2012 looks set to be a good year for new comics and graphic albums, with the new Strip Magazine leading the way. Launched last October by Print Media Productions, Strip Magazine is described by the Publishers as ‘an adventure anthology comic featuring some great art and stories from some brilliant creators, including PJ Holden, John McCrea, Michael Penick, John Ridgway and many more!’ 

For more information about the Convention and Strip Magazine, please follow the links below.

It doesn’t end there either, as comic artist Tim Perkins recently published the first of his graphic novel series, Worlds End, Volume 1, The Riders on the Storm. Described as a ‘Science Fusion’ concept, Worlds End combines science-fiction and fantasy in an ‘all-ages friendly’ adventure.

Tim has a blog called Wizards Keep which has all the background information generally. To accompany the first volume being published, a very inviting website for Worlds End has also been launched.

Good luck to everyone concerned with these and other forthcoming publishing projects, onwards and upwards!

Welcome to the party!

On Saturday 20th August, Fanderson – The Official Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society, celebrated its thirtieth birthday with a party at the hotel, Crowne Plaza Marlow in Buckinghamshire. The event was an opportunity for members and invited guests to reminisce about various aspects of Fanderson’s thirty years.

While the evening was not intended to be like a convention with talks and autograph sessions etc, several guests and committee members kindly gathered together on the terrace for an impromptu photo-call. Below with guests Shane Rimmer, Matt Zimmerman and David Graham are Jack Messent and past Committee Member Lorraine Malby.

L-R: Jack Messent, Shane Rimmer, Matt Zimmerman, David Graham, Lorraine Malby.

Below with the same guests are former Fanderson Chairman, Chris Bentley and FAB magazine Co-Editor, Ian Fryer.

L-R: Chris Bentley, Shane Rimmer, Matt Zimmerman, David Graham (with Parker's hat), Ian Fryer.

Fanderson has always been a good way of getting to know like-minded people during its first thirty years. Below are Anthony Freeman and Anthony Barnes, two fans and model makers who loved the series of Gerry Anderson.

Tony, Yours Truly and Tony.

Tony (Barnes) currently has albums on Facebook, showing mainly his modelwork at the moment, with more shared creations being uploaded over time. Here are the links: Sci-Fi Models 1, Sci-Fi Models 2, Miniatures.

During the evening, Tony and Tony also told me about a new forum principally for Gerry Anderson’s Space: 1999, called All Sections Alpha.

There’s currently a detailed article about the event on Fanderson’s Website. Events Co-Ordinator, Katie Bleathman has posted photos from the event on Flickr. Many thanks to everyone concerned for an enjoyable way to celebrate the first thirty years!

Happy Birthday Fanderson!

More ‘Flickr’ Fanderson Birthday pictures here.

Welcome to TV21.

On the weekend of October 22nd – 24th, Fanderson – The Official Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society, held its latest full convention, TV21: Adventure In The 21st Century, at the hotel Ramada Bristol City.

The convention venue.

As with past conventions, TV21 featured numerous guests associated with Gerry Anderson’s productions, along with screenings of episodes and rare material, plus an exhibition room with artwork, models and props.

Artwork, models and props.

While certain areas such as the Dealers Room and Registration were open from 2pm on the Friday, the convention fully got under way that evening, with a special screening of the Barry Gray Centenary Concert, which had taken place at London’s Royal Festival Hall in November ’08.

On the Saturday, a unique item was the official launch and book-signing by Shane Rimmer, for his autobiography From Thunderbirds To Pterodactyls; the book itself being the first released title from the new imprint Signum Books (featured in an earlier post).

Shane Rimmer and yours truly.

The exhibition room featured a large collection of published artwork, including many boards by Mike Noble for TV Century 21.

Artwork by Mike Noble and Don Lawrence.

A Century 21 art gallery.

Also on display, Fireball XL5 artwork by Dan Dare creator, Frank Hampson.

Frank Hampson meets Century 21!

Among a display of original models and replicas, there were several examples from Space: 1999.

The iconic Eagle from Space: 1999.

It was clear from the general atmosphere that everyone, including the hotel staff, had enjoyed the weekend. Many thanks to Fanderson and everyone involved in making TV21 such a great event.

Signs of the times!

For more TV21 information, click on Fanderson’s own convention website.

More TV21 convention pictures here.

Edited by Chris Bentley, who has written and edited several Gerry Anderson related books, the Century 21 series presents digitally restored reprints of classic adventures from TV Century 21 and the later comic Countdown.

A website for the new company has also been launched, which although in the process of being built, already has a feature on the history of TV Century 21. For more information about Signum Books generally, click here.

While the general style and quality of Eagle provided inspiration for many other later comics (including TV Century 21), the most popular and successful element was undoubtedly Dan Dare, created, written and principally illustrated by Eagle’s co-founder Frank Hampson.

As mentioned in an earlier post, PS Publishing are marking the sixtieth anniversary with the launching of Tomorrow Revisited, a completely new version of Alastair Crompton’s earlier book about Frank Hampson and his work, The Man Who Drew Tomorrow. The new book can be ordered directly from their website (below left).

Tomorrow Revisited also features seven unused characters created by Frank Hampson for Eagle, showing examples in print for the first time, along with concept and adventure background details. The seven character formats specifically, along with other examples of Frank Hampson’s work, can be seen in Wakefield Carter’s website (also written by Alastair Crompton), The Lost Characters Of Frank Hampson (below right).

As for Dan Dare himself, as featured in earlier posts, he lives on in the pages of Spaceship Away, with the twentieth issue currently on sale and issue 21 in preparation.

So it’s a special sixtieth anniversary for Eagle and of course, Happy Birthday Dan Dare!

Described as ‘a celebration of all kinds of comics for all kinds of people’, the festival will include guest discussions about Eagle, which has a special significance as the event takes place shortly after the sixtieth anniversary of both the comic and Dan Dare on April 14th.

Well, you need to laugh sometimes!

Thank-you to Nick Spender, one of the guests at Spaceship Away Day, for sending me a few of his pictures to post on the blog, especially as they include Greta Tomlinson, the main guest from the original Eagle years (I never did get round to asking if I could take her picture on the day).

Greta Tomlinson.

Here’s a look at some of the models by Sid Clark, as shown in the ‘Flickr’ set linked to the previous Away Day post, but this time with Sid as well.

Sid Clark and his models.

And finally, Tim Booth or as Nick said, “Tim looking villainous after the fish and chips – or maybe it’s indigestion”?

Tim Booth, anything The Mekon can do...

Spaceship Away Day Poster.

On Saturday November 14th, a special event for the magazine Spaceship Away was held at Chine Bridge Lodge, Bournemouth (UK).

Launched in 2003 by Rod Barzilay, Spaceship Away presents completely new adventures of the original version of Dan Dare. Over time, the magazine has introduced other stories alongside Dan Dare, such as Nick Hazard, created by Philip Harbottle and John Lawrence and illustrated by Ron Turner, with digital colouring and reformatting by John Ridgway. A new concept has also been featured, Ex Astris, written by John Freeman and illustrated completely in CGI by Mike Nicoll.

The event itself was an opportunity for subscribers to meet various people connected with the magazine as well as additional guests such as Greta Tomlinson, one of the original Eagle artists working with Frank Hampson on Dan Dare.

On the first guest panel, Tim Booth spoke about his Dan Dare artwork in the magazine and in particular, The Gates Of Eden, on which he is both writer and illustrator.

On the same panel, Paul Stephenson from PS Publishing and Alastair Crompton made the first public announcement of a new version of Alastair’s earlier book about Frank Hampson and Eagle, The Man Who Drew Tomorrow. To emphasise the fact that the new book is not simply a reprint or slight alteration, it has the new title of Tomorrow Revisited. It’s planned for the the book to be launched in time for the sixtieth anniversary of Dan Dare next April.

Tim Booth, Alastair Crompton, Paul Stephenson.

Graham Bleathman gave a talk with examples of the various cutaway illustrations he’s produced for the magazine.

Graham Bleathman with Anastasia cutaway.

Nick Spender gave a talk relating to his earlier article in Spaceship Away, but with extra anecdotes, about his time as a student at Epsom Art School when Frank Hampson was teaching there.

Nick Spender.

Frank Hampson at Epsom School of Art and Design.

Other items during the day, included a talk by Andrew Skilleter about his Dan Dare artwork generally, plus working with Keith Watson on Dan Dare in New Eagle.

A separate room was used to display various items, such as Dan Dare models by Sid Clark (several of which have been shown in the magazine), Howard Love, Mike Wood and Chris Tubb. There were also original art boards and reproductions, along with a whole range of classic Dan Dare merchandise.

Dan Dare merchandise.

Altogether, it was an enjoyable day to celebrate a great magazine, many thanks to all concerned.

More Spaceship Away Day pictures here!

Anastasia cutaway.

Find more photos like this on downthetubes British Comics Forum