View source for Albedo Anthropomorphics

{{Short description|Comic book anthology series}}
{{Primary sources|date=March 2021|reason=Almost all of the "sources" here are web shops and an anecdote.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox comic book title
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| image               = Albedo 08.jpg
| imagesize           = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption             = Cover of ''Albedo Anthropomorphics'' featuring the magazine's feature character, Erma Felna.
| schedule            = Erratic
| format              =
| multigenre          = y
| Anthology           = y
| Adventure           = y
| Fantasy             = y
| SciFi               = y
| War                 = y
| limited             =
| ongoing             = Y
| 1shot               =
| publisher           = Thoughts & Images, [[Antarctic Press]], [[Shanda Fantasy Arts]]
| date                = 1983–2005
| issues              =
| main_char_team      =
| writers             = Steve Gallacci and others
| artists             = Steve Gallacci and others
| pencillers          =
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| subcat              = Antarctic Press
| altcat              =
| sort                = Albedo Anthropomorphics
| nonUS               =
}}
'''''Albedo Anthropomorphics''''', or '''''Albedo''''' for short, is a [[List of furry comics|furry comic book]] [[anthology series]] which was credited with starting the furry comic book subgenre that featured sophisticated stories with [[talking animals in fiction|talking animal]]s primarily intended for an adult audience.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patten|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Patten|url=http://www.flayrah.com/4117/retrospective-illustrated-chronology-furry-fandom-1966-1996|title=Retrospective: An Illustrated Chronology of Furry Fandom, 1966–1996|work=Flayrah|date=15 July 2012|access-date=15 July 2012}}</ref> The first issue of ''Albedo'' was published in 1983;<ref>Greb, John; [http://www.comics.org/series.lasso?SeriesID=2823 "''Albedo'' 1983 series"], The Grand Comics Database Project. Retrieved 12 April 2007</ref> the most recent issue was published in 2005.<ref name="SFA: Albedo">[http://www.shandafantasyarts.org/albedo.htm "''Albedo''"] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110302031411/http://www.shandafantasyarts.org/albedo.htm|date=2 March 2011}}, ''ShandaFantasyArts.org''. Retrieved 12 April 2007</ref>

''Albedo'' was started by '''Steve Gallacci''' (pronounced /ɡʌˈlɑt͡ʃi/), who produced its main feature, '''''Erma Felna: EDF'''''—a sophisticated science fiction military series set in a sector of space populated by [[Sapience|sapient]] and predominantly [[humanoid]] versions of [[mammal]] and [[Bird|avian]] species. The focus of the series is Erma Felna, a young [[Felidae|feline]] officer who eventually plays a central role in the complex political conflicts that consume her universe.<ref name="Sanguine">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080119185518/http://www.sanguine.com/Albedo/index.shtml "Frequently Asked Questions about ''Albedo''{{-"}}], Sanguine Productions. Retrieved 12 April 2007.</ref>

Gallacci was a [[technical illustrator]] for the [[United States Air Force]], and one feature of ''Albedo'' 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 the ''[[Albedo (role-playing game)|Albedo]]'' role-playing game, which has had three editions and multiple supplements.

==Features==
===Erma Felna: EDF===
''Erma Felna: EDF'' was set in a futuristic period in a sector of civilized [[outer space]] populated by [[Sapience|sapient]] and predominantly [[humanoid]] versions of over 150 various [[mammalian]] and [[bird|avian]] 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rovin|first1=Jeff|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals|date=1991|publisher=Prentice Hall Press|isbn=0-13-275561-0|access-date=8 April 2020|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc00rovi/page/86/mode/2up/|page=86}}</ref> 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.

====Reception====
The series drew considerable attention for its unique use of [[talking animals in fiction|talking animal]]s which featured characters engaged in sophisticated stories with a highly political nature, like novels such as ''[[A 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.

====Characters====
*'''Erma Felna''': The main character of ''Albedo''. Female officer in the EDF, born SD 171–01–22 (30 years old), Annianport, Annah (Dornthant II). Fur color is a light gold-brown, slightly paler in the front, scalp hair is dark red-brown, and eyes green gold. She shares her family's rare female genetic trait of vaguely humanlike [[head hair]]. Erma joined the EDF mainly because her father, Kanoc, was seriously tortured by the ILR.
*'''Toki''': a Danetti (from the planet Danet) mouse femme is a friend and confidant to Erma Felna. She is a staff officer for the Extra-Planetary Defense forces (EDF). Toki has large soft ears, very expressive eyes, a well-rounded figure, and is very outgoing and free with her attentions.

====Online version====
In 2016 Gallacci began posting the original ''Erma Felna: EDF'' comic pages online as a webcomic, alongside other works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stevegallacci.com/archive/edf/2016/05/03|title=Albedo|website=stevegallacci.com}}</ref>

===Others===
Other features in the series have included:
* ''High Orbit''
* [[Matt Howarth]]'s ''Konny and Czu''
* ''Space Wolf''
* The first episodes of [[Stan Sakai]]'s ''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]''
* ''Watchrats''

==History==
The title was originally self-published by Gallacci through his own company called '''Thoughts & 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 to [[Shanda Fantasy Arts]]<ref name="SFA: Albedo" /><ref>''MileHighComics.com'', [http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=list&title=02221149100&snumber=1 ''Albedo'' Catalogue Listing]. Retrieved 12 April 2007</ref> 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 by [[Chessex]] in 1989 and 1993. The concept was re-engineered in 2003 by Sanguine Productions.<ref name="Sanguine" /><ref>''Albedo: The Role-Playing Game'', [[WikiFur]]. Retrieved 12 April 2007</ref>

There was also an associated short-lived fan magazine, ''Refractions'', which carried original artwork, stories, and discussions of the cultures shown in the ''Erma 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 color ''Albedo'' run.<ref>Korra'ti, R'ykandar; conversation with the publisher, Low Orbit Publications, April 2007</ref>{{citation needed|date=March 2021|reason=See [[WP:V]] and [[WP:RS]]. Unpublished "conversations" and other anecdote cannot be used as sources.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.stevegallacci.com/archive/edf Steve Gallacci's online collection of the series]
*[http://www.comics.org/search.lasso?type=title&query=Albedo&sort=chrono&Submit=Search Albedo listing at comics.org]
*[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/index.html Comic Book Awards Almanac]

{{Furry fandom}}

[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic animals]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic cats]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic rabbits and hares]]
[[Category:Comics about anthropomorphic mice and rats]]
[[Category:Comics about talking animals]]
[[Category:1983 comics debuts]]
[[Category:2005 comics endings]]
[[Category:Science fiction comics]]
[[Category:Military comics]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into video games]]