City Magazines

City Magazineswas a British publisher of weeklycomicsandmen's magazinesthat operated from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. The company's most notable publications were comics magazines based on licensed television properties, includingTV Century 21andLady Penelope,both of which featured comics based onGerry Anderson'sCentury 21 ProductionsSupermarionationshows.

City Magazines

Founded	1955(1955)
Defunct	c.1974 (assets owned by theDaily Express)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Headquarters location	London
Distribution	United Kingdom
Key people	Leonard Matthews
Publication types	Magazines
Nonfiction topics	Youth culture, men
Fiction genres	Comics
Imprints	Century 21 Publications

A number of City Magazine titles were absorbed byIPC Magazinesin the late 1960s; the company ceased operations inc.1974, with its remaining assets coming under the control of theDaily Express.

History

City Magazines started in 1955; its first title wasBlighty/Parade,which it acquired from another publisher; followed byEscort,launched in 1958. City Magazines' headquarters were initially at 45 St Pancras Way, London, later moving to 167-170Fleet Street,and later to Aldwych House, 81 Aldwych, London.

In 1959–1960, City Magazines started a comics division. First, it launched the weekly teen girls' magazineBoyfriendin 1959, which featured a mix of text stories and comics. In the period 1961 to 1965, City Magazine publishedlicensedcomics based on theHanna-Barberaanimation propertiesHuckleberry HoundandYogi Bear(with the oddFlintstonesone-offthrown in). The company dipped into the growing "TV comic" market in 1960, acquiring the titleExpress WeeklyfromBeaverbrook Newspapersand renaming itTV Express Weekly.The experiment only lasted until 1962, however, whenTV Expresswas merged intoPolystyle Publications'TV Comic.

From 1965 to 1970, City Magazines partnered withGerry Anderson'sCentury 21 Productionsto produce weekly comics based on Anderson'sSupermarionationproperties. The Century 21 Productions divisionCentury 21 Publicationsprovided the editors, writers, and artists, while City Magazines arranged for printing and distributing the titles.The Century 21 Publications imprint's most prominent and long-running titles wereTV Century 21,later known asTV21,which launched in January 1965; andLady Penelope,which launched in January 1966. Building on the success of the two earlier titles, in January/February 1967, City Magazines launched three more Anderson-related titles:Candy,TV Tornado,andSolo.The latter title didn't survive the year, merging intoTV Tornadoin September 1967, whileTV Tornadomerged intoTV21in September 1968.

Matthews era

Leonard Matthews,a longtime editor atAmalgamated Pressand its successorFleetway Publications,seems to have taken over City Magazines in early 1969.Along with Alf Wallace, another former editor at FleetwayOdhams Press,Matthews openedMartspress,which took over the packaging and publishing of the remaining City Magazines titles.

In the summer of 1969, Gerry Anderson's Century 21 Productions had become financially over-stretched. Within a few months, the company had disbanded its three warehouse-sized studios on theSlough Trading Estate.In June 1969 the entire staff of Century 21 Publications were given a month's notice.A small nucleus of staff from the disbanded division were taken on by Matthews at Martspress/City Magazines.

City Magazines lost the Gerry Anderson license in early 1970,so the two remaining titles —TV21andPenelope— lost their Anderson-related content. Shortly after losing the Anderson license, City Magazines acquired theMarvel Comicslicense (previously held byOdhams Press,a division ofIPC Magazines), with some Marvel strips being reprinted inTV21.

In the period 1967 to 1971, all of City Magazines' main comics titles ended up being taken over byIPC Magazinesand/or merged into existing IPC titles: these includedBoyfriend and Trend(formerlyBoyfriend),Penelope(formerlyLady Penelope), andTV21(formerlyTV Century 21).

By 1974,the company appears to have gone defunct; its assets ended up in the possession of theDaily Express(formerly Beaverbrook Newspapers).

Men's magazines

City Magazines started in 1955 with the weekly men's magazineBlighty Parade,a magazine originally calledBlightywhich had been relaunched in 1939 by another publisher. In 1959, the title of the magazine was changed toParade & Blighty,and then in 1960 toParade.City Magazines publishedParadeuntilc.1971, when it was taken over byWilliams Publishing,the publishing imprint ofWarner Communications.

Similar titles published by City Magazines were thepin-upmagazinesEscort(1958–1971),Carnival(1965–1970), andMen Only(1965–1971).Carnivalwas acquired from Liverpolitan Ltd inBirkenhead,where it originated in 1955.Men Onlywas a publication dating back to 1935, originally published byC. Arthur Pearson Ltdand acquired by City Magazines from theInternational Publishing Company.Men Onlywas sold in 1971 toPaul Raymond Publications,who relaunched it as the start of atop-shelfpublishing empire (competing withMayfairas well as US magazines such asPlayboyandPenthouseduring the 1970s and 1980s). Similarly,Escortwas incorporated as part ofMen Onlyand then relaunched in 1980 by Paul Raymond as part of his stable ofsoftcore pornographymagazines.

In the period 1965–1967, the flagship titleParadewas used in specials with the company's other monthlies:Parade Carnival,Carnival Parade,Parade Escort,etc.

BoyfriendandTrend

City Magazines' second ongoing publication was the weeklyteen magazineBoyfriend,which debuted in 1959. Early issues featured aromance comicon the cover, whose story continued on the interior pages. Later issues featured photographic covers and the tagline, "The modern young woman's magazine." In 1966, with issue #352,Boyfriendwas merged with another City Magazines title,Trend,to becomeTrend and Boyfriend,and then, shortly thereafter,Boyfriend and Trend(the "Boyfriend" in the title being much smaller than the word "Trend" ). The magazine's tagline at this point was, "Setting the pace for the girl with go!" The magazine lasted until issue #428, 9 September 1967, when it merged with theIPC MagazinestitlePetticoatto formPetticoat/Trend.

Hanna-Barbera comics

In the period 1961 to 1965, City Magazine published licensed comics based on theHanna-Barberaanimation propertiesHuckleberry HoundandYogi Bear(with the oddFlintstonesone-offthrown in).Huckleberry Hound Weeklyran 283 issues, from 1961 to 1967, with a number of various one-offs and seasonal "extras." (In 1967, the title was acquired byHayward.)Yogi Bear's Own Weeklyran 75 issues from 1962 to 1964, also publishing a number of specials and seasonal extras.

Century 21 Publications comics

TV Century 21

Main article:TV Century 21

The company's first (and longest-running) title,TV Century 21,aimed at teenage boys, debuted on 23 January 1965; featured strips includedStingray,Supercar,Fireball XL5,and the aristocraticLady PenelopefromThunderbirds.The rest of the Thunderbirds team andCaptain Scarleteventually joined the comic's lineup. The publication extended its licensing beyond the Anderson productions, as well, publishing strip adventures based on the extraterrestrialDoctor Whovillains theDaleks,in addition to adaptations of the popular television seriesMy Favourite MartianandBurke's Law.

The comic dropped the "Century" from its title in January 1968, after 155 issues, and became known asTV21.In September 1969, after 242 issues,TV21relaunched after a merger with another title,Joe 90 Top Secret.At this time, the issue numbering ofTV21 and Joe 90,as the comic was now called, was reset to #1, with a "New Series No." printed on the front cover. While the general format of the old comic was preserved, theThunderbirdsandJoe 90strips were now printed in black-and-white in favour of the new colour favouritesStar TrekandLand of the Giants.TheJoe 90aspect gradually disappeared from the comic, whose name reverted toTV21after 36 issues (the 278th overall). (FurtherJoe 90annuals were published, however, in 1969 and 1970.)

The title sputtered along for another year, mostly based on reprints, including of AmericanMarvel Comicsstrips. With issue #93 (3 July 1971), the title changed publisher-name from City Magazines to IPC Magazines.TV21ceased publication with issue #105 (25 Sept. 1971), when it was merged into IPC's long-running comics titleValiant.

Lady Penelope

Main article:Lady Penelope (comic)

In January 1966, a sister publication toTV Century 21— this time aimed at teenage age girls — was launched:Lady Penelope,which featuredFrank Langford'sLady Penelopecomic strip (previously appearing inTV Century 21). Billing itself as "the comic for girls who love television,"Lady Penelopealso included strips based on popular television programs of the era, includingBewitched,The Monkees,The Beverly Hillbillies,Crossroads,Daktari,The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,andThe Girl from U.N.C.L.E..Other strips published inLady Penelopeconnected with other Century 21 Productions.

After 123 issues, the title was shortened toPenelope;it eventually ran for 204 issues until 20 December 1969, when it was acquired byIPC Magazinesand merged withPrincess Tina(to becomePrincess Tina and Penelope).

Lady Penelopeannuals began appearing in 1967, continuing for six editions until 1972. City Magazines also published threeThe MonkeesAnnualsin the years 1968, 1969, and 1970.

Candy

After the company's success with weekly comics aimed at teenagers, Century 21 Publications' third ongoing title,Candy,was a "nursery-type" magazine marketed to younger children. Launched mid-January 1967, the stars of the title were Anderson's puppet characters Candy and Andy (the female one being the magazine's namesake). Candy and Andy had originally been part of a new puppet series that had not succeeded in being sold to a studio.

Early issues of the series featured photographic covers of Anderson's puppets; in addition to the main Candy and Andy strip, other strips were based on popular television children's programs likeWinnie-the-Pooh,William Timym'sBengo the Boxer Pup,Maria Perego'sTopo Gigio,andAssociated Television's koalasTingha and Tucker.

Candylasted 154 issues — as well as a number of annuals and specials — from 1967 through 1969.

TV Tornado

Also debuting in January 1967 was the new ongoing titleTV Tornado.True to its name,TV Tornado,which was edited byMick Anglo,featured comics based on popular television properties, includingLone Ranger,Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,Tarzan,The Saint,Bonanza,andThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.;plus text features aboutDoctor WhoandThe Avengers.The back story of theMysterons,Captain Scarlet'sMartianenemies, was revealed inTV Tornado.Other strips and characters that appeared inTV TornadoincludedBatman,Superman,The Phantom,Flash Gordon,theGreen Hornet,Magnus, Robot Fighter,andThe Invaders.

Solo

Solo,which debuted in February 1967, also contained strips based on the Mysterons, as well as other licensed TV properties likeThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.andSergeant Bilko(a.k.a.The Phil Silvers Show). The title also featuredDisney-related strips, includingMary Poppins,Super Goof,andUncle Scrooge.In late September 1967, after publishing 31 issues,Solomerged withTV Tornado.And in September 1968, after 192 issues,TV Tornadowas merged intoTV21,formingTV21 and Tornado.

Joe 90

The Andersons' latest Supermarionation production,Joe 90,inspired aJoe 90comics annual in 1968, followed on 18 January 1969 with an ongoing comics series, calledJoe 90 Top Secret.This publication did not endure, however, merging withTV21 and Tornadoin September 1969 after only 34 issues.

Annuals and specials

With the success ofTV Century 21,City Magazines published a number of relatedannualsand specials, two of them featuringStingray.The firstThunderbirdsannual was published in 1966, with a new one appearing each year until 1972. City Magazines also published the firstTV Century 21 Annualin 1966, eventually putting out five such annuals (with the last one appearing in 1970). A secondStingray Annualappeared in 1966, and two moreTV Century 21seasonal specials in 1966 and 1967. The firstCaptain Scarletannual debuted in 1967; City Magazines published a new one in 1968 and another one in 1969.

Other publications

In January 1968, City Magazines launchedGo Girl,a mix of comic strips, pin-ups, and text features. The series only lasted 31 issues, however, from 13 January to 10 August 1968. From 1969 to 1972, City Magazines also publishedOnce Upon a Time,packaged by Martspress, which was an educational comic in the vein ofLook and Learn,featuring artists likeDon Lawrence,Jesús Blasco,andRon Embleton.(This title also appears to have been affiliated withIPC Magazines.)

The company publishedMotor Cyclist Illustratedin the period 1969 to 1971.

The final comics title launched by City Magazines was thefootballcomicStriker,which debuted on 10 January 1970. Only the first 23 or 24 issues ofStrikerincluded comics content; about 7 pages per issue. Sometime around issue #30, the magazine was acquired byBanner Press Limitedand merged with another magazine to becomeInside Football and Striker.

Comics titles (selected)

Hanna-Barbera

• Huckleberry Hound Weekly(283 issues, 7 October 1961 – 4 March 1967; acquired byHayward)
• Yogi Bear's Own Weekly(75 issues, 27 October 1962 – 28 March 1964)

Century 21 Publications

• Candy154 issues (21 January 1967 – 27 December 1969)
• Joe 90 Top Secret(34 issues, 18 January 1969–September 6, 1969; merged intoTV21 and Tornadoto formTV21 & Joe 90)
• Lady Penelope(204 issues, January 22, 1966–20 December 1969)
  • Lady Penelope(52 issues, #1–52; January 22, 1966 – 1967)
  • The New Lady Penelope(10 issues, #53–62; 1967)
  • Lady Penelope(60 issues, #63–122; 1967–1968)
  • Penelope(82 issues, #123-204; 1968–20 December 1969; merged into IPC'sPrincess Tina;becamePrincess Tina and Penelope)
• Solo(31 issues, February 18, 1967–23 September 1967; merged intoTV Tornado)
• TV Century 21/ TV21(347 issues, 23 January 1965 – 26 June 1971)
  • TV Century 21(154 issues, #1–154; 23 January 1965–December 30, 2067 [December 30, 1967])
  • TV21(37 issues, #155-191; January 6, 2068 [January 6, 1968]–14 September 1968)
  • TV21 and TV Tornado(51 issues, #192-242; 21 September 1968 – 6 September 1969) — numbering continued for one issue in 2014 by Network (dated "13 September 2069" )
  • TV21 & Joe 90(36 issues, #1–36; 27 September 1969 – 30 May 1970)
  • TV21(56 issues, #37–92; 6 June 1970 – 26 June 1971; merged intoIPC'sValiant)
• TV Tornado(88 issues, 14 January 1967–September 14, 1968; merged intoTV21to formTV21 and Tornado)

Magazine titles (selected)

Men's magazines

• Carnival(1965–1970; acquired from Liverpolitan Ltd, where it originated in 1955; continued byWilliams Publishing)
• Escort(1958–1971; later continued byPaul Raymond)
• Men Only(1965–1971; acquired from IPC; continued by Paul Raymond)
• Parade(1955–c.1971; continued by Williams Publishing)

Other

• Bliss(2 issues, 1961)
• Boyfriend(428 issues, 1959–1967):
  • Boyfriend(351 issues, #1–351; 1959–1966)
  • Trend and Boyfriend(8 issues, #352–359; 1966)
  • Boyfriend and Trend(69 issues, #360–428; 1966–9 September 1967; merged intoIPC'sPetticoat)
• Go Girl(31 issues, 1968)
• Motor Cyclist Illustrated(c.1969–c.1971)
• Once Upon a Time(1969–1972)
• Striker(23 issues, 10 January 1970 – 4 March 1972; merged withInside Football[Banner Press Ltd] to becomeInside Football and Striker)

References

Sources consulted

• City Magazinesat theGrand Comics Database
• City Magazines; Century 21 Publicationsat theGrand Comics Database

External links

• CandyatComicVine