TV21, published in November 1969, was the last independent weekly comic to reach a landmark 200th issue.
After some research by top comics author and events organiser Paul Gravett, The Phoenix team used TV21 Issue 200 as their marker for the claim, published by City Magazines. The Gerry Anderson-inspired comic strips included “Captain Scarlet”, “Thunderbirds” and adventures strips such as “The Saint” (joining the title after its recent merger with TV Tornado with Issue 192). But some have questioned the claim that City Magazines – a company whose assets are today owned by the Daily Express – was really an ‘independent’ publisher.
A scene from “Captain Scarlet” in TV21 200, as Spectrum muffs a chance to gain some alien allies against the Mysterons. Art by Keith Watson
A scene from “The Saint”, in which Simon Templar proves so incredible he can have a long conversation with a foe despite having a bucket of cold water being poured over his head. Talk about your edited storytelling!
Cracking art from Mike Noble on “Zero X” from TV21 200
Once Upon A Time – an often-forgotten City Magazines title.
The company also published the lavish nursery comic, Once Upon A Time, with stunning full-colour artwork by the likes of Don Lawrence, Jesus Blasco and Ron Embleton.
While it’s highly unlikely any regular downthetubes reader will want re-categorise any of those, and TV21, as independent comics, we of course don’t want to rain on The Phoenix‘s parade on a point of pedantry, but we couldn’t let them get off scot free on the matter!
It’s great news that The Phoenix is now available in WH Smiths across the UK and the creators and editorial team deserve plenty of praise for their efforts getting a genuine strip-filled comic into more retailers. Well done to them all.
• Look out for coverage of The Phoenix on the Guardian Children’s Books site, live comic workshops on national radio and a twitter takeover by Phoenix artists using the #HappyPhoenix200.
• The Phoenix being stocked in WH Smith (in high street stores – not railway stations or airports) for the first time and the publishers have also launched a loyalty scheme for those children who buy the comic weekly from independent booksellers. For a list of stockists and the latest news visit www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk | Follow The Phoenix on Twitter @phoenixcomicuk
With thanks to Jeremy Briggs, Calum Laird and Lew Sringer for the online banter that prompted this. Thanks also to Philip Rushton.
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
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I remember all that artwork from Marts Press who put together Once Upon A Time for City magazines
Roger Perry has written a number of articles on Leonard Matthews and his Countdown days that will be published in due course.
like the mike noble art but,,,,NEED more mike noble…Puhleeeeeez!!!!!!
mike noble …. collection! WoW! what a good idea.