This annual quite literally stood out from the rest in that its pages measured 22cm by 29cm rather than the usual 20cm by 27cm. Many other World Distributors annuals dated 1977 also had these same increased dimensions.

 

The page count was restored to 80 pages, though like the increased page size, this was to be a one-off event.

 

For the first time in five years the cover was a piece of artwork rather than predominantly photographic. Paul Crompton painted a background featuring a skull behind the Doctor's head, which gave the impression of a horror annual. World's art director Ron Smethurst disapproved of this and painted a new background, which annoyed Crompton at the time. This was the first annual on which World artist Glenn Rix worked when he assisted Paul Crompton in completing some of the text story artwork to meet a deadline.

 

The companions were again Sarah and Harry, though the latter did not appear in three stories. The Brigadier makes a brief appearance in one. The likenesses of Sarah and Harry were again very bad - it would appear that as much as possible Crompton avoided depicting the companions and concentrated on the Doctor himself, whose likeness was much stronger.

 

The two comic strips, both by Crompton, featured different art styles, as he was experimenting with various techniques. Page 67 featured an illlustration with a large white circle in the middle of it as Crompton didn't like the look of one of the faces he drew so decided to cover it up; oddly enough the editors let it through. Crompton blames his bizarre artwork on his discovery at the time of real ale!

 

Contents

 

War on Aquatica

War on Aquatica was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.  On the planet Aquatica, the Doctor and Professor Vittorio Levi are taken hostage by the Medusians. Sarah Jane must meddle in a battle that rages across three kingdoms.

 

Cyclone Terror

Cyclone Terror was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.

 

The Time Snatch

The Time Snatch was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.  UNIT, along with the Doctor and Sarah Jane, travel to the American desert in search of Crystal Z. The Doctor discovers the crystal could cause a lot of trouble for the Earth and must find it before the trouble begins.

 

The Eye-Spiders of Pergross

The Eye-Spiders of Pergross was a short story published inDoctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan.

 

Detour to Diamedes

Detour to Diamedes was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smithand Harry Sullivan.

 

Double Trouble

Double Trouble was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.

 

Secret of the Bald Planet

Secret of the Bald Planet was a short story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan.

 

COMIC STRIP STORIES

The Body Snatcher

The Body Snatcher was a comic strip in the Doctor Who Annual 1977. It saw the Fourth Doctor's body possessed byRascla.  The TARDIS takes a detour, a dangerous one that results in the Doctor losing his body...  After a malfunction on the way to Mitra B for a peace conference, the TARDIS lands on Axa. However, an external force takes the three travellers to the planet Torm where they meet Rascla, a being who wants to take over Mitra B. He decided to use the Doctor to achieve this aim and possesses his body.The Doctor's mind is forced out and into Sarah's but he manages to return and, after an intense mental battle, defeats Rascla. He then apologises to both the Mitrans and Sarah.

 

Menace on Metalupiter

Menace on Metalupiter was a comic story published in Doctor Who Annual 1977. It featured the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puzzles 

 

• Maze of Mystery

• Space Has a Word For It!

• A Space Riddle-Me-Ree

• Pick the Planet People

• The Terror Trail

• Problem of the Painted Planet

• Dr. Who’s Crossword

• Pick the Planets

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

Features 

 

• Reach for the Sky!

• Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Satellite!

• The Airship Rises to Fame

• More to It Than Meets the Eye!

• Space Scrapbook

• Astronauts Spell Space

• Space Facts and Fancies

• Skylark - Soaring High

• Space Talk

• Out of this World

• Drum Beat

• In Space

• Mooning About

• The Name’s the Same

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

Click the picture above to take you o the Full Annual for you to read.