Both of these titles, published by (now defunct) Charlton Comics (who also published some seventies bionic comic books), launched in the summer of 1975 (with November '75 cover dates).
The four-colour comic appeared bi-monthly, clocking up seven issues in a year. Each issue included 22 pages of new comic strip, a two page text story (of little note) and the usual adverts to help pay the bills. The run deserves a footnote in US comics history for providing John Bryne with early work. Issues 1-6 follow the format of the first TV season (with an adaptation of Breakaway, the opening TV episode, in the first). The final issue switches to Year Two with an adaptation of the scene-setting TV episode The Metamorph.
The monthly black & white magazine was also strip-based but didn't duplicate material from the comic book. It clocked-up eight issues (so, thanks to publishing schedules, generated more issues but was actually cancelled before the comic) and, again, only adopted the second season format for its final issue.
Presumably Charlton abandoned the license after a year when it became clear that the syndicated TV show wasn't generating enough enthusiasm amongst readers to justify continuing.
The TV show, filmed by ITC Productions at Pinewood Studios in the UK, was a big budget attempt to muscle in on the US TV market with a glitzy effects-heavy show. When all three broadcast networks passed on the project (despite casting US 'stars" Landau and Bain in the main roles), ITC were forced to hawk it around local stations in first-run syndication. The po-faced first season wowed with its state-of-the-art visuals (and a stinking line-up of guest stars) but failed to capture much of the excitement of sitting on an out-of-control moon zooming through uncharted space (science not being one of the show's strong points). The re-worked second year drafted in new talent in front and behind the camera (including the departure of Sylvia Anderson as her marriage, and creative partnership with hubby Gerry, disintegrated) and a revitalised show which looked better even if the quality of the writing generally declined.
Charlton Comics, part of a larger publishing empire, was a notoriously cut-price operation which, uniquely, did every stage of the comic/ magazine-making process in-house. Established in 1946, Charlton Comics soldiered-on until 1985 before finally bailing-out of the business.
SPACE:1999 - THE COMIC BOOK
ISSUE 1
November 1975
ISSUE 2
January 1976
ISSUE 3
March 1976
ISSUE 4
May 1986
ISSUE 5
July 1976
ISSUE 6
September 1976
ISSUE 7
November 1976
SPACE 1999 - THE MAGAZINE
ISSUE 1
November 1975
ISSUE 2
January 1976
ISSUE 3
March 1976
ISSUE 4
May 1976
ISSUE 5
July 1976
ISSUE 6
August 1976
ISSUE 7
September 1976
ISSUE 8
October 1976
THANK YOU for this great post. Comes in very handy now that I am finding an occasional SPACE 1999 comic book in second hand stores in our University District. I'm particularly interested in "TV Tie Ins", and really place a high value on SPACE 1999. A high point in preCGI SF. "They don't make 'em like that anymore".
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this "educational guide", and I did NOT know there was a "magazine" version. Many thanks again.
Oh yes, thank you too for the hat tip to Charlton. I do have a soft spot in the heart for them as well.