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Why Frank Bellamy was the perfect artist for “Thunderbirds” in TV21

By John Freeman on August 3, 2019

“Thunderbirds “ for TV21 by Frank Bellamy

Many artists illustrated the bountiful level of sequential action in the 1960s comic TV Century 21, with every Gerry Anderson-themed strip featuring several artists working on them at varying points. Artists often crossed over from strip to strip, with the likes of Mike Noble, Ron Embleton and Jim Watson having substantial coverage on “Captain Scarlet”. Noble and Watson would also illustrate “Zero-X”, whilst “Stingray” was split between Ron, Gerry Embleton and Michael Strand.

However, journalist, critic and writer Fred McNamara argues Frank Bellamy’s depiction of “Thunderbirds” remains TV21’s most memorable strip, and with good reason, and you can read his article here on Sequential TwentyOne.

Fred currently writes for We Are Cult, ComicScene UK, Starburst magazine and Andersonic and is the author of the upcoming Spectrum is Indestructible from Chinbeard Books – bizarrely still not listed on bookseller sites and hard to find on the publisher’s own portal.

• Why Frank Bellamy was the perfect artist for “Thunderbirds” in TV21

• If you’re web surfing, then visit Norman Boyd’s brilliant Frank Bellamy Checklist Blog, too!

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.