Twelfth Doctor #11 - Unearthly Things

WRITER - GEORGE MANN
ARTIST - MARIANO LACLAUSTRA

COLORIST - LUIS GUERREROINK
ASSISTS - FERNANDO CENTURION& NELSON PEREIRA

LETTERER - RICHARD STARKINGS AND
COMICRAFT’S JIMMY BETANCOURT

EDITOR - ANDREW JAMES
DESIGNER - ROB FARMER
ASSISTANT EDITOR - KIRSTEN MURRAY

PUBLISHED: AUGUST 19th 2015, TITAN COMICS

A Nineteenth Century evening in England. Two noblewomen are rapt in conversation as they ride their horses on the highway. Charlotte and Ellen have expected just another chance to catch up, as best friends do, before returning to Lord Marlborough's abode. But suddenly a strange blue box with a lantern on top appears in the mist, and causes them to come to a shuddering halt on their journey. Emerging are a curious pair of individuals: a man with silver-grey hair and a remarkable glint in his eyes, and a very confident-looking woman with garment that possibly resembles foreign fashion on the Continent.

Later this new pair, known as Clara and 'The Doctor' - although he does not profess to be a medicinal expert - become actively involved in solving a most distressing mystery where people are losing their senses and becoming violent. Something very disturbing may be hiding in a corner of the mansion. Even the remarkably skilled Doctor may be outmatched by such an un-natural entity.

This one-issue standalone story is easily read and flows mostly without a hitch. By the same token there is little to really challenge and reward readers, as had been the case in most prior issues in this range for Capaldi's Doctor. The essential basics of having an alien force causing trouble in a period of Earth's history where no knowledge of the wider universe exist are very familiar by now, and there needs to be a special extra 'hook' I feel to really make the most of this premise.

Apart from Lord Marlborough and Charlotte, most other characters are just window dressing. People are placed in danger, and of course the hope is that the Doctor saves as many lives as possible. But not enough incentive is there for us to care, perhaps due to the near immediate effects of the 'mental possessions'. I also felt that there was something of a Hide vibe to proceedings, (and that story did itself featured Clara), but to a somewhat diminished effect in  comic format.  Characterisation for the present Doctor felt variable. He does verbally spar nicely with Clara, but some other moments are perhaps more suited to the Ninth and Tenth Doctor.

The artwork is the biggest trump card here. I enjoyed Mariano Laclaustra's a great deal in previous stories such as The Swords Of Kali and the Free Comics Day issue. Here, he now is the one assisted by an ink team - rather than the other way round -, and readers can appreciate his capabilities further. The depiction of the mansion, the grounds and the surrounding countryside around are all first rate, and the characters are well sketched also. The different use of light and shade to emphasise the suspense and horror aspects of the narrative are effective and something that is often a hallmark of what made TV Doctor Who 'behind the sofa' material.

Rian Hughes' cover for this issue is one of the very best I have seen for any comic in some time, even if it perhaps hints at a mystical story that is not really what materialises Yet, the sheer look of glee the Doctor displays in the front cover sometimes is reflected in much of the story's characterisation.

However, it will now be quite poignant to read these stories, knowing that the Doctor and Clara are on finite time together as a partnership. Jenna Coleman's committed performances in (especially) Series 8 and 9 seem to be well-reflected in her alter-ego's presence in these Titan works of fiction.

What makes this issue ultimately worth a read is the focus on unravelling just who Charlotte really is, and why perhaps the TARDIS manages to get in her way on purpose. The end pages do a fine job of making this more than just another pseudo-historical. With writer George Mann also penning the Eighth Doctor comic stories currently, there is a notable link between this story from last year and that ongoing mini-series.

BONUS STRIP The Abominable Showmen

Colin Bell and Neil Slorance continue their loosely linked arc of one-page shorts, which have featured a music contest on an alien world. The Doctor's greatest foe - the Master - is back, and this time there are five of her/him! You can't keep a good villain down. and especially not when the rock spirit is in full flight. The Doctor and Clara's aghast reactions to this turn of events are priceless.