TV Comic

This weekly comic was published between 9 November 1951 and 1984 originally by the News of the World, then Beaverbrook and finally, Polystyle Publications.

It was the first British comic to be based around TV programmes – although, in fact, cover star Muffin The Mule was one of the few characters in the original lineup with any connection to television.

When rival comic TV 21 folded, Polystyle looked to capitalise on the gap left for Gerry Anderson’s Supermationation characters and negotiated a deal for a new comic which was to feature Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray and the soon-to-air UFO.

The new comic – Countdown – also featured a regular Dr Who strip.

Regular strips over the years included:

• The Avengers
• Barney Bear
• Basil Brush
• Battle of the Planets
• Bisto Kids
• Bootsie and Smudge
• Bugs Bunny
• Buzby
• Cannon
• Catweazle
• Charlie’s Angels
• Dad’s Army
• Deputy Dawg
• Doctor Who
• Droopy
• The Dukes of Hazzard
• Fireball XL5
• Four Feather Falls
• Ze Inspector
• Jack and Jill
• Johnny Morris’s Animal Magic
• Ken Dodd’s Diddymen
• Kojak
• Laurel and Hardy
• Lenny the Lion
• Little Iodine
• Mighty Moth
• Mr Pastry
• Muffin the Mule
• Pink Panther
• Popeye
• Red Ray: Space Raynger
• Road Runner
• Roy Rogers: King of the Cowboys
• The Secret Sign of the Ladybird Adventure Club
• Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
• Space Patrol
• Star Trek
• The Stick Family
• Supercar
• Sooty
• Tales of the Gold Monkey
• Target
• Tarzan
• Tom and Jerry
• Tusker and Tikki