PART SIX Of TV (& MOVIE) TIE-INS Of The TIMES - The JAMES BOND ANNUAL 1969...

JAMES BOND copyright The Estate of IAN FLEMING & EON PRODUCTIONS

It seems only fitting to end this present run of 'TV Tie- Ins of the Times' with the 'daddy' of them all - JAMES BOND.  I hear what you're saying - 007 is a movie tie-in, not a TV one, but you're only half right.  The broadcast rights to the Bond films were sold to ITV in 1974, and Dr. NO was first shown on TV in '75, so Bond has been a television staple for over 40 years.  However, I admit it's a fine line, as the Annuals were issued while his movie incarnation yet appeared only in cinemas.  (Programmes about James Bond had been televised though.)

Above is the 1969 JAMES BOND Annual, and the fact that it was the last of three before they were revived by another publisher (this time titled 'Special', not 'Annual')  in 1979 (for '80), suggests that they weren't the best-sellers one would imagine they'd be.  Collectors' items now for certain, but apparently not at the time they were originally published.  Anyway, that's perhaps a subject for another post, but, for the moment, let's look back to 1969 when Bond's licence to star in Annuals was revoked (for a few years) after the very publication before you.

This Annual contained text stories, features, and picture strips (a collection of the LIVE & LET DIE newspaper strip).  Incidentally, there's a page missing from my copy of this Annual - can anyone supply me with a scan of it?  It'd be greatly appreciated.  (Update:  Thanks to BARRY PEARL for supplying scans of both sides of the missing page.)

TV TIE-INS Of The TIMES: PART FIVE - The DOCTOR WHO ANNUAL 1966...

Dr. WHO and related images copyright BBC TV

WORLD DISTRIBUTORS must've thought their 1966 Dr. WHO Annual would be a sell-out as they printed quite a number of them.  However, they were left with a high volume unsold, so the next Annual had a lower print run, meaning that, today, it's an even bigger collectors' item than the first and commands a much higher price.

I'd imagine the fact that the book was filled with text stories and no comic strips made it less attractive to young readers, which is why the 1967 Annual included at least one that I know of - MISSION To DUH.  Although the illustrations in the Annual you see here weren't particularly great, the likenesses of WILLIAM HARTNELL were usually spot on.  One day I must sit down and read the stories.

Here's a taste of what you missed if you didn't have this book back in the day.  And if you did, you now have a pleasant reminder.  I often amaze myself with my generosity to you all, I really do.

Coming in Part Six - JAMES BOND Annual 1969.

BABE Of The DAY - LYNDA CARTER...

Ah, LYNDA CARTER - now

she's what I call a woman.  Isn't she

wonderful?!  Now where'd I put my

 trusty drool cup?  It's needed.