'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Review: Thunderbirds: The Comic Collection

Thunderbirds fans, your time has come--to both reflect on and enjoy the Glory That Was, and perhaps to introduce a whole new generation to the retro world of the Thunderbirds.

This amazing comic book compendium has been put together as a tribute to Gerry Anderson, the genius behind Thunderbirds, who died in 2012.

An astonishing collection, this hard cover, 288-page book features image collections from the original 1960s and 1970s Thunderbirds comic book stories. Readers will be transported to Tracey Island for some seriously action-packed adventure with the International Rescue team.

The book includes a special section of cutaway images of Thunderbirds vehicles and buildings, facts about the illustrators and a tribute to Gerry Anderson.

By the time the Thunderbirds TV show went to air in the UK in 1965, Anderson had already built a successful company known as Century 21 Productions, who produced hit shows such as Supercar and Stingray, using Supermarionation. But it was Thunderbirds that became his most successful production.

The company used highly sophisticated models and special effects for Thunderbirds, which became the most expensive TV show ever made in Britain.

This book is a sci-fi kids' dream. Featuring classic adventure comic book styling, adults will also pore over its content. The target age group would depend on the reader; despite being comic strip in form, the text is quite sophisticated, though kids from age 8 and up would really enjoy this.

A book with high production values, excellent content--and fabulous endpapers--Thunderbirds is go!

Title: Thunderbirds: The Comic Collection
Creator: Gerry Anderson Productions
Publisher: Egmont, $39.95 RRP
Publication Date: 10 October 2013
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781405268363
For ages: 8+
Type: Comic Compendium