FAB 91: an early Christmas present

FAB 91Santa pulled out all the stops to make sure FAB 91 is reaching fans before Christmas. This very special issue includes:

05 FAB NEWS

10 MIKE NOBLE – A CELEBRATION
We profile and celebrate the life of the popular, talented and much loved artist.

15 CHRISTMAS IN TOPSY TURVY LAND VIA LIVERPOOL
John Wilkinson remembers a very special Christmas many years ago…

16 THUNDERBIRDS: THE SECOND SERIES
We take a detailed look at the second series of International Rescue’s adventures, and see how it compares to the first batch.

36 REMEMBERING ZIENIA MERTON
The much-loved actress and friend of Fanderson, who brought to life
Space:1999’s unforgettable sweetheart Sandra Benes.

46 FAB NOTICE BOARD

48 APPRECIATION STATION
This issue, Ian Fryer talks dogs in Anderson productions!

50 FAB REVIEW

54 FAB MAIL
Let’s see what you think of this Space:1999 Year One adventure…

62 END CREDITS
Ian Wheeler looks at Space Precinct in a new light.

64 THUNDERBIRD 6 PART THREE
Jonathan Baxter picks up where TV21 left off, with an exclusive photostory
re-telling of the second Thunderbirds feature film, the delightful Thunderbird 6.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 90: The most special issue

FAB 90Who would have thought it…? The 90th issue of FAB magazine falling in the same month as the 50th anniversary of Joe 90’s release. Of course, we had to celebrate it with an amazing cover and take some slight liberties with the club logo – just this once!

The stuff on the inside is pretty good too… In this issue we have:

THUNDERBIRD 3: DESIGNED FOR SPACE RESCUE
In the first of a new series we look at an International Rescue craft, starting with the sleek and gloriously retro Thunderbird 3.

GERRY ANDERSON INTERVIEW
Mark Braxton presents an unpublished interview with Gerry Anderson from 2005, where he discusses bringing back Spectrum for the 21st Century.

TIMELASH JOE 90 TRIAL AT SEA
Your views are in, let’s see what you think of this Joe 90 adventure…

JOE 90
Ian Fryer explores the world which was the first to meet a 9-year-old secret agent named Joe, and John Wilkinson tells us when it originally happened.

APPRECIATION STATION
Jay Mullins takes on a taboo… Smoking!

END CREDITS
Ian Wheeler roots out a long lost, but never forgotten Dinky Toy.

THUNDERBIRD 6 PART TWO
Jonathan Baxter picks up where TV21 left off, with an exclusive photostory re-telling of the second Thunderbirds feature film, the delightful Thunderbird 6.

…plus all your familiar favorites – FAB News, FAB Noticeboard and FABMail! Copies should be winging their way to club members very shortly. Ok, so now you’re thinking…

How do I get FAB magazine?

The answer’s simple – join Fanderson! FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 89 is here!

fab-89The 89th issue of FAB magazine is now on its way to all Fanderson club members. The FAB editorial team have pulled out all the stops to bring you this issue and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Here’s all the lovely stuff we have lined lined up for you this time…

IN PRAISE OF SPACE PATROL
Ian Fryer lifts the lid on another popular 1960s space-aged adventure, Roberta Leigh’s Space Patrol.

A LEGACY OF MAKING MAGIC
We continue our exclusive series of interviews with key people involved in ITV’s news Thunderbirds Are Go series, as Nick Williams interviews Production Designer Ben Milsom and Concept Artist Christian Pearce.

TIMELASH THE SECRET SERVICE – A QUESTION OF MIRACLES
In our cover feature, FAB readers look back at the second episode of The Secret Service, which sees The Secret Service re-introduce a former Spectrum captain to its cast. Plus an exclusive cutaway by Graham Bleathman!

WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE: THIS IS 2068
Jonathan Baxter reports back on a very special future history.

APPRECIATION STATION
Mike Jones disappears to a remote icy Supermarionation climb… No not that one!

END CREDITS
Ian Wheeler goes to the movies with International Rescue.

THUNDERBIRD 6 PART ONE
Jonathan Baxter picks up where TV21 left off, with an exclusive photostory re-telling of the second Thunderbirds feature film, the delightful Thunderbird 6.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 88 is here!

FAB 88Anderson fans rejoice: FAB 88 is on its way to the printers and will be mailed shortly to all club members! We hope you’ll agree with us that it’s been worth the wait.

In this issue we pay tribute to the wonderful Jeremy Wilkin who died in December 2017. On a lighter note, FAB 88 is also packed with all of this lovely stuff…

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO EPISODE GUIDE
Andrew Clements takes a look at episodes 14-26 of Thunderbirds Are Go, which premiered in late 2017.

TUNES OF DANGER: ANDERSON GOES POP!
Ian Fryer takes an in-depth musical look at how songs had such an important influence on the Anderson productions.

TIMELASH UFO: A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES
FAB readers explore one of the more thought-provoking episodes of UFO, featuring an exclusive SHADAIR Transporter cutaway by Graham Bleathman!

CLASSIC COMIC STRIP
We bring you the third part of Countdown’s first Captain Scarlet comic strip.

CONVENTION FLASHBACK
Champagne at the ready as we celebrate our Special Assignment convention.

APPRECIATION STATION
Zoe Miller takes an offbeat look at Nuclear power within the Anderson Universe.

END CREDITS
Ian Wheeler asks: Why didn’t our favourite series have more series?

DOPPELGÄNGER PART SIX
Jonathan Baxter concludes his visual re-telling of the Andersons’ first live action science-fiction adventure, the feature film Doppelgänger.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 88: it’s on the way

FAB 87

Apologies to all club members. FAB 88 has been unavoidably delayed due to circumstances beyond our control, and we’re now pulling out all the stops to get the magazine ready for you as soon as possible. Rest assured, we’ll let you know when FAB 88 has been mailed via the website and social media.

We’ll also be working hard to catch up with FABs 89, 90 and 91 later this year, although the normal delivery dates in March, July and November are now likely to change. We’ll keep you posted on this through the normal channels.

Thank you for your patience and we look forward to bringing you a great magazine very shortly!

FAB 87 is here!

FAB 87

The latest issue of Fanderson’s eagerly anticipated magazine, FAB, has been sent to all club members. FAB 87 is a treat for fans of all Anderson series, and includes:

WHY WE COULD NEVER REMAKE THE ORIGINAL THUNDERBIRDS Nick Williams interviews Thunderbirds Are Go’s creative driving force and executive producer Richard Taylor to ask him a very important question.

TIMELASH: DOPPELGÄNGER we explore your memories of the fondly remembered space adventure, complete with an exclusive surprise!

APPRECIATION STATION
A new feature where we invite regular contributors to sum-up their favourite facet of an Anderson production. First up – Moonbase Alpha!

CLASSIC COMIC STRIP
We bring you the second part of Countdown’s first Captain Scarlet comic strip.

TONY ANHOLT, THIS CHARMING MAN
Ian fryer meets Christien Anholt, who remembers his father’s incredible career.

SCRIPT TO SCREEN – NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET: INSTRUMENT OF DESTRUCTION PART TWO
We take a detailed look at the series’ unforgettable opening story, which saw Gerry Anderson return to the world of Spectrum after 40 years.

END CREDITS
Ian Wheeler investigates the Hammer Films guest stars of Space:1999.

DOPPELGÄNGER PART FIVE
Jonathan Baxter continues his visual re-telling of the Andersons’ live action masterpiece.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 86 is here!

FAB 86Fans of Anderson rejoice – FAB 86 is on its way to all four corners of the globe at supersonic speed.

As you might have guessed from our amazing cover courtesy of co-editor Mike Jones, this issue’s Timelash celebrates The Perils of Penelope. FAB readers can immerse themselves in a world of Parisian suspense and intrigue… plus an exclusive surprise from a top Anderson artist!

Thunderbirds fans will also love our article titled You Bet!, where veteran Fanderson member Martin Townley takes us back to a special day in 1992 when he pt his Thunderbirds knowledge to the test.

In The Big Rat Part One, we look back at the adventures of WIN’s most special agent, Joe 90, both on screen and in print. On the live action front, co-editor Ian Fryer investigates Crossplot, the 1970 live-action Roger Moore feature film which featured the work of Century 21’s  special effects team.

This issue also has a distinct extraterrestrial theme. We look back at ten top alien abductions in UFO and bring you the first part of Countdown’s very first Captain Scarlet comic strip. We then fast forward 40 years to New Captain Scarlet,  where we take a detailed look at the series’ unforgettable opening story, Instrument of Destruction  Part 1, in a fascinating new script to screen.

There’s also all the much-loved regular features, including FAB News, where we report on Fanderson Chairman Nick Williams’s exclusive access to Weta Workshop, the SFX home of Thunderbirds Are Go.

We hope you enjoy!

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 85 – the fastest magazine alive…

FAB 85Co-editors Mike Jones and Ian Fryer pulled out all the stops this time to deliver FAB 85 just weeks after the previous issue. Well done guys !

FAB 85 is packed with a stellar range of content that is sure to please Anderson fans of all interests.

Our stunning front cover shows that Fireball XL5 looks even better in colour than in monochrome, and our feature article for this issue will hopefully show this classic series in a new light. As well as revisiting every episode, we take a look at the production of of the show, Barry Gray’s soundtrack and the TV tie-in merchandise that helped to consolidate the commercial success of Supercar.

Fast forwarding a few decades, we celebrate the launch of the second series of Thunderbirds Are Go, as we catch up with two of the creative minds behind the show. Scriptwriter Peter Briggs talks to Andrew Clements about his series 1 episode Heist, while artist Martin Baines tells Ian Wheeler what it’s been like working on DC Thomson’s Thunderbirds Are Go comic strip. Stephen Baxter also gives a broader run through of how the comic has developed to date.

What else do we have in store for you? Well, Sam Denham takes you through ten of Sylvia Anderson’s greatest guest puppet voices, while we interview ex-Fanderson Chairman Chris Bentley about the publication of his gorgerous-looking new book, The Complete Book of UFO. Meanwhile Doug Pelton shares some treasures from the live-action film Doppleganger, while Jonathan Baxter continues our visual retelling of the film on our back cover.

Thunderbirds are go FAB 85

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

Get ready for FAB 84

FAB 84FAB 84 has been printed and should be on its way to Fanderson club members in the next few days! 

Apologies for the delay, but we hope you’ll think that the wait has been worth it. Here’s what’s just coming in the new issue of FAB magazine:

  • We look back at Supercar, the very first Supermarionation adventure, which went a long way to defining what a ‘Gerry Anderson production’ was to be.
  • At last year’s The Future is Fantastic! convention, Ian Fryer was granted a very special interview with Syliva Anderson. We present the full transcript of this incredible insight into an incredible life.
  • Chris Thompson and Andrew Clements take a look at the fantastic London Airport as it appears in Thunderbirds’ vision of the 21st century.
  • Mike Jones examines one of the Andersons’ most overlooked productions – the 70s live action adventure series, The Protectors.
  • In our cover feature, Fanderson members share their memories of one of Joe 90’s most dramatic episodes, Three’s a Crowd, in which Mac gets his heart broken…
  • Jonathan Baxter continues his visual re-telling of Doppelganger, the very first Anderson live action science-fiction adventure.
  • All the latest news from the Anderson universe, FAB Mail and an in-depth review of Thunderbirds 1965.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB

FAB 81 is go!

FAB 81

FAB 81 is on its way to all Fanderson club members! 

As always, we have all the latest news from the Andrson universe. We profile the opening 13 episodes of ITV’s smash hit new series Thunderbirds Are Go, and chat to the voice artists about their involvement. We also have news of Vivid Imagination’s return to Tracy Island and three vintage audio adventures of International Rescue that will be filmed with your help!

Following the sad news of Judith Shutt’s death earlier this year, we remember the puppeteer who brought the characters of Thunderbirds, Stingray and Fireball XL5 to life with her talents.

In this issue’s major article, Ian Fryer takes a close look at Century 21’s only live action series: UFO. We take you through all 26 episodes, exploring the world of SHADO and discussing the key themes of the series. We also catch up with special effects model maker Alan Shubrook and his memories of working on the series. Oh, and our amazing front cover is courtesy of Chris Thompson!

Did you grow up with any of the Anderson activity books? For many fans these books became their first collectables. Steve Kyte explores the early years of this fascinating type of merchandise in the first part of a new series of articles.

The Thunderbirds 2004 movies gets the Timelash treatment this time. Has history been kind to it? Read on to find out…

Finally, and incredible though it may seem, it’s been 10 years since New Captain Scarlet burst onto our screens. To mark the anniversary, Stephen Baxter analyses the series comic, and the small selection of associated books based upon New Captain Scarlet.

How to get FAB magazine? Join Fanderson!

FAB magazine is available exclusively to Fanderson club members – we deliver three times a year, and we do our very best to make each issue a joy to read for every fan – regardless of your favourite series!

Find out how to join Fanderson and receive FAB