The explosively imaginative and hardware-heavy worlds of Gerry Anderson may be known for their sense of adventure, but they're also shrouded in secrecy. Have you ever wanted to know how the fantastic vehicles of International Rescue operate? Just how extreme does the World Intelligence Network's security set-up go? How does Fireball XL5's launch cradle return to its starting position on the spacecraft's runway?

All of these secrets and more are revealed with our ever-growing range of Technical Operations Manuals! Since 2021, many of Gerry and Sylvia's classic series have received in-depth dossiers exposing their most sought-after secrets, produced in a captivatingly in-universe format that thrusts you into the Andersons' retrofuture worlds. Written and illustrated by Andrew Clements and Chris Thompson, along with Jack Knoll for Project 90, our most recent entry as been the International Rescue Technical Operations Manual, which prizes open the mechanical ingenuity behind Thunderbirds.

With so many of these classic series now covered in manual form, it's worth pausing to consider which of Gerry Anderson's creations have yet to receive the TOM treatment. Let's investigate!

Supercar

Unlike many other Anderson series, Supercar's limited line-up of vehicular hardware makes a Technical Operations Manual an unlikely publication. Nevertheless, Supercar boasts a modest array of technical features that would be rewarding to absorb in manual form. The craft itself would benefit from a schematic deep-dive into its ingenious construction and gadgetry, complimented by a sprawling layout of the Black Rock Laboratory base itself. Any number of additional Supercar's marvellously retro-tech features or Doctor Beaker's curiously cumbersome inventions could also feature to enliven the technological secrets of Supercar. If nothing else, that dastardly duo of Masterspy and friend Zarin would be first in the queue to acquire such a sought-after tome!

Terrahawks

Even Terrahawks' harshest critics can't deny its muscular appeal in the vehicle department. The Terrahawks organisation boasts an eclectic array of land, air and space vehicles, each unique to itself compared to fleets of the same vehicles found in Space: 1999 or Captain Scarlet. They're also designed with a specific functionality in defending the Earth against the alien android Zelda. Precisely how the Terrahawk organisation came into existence has also rarely been explored in the TV series or its spin-off media, something a Technical Operations Manual could take advantage of.

Terrahawks is ripe for the TOM approach; in-depth specifications on the Terrahawk vehicles, including examinations at the multi-functional capabilities of vehicles like the Battlehawk, Terrahawk and Hawkwing, and an in-depth expose of The White House are sorely needed. From its collapsible exteriors to nearby artificial whirlpools, how exactly does the Terrahawks' jungle base function? Away from the hero vehicles, the multi-component, spider-like structure of Zelda's alien base is quite unlike any enemy headquarters set-up in an Anderson series, and has rarely had its mechanical secrets revealed, making a Hawknest Technical Operations Manual all the more desirable.

Space Precinct

The Demeter City Police Force's cosmic crime-busting would be greatly served by a Technical Operations Manual, one that would not only highlight the hardware features of Precinct 88, but expose their futuristic crime-solving techniques for all to pour over. The visually unusual Precinct 88 base itself boasts numerous mechanical features and sections that a Technical Operations Manual would capture to superbly detailed effect, while human and alien technology alike depicted throughout the series, from space transporters to firearms, robots, would undoubtedly make the book a galaxy-spinning venture.

Space Precinct's police drama attitude would make the case files section of a Precinct 88 Technical Operations Manual particularly appealing, embracing the series' visually distinct in-universe aesthetic of space-crime-futurisms as imagined by the 1990s. 

New Captain Scarlet

The hyper-futuristic world of Spectrum's military-style operations in New Captain Scarlet lends itself superbly well to the Technical Operations Manual format. New Captain Scarlet's reinvention of its technological source material avoids being slavishly beholden to the nostalgic appeal of the original 1967 series. Instead, Spectrum's aesthetic and functionality in this 2005 remake marches to its own beat. From the mightily impressive Skybase to the sleeky-curved, battle-ready mechanics of the Rhino, Cheetah, and more, New Captain Scarlet's hardware heroics feel rooted in real-world, 21st century engineering developments in defensive vehicles and technology.

Much of New Captain Scarlet's hardware serves to improve on the original series; the launch system of the Falcon Interceptors for example, boasting the ability to be lowered into Skybase's interiors for refuelling and reloading, is just one unique example of how a TOM would outline such a mechanically thrilling feature of Skybase. Other elements of New Captain Scarlet's hyper-tech advanced world would gain renewed appreciation when mapped out in manual format. From the the operational deployment of the Albatross transporters to the Cheetah's flight capabilities and the skyscraper-dodging swiftness of the Skyrider hoverbikes, New Captain Scarlet's hardware-propelled science fiction adventure is begging to be captured in manual form.

Project SWORD

This lesser-known post-apocalyptic epic from the pages of TV Century 21 is another hardware-heavy saga that lends itself superbly well to the in-universe style of a Technical Operations Manual. In the aftermath of a devastating meteorite strike against the Earth, the Space World Organisation for Research and Development is tasked with utilising its far-reaching array of advanced rockets, space gliders, moon tractors, shuttlecraft and more to evacuate the remains of humanity to safety.

Born as a series of space toys for Century 21 Merchandising to publicise through its own impressive publishing empire, Project SWORD failed to become the resounding hit it was hoped to be. However, the extensive merchandise line-up remains fondly remembered by toy collectors with its eclectic range of cutting-edge space vehicles that tap into the space race zeitgeist. While the many vehicles of Project SWORD would be sumptuously savoured in manual format, the geographical make-up of the SWORD outfit across its Earth and lunar installations would be a welcome expansion of the series' world-building. The recent graphic novel revival from Time Bomb Comics, Project SWORD: List of Life, propelled by a runaway Kickstarter campaign, confirms that Project SWORD's popularity remains sky-high. A SWORD Technical Operations Manual surely feels like the next logical step!

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

The universe of the original incarnation of Captain Scarlet boasts a sprawling approach to depicting Spectrum's operational functions, blending exciting futuristic technologies, military-grade vehicular mechanics and Cold War-coded security. The series' spectacular vehicular hardware is obviously appealing to translate into the TOM format; imagine the schematic possibilities of prizing open the SPVs, the SPJs, MSVs, the SPCs and the Angel Interceptors. Cloudbase itself would undoubtedly occupy a good chunk of the book with its colossal design, labyrinthian interiors and multifaceted mechanical features as both an operational base and a vehicle.

However, other aspects of Spectrum's functions would be just as welcome in a manual. Spectrum isn't merely restricted to Cloudbase - the organisation has localised hotspots across the globe, not to mention a secretive array of launch posts where Spectrum Pursuit Vehicles are kept hidden in need of emergencies. How does Spectrum's sprawling nature effectively operate within the universe of the classic series itself? A Spectrum Technical Operations Manual would be a satisfying read in discovering how these aspects converge neatly together, depicting a unified approach in Spectrum's ongoing mission in defending the Earth from the malevolent Mysterons.

Discover our range of Technical Operations Manuals now and prepare to blast off into the ultimate in-universe guidebooks for all of your favourite worlds from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson! Be sure to stay tuned to this frequency for further announcements of what's coming next in the Technical Operations Manual range, particularly with which Anderson series will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2027!

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