Cor. A look back at 2023.

Want a taste of everything you might have missed on Security Hazard this year? Yes, even the chunky bits that smell a bit off but are still within their sell-by date. Come on, there’s loads to get through because I’ve actually been quite busy for the past 12 months…

Stingray and The Secret Service Reviews

Comprehensive episode-by-episode reviews of Anderson series are like buses here on the Security Hazard blog. Nothing for five long years and then all of a sudden you get two whole Supermarionation shows completely reviewed in the same year. There’s a part of you that loves the inconsistency though, right? It’s charming in the same way that Zoonie the Lazoon isn’t.

Stingray was an absolute delight to review, of course. I always knew it would be. With the demise of Network Distributing earlier this year, it now seems appropriate that I was in-part celebrating one of their last Blu-ray releases. The show itself has never looked better and I’d like to think I did each episode justice… even if I did tear A Nut For Marineville a new one for its terrible script. The highlight of the whole experience for me was actually the final article, Tales From Marineville which explored extra goodies such as The Reunion Party, the mini album adventures, and the two Stingray Super Space Theatre compilation movies. Going in-depth on the nichest of niche Anderson curiosities is what Security Hazard was made for, and I hope that in 2024 there’s room for even more of it.

Speaking of niche, who had The Secret Service on their bingo card for a big Security Hazard exposé this year?? Unlike Stingray which I’d been planning to tackle on the blog for years, The Secret Service was done on a complete impulse. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and dive in like Father Unwin inexplicably falling out of a boat. Many sources reduce The Secret Service down to a mere footnote in the Anderson catalog, largely ignored because of its limited commercial potential. It’s considered by many to be an ill-conceived wrong turning in the Anderson canon, plagued by miscommunication and misunderstanding. This viewpoint never sat right with me. So, with a bit of research and reappraisal of the episodes and their production history, I’d now like to think my reviews of The Secret Service tell a fairer, more representative story of those few months in 1968 when the Century 21 team were actually making the best show they could out of an impossible situation…

Other Articles You Might Have Missed

In between big projects, I’ve kept myself busy with focussed essays, reviews, and write-ups on all sorts of Anderson-related topics. Some of them may have slipped under the radar so here they all are in one convenient package. A bit like a clip show… which seems appropriate.

Joe 90 | Project 90 Technical Operations Manual

I co-wrote a book this year! A proper one. With pretty pictures and everything. You can get it from the Gerry Anderson store. I’m really, really, really proud of the Joe 90 Technical Manual. Publishing a book is one thing, but the fact it’s an officially licensed Anderson product, and I got to do with my dear friend Chris Thompson, well – it’s very special to me. Joe 90 is another show that gets unfairly overlooked at times so the process of studying it and expanding on it for the manual was an exciting opportunity to show the world just how darn good the whole series is.

The Project 90 Technical Operations Manual is your chance to dig into the vaults of the World Intelligence Network and learn about the amazing adventures of Joe 90 – a 9-year-old secret agent with the knowledge and experience of the world’s leading experts. Explore all the impressive vehicles and gadgets that Joe works with on his daring exploits, and study in-depth mission reports and biographies that have never seen the light of day before.

Official Gerry Anderson Live Streams

Across Anderson Entertainment’s social media accounts, I’ve been allowed, multiple times, to sit in front of a camera and wax lyrical about my favourite Anderson shows, live on the internet in front of thousands of people with fabulous guests and co-hosts. I have so much fun putting these live extravaganzas together with the Anderson Entertainment team and for some reason they keep inviting me back. From news to interviews to quizzes to games to just chatting, we pull out all the stops to put on a fun show that everyone can enjoy. Personal highlights for me included playing Zeroids vs. Cubes to celebrate Terrahawks 40th Birthday, being unceremoniously blown out of orbit on Breakaway Day, and challenging Andrew Clements to a “build your own Blue Peter Tracy Island” competition against the clock.

Videos

From silly music videos to insightful chats, nothing has been off the table on my social media channels this year… and it shows… seriously, talk about a mixed bag. Some of this stuff is unbearable and some of it is really quite special. Some of it is both. It’s your mission to find out what’s what from the selection provided below…

Advent Calendar

Monsieur, with these videos you are really spoiling us. Yes, in case you didn’t have enough to watch, I posted videos throughout December on the Security Hazard Facebook and X/Twitter pages to celebrate Advent and Thunderbirds. Fresh from the archive, enjoy a festive feast of adverts, sketches, trailers, TV continuity and more featuring the International Rescue team, and a few impostors along the way…

You can catch up on the rest of the playlist over on our Facebook page.

Ko-fi

This year, I set up a Ko-fi page to act as a virtual tip jar for the Security Hazard blog. Nothing fancy. Just a place for readers to toss some spare change whenever they liked something that I did. Boy was I surprised when I discovered that enough money had trickled in from Security Hazard readers to just about cover blog’s hosting costs for 12 months. Normally, I pay those pesky domain renewal fees out of my own pocket. For 2023, y’all had it covered and that was enormously nice.

I won’t lie, things have been challenging this year at Security Hazard HQ. Of course, they’ve been tough for a lot of people because 2023 was a financial fright-fest. Work has not graced me with its riches this year. I’ve been recovering from what can only be described as It-Could-Be-Practically-Anywhere-On-The-Island levels of awfulness in my own brain.

Now, the good news is that I’ve had lots of time to concentrate on the things I love like family, friends, and all the weird and wonderful projects showcased throughout this article. And it’s made me feel quite a bit better. The road ahead is still as long and twisty as a trip up the London Car-Vu, but I’m a little more confident than I was 12 months ago that the final destination won’t involve me punching the World President in the face, falling off a tower, and getting squashed by said London Car-Vu as it falls down on top of me.

I hope you’re following all the symbolism here.

Anyway, the point is that I’m extremely grateful to you, my dear readers, for your support this year in all its forms. Obviously, tips left on Ko-fi are a big help and I encourage you to donate what you can, but only if you can. Unlike Lady Penelope, I can’t open my home up to coachloads of tourists when the bills need paying.

Our little Security Hazard community is growing at a gentle pace and by thunder I’m proud of it. Thank you all so much.

2024?

So, what’s in store for next year? Well, I can’t spoil anything but I can tell you that I am working on a couple of Anderson projects that are due to come to fruition later in the year. You can guarantee I won’t shut up about them when they do eventually materialise. As for this ‘ere blog, I took a little sabbatical from writing articles when The Secret Service concluded, but I’m keen to start up again as soon as the right idea comes along. If this article proves anything it’s that I’m not exactly a one-trick pony, so choosing what to do next can be tricky. Reviews? Podcasts? Video essays? Books? Birthday cakes? Yes. Yes all of those could happen. Anything can happen in the next 12 months.

Here’s to another year of a grown man arsing about with his toys and not shutting up about it.

Jack