# Is [7]сirculene aromatic or anti-aromatic?

This compound is called [7]circulene and is one of the examples of non-planar aromatic systems (1). From the first overview of this compound, it is observed that there are 7 benzene rings so one would conclude that it is an aromatic compound:

There are $7 \times 4 = 28$ $\pi$-electrons, so this compound satisfies the criteria of anti-aromacity. Then how come this compound is aromatic?

(1) Smith, M. March’s advanced organic chemistry: reactions, mechanisms, and structure, 7th ed.; Wiley: Hoboken, New Jersey, 2013, p. 48, compound 40.

TL;DR: We don't count π electrons here, rather the π conjugated circuits [1]. [7]-сirculene has all conjugated circles of size $$4n + 2,$$ and none of $$2n,$$ what makes it an aromatic compound.
Strictly speaking, the aromaticity $$4n + 2$$ and antiaromaticity $$4n$$ rules in their original interpretation are very limited and cannot be universally applied. According to the original Hückel $$4n + 2$$ rule, if a monocyclic, planar molecule has $$4n + 2$$ π electrons, it is considered aromatic.
But the count of π electrons is not what matters for polycyclic compounds, therefore a generalized $$4n + 2$$ rule exists: if a conjugated molecule has only $$4n + 2$$ π conjugated circuits, it is considered aromatic.
Non-benzenoid compounds can have both $$4n + 2$$ as well as $$4n$$ number of conjugated circuits counted by taking into account all Kekule structures. Among non-benzenoid non-alternant polycyclic hydrocarbons [5]-сirculene and [7]-сirculene both have only $$4n + 2$$ $$(6, 10, 14, \dots)$$ numbers of circuits.