Sequential 21 fanzine on course, charting Gerry Anderson show-inspired comics

Thunderbirds art by Frank Bellamy
Thunderbirds art by Frank Bellamy

Work continues apace on a new fanzine, Sequential 21: A Gerry Anderson Comic Book Fanzine, planned as a fanzine/ bookazine that celebrates the worlds of Gerry Anderson comics, from TV Century 21 to Countdown, the Fleetway title’s and beyond – and will includes interviews with a number of comic creators.

Edited by Fred McNamara, author of the recently-published the Spectrum is Indestructible book, and designed by Robert Hammond, it’s been revealed the project will contain retrospectives and fan comics, and interviews with people who’ve worked on Gerry Anderson comics in the past.

Lined up so far are artists Steve Kyte and Andrew Skilleter, and writer and editor Martin Cater.

Thunderbirds the Comic Issue One - Cover by Steve Kyte
Thunderbirds the Comic Issue One – Cover by Steve Kyte

Steve Kyte‘s work is scattered throughout Gerry Anderson comics, annuals, VHS sleeves, and much more,” notes Fred. “I’m thrilled to have him on board for the fanzine. He’s an absolutely brilliant artist – his characters are so dynamic and real and his craft so defined and detailed, with an almost an 3D styling to them.”

Andrew Skilleter was responsible for many of the gorgeous covers for the various Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90 comics published by Fleetway in the 1990s, as well as being the lead artist on “The Complete Thunderbirds Story” for Thunderbirds: The Comic, which also featured strips by Steve Kyte, which has been adapted into video format by the The Official Gerry Anderson Website team, now running on YouTube.

Martin Cater has worked as the editor on numerous official Gerry Anderson comics produced by Network Distributing to accompany their various home releases of Anderson productions, including celebratory TV Century 21, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90 comics.

"Lady Penelope" from TV21 243, written by John Freeman, drawn by John M. Burns and lettered by Jim Campbell
“Lady Penelope” from TV21 243, written by John Freeman, drawn by John M. Burns and lettered by Jim Campbell
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons 4 Limited Edition Blu-Ray set - comic art by Paul McCaffrey
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons 4 Limited Edition Blu-Ray set – comic art by Paul McCaffrey
Network Joe 90 - Strip Sample 1

While you’re waiting for the publication of Sequential 21, you may also be interested in some digital Gerry Anderson fanzines from Fred, published under through Unity City Press that are entirely free for you to download and enjoy.

“They’re rather spontaneous creations, which is my way of saying I don’t put too much thought into them!” Fred cautions.

Secret Spectrafiles Exposed!

“My debut fanzine, Secret Spectrafiles Exposed! is a 16-page Captain Scarlet fanzine that acts as a companion to Spectrum is Indestructible. It contains a bibliography of Captain Scarlet‘s TV21 adventures, a timeline of key events scattered throughout Captain Scarlet‘s comic book career and my personal top 10 best TV21 adventures for Spectrum’s top agent. It’s sent out into the world in a TV21-esque cover.

TV21 Digital Dossier

“The TV21 Digital Dossier is a 41-page collection of Gerry Anderson fanfics designed as TV21 front covers, nearly each one telling a unique story set in the shared universe of the comic.

“The TV21 Digital Dossier is my first genuine stab at Gerry Anderson fan fiction,” Fred reveals, “inspired by making the cover for Secret Spectrafiles Exposed!.

“The 23-page Century Zero is the sequel to the TV21 Digital Dossier and is a TV21 annual-styled publication packed with text features, character bios and vehicle specs for all of the original characters introduced in the TV21 Digital Dossier.

• If you’re a comic creator interested in contributing to the zine, drop Fred an email via sequential21@gmail.com

• Fred McNamara is online at fredmcnamara.com where he’ll share updates on Sequential 21 as work progresses

• Buy Spectrum is Indestructible here

• Captain Scarlet on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Century Zero

Unity City Press Fanzines

Secret Spectrafiles Exposed! (March 2020)

TV21 Digital Dossier (April 2020)

Century Zero (May 2020)

Find Unity City Press on Facebook

Sequential 21: A Gerry Anderson Fanzine is an unofficial, non-profit publication. All illustrative material remains the property of its respective copyright holders



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