New Adventures with the Eleventh Doctor - Issue 3: What He WantsBookmark and Share

Saturday, 11 October 2014 - Reviewed by Martin Hudecek
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #3 (Credit: Titan)Story – Rob Williams, Artist – Simon Fraser, Colorist – Gary Caldwell

It is 1931 in Mississippi and something very strange indeed is at work. Some previously unseen characters are aware of The Doctor - who is in the control of a hypnotic force that ensnares the local community. Events look to be coming to a head and it is left to Alice and newcomer John Jones - who resembles a young David Bowie - to somehow seize control and get the Doctor out of a pickle. The sinister ‘SERVEYOUinc’ corporation are again at play and looking to make life difficult for the people who inhabit the Bayou location – and their big star Robert Johnson.

Matt Smiths portrayal is still relatively fresh in many sci fi/fantasy fanatics’ minds, and many will want further material for such a well-conceived and well-realised incarnation. This series has the potential to take Doctor Eleven down some interesting avenues and so far the overall arc is at least promising something quite good. But the actual stories since Issue 1 do not seem to require the most dynamic side of the doctor: last time also had him captured early. Also lacking was a chance for him to alter events around him before the final confrontation, and his personality did not show the kaleidoscopic range of a good TV episode. This time round it is perhaps even more of an issue, as he is initially presented as possessed, before the story jumps to the initial events chronologically. Although he is restored to normal by the close of this issue he still needs other’s support especially that of a significant new supporting character. This brings back memories of the 9th doctor having others help him save the day; yet that seemed less of an issue due to all the wonderful angst that he held over destroying both his race and the Daleks. But Doctor 11 while perhaps clownish on the surface is very good at assessing problems and getting a solution, so I really hope the creative team get him to be a bit more hands on as the overall arc continues to unfold.
John Jones is an interesting experiment by the creative team in that he is seen to start at the bottom rungs of the career ladder of music. He is a bit daft, a bit precocious as well and somehow is the pineapple topping to go on top of a pizza – clashing but actually a good blend in this adventure. How he gets aboard the TARDIS in the first place though is a bit unrealistic and shows off the normal crew to be rather irresponsible.
As regards other characters – the one off villain in this issue is a triumph of good art portraying a sinister opponent, with his lines most likely being deliberately generic as he is a spokesman for ‘SERVEYOUinc’. But still something about the corporation built up now in two installments just doesn’t feel terribly impressive. I want a real scene stealing villain to be behind the problems the Doctor is facing, rather than some poor man’s Morgus from ‘The Caves of Androzani’. Still, there is time for the stories to get that part fixed.

Robert Johnson is a fun enough character who probably would work very well on-screen. Yet there is a pre-existing relationship between the Doctor and him which could have been perhaps built up to a little better. The other locals of the Mississippi are just making up the numbers but at least do not have any bad dialogue to make them memorable for the wrong reasons. Still for me the best element of the comic is Alice herself. She has more to share with the Doctor over her poor situation back home on Earth, but doesn’t let poor events get in the way of real excitement over the opportunities that time travel grants her. 1980s TV companion Tegan Jovanka is certainly not in her sphere of influence it would appear!
As I await the next stories, I feel something a bit more substantial needs to happen and this particular Doctor needs to be shown off to his best effect. I believe the team can improve their results but they must change the formula a bit.
**

The first bonus strip is a very funny one panel story by David Leach and AJ concerning a classic game for children that the Doctor wants to try out.
The second tag-along is another winner from Marc Ellerby and denoted as ‘Sonic Sleuth’. The absent-minded professor Doctor is at his most incapable, and Amy needs to help him out. Another great insight into the strains of being an odd-time-travelling couple.




FILTER: - Comic - Eleventh Doctor