December 2003

Terrahawks set for release on DVD in the US in January 2004

A 5 disc set of Terrahawks will be released in the US on 27th January 2004. It comes with 39 episode and does contain some extras as well:

• Commentary with Director Tony Bell and Associate Producer Bob Bell on "Gunfight at Oakey's Corral"
• Commentary with Effects Director Steven Begg on "From Here to Infinity"
• Photo Gallery: Production Stills Slideshow Narrated by Steven Begg
• Photo Gallery: Tony and Bob Bell at Bray Studios
• Terrahawks Revealed: Ten Codes,History, Vehicles, and Character Descriptions

New Stingray CGI movie?

A company in North Carolina appears to be working on a pilot/test movie based on Stingray. The company is called Dreamstable Entertainment and it looks like the movie will be a CGI production. This marks the second Supermarionation series to be revamped using computer animation after Captain Scarlet started production recently in the UK. This is what they have to say about it:

"The Golden Voyage of Stingray" - An original feature-length screenplay and animated promo short - written, produced and directed by David Hugh-Jones for Carlton International Media Limited.

November 2003

New UFO book and Captain Scarlet music CD

Two great new items just in time for the holiday season. The "Complete Book of Gerry Anderson's UFO" carries on the tradition of the other Anderson books written by Chris Bentley. Great pictures and plenty of interesting content.

The Captain Scarlet music CD contains all original Barry Gray music, restored and ready for action. Unmissable for any fans of the show.

Reviews of both items will appear shortly.

New Thunderbirds toys available in Japan

If you missed out on the Konami thunderbirds toys earlier this year, your luck is in. Konami has re-issued the complete set of vehicles, but not the figures. This time they are not a limited run and you can get a box of 12 in random packing order for about $40. Forget ebay, go to Hobby Link Japan and place your order there. One box should get you most, if not all of the original set of 10 vehicles. They are snap together and stunningly detailed.

If you have a bit more cash, while at HLJ, pick up the 3 CWE (Charawheels Ultimate Edition) sets from hotwheels. Last year hotwheels did die cast versions of Stingray(!), FAB1 and SPV. The CWE sets are all die-cast and come in nice presentation boxes. Each box costs around $28. The complete set of 3 includes 12 vehicles, as well as hover bike figures and Braman the robot. This is a set not to be missed.

Captain Scarlet game killed?!?!!

Sadly, it looks as if Batfish Studios will not be releasing their eagerly awaited Captain Scarlet game for the PC. The game was set for release this month. Here is what they have to say:

Unfortunately due to licensing issues and final approval issues we will not be launching our Captain Scarlet Retaliation game on the 14th November 2003 as we originally planned.

This decision was out of our hands and we are greatly disappointed that we are not in the position to launch the Captain Scarlet Retaliation Game. 

Obviously, this is a blow to all concerned. There is an interview with the developers on this site. Includes high res renders. Another one here. Sigh.

September 2003

New UFO DVD mega set coming soon in US

A new "mega set" containing all episodes of UFO will be available in October. It will contain all the material from the previous 2 sets, plus extras only available in this set.

It has commentary by Creator Gerry Anderson on the Premiere Episode "Identified", commentary with Actor Ed Bishop on "Sub Smash", commentary with Co-Creator Sylvia Anderson and Actress Wanda Ventha on "Timelash", commentary with Director Alan Perry & Actor Mike Billington on "Kill Straker!"

Win the UFO mega set from TV Century 21 and New Video!

New Captain Scarlet game

Batfish Studios will be releasing the Captain Scarlet game in November.The game is called "Retaliation". From the site:

Captain Scarlet: Retaliation is a real time tactical strategy game where gamers attempt to halt the Mysteron’s evil plans by controlling up to six Spectrum agents.

Based on the cult Gerry Anderson TV series, the game features addictive game play, three levels of difficulty, stunning graphics and the rich background of the original series to create a compelling game that will appeal to a wide range of players.

Firestorm update

The japanese anime show associated with Gerry Anderson is now available on DVD. Unclear exactly how legit the DVDs are as they are primarily available via ebay. The theme song is available on a CD from CD Japan. Go to there and place a search for the song title "stormy love", and you'll find the theme single for Firestorm!

August 2003

New Die-cast Anderson toys coming soon

A company called Product Enterprise in the UK will be releasing a number of very interesting looking die-cast vehicles over the next few months. The following models will be released:

• Space:1999 Eagle: September 2003
• Supercar: February 2004
• UFO Interceptor: May 2004
• Fireball XL5: 2004
• Stingray: 2004

Each model will be part of a limited edition set (6000) and come in a diarama presentation box. Prices should be around £40 each. I can't wait.

Reproduction boxes available for Dinky and Budgie cars

A company based in the UK called The ReproBoxCo is making reproduction boxes of die-cast toys such as Dinky and Budgie.

They carry the whole line of Gerry Anderson Dinky toys and recently added the Budgie Supercar box to their lineup.

Boxes come in a variety of levels, Standard, Original and Special.

New FAB1 die-cast - from Corgi!

Corgi will be releasing a die-cast FAB1 later this year. It appears to be a completely new model, rather than a re-issue of the original Dinky model.

The model features Lady Penelope and Parker, as well as a rocket firing from the front as well as rockets from the back.

Corgi was originally going to be the licensee back in the 1960s, but Dinky Toys ended up with the licence.

Corgi went as far as to make a prototype, wonder if this is how it might have turned out?

Release date for this has been set for September. The scale is 1:43.

July 2003

New MM comics!

Misc!Mayhem Productions has cancelled plans for a regular series of Supercar, Fireball XL5 and UFO comics. The Fireball XL5 and UFO number 0 comics are ready and should be available this month.

However, this is by no means the end of the story. Rather than have three separate comics, in September they will launch a 48 page comic called SUPERMARIONATION ADVENTURES No. 1 of 5 that will feature both SUPERCAR and FIREBALL XL5.

Fans will have their pick of covers as they will split the run between covers that spotlight SUPERCAR or XL5.

SUPERMARIONATION ADVENTURES will be bi-monthly, 48 pages, and retail for $5.99.

In October they will ship UFO No. 1 of 3, which will now be 48 pages, bi-monthly and retail for $5.99.

UFO S.H.A.D.O. t-shirts are on sale now, and they will soon be producing a FIREBALL XL5 shirt (see attached).

Lastly, they have approval for a Captain Scarlet series which we'll be revealing more about in the near future.

JL "Classic" Supercar to be available signed!

Misc!Mayhem Productions is set to release a Special Edition Graydon "Mike Mercury" Gould autographed
Black and White Johnny Lightning Supercars. He will sign these at Comic-Con just a few short days away. You can purchase one for $30.00 via PayPal (use This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as the paying address) or send a check or money order to:

Mike Mercury Edition Supercar
Misc.MAYHEM Productions
P.O.Box 191548
Dallas, TX 75219

The car will be available in normal (unsigned) versions for $14.95 soon, as well as part of the "Platinum set"(see below).

Joe 90 to be released on DVD in the US

The US release of Joe 90 arrives July 29 2003. All 30 episodes of the JOE 90 series will be available as a Collector's Set. Extras include commentary with designer, Mike Trim on "The Most Special Agent," and director, Ken Turner on "The Unorthodox Shepherd". Details:

• Commentary by designer Mike Trim on the pilot episode 'The Most Special Agent'
• Commentary by director Ken Turner on 'The Unorthodox Shepherd'
• All 30 episodes on 4 discs
• Character biographies
• Data files: Equipment and location briefings
• Photo gallery
• Number of discs: 4

order now from Amazon.

June 2003

New JL Supercars

Misc!Mayhem Productions, publishers of  new comic book adventures based on Gerry Anderson's SUPERCAR 1959 television series, is releasing 3 new custom variations based on the 1/64th scale diecast model of SUPERCAR released by Johnny Lightning in 2001. The release of SUPERCAR as a part of "Hollywood on Wheels III" was welcomed  by  fans of the show as no new SUPERCAR merchandise had been released in almost forty years.

The only mitigating circumstances of the release were that the extended wings were painted yellow when they should have been white, and the fuselage lacked the distinctive SUPERCAR logos. Johnny Lightning, being sticklers for accuracy, released a second version with retracted (short) wings correctly color white, and the SUPERCAR logos in their proper places.

Also in 2001 Misc!MAYHEM Productions came to an agreement with Carlton International Media to produce new comic book adventures based on the original television series. When the Johnny Lightning diecast of SUPERCAR was released, Misc!MAYHEM was instantly interested in the possibility of creating custom versions of the car. After much negotiation and discussion, it was determined that there would be three limited edition variations:

1. A "Classic" SUPERCAR. This is an accurate repaint of the original extended wing model released with "Hollywood on Wheels III". The wings are white and the SUPERCAR logos are properly in place.
2. The SUPERCAR "Condor". In the new adventures of SUPERCAR to be published by Misc!MAYHEM in the Fall of 2003 in "Supermarionation Adventures" (which will also features the new adventures of FIREBALL XL5), new vehicles based on the fantastic SUPERCAR technology will be introduced. Primarily produced for law enforcement and military use, the black-and-silver "Condor" model SUPERCAR  is also manufactured as unique transportation for the super-rich.
3. The Black and White TV Edition. Harkening back to the days when fans were only privy to grayscale images of SUPERCAR on they're small black and white television screens, this variation of the Johnny Lighting SUPERCAR features the short, retracted wings, and is presented in glorious shades of gray. The packaging also features the Supermarionettes from the original program.

Each variation of the Johnny Lightning SUPERCAR diecast was limited to a production run of 3500 units.

Currently Misc!MAYHEM Productions is offering for pre-sale a "Platinum Edition Collectors Set" which includes one of each diecast variant, a signed copy of the SUPERCAR No. 0 comic book, an original pencil sketch by writer/artist Kez Wilson and a numbered certificate of authenticity.  This collector's set is only offered through Misc!MAYHEM Productions web site for $39.95 (price includes shipping for the US, additional shipping charges apply for international orders). After July 31st, 2003, the "Platinum Collectors Set" will no longer be offered.

Each individual Johnny Lightning SUPERCAR variant will be available for $14.95 (includes US shipping) as supplies last.

April 2003

Denise Bryer and Jeremy Hitchen.	From left to right: Denise Bryer, Jeremy Hitchen (with script) Robbie (Ben) Stevens and Anne Ridler.	Denise Bryer with a couple of zeroids.

Terrahawks Cast Reunited! (updated)

Recently, four of the five Terrahawks cast members reunited after 20
years. This was for a featurette that will appear on the third set of UK DVDs later this year. Interviews were done with the team as well as some voice acting! Photos by Andrew Swann. Click on the images for a larger version of each.

The information was originally sent in by the writer and director of the piece, Stephen La Riviere. He sent in more details:

I was responsible for getting everyone there - but I did have help finding the voice artistes from a helpful lady and from Elizabeth Morgan - who was of course Destiny Angel in Captain Scarlet. She also attended the day to say 'hello' to Denise and Robbie who she hadn't seen in 20 years!

It is true we get to see them do some acting. I won't say too much about what they do, but I can say that the photograph shows them reading the final scene from an original script of 'Two for the Price of One'.

The piece was shot last Friday, 11th April, in London.

The whole cast were delightful on the day and I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life. On the day we were lucky enough to be joined by Stew Dapples and Cy-star (the puppet forms) and two zeroids.

Don't forget to check out my web site, www.supermarionation.net - we'll shortly be running a competition to win one of three Terrahawks box sets signed by Denise Bryer, Ben Stevens, Jeremy Hitchen, Anne Ridler and Kevin Davies.

Fireball XL5 comic coming soon!

Got word from the publishers of the Supercar comic that the Fireball XL5 comic is in production and should be available April 30. To the right is preview art from the Fireball XL5 comic.

The Misc!Mayhem site will be giving away sets of Supercar, Fireball XL5 and UFO DVDs. This is to coincide with the publication of the comics from each series. The new Supercar DVD set will feature a sticker for a free comic offer inside.

Here are the preview pages for Supercar, Fireball XL5 and UFO.

Firestorm TV show debuts in Japan!

The TV show Firestorm has finally started in Japan and there is an official website as well as a Firestorm shop web site selling clothing and other items.

The show appears to be a standard Anime show, except that it is "Based upon an idea by Gerry Anderson and John Needham". Please drop me a line if you have any further information.

Thunderbirds Movie News gets its own page!

Due to the substantial amount of information coming in about the Thunderbirds movie, I have set up a special page just to contain news and information about it. All news relevant to the movie will go there from now on.

Thunderbirds exhibition to tour Japan!

Japanese media group Tohokushinsha Film Corporation has announced that it will be creating a large scale, touring THUNDERBIRDS exhibition to coincide with the latest broadcast of the series in Japan.  The classic 'Supermarionation' series will be broadcast for the first time since 1966 on the national platform, NHK. 
 
The tour, set to run in 10 venues for up to 2 years, will commence in late March with an exhibition at Laforet Harajuku, a shopping centre located in one of Tokyo's most popular and trendy shopping districts.  Entitled 'THUNDERBIRDS MODERN', the exhibition will feature an array of themed rooms, including 'The Tracy Art Saloon', displaying forty original illustrations from the famous illustrator, the late Shigeru Komatsuzaki; 'Salute to THUNDERBIRDS' from the renowned Japanese expert, Hideaki Ito; 'Gerry's Studio' with original puppets; 'THUNDERBIRDS in Tokyo' a display of ideas from top Japanese artists for new THUNDERBIRDS vehicles and a modern version of the programme; and the 'THUNDERBIRDS Experience', a recreation of the inside of Thunderbird 1.  The exhibition will be launched with a range of promotions including the screening of THUNDERBIRDS episodes in 30 café/bars in the Tokyo area, TV and magazine advertisements and promotion on the official THUNDERBIRDS website in Japan, www.tbjapan.com.
 
Tohokushinsa, which licenses rights to the property in Japan from Carlton International, has also announced a raft of new licensing deals and extensions.  On the high-tech front, a cellular phone content transmission service, currently only available on the EZ-WEB platform is being extended to I-MODE and J-SKY.  I-MODE is run by NTT DoCoMo, which is presently the leading telecoms company in Japan, and has previously used THUNDERBIRDS in a television advertising campaign to promote a range of its services.
 
The THUNDERBIRDS branded advertising campaign from Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Company has also proved hugely successful, with the TV commercial set to continue until August this year.
 
In addition, a deal has been agreed with Fuji Shoji for THUNDERBIRDS Pachinko machines, enormously popular in Japan where Pachinko Parlours house rows and rows of these traditional slot machines, derived from a pinball-style game.  Plastic vehicles and character mini-marionettes will form part of leading arcade games supplier Taito's summer range of arcade game prizes.
 
Nick Yanagida, of Tohokushinsha's Merchandising & Licensing Department said, "We are pleased with the huge success of Thunderbirds which we have handled in the market place for the last 36 years.  With the upcoming touring exhibition "Thunderbirds Modern" and the new broadcast of the TV series on a major terrestrial TV station, we look forward to its continued success."
 
Emma Simpson, International Manager, Carlton Licensing, said: "Thunderbirds has always been popular in Japan, and whilst in the previous few years the core market has been the 25-40, male-biased cult collectors, we are now seeing a move toward a more mainstream appeal, with young children enjoying the show and the merchandise."

THUNDERBIRDS will broadcast weekly on NHK's Educational Channel from 13th April 2003.

New Supercar comic finally published!

The long-awaited Supercar comic was released very recently in the US. It is available from most comic stores, but few carry more than 1-2 copies. The comic features full colour art throughout as well as the first part of an episode guide. A full review will appear on this site soon. Here are some more details:

Supercar is back and ready to take flight into all-new adventures. Investigating an abandoned silver mine in the desert near the secret Supercar lab at Black Rock, Nevada, Mike Mercury and company fall prey to another plot to steal Supercar hatched by arch nemesis Masterspy.
If all goes according to plan, Masterspy will be the proud mew owner of the Marvel of the Age, while Team Supercar is buried under tons of rubble.

March 2003

Fireball XL5 DVD released in US!

The long-awaited DVD release of Fireball Xl5 finally hit the stores - but only in the US! In a situation bizarre to say the least, there are no current plans to release Fireball Xl5 in the UK. Luckily, many fans have DVD players capable of viewing region 1 NTSC DVDs. See the review here.

January 2003

Thunderbirds CD released by Silva Screen in UK

This month, Silva Screen finally releases "THUNDERBIRDS - ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK" containing all original Barry Gray music, from the TV Series. This is the first time such a recording has been released; about bloody time! Rumour has it a follow-up Captain Scarlet CD is in the works...

From the Silva Screen site:

This CD represents the first in what will be a historic series of releases of Original Music from the much-loved Gerry Anderson SuperMarionation shows.

These recordings have never been made available before and have been carefully restored and edited from composer Barry Gray’s own archives courtesy of The Barry Gray Estate and Carlton International.

CONTENTS
Main Titles featuring the famous Jeff Tracy countdown “5…4…3…2…1…..Thunderbirds Are Go!”
Music from the episodes Sun Probe, The Perils Of Penelope, The Cham Cham, Vault of Death, The Man from MI.5, Desperate Intruder, Pit Of Peril, The Impostors, and Trapped In The Sky.

• Plus - Original Music from the Lyon’s Maid TV commercials from 1965 featuring puppets from Thunderbirds.
• Plus – Lady Penelope sings!!!

You can order the CD from Amazon UK.

Thunderbirds is go for movie production!

Well, it looks like the much-speculated Thunderbirds movie is probably going to happen. Oh well. Jonathan (Cmdr Riker) Frakes will direct. He freely admits to not knowing much about the show. That should certainly comfort the skeptics. The history of TV shows to movies has been terrible and signs are that this will be no exception. Production is slated for March 2003 with a release some time in 2004. This will be a live action movie, not puppets or CGI as previously speculated. Right now it is unclear what if any involvement a certain Mr. Anderson will have with this production. Location filming is said to include South Africa. Hmmm.

Sophia Myles (who?) is set to take on the role of Lady Penelope. Apparently, Alan Tracy will be 12 years old in the movie! Perhaps someone needs to send the DVDs to the production office.

Fireball XL5 Region 1 DVD!

Fireball XL5 fans rejoice - the series finally gets released on DVD on February 25th 2003. However, this is only a region 1 (US) release, so you need to have a multi-standard DVD player if you are not in a region 1 country. The 5 disc set includes the following features:

• Commentary by director Alan Patillo on "Space City Special"
• Commentary by voice artist David Graham on "The Doomed Planet"
• All 39 episodes on 5 discs
• Featurette: "The Noble Art of TV21" with artist Mike Noble
• Production stills photo gallery

The episodes are black and white and the DVD has a Dobly soundtrack. Hopefully, this will supplement a "true" mono soundtrack. You can pre-order the Fireball Xl5 DVD set from Amazon.

Stingray released on region 1 DVD set!

Stingray has also been released on DVD in a set. it contains the following features:

• Commentary by series creator/producer Gerry Anderson on two complete episodes
• Commentary by original series production members on two complete episodes
• 39 episodes on 5 DVDs
• "The Thing About Stingray...": brand new 20-minute making-of featurette
• French end-credits sequence
• Expanded Gerry Anderson biography
• Production stills galleries

You can order the Stingray DVD set from Amazon.