As 'lad legends' go, they don't get much better than JOE 90! He's stylish, he's cool, he's clever and instantly recognisable with his trademark glasses - and what's more he's only 9 years old! JOE 90 is without doubt the world's most audacious special agent. As a special operative for WIN (World Intelligence Organisation), JOE 90 can do anything, thanks to a fabulous electronic device built into his trademark specs, which allow him to receive the brain patterns of the world's leading experts in their respective fields.

JOE 90 can become the greatest of all astronauts, a dare-devil pilot, an ace driver, a brilliant brain surgeon or whatever else is required of him as the most daring of all agents attached to W.I.N. He may not have been around for a while, but prepare to be impressed, JOE 90, is set to make his mark once again with his auspicious return to the world of entertainment ….. puzzled?!

Carlton Visual Entertainment, home of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray is releasing the entire series of JOE 90 in special 5 disc collector's DVD digi-pack and 8 Video Box Set on 9th September 2002. Individual DVD and Video volumes will also be released from September onwards. Digitally re-mastered from 35mm, restored, enhanced, you name it, they've done it, to mark the DVD debut of Gerry Anderson's superb supermarionation adventure series starring, yes, you've got it - the 9 year old wonder-kid, who's cooler than cool, brighter than bright and puts a capital E in the word ENTERTAINMENT!

The Joe 90 DVD volumes are crammed with extras that include character biographies, information files, production gallery, stills gallery and much more. JOE 90 is also being released as stand-alone video volumes.

So just how did JOE 90 become W.I.N.'s leading special operative … well, legend has it that Professor Ian 'Mac' Maclaine, a brilliant computer expert who just happens to be Joe's adoptive father, invented an incredible device called - wait for it - BIG RAT - short for Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record And Transfer. BIG RAT, as its known in the trade enables the knowledge and experience of one person to be transferred to another - pretty cool eh! Apparently 'Mac' demonstrated the machine to his friend Sam Loover, by transferring his own brain patterns to his son Joe.

Obviously impressed, Sam temporarily dissuaded Mac from selling the machine to Convex Computers and introduces him to Shane Weston, Head of the World Intelligence Network in London. Recognising the potential of such a machine, Shane persuades Mac to keep BIG RAT a secret and to allow W.I.N. to use it for missions - but wait for it - with Joe as secret agent - after all - who could possibly suspect that a nine year old boy could be The Most Special Agent of W.I.N.

This thrilling series, which first appeared on our tv screens in 1968, will not only allow fans of the supermarionation genre to re-visit their childhood, but will introduce a whole new generation to the incredible world of JOE 90.

The series was made by Century 21 Television for Lew Grade's ITC in 1967/68 and consists of 30 episodes which all runs to 25 minutes. Reg Hill was the Executive Producer; David Lane produced, and Desmond Saunders was the Production Controller. Voices were supplied by Rupert Davies, Sylvia Anderson, Jeremy Wilkin, Keith Alexander, Gary Files, Shane Rimmer, David Healy, Martin King, Liz Morgan, and Len Jones (who provided the voice of Joe McClaine).

The following is edited information taken from the web, but mainly from the excellent, and unrivalled, Gerry Anderson Fan Site. For more information on any Gerry Anderson title, I suggest you pay them a call!

Title	Tx. Date	Comments
The Most Special Agent	29.9.68	Wr. Gerry & Sylvia Anderson Dr. Desmond Saunders W.I.N. director Shane Weston explains to Professor Ian McClaine how is nine year-old son Joe can utilise the brain patterns of professional experts to become W.I.N.'s most special agent: he proposes a scenario in which Joe steals a Soviet Mig 242 fighter plane using the brain patterns of a top Russian pilot.
Hi-Jacked	20.10.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry Following the shooting of W.I.N. agent Ed Johnson while investigating the activities of ruthless gun-runner Mario Coletti, Joe infiltrates Coletti's hide-out using Johnson's brain patterns. But when Joe is discovered, he loses his glasses - his only link to the vital knowledge he needs to escape!
Splashdown	24.11.68	Wr. Shane Rimmer Dr. Leo Eaton After two leading electronics experts, secretly recruited for a top security government project in Istanbul, go missing after being involved in fatal air crashes, Joe takes on the brain patterns of a US Air Force test pilot to prevent Mac from becoming the next victim of a ruthless extortionist.
Operation McClaine	15.12.68	Wr.Gerry Anderson and Dave Lane Dr. Ken Turner Writer Maurice Estoral urgently requires a brain operation, but the only neurosurgeon who can perform the procedure is badly injured in a plance crash. With the brain patterns of Dr. Kados, Joe can perform the operation, but persuading the hospital staff to let him to so requires Mac to take on the brain patterns of a W.I.N. agent!
Three's A Crowd	19.1.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Peter Anderson Mac falls in love with a beautiful American reporter, Angela Davies, but Sam is concerned about their liaison and finds a willing ally in Joe. With Miss Davies' brain patterns, Joe is able to confirm that she is an enemy agent assigned to steal the plans of the BIGRAT!
International Concerto	17.11.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry Concert pianist Igor Sladek is secretly one of W.I.N.'s top agents, but during his final engagement of a world tour, a private recital at the Dolski Palace, his cover is blown and he is arrested. Joe takes on the maestro's brain patterns to effect a daring rescue during a live radio performance.
Big Fish	1.12.68	Wr.Shane Rimmer Dr. Leo Eaton A U85 two-man atomic submarine is grounded inside Porto Guavan territorial waters and its discovery by Juan Chaves' military dictatorship could jeopardise free elections in the police state. Joe is the only W.I.N. agent small enough to access the U85 through its outer missile hatch, so he and Mac set off on a fishing expedition...
The Unorthodox Shepherd	22.12.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Ken Turner The Reverend Shepherd has been passing forged bank notes but when he is confronted by Mac and Sam, he reveals that his verger is being held hostage by the counterfeiters in the church crypt. Joe takes on the role of the Angel of Death to catch the crooks...
Relative Danger	8.12.68	Wr. Shane Rimmer Dr. Peter Anderson While searching for Uranium 534, Dr. Willie Loover is trapped with two colleagues in a mine tunnel in the Pueblo Mountains. Joe takes on the brain patterns of a leading underground explorer to effect a rescue, but there is a time limit - unless Dr. Loover receives a vital serum injection within two hours, he will die!
Business Holiday	29.12.68	Wr.Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry Borovan forces have taken over the evacuated Beneleta World Army Base for their own use, and for the sake of world peace the base must be destroyed. With the brain patterns of an Army Colonel, Joe is the only agent who can accomplish the mission - if Sam can pursuade the McClaines to cut their holiday short.
King For A Day	10.11.68	Wr. Shane Rimmer Dr. Leo Eaton The Sultan of Ardaji dies in mysterious circumstances and his heir, Prince Kahib, is kidnapped by the Regent, Ben Shazar. To take his rightful place as King, Kahib must be crowned within 48 hours, so Joe impersonates the young Prince using the brain patterns of his tutor.
Double Agent	12.1.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Ken Turner Three of W.I.N.'s top couriers have been killed and Shane Weston suspects an inside job. In an attempt to solve the mystery, Joe takes on the brain patterns of courier chief Harry Sloane to deliver secret cypher codes, unaware that Sloane himself is the double agent!
Most Special Astronaut	6.10.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Peter Anderson Two men are trapped aboard a space station that will form the hub of W.I.N.'s new orbital radar system. Two attempts to rescue them have failed and now they have only three days' air supply left. Joe takes on the brain patterns of an injured astronaut to undertake his most dangerous assignment yet.
Arctic Adventure	5.1.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry An air force B107 bomber is forced down inside the Arctic Circle by a freak storm, but only three of the four nuclear devices on board are recovered. Joe undertakes a dangerous assignment in the freezing waters of the Eastern Sector to find the fourth device...
The Fortress	3.11.68	Wr. Shane Rimmer Dr. Leo Eaton W.I.N. agent Roger Fleming is captured in Santa Marina after hiding a top secret microfilm. Joe takes on the brain patterns of Fleming's injured partner to rescue him from an impenetrable fortress and recover the microfilm.
Colonel McClaine	27.10.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Ken Turner Army supply runs ferrying U114 liquid explosive to the Kuchanga Tunnel have been plagued by sabotage. With the brain patterns of an Army Colonel, Joe leads an overland convoy on a dangerous journey across 200 miles of the worst country in the world, unaware that the U114 will explode above 5000ft!
Project 90	13.10.68	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Peter Anderson Dr. Conrad Darota intends to discover the secret of W.I.N.'s File 90 which details the BIGRAT project and Joe's involvement as W.I.N.'s most special agent. Darota kidnaps Mac and holds him captive at his clinic in the Alps, so Joe takes on the brain patterns of his own father to effect a daring rescue - by balloon!
The Race	2.2.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry An experimental brain transfer allows Mac and Joe to dream the same dream. In it, the pair are involved in a madcap race from London to Monte Carlo against an Army team led by General Tempest, who will stop at nothing to win. But Joe has the brain patterns of a top rally driver...
The Professional	26.1.69	Wr. Donald James Dr. Leo Eaton Kramer Foundation funds are being misappropriated and W.I.N. must recover the remaining funds, eight million dollars in gold bullion. The gold is stored in a high security vault beneath Langallo Castle, guarded by Spider riot control vehicles, so Joe takes on the brain patterns of a professional safe-breaker...
Lone-Handed 90	9.3.69	Wr. Desmond Saunders and Keith Wilson Dr. Ken Turner While Mac, Sam and Shane argue, Joe falls asleep in front of the television. In his dreams, he becomes the Sheriff of Joesville, single-handedly taking on the infamous W.I.N. Gang as they plot the robbery of a consignment of gold from the mail train at Altuna.
Attack Of The Tiger	16.3.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Peter Anderson W.I.N. discovers that the Eastern Alliance have built a secret rocket installation which will launch a nuclear device into orbit and hold the world to ransom. With the brain patterns of a top pilot, Joe flies a VG 104 fighter bomber to destroy the rocket base...
Talkdown	9.2.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Alan Perry After the crash of an F116 prototype aircraft, Joe flies a second prototype to determine the cause of the crash, using the brain patterns of top test pilot Jim Grant. But Joe is unaware that the patterns have been corrupted by Grant's fear of touchdown...
Breakout	16.2.69	Wr. Shane Rimmer Dr. Leo Eaton A pair of escaped convicts threaten the life of Canadian Prime Minister MacCormack, shelling a rail bridge as the Minister's train is crossing. The convicts demand a million dollars and a helijet so Joe - with the brain patterns of a bob sleigh champion - volunteers to be the courier...
Mission X-41	30.3.69	Wr. Pat Dunlop Dr. Ken Turner The Eastern Alliance have isolated the X-41 virus, capable of breaking down the molecular structure of matter and destroying everything in its path. Joe takes on the brain patterns of a top virologist to steal the formula for the antibody from a secret laboratory...
Test Flight	6.4.69	Wr. Donald James Dr. Peter Anderson A new Orbital Glide Transport is sabotaged and crashes on the launch control building, trapping the flight controller inside with vital monitoring equipment - both will be wiped out if the OGT's rocket fuel ignites. Joe makes a daring rescue attempt with the brain patterns of a computer and demolitions expert...
Child Of The Sun God	23.2.69	Wr. John Lucarotti Dr. Alan Perry Four of the world's leading statesmen have been paralysed by a poison developed by the Amaztecs, a tribe of South American indians that were wiped out three hundred years ago. Suspecting that the Amaztecs have been revived by a ruthless organisation, Joe undertakes a perilous journey into the Andes....
Trial At Sea	13.4.69	Wr. Donald James Dr. Brian Heard The maiden voyage of the S.S. Friendship hoverliner is placed in jeopardy when Sir George Harris receives a bomb threat. With the lives of a hundred British and American VIPs at stake, Joe takes on the brain patterns of a terrorist to learn the location of the bomb and how to defuse it...
See You Down There	2.3.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Leo Eaton Financial shark Ralph Clayton is using legalised fraud to take control of rival companies, but when he targets Neto Machine Tools - manufacturers of specialised components utilised by W.I.N. - Sam, Mac and Joe are assigned to bring Clayton down. Joe takes on a variety of brain patterns to convince Clayton that he has taken a hallucinatory drug.
The Birthday	20.4.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Leo Eaton It is Joe's 10th birthday, but Mac has already gone to town before Joe wakes up and won't be back until late. There is no post and it looks as if everyone has forgotten Joe's special day, but Mac, Sam and Shane spring a surprise party and recall some of the boy's most dangerous adventures.
Viva Cordova	23.3.69	Wr. Tony Barwick Dr. Peter Anderson W.I.N. is assigned to ensure the safety of President Juan Cordova who plans to expose the corruption of General Valdes. Cordova refuses to accept a conventional bodyguard of any kind, so Joe takes on the brain patterns of a top agent to become Cordova's long-lost English cousin...