Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 “Thunderbirds” art up for auction

By John Freeman on December 22, 2014

Thunderbirds art from TV Century 21 Issue 141 by Frank Bellamy

Three Thunderbirds art boards drawn by Frank Bellamy for TV Century 21 Issues 141 and 142 are up for auction through the US Heritage Auctions web site in February 2015.

The pages – all a trifle faded with age – are from the story known in fan circles (the original story had no title) known as “The Earthquake Maker” and The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History site suggests the story may have been written by Scott Goodall.

Both pages from Issue 141, published in 1967, are on offer from the story which opens with an earthquake decimating the city of Tashfar, home to a project that was designed to fertilise the Persian deserts. A ring of fire surrounds the city, blocking conventional rescue. The people trapped inside have only one chance – International Rescue. When Thunderbirds One and Two arrive in the Danger Zone a man who approaches them is shot before he can talk, but manages to scrawl a cryptic message in the sand.

In Issue 142, Scott, Virgil and Brains have no time to consider the dead man’s message. Using the Mole, they tunnel into Tashfar and lead the trapped people to safety – but International Rescue’s scientist suspicions are aroused by the nature of the quakes.

Here are the auction guides for all three pages, which will be auctioned during the Comics and Signature Art Auction in New York, 19th – 21st February 2015, which also features art by the likes of Jack Davis, Frank Frazetta, Jamie Hernandez, Gil Kane, Bernie Wrightson and a single Modesty Blaise strip, drawn by Jim Holdaway.

• Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 #141 Page 18 Thunderbirds Original Art (IPC, 1967)

Several titles produced in the UK featured original comic page format stories of characters and shows from British television. This one specifically showcased the works of Gerry Anderson. His shows typically relied on puppets and miniatures with special effects. They had a fantastic futuristic design sense, as evident by the cars on this page. The page is ink and watercolor over graphite on illustration board with an image area of 12″ x 16.25″. The colors are beautiful. There is production tape on the edge margins, otherwise in Excellent condition.

Thunderbirds art from TV Century 21 Issue 141 by Frank Bellamy

• Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 #141 Page 19 Thunderbirds Original Art (IPC, 1967)

This great page shows the space station Thunderbird-5, the rocket Thunderbird-1, and the beloved modular transport craft Thunderbird-2. The page is ink and watercolor over graphite on illustration board with an image area of 12″ x 16.25″. The colors are beautiful and it is signed in the art image at the bottom edge. There is production tape on the edge margins, otherwise in Excellent condition.

Thunderbirds art from TV Century 21 Issue 142 by Frank Bellamy

• Frank Bellamy TV Century 21 #142 Page 18 Thunderbirds Original Art (IPC, 1967)

This page shows some of the technology that made the series so popular. The Mole is exiting a cargo pod on the transport vehicle Thunderbird-2. It also features two of the Tracy brothers, Scott and Virgil, along with the teams scientist “Brains”. Like several of the artists on other Gerry Anderson properties, Frank Bellamy chose to draw the characters like real people instead of looking like the puppets used in the TV show itself. The page is ink and watercolor over graphite on illustration board with an image area of 12″ x 16.25″. The colours are simply beautiful. There is production tape on the edge margins, otherwise in Excellent condition.

• Heritage Auctions: http://comics.ha.com

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.