Tom Corbett: Space Cadet

Long before Kirk and Spock were schooled at Starfleet, Tom Corbett: Space Cadet trained at the Space Academy. Now, Washington-based publisher, Bluewater Productions, is set to reintroduce a new generation to the iconic 1950's space adventurer with a brand-new comic mini-series.

Tom Corbett: Space Cadet, a staple in the early days of television from 1950-1955, follows the adventures of the titular hero and his friends, Astro and Roger Manning, as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard.

"Although it's been many years since his last adventure, Tom and his crew are still appealing characters with strong chemistry and a dash of retro fun," said Bluewater president, Darren Davis. "The series is not just for baby-boomers looking for a walk down memory lane, but promises to be a fun, rollercoaster ride for any fan of space opera."

The four-issue mini-series, scheduled for release this September, is penned by veteran genre writer, Bill Spangler (Alien Nation and Robotech - and a 1990 version of the Tom Corbett series), and features a brand new storyline. The dynamic art style by John DeCosta gives the book a 1950s-retro feel, with a spark of modern flavor.

"I grew up in a town in Western Pennsylvania where the original Tom Corbett books by Carey Rockwell made up roughly one-half of the science-fiction section of the children's' library. So I was a Tom Corbett fan long before I saw an episode of the TV show," Spangler said. "I enjoyed doing the Tom Corbett comic for Malibu Graphics, and I'm very excited about writing the characters again."

During its original run on television, TC:SC sparked a craze of novels, comic strips, comic books, lunchboxes, toys, space helmets, and other merchandise. Today, there are several websites dedicated to Tom Corbett.

Tom is the charismatic leader of the team, Roger is the sharp-tongued navigator, and Astro controls engineering. In the inaugural issue, the cadets have their first encounter with a dangerous new enemy with a surprising origin. "As roaring rockets blast-off to distant planets and far flung stars, we take you to the age of the conquest of space with Tom Corbett: Space Cadet!"

© C Harris Lynn, 2009