Iconic Ron Embleton “Captain Scarlet” art comes to auction at Bonhams

By John Freeman on April 27, 2022

*“Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons: Artwork board No. 1 For The End Title Sequence”, by Ron Embleton*

An upcoming auction of Rock, Pop and Film Memorabilia at Bonhams includes two of the stunning end credit artworks for Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1960s TV show, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, painted by Ron Embleton.

The artworks are expected to sell for between £3000 – 5000 the auction taking place online on 4th May 2022.

The Captain Scarlet artwork offered places the Spectrum agent in jeopardy, in scenes unlikely to have ever featured in the show itself, but worthy of the perils he faced in the comic strip for TV21 of the day.

*“Captain Scarlet and The Mysterons: Artwork board No. 7 For The End Title Sequence”, by Ron Embleton*

Ron Embleton (1930-1988) is celebrated as a definitive portrayer of Captain Scarlet. In 1965, Embleton joined TV Century 21, where he illustrated 67 Stingray comic strips before producing work on Captain Scarlet. The artwork on offer are two of ten artworks executed by Embleton, seen in the end title sequence at the end of each episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Each scene shows Captain Scarlet seemingly in grave peril, with others depicting a giant cobra, sharks, and a tank. By 1968, Embleton had left the comic but continued to produce illustrations for Gerry Anderson merchandise.

Each image in the auction was used for two sets of credits in the end title sequence. The artwork for Artwork board No. 1 is on screen for Executive Producer Gerry Anderson, and Director Dave Lane. The art for Artwork board No. 7 is on screen for for Visual Effects Director, Art Director, Designers, Sculpting Supervisor, Visual Effects Production Manager, Wardrobe, and Dialogue Synchroniser.

The Day The Earth Stood Still 20th Century Fox, 1951, US window card via Bonhams

Barbarella Paramount Pictures, 1968, US one-sheet, Style B via Bonhams

While most of the auction largely consists of music-related ephemera, including David Bowie, The Beatles and punk rarities, also on offer is a smashing The Day the Earth Stood Still window card, a framed Barbarella poster, a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang prop car, and other film-related items.

• Check out the full Rock, Pop & Film Online including The Gary Moore Collection Part III auction here

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.