While Frank Bellamy, who also drew “Dan Dare“, Garth” and “Heros the Spartan” is the artist most associated with drawing “Thunderbirds”, Don Lawrence, co-creator of “The Trigan Empire” and “Storm“, also had a crack at the Gerry Anderson property.
As part of the promotions for the big screen film, Thunderbirds are Go, Don Lawrence was commissioned to draw a 28-part promotional strip attributed to TV Century 21 editor Alan Fennell for the Daily Mail – and a rare example is up for sale on Catawiki, the auction closing later today.
The strip itself launched in the Daily Mail on 5th December 1966, shortly before the film hit cinemas in the UK on the 12th, one of several promotions for the big screen feature. As Gerry Anderson strip authority Shaqui le Vesconte has previously related, it was accompanied by a feature, “If you’re tempted to scoff at Thunderbirds – Remember What Went Before,” noting some how “sci-fi writers” had accurately predicted future technologies, Arthur C. Clarke and Fred Hoyle name checked.
The strip ran for 28 episodes, omitting some scenes from the film, Don Lawrence’s signature appearing on Episode 25, confirming it as his work, commissioned through the Temple Art Agency.
• You can bid on the art here on Catawiki – bidding closed today, Monday 22nd January 2024 at 7.00pm
UPDATE, 23rd January 2024: The art sold for €380
• Two other Don Lawrence artworks form “The Trigan Empire” are also currently on offer on Catawiki, here, and here
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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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