The first ever The77 Annual is seeking backing now on Kickstarter, and just like the British independent comic anthology, comes crammed with strips from a great mix of new and legendary talent, including Glenn Fabry, Steve Pugh and Lew Stringer.

With an ambitious target that aims to cover both an agreed creator page rates and production costs, The77 Annual will feature 136 pages of brand new strips and much, much more.

We;’re told to expect everything within this new book, from space opera and mythology, to action and comedy or monsters and robots – and having had a bit of a sneak peek, I can confirm that it’s packed with everything claimed!

The costs of producing such a book don’t come cheap, and as you can imagine, the Kickstarter target of just under £11,000 is ambitious – but the team are on course to make it, and just need a few more much-appreciated supporters to make it over the line.

On offer are not one, but two editions: a hardback edition, with a Mark Montague cover, a “thank-you” to loyal and steadfast Kickstarter backers, which will not be reprinted or sold in highstreet retail outlets; and a softback edition, with a cover by Ade Hughes, Ade Hughes is the Illustrator of V and co-conspirator on Pat Mills’ SpaceWarp. All I ever wanted to do was to fiddle with thespian drapery, funny how life turns out.’

The Kickstarter is live now, and 80 per cent funded, and although there’s still a while for the campaign to run, don’t miss out.

The Strips

The annual – seeking funding here – includes a great range of strips, as follows

“Benksy’s Story” by Steve Bull and Brendon Wright. (Benksy created by Ben Conan Cullis and Neil Sims)

“DIVISION ’77” by Dave Heeley and Ade Hughes (created by Dave Heeley and Sinclair Elliott)

“THE CELL” by Bambos Georgiou and Andrw Sawyers

“V” by Steve Bell and Ian Stopforth

Ba’al by Ian Stopforth

Penny Pentagram by David Thomas and Andrew Richmond

SGT SHOUTY by Lew Stringer

The Monster In You by Anna Everts and Kish Williams

House Wins by Paul Neal and Glenn Fabry

Skateworm by Cullis and Morgan Gleave

The Devil Wasn’t Always Red by Dave Bedford and Gary Burley

Krampusnacht by Jo Heeley and Mark Marren

The Filth and the Furry by Dave Heeley and Pete Western

Technofreak by John Charles and Antonio Concalves

The Dead Men by Paul Neal and Steve Pugh

The Annual also includes features, puzzles, games, posters and things to make and do, just like a traditional British comic annual, and perks on offer include badges, stickers and even needle felt creations, the work of Jo Heeley!

There’s a fantastic range of talent involved in this, representing some of the best in independent comics talent here in the UK. Check out the Kickstarter page for lots more information on the creators involved, and updates on the project… and of course, to hopefully give in your support!

• If you’ve missed a previous issue of The77, you can get them from GetMyComics or on this Kickstarter

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: British Comics, Comics, Crowd Funding Projects, downthetubes News

Tags: Ade Hughes, Adventure Comics, Andrew Richmond, Andrw Sawyers, Anna Everts, Antonio Concalves, Ben Conan Cullis, Dave Heeley, David Thomas, Glenn Fabry, Humour Comics, Ian Stopforth, Jo Heeley, John Charles, Kickstarter, Kish Williams, Lew Stringer, Mark Montague, Morgan Gleave, Paul Neal, Pete Western, SF Comics, Steve Bell, Steve Pugh, The77, The77 Annual