Crowdfunding Spotlight: The77 – Issue Seven

By John Freeman on January 31, 2022

There’s a great looking mix of strips on offer in The77 Issue #7, currently seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter – the latest, 64-page, comics anthology, featuring everything from space opera and mythology, to action and comedy or monsters and robots in each issue of our oversized anthology.

The standard cover of this issue was, of course, commissioned well before the sad passing of actor and singer Meat Loaf, but it’s a fun homage to the late Richard Corben’s classic Bat out of Hell album cover by Ben Macleod, and I’m looking forward to seeing the strip.

On the cover of The77 #7 - Meet Wolf from Kit Bodhi and Ben Macleod's 'Black Dog Lane’ — *On the cover of The77 #7 – “Meet Wolf” from Kit Bodhi and Ben Macleod’s “Black Dog Lane*“

Created by hot new talent and legendary creators from your British comics childhood, here’s a quick rundown of what’s on offer in the latest project from The77 Publications.

First, the variant cover for this issue, painted by Bruno Stahl, featuring the Viking story “Jǫrmun“, written by The77’s own Dave Bedford. It’s a terrific eye catcher, and if you’re interested, Bruno is selling the original art, here.

*Bruno Stahl’s striking The77 #7 variant cover*

*Bruno Stahl is selling the original variant cover art of The77 #7 here*

Here’s a picture-led guide to the strips in this issue, too…

*“V” by Steve Bull and Ade Hughes, coloured by Darren Stephens*

*“Extinction 2040” by Paul Goodenough and Ian Stopforth. Four pages of art from this strip are available as rewards*

*“Division77” by Dave Heeley and Hal Laren*

*“Jǫrmun” by Dave Bedford (R-Dave) and Bruno Stahl*

*“Sgt Shouty!” Book 2 begins in this issue, by Lew Stringer*

*“Mister Meeker, Monster Maker”, by Bambos Georgiou and Andy Meanock. Yet to be coloured by Brendon Wright*

“Galactic Geographic” by Noel Hannan and Fraser Warwick-Coombe

A Work in Progress image from “Marty's Believe it or Not” by Brendon Wright — A Work in Progress image from “Marty’s Believe it or Not” by Brendon Wright

*“Disposal” by Martin Fisher and Charlie Gillespie*

*“Red by Night, Black by Day” by Jo Heeley and Rupert Jones*

All in all, a heady mix!

Rewards this time out include exclusive commissions and sketches, original artwork, The77 merchandise and back issues.

As I’ve said before, The77 is a project that’s grown in the telling, offering an enjoyable mix of comics of different genres. Worth a look, and, perhaps, some of your hard-earned dosh!

• Check out the latest The77 Kickstarter campaign here

• If you missed a previous issue of The77 you can get them here – 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.