I'm very happy to report that our oldest boy has discovered Thunderbirds. Thankfully, not the 2004 - haven't seen it but don't need to to know it's piss poor - unnecessary attempt to resurrect the concept (just remaster the original!), but the superbly crafted very original original.
So now I get to sit with him through Thunderbirds are Go! etc, time after glorious time and try to explain those ludicrous plots that somehow work brilliantly. Like the quickly glossed over unprovoked attack on the innocent inhabitants of another planet by the earthlings (in the case of TBs are Go!, the destruction of Martian rock snakes just so the supposed scientists could "take home a sample"). Still, this doesn't matter. What does matter is the non-patronising dialogue and the meticulously designed models and sets.
And as if that wasn't enough, chip off the old block that he is, he's even developed a keen eye for a tasty bit of TB ephemera - complete with Ryan Hughes-esque typefaces.
Surprisingly, other than the title sequence on YouTube, there seems to be a sad lack of good TB reference material online.
Have you seen this one? http://www.thunderbirdsonline.co.uk/- some nice stills, especially of the films.
Posted by: Anne | 08 October 2007 at 10:26 PM
That Renegade Rocket heading is curious; looks hand-drawn yet I'm sure I've seen that style on film posters. Maybe they were copying stuff they liked? Nice to see a "21st century" publication flying the flag for Sixties' grooviness. Some of the comic artists from TV21 went on to work for 2000AD.
When I've heard people complain about more recent kids' entertainment being hyperbolic I usually remind them about Thunderbirds which began with an oil refinery exploding before the credits were even over.
Posted by: John C | 09 October 2007 at 01:46 PM