The 77 has come a long way since its first issue in 2020. Evolved, I should say, as the magazine set the bar high for quality from the start. Now, strips that launched with the debut issue ('Division 77'. 'V', 'enny Pentagram', 'The Screaming Hand') have disappeared and a whole new line-up has evolved over seven issues. If memory serves, only 'Sgt. Shouty', Lew Stringers' Moon Force maniac has the muscles of a Desperate Dan and the temper tantrums of a Captain Hurricane.
The new paper has been kept in the public eye by a rolling programme of Kickstarters, the latest for Pandora, a companion comic that is due out this summer, and the tireless efforts of editor Ben Cullis (aka Benksy) and his talented team on social media and at conventions. But that effort would be wasted if the product wasn't good, and it is the quality of the comic itself that means it continues to survive and thrive.
The 64-pages (plus covers) are full colour, way beyond the abilities of the "small press" back in the days of Fast Fiction, Harrier, et al, but at the same time the anthology format does mean that stories lurch along at five or six pages every three months. I haven't decided which is best: the pleasure of having a lot of different stories/styles or the satisfaction of a longer story with a beginning, middle and end—anthologies risk having a lot of middle and few intriguing openings or satisfying conclusions.
Debuting this issue, 'Black Dog Lane' (Kit Bodhi / Mac [Ben McLeod]) starts off in lighthearted mode as, one by one, an old rocker's band mates die and he finds himself working as a security guard at a laboratory. A year later, what should have been his happiest day is disrupted by the opening of a portal.
There are plenty of excellent strips amongst the other eleven on display here. A couple stand out: 'Extinction 2040' (Paul Goodenough / Ian Stopforth) is a futuristic thriller with spies captured by climate activists after a bungled operation; 'Division 77: Terra' (Dave Heeley / Hal Laren) reaches an explosive conclusion; 'Galactic Geographic' (Noel K. Hannan / Warwick Fraser-Coombe) sees TV journalist Ryan Quark fall pregnant on the planet Phallux, opening up an opportunity for a new Reality show; and 'Mister Meeker, Monster Maker' (Bambos Georgiou / Andy Meanock) visits Vladimir Valkarian, the renowned occultist to obtain a grimoire that will aid his quest to create artificial life.
Other stories in the anthology are just as good, but I've picked these out to show the diversity of the stories and the artwork ranges from the colourful, chaotic dynamism of Ian Stopforth's 'Extinction 2040' to the Hunt Emerson-inspired packed panels of Andy Meanock.
Those of you who weren't involved in the Kickstarter can still buy copies of the latest issue and back issues (with a reissue of #1 available this summer), and the recent The 77 Annual, from Get My Comics. 77 Publications also publish Blazer, a throw-back to the old days of Action from the pen of ex-Tharg Steve MacManus.
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