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| Albedo Anthropomorphics | |
|---|---|
 Cover ofAlbedo Anthropomorphics featuring the magazine's feature character, Erma Felna. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Thoughts & Images,Antarctic Press,Shanda Fantasy Arts |
| Schedule | Erratic |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | 1983–2005 |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Steve Gallacci and others |
| Artist(s) | Steve Gallacci and others |
Albedo Anthropomorphics, orAlbedo for short, is afurry comic bookanthology series which was credited with starting the furry comic book subgenre that featured sophisticated stories withtalking animals primarily intended for an adult audience.[1] The first issue ofAlbedo was published in 1983;[2] the most recent issue was published in 2005.[3]
Albedo was started bySteve Gallacci (pronounced /ɡʌˈlɑt͡ʃi/), who produced its main feature,Erma Felna: EDF—a sophisticated science fiction military series set in a sector of space populated bysapient and predominantlyhumanoid versions ofmammal andavian species. The focus of the series is Erma Felna, a youngfeline officer who eventually plays a central role in the complex political conflicts that consume her universe.[4]
Gallacci was atechnical illustrator for theUnited States Air Force, and one feature ofAlbedo is its well thought-out and illustrated vehicles. His experience also shows in the realistic treatment of military life and operations.
The series was used as inspiration for theAlbedo role-playing game, which has had three editions and multiple supplements.
Erma Felna: EDF was set in a futuristic period in a sector of civilizedouter space populated bysapient and predominantlyhumanoid versions of over 150 variousmammalian andavian species. Although the civilization has advanced technical skills and political structure, the residents of this region have realized that they have no knowledge of their origins or past, nor any culture or arts to speak of beyond the structures necessary to maintain operational systems.
The title character is Erma Felna, a young cat who is an officer of the Extraplanetary Defense Force (EDF), the main military of the Interstellar Confederacy or ConFed for short.[5] The series follows her adventures in part as she fulfills a career that would make her a revered name as "The Protector of the Rim", in the region's history despite sexist opposition.
The ConFed is challenged by a rival and ruthless enemy called the Independent Lapine Republic (ILR) which is populated by a species of supremacist rabbits who favor taking colonies and settled areas by force. To defeat their militarily stronger enemy, the ILR is engaging in socio-political warfare intended to undermine the ConFed citizenry's confidence in their government's stability and ability to protect them.
This strategy is made evident in the opening battle of the series when the ILR invades the ConFed planet of Derzon. Once the Republic seizes the planet, they deliberately deploy their troops in such a manner that defeating them requires the EDF inflict the maximum unavoidable amount of collateral damage and civilian casualties, intending to increase ConFed civilian resentment of their own government's actions.
In addition, there are internal and growing ConFed corruption and attacks by nihilistic terrorists who commit acts of violence for their own sake to shake societal complacency. A derelict ship that contains a body of a human is eventually discovered which reveals vital clues about the civilization.
The series drew considerable attention for its unique use oftalking animals which featured characters engaged in sophisticated stories with a highly political nature, like novels such asA Very British Coup. For instance, after an action scene, the characters would often discuss the socio-political ramifications of the events in question and struggle to decide what to do in response.
In 2016 Gallacci began posting the originalErma Felna: EDF comic pages online as a webcomic, alongside other works.[‡ 1]
Other features in the series have included:
The title was originally self-published by Gallacci through his own company calledThoughts & Images. When the company folded,Antarctic Press resumed the title for several years, both in a black-and-white series and a short-lived color one. The series moved toShanda Fantasy Arts[3][6] in 2004, which produced two issues of the continuing series before it went on indefinite hiatus in 2005.
An RPG by the same name, based on the Erma Felna storyline, was produced byChessex in 1989 and 1993. The concept was re-engineered in 2003 by Sanguine Productions.[4][7]
There was also an associated short-lived fan magazine,Refractions, which carried original artwork, stories, and discussions of the cultures shown in theErma Felna, EDF universe. Steve Gallacci contributed new material and cover art for each, but most material came from other sources. Published by R'ykandar Korra'ti/Low Orbit Publications in the 1990s, the series ran only three issues; a fourth was tentatively announced, but cancelled for lack of original material after the end of the colorAlbedo run.[8][citation needed]
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):