2000 AD #81

Prog 81 of 2000 AD hits the stands for September 9, 1978, with a striking cover by Dave Gibbons showing Dan Dare — billed here as "Guardian of the Galaxy" — surging forward in his orange pressure suit, arm raised defiantly against a star-scattered cosmos with planets looming in the background. Inside, the Verdus saga continues in Part 6, brought to life by the formidable team of writer Pat Mills and artist/inker/colorist Brian Bolland, with lettering by Pete Knight. At just 9p, this was weekly British SF storytelling firing on all cylinders.