Twelfth Doctor #9 - Gangland (Part One)

Writer - Robbie Morrison
Artists - Brian Williamson/ Mariano Laclaustra
Letterer - Richard Starkings + Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Colourist - Hi-Fi, Editor - Andrew James
Assistant Editor - Kirsten Murray, Designer - Rob Farmer
Released July 1st 2015, Titan Comics 

Now with dimensional defects behind them for the time being, the Doctor and Clara can hopefully have a well-earned break in the city that wakes up when many others slumber - Las Vegas!

But they must be prepared for two-bit gangsters, corrupt hotel-casino owners, and an alien creature that is far more dangerous than either of these.

The Doctor is dressed for the occasion...inasmuch as he dons a top hat and carries himself like a regular participant in the high stakes environment

Although this is another Twelfth Doctor/Clara story which can be enjoyed perfectly well stand alone, it also manages to keep building on previous stories and carve out its own character development for the heroic duo. It also charmingly has recognisable tributes to real life legends like 'Sonny' Liston and Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack.

Somewhat curiously this opener effectively has two 'pre-credit' sequences: one establishing the historic danger of the Cybock Imperium insofar as Rassilon and the Time Lords quested to purge various dangerous races (other than the Hyperions), and one showing what that race can do with its technology against mere Earthlings.

Count D'If makes a very memorable character even if he just appears fleetingly. The concept of a Time-Gun fitted with a Time-Bomb is also exciting, and adds yet more substance to the Time War which many of Titan's readers recently saw in the Four Doctors.

Mariano Laclustra returns as a supporting artist, and with Brian Williamson as his partner there is another very effective synergy of creative vision. Needless to say at this point Robbie Morrison is an assured master of his storytelling craft and does very well with developing his ambitious but coherent premise.

I myself can connect with the setting, if not the 1960s time zone,  owing to my tour of the West states of America many moons ago as a teenager. I remember Vegas being a town all of its own, with both some terrible gaudiness and some inspired uniqueness. My many viewings of Diamonds Are Forever probably informed some expectations as well.  The use of the setting is as much front and centre for a Doctor Who story as any and the characters feel authentic and identifiable as a result of this care. There is a palpable sense of danger and threat, but also fun, frivolity and betting games galore.

The opening chapter puts many cards on the table that are required for fans to be thrilled and mentally challenged, but holding some back that will surprise and delight... at least until Issue 10 is brought into proceedings. 

Bonus Humour Strip

Day of the Tune sees Colin Bell and Neil Slorance team up once again to this time offer a fun musically themed mini-sized-adventure. Set on the planet Karaoke, but mostly consists of banter between Clara and her glowering Gallifreyan friend. Yet, while this functions fine on its own, it promises further exploration of the setting and the musical themes in at least one more instalment. There is a good helping of past versions of the Doctor with a single panel 'flashback', but which ones is best revealed if you get yourself a copy of this fine comic.