Countdown

Issue 1, 1971

Countdown (later retitled TV Action + Countdown and then simply TV Action) was a weekly comic put out by Polystyle Publications from 1971 to 1973. Edited by Dennis Hooper, it featured strips based largely on science fiction TV series, and was intended to ride a contemporary wave of interest in the genre. Features on technological advances were also included.

In 1972, following a perceived decline of interest in science fiction, the comic was renamed TV Action + Countdown, signifying a general swerve towards the action genre. In January 1973 TV Action no longer contained references to its old Countdown name. The following September it merged into TV Comic.

Strips included:

• "Alias Smith and Jones"
• "Cannon"
• "Captain Scarlet"
• "Dad's Army"
• "Dastardly and Muttley"
• "Doctor Who"
• "Droopy"
• "Fireball XL5" (reprinted from TV21)
• "Hawaii Five-O"
• "Joe 90"
• "Mission: Impossible"
• "Motormouse and Autocat"
• "The Secret Service"
• "Stingray"
• "Tightrope"
• "The Persuaders"
• "Thunderbirds"
• "UFO"

References

• Kibble-White, Graham (2005). Ultimate Book of British Comics. London: Alison & Busby. pp. 85, 253-4. ISBN 0-74908-211-9