The last classic Thunderbirds annual
To date there have been eleven Thunderbirds annuals released in the UK. The first issued in 1966 was followed by a further two issues, until in 1969 the decision was made to release a joint Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons annual. This did not reach the same sales as in previous years and two more Thunderbirds branded annuals followed in 1970 and 1971, despite having declining focus on Thunderbirds related media.
Twenty years later Thunderbirds had again taken television by storm, and Grandreams Ltd won the contract to release an annual in time for Christmas 1992 and 1993. Incredibly for a third time, thirty-five years after Thunderbirds was first shown on TV, another annual was published in time for Christmas 2000 and again in the following 3 years. The final annual was published late in 2003 making it one of the longest running annuals ever released.
Along side these during 1966 and 1972 there was also annuals aimed at girls based on Lady Penelope and various other AP Films properties, though beyond 1970 they became more of a hard back teenage girl's magazine. These features stories, comics, cooking tips and interveiws with celebrities of the time.
In 1983, Thunderbirds 2086 got its first and only annual as well, and in 2016, the revival Thunderbirds Are Go! also received its first annual (published by ITV).
Releases[]
Thunderbirds[]
A more in-depth look at each title can be found on their respective pages.
- Thunderbirds Annual 1967 (publ. 1966)
- Thunderbirds Annual 1968 (publ. 1967)
- Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds (1969) (publ. 1968)
- Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds Annual (publ. 1969)
- Thunderbirds Annual 1971 (1970)
- Thunderbirds Annual 1972 (1971)
- The Official Thunderbirds Annual (1992)
- The Official Thunderbirds Annual (1993)
- Thunderbirds Top Secret Annual 2001 (2000)
- Thunderbirds International Rescue Annual 2002 (2001)
- Thunderbirds FAB Annual 2003 (2002)
- Thunderbirds Agents Annual 2004 (2003)
TV Century 21[]
While Thunderbirds would be a regular feature in TV Century 21, the Lady Penelope and Zero X series would also enjoy extended runs. As such, these features would go on to be included in the magazine's range of yearly annuals.
- TV Century 21 Annual 1966
- TV Century 21 Annual 1967
- TV Century 21 Annual 1968
- TV21 Annual 1969
- TV21 Annual 1970
Lady Penelope[]
Lady Penelope, the successful 'sister' comic to TV Century 21, would go on to launch its own range of yearly annuals over the years.
- Lady Penelope Annual 1967
- Lady Penelope Annual 1968
- Lady Penelope Annual 1969
- Penelope Annual 1970
- Penelope Annual 1971
- Penelope Annual 1972
Others[]
In 1967, the Candy Thunderbirds strip had three stories printed in the 1967 Candy and Andy annual.
After TV21 folded, Thunderbirds and its related media moved to Countdown, which would publish two annuals in 1971 and 1972.
An annual would be published for ITC's Thunderbirds 2086 in 1983, simply titled the Thunderbirds 2086 Annual.
The 2004 Thunderbirds movie would get an annual of its own, the Thunderbirds Annual 2005.
A single annual would be released for ITV's Thunderbirds Are Go!, the Thunderbirds Are Go! Annual 2016.
Overseas Releases[]
- Thunderbirds Top Secret Jaarboek 2001 (The Top Secret Annual 2001, reprinted in Dutch)
- Thunderbirds FAB Annual 2003 (Reprinted in Japanese)
Trivia[]
- Second-hand copies have been seen for sale in far-away places, such as Japan, which would suggest that the English language versions were sold through-out the world.
- Although Thunderbirds can claim to being published over a span of forty-five years, several other titles such as Rupert Bear, Beano and Dandy have far exceeded this number. The only television show to release more annuals over the years was Doctor Who (1965 to 1986).