head of the British Secret Service, he then accidentally uses it on his index finger.