Comic anthologies are go! Since 2021, we've been bringing you classic comic strip adventures from the worlds of Gerry Anderson thanks to our ongoing line of Comic Anthologies. Whether it's the striking realism of Mike Noble or the surging action of Frank Bellamy, our classic comic compendiums collect a multitude of adventures.

Our range of Comic Anthologies has collected classic and obscure comic strip adventures from UFO, Fireball XL5, Space: 1999, Terrahawks, Stingray and most recently, Thunderbirds. These anthologies draw on the beloved comic strips that ran in such titles as TV Century 21, Countdown, Look-in, and Lady Penelope.

With several compendiums so far produced and plenty more on the horizon following the recent release of Thunderbirds Comic Anthology Vol. 1, let's countdown 10 reasons why you should discover our Comic Anthologies!

10. Classic strips collected in their entirety

Compared to previous collections from past publishers, which cherry-pick at various handfuls of key storylines from the likes of TV Century 21 or Countdown, our Comic Anthologies prioritise complete runs of individual strips. This means that you get to experience the likes of TV Century 21's Stingray or Countdown's UFO comic strips in their entirety across one or two definitively produced hardbacks that don't leave any storylines behind. 

9. Obscure storylines collected for the first time

Thanks to this comprehensive format of collecting comic strips, we're able to bring back storylines that have rarely or never been collected in previous collections. Our comic anthologies are the only books in which you can discover Troy Tempest being framed for an incredible crime against Marineville or how the Fireball XL5 crew find themselves violently allying with enslaved ape-like aliens against their oppressors. Our Comic Anthologies regularly showcase storylines that have never seen the light of day since their original publications throughout the 1960s or 1970s!

8. Classic artwork

Many classic British artists illustrated the comic strip worlds of Gerry Anderson, which our Comic Anthologies allow you to enjoy in abundance. Unrestrained by the practical limitations of Supermarionation, Mike Noble, Ron Embleton and Frank Bellamy captured thrillingly different dimensions of action and adventure with their Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Zero X strips in TV Century 21. 

The work of lesser celebrated artists is also featured in these books. Whether it's Jim Baikie's colourful approach to Terrahawks, Rab Hamilton's beautifully exotic depiction of Marina, Girl of the Sea or Michael Strand's dramatically surging take on Stingray, you'll find a breath-taking variety of artistic styles from a beloved era of British action comics.

7. Definitive histories of each strip

As well as entire comic strips runs, our anthologies are jam-packed with exhaustive essays, biographies and interviews that tell the definitive stories of each Gerry Anderson comic strip. Alongside these classic adventures, you'll find publication histories of these strips, critical commentary of key storylines and evolving artistic and narrative styles, and biographical details of artists, writers and editors.

6. Painstaking restoration

Since 2023's Terrahawks Comic Anthology, the comic strips included in our collections have undergone painstaking restorations from layout/book designer Rob Hammond. Our restoration process ensures sumptuous clarity in colours, inks, and line art, allowing all the dynamic action and breath-taking artistic styles to be presented as authentically and clearly as possible with each release.

5. Digital editions of sold-out titles

Our Comic Anthologies are produced as limited edition items, and since their respective individual releases, several hardback versions of various titles have since sold out. We're currently offering digital editions of sold-out hardbacks for those who may have missed out on physical editions, or for those who would also enjoy having a digital edition. Our digital editions currently consist of Terrahawks, UFO and the Fireball XL5 anthologies.

4. Brand new storylines

Several of our anthologies also feature brand new comic strip adventures! Our Fireball XL5 Comic Anthology, produced to celebrate the series' 60th anniversary, features a spectacular crossover adventure between several classic Gerry Anderson heroes and villains. The forces of the World Space Patrol, World Aquanaut Security Patrol, International Rescue and Spectrum band together to stop a deadly attack from the Mysterons. Written and illustrated by Lee Sullivan, Interplanetary Rescue is a thrilling one-off adventure which also enwraps itself around several classic TV21 storylines, embracing the shared canon from the comic.

The two Stingray Comic Anthologies feature 10 newly produced comic strip stories by a thrilling line-up of modern comic book talent. These two batches of comic adventures tie into our multimedia narrative Stingray: Deadly Uprising, in which the mighty Titan amasses a colossal armada of underwater races to launch a devastating assault on Marineville. Each new comic adventure is a standalone story situated within this far-reaching storyline. You can enjoy these comics in both Stingray Comic Anthologies or in its own dedicated collection - Stingray: Deadly Uprising - The Comic Collection.

3. TV Century 21's shared Anderson universe

With our Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds Comic Anthologies, you can relive the pulse-pounding excitement of seeing many of your favourite heroes and villains share the page thanks to TV Century 21's shared universe! While the TV series were mostly separate from each other, TV Century 21 embraced the idea that most of Gerry and Sylvia's characters existed in a shared universe, with crossovers, cameos and references aplenty.

Through our Comic Anthologies, you can experience the deadly danger of Steve Zodiac having to call on the help of Lady Penelope and the Stingray crew to track down an alien assassination. You can also enjoy seeing The Hood form an alliance with Surface Agent X-20 and the World Space Patrol assist International Rescue! Our Comic Anthologies are the perfect jumping on point to experience this brilliantly structured unified world.

2. Expanding line-up

While we've collected plenty of comic strips over the last few years, several further classic Gerry Anderson strips remain unaccounted for - so far! Comic Anthologies for Captain Scarlet and Joe 90 may very likely appear once their respective 60th anniversaries roll around, but other strips remain uncollected. Many original characters from TV Century 21 have never had definitive collections - Agent 21, Project SWORD, Catch or Kill, The Investigator and Front Page.

Similarly, the pre-TV21 strips remain under risk of being lost to history. Four Feather Falls, Supercar and Fireball XL5 enjoyed lengthily runs in the pages of TV Comic, but have never had their adventures collected. Perhaps that may change in the future as we produce further definitive collections of these comics...

1. Thunderbirds Comic Anthologies are go!

Our most recent release in our Comic Anthology range marks the beginning of a top priority rescue operation to celebrate the comic strip adventures of International Rescue! Thunderbirds now joins the line-up with the recent release of Thunderbirds Comic Anthology Vol. 1, which collects the first half of Thunderbirds' spectacular adventures from TV Century 21 between 1965 and 1967. Packed with fantastic adventures illustrated by Eric Eden, Frank Bellamy and Don Harley, Thunderbirds Comic Anthology Vol. 1 collects several definitive Thunderbirds storylines, including the origins of how Lady Penelope and Parker joined forces!

With its beautifully restored comic strips and detailed historical features, Thunderbirds Comic Anthology Vol. 1 breathes new life into these classically regarded adventures from Thunderbirds' extended universe. Thunderbirds Comic Anthology Vol. 2 will be available in early 2026. Volume 2 will collect the remaining Thunderbirds comic strips from TV21, and further Thunderbirds collections are on the horizon as we aim to collect all the remaining classic Thunderbirds comics from the 1960s, 1970s and up to the 1990s. Stand by for rescue action!

Be sure to discover all of our continuing coverage of TV Century 21's 60th anniversary on the Anderson Entertainment blog. Discover our artist biographies on Ron Embleton, Frank Bellamy, and Mike Noble, read up on our countdown of ten of the best TV Century 21 stories, and discover the comic's secret heroes. In addition to these reads, you can also dive into Fred McNamara's exhaustive account of the comic's overall history on Sequential 21!

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