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.

Written by Nick Abadzis
Pencils by Elena Casagrande
Lettering by Richard Starkings And Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Inks by Simone Di Meo
Colorist Hi-Fi
Published July 29, 2015 by Titan Comics

Dorothy Bell has joined an alien force and the symbiosis has given her incredible powers. Cleo, Erik and their cohorts are searching for Dorothy believing her to be a Goddess incarnate. As usual, the Doctor is the only one who knows that none of this is going to end well.

By the title you would think that this is the beginning of a new arc but in reality it is the 3rd issue about these characters. It all started back in # 11 when we first came across the alien device, Dorothy and Cleo. So why change the name for this story? Why not just have it be The Fountains of Forever Part 3? I don’t really know, but if I had to hazard a guess it would be that the main focus has now shifted from the out of this world fountain of youth device to the aliens who created it. The story is no longer about an aging Hollywood starlet trying to recapture her youth and beauty, now we are focused on the consequences of awakening an alien consciousness from its slumber.

The details are finally starting to fall into place. Last issue we were left dangling as far as who Erik and his cohorts are and what they want with the alien object. It turns out they aren’t a top secret government agency or mercenaries or an evil organization but in fact a cult of fanatics who believe it to be a religious artifact. They are the faithful who think that their Gods have abandoned Earth and now with this device they are calling them back, hoping to bring on the “Day Of Ascension”.

That’s where Dorothy Bell fits in. In her twilight years she was searching for a way to extend her life. Now she has merged with an alien intelligence. It gave her everything she wanted, her youth and beauty has been restored along with almost limitless power. After the symbiosis she is treated with reverence by Erik and his cult because they believe her to be the Goddess incarnate, though they change their minds and later decide she is a harbinger of the Gods. Dorothy knows that she isn’t a herald and she completely ignores them, choosing to put her new found powers to use instead. Another famous web-slinging comic book character from New York told us “with great power comes great responsibility.” I don’t know if Dorothy is a Spider-Man fan, but she understands the lesson. Imbued with the power to do whatever she wants Dorothy chooses to use it benignly, reshaping NYC to make it easier for people to travel, taller buildings, better hospitals. But the beings behind her power are coming and they aren’t happy with her.

Cleo continues to surprise in this issue. She’s has betrayed the Doctor on numerous occasions but when his life is in danger she stands up for him and protects him, placing herself at risk instead. Cindy, Gabby’s best friend and a minor antagonist, continues to be a wallflower during much of this story. So much so that she even makes a comment about just staying out of the way. I have a feeling that when this arc reaches its end, Cindy will play a big role. We will find out soon enough.

A Rose By Any Other Name By Rachael Smith

In my review of that last issue I confessed that I didn’t like this bonus strip. It really did very little for me; I found it mildly humorous at best. My resolve to dislike them is slowly being eroded away. The previous strip was good and this one was actually enjoyable. In order to get the Doctor out of his funk, Rose The Cat takes him to a speed dating service where the creatures across the table are all old villains. How could you go wrong with that?

Writers - Al Ewing + Rob Williams

Artist - Simon Fraser

Colorist - Gary Caldwell

Letterer - Richard Starkings + Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt

Editor  - Andrew James

Assistant Editor - Kirsten Murray

Designer - Rob Farmer

Humour Strip - Marc Ellerby

Released August 12th 2015 - Titan Comics

Events that involved the very first meeting of the Doctor and Alice are suddenly happening all over again and the solution to this dilemma is not immediately forthcoming. Having no access to his beloved TARDIS also makes the Doctor's plan of action somewhat fraught. But a bit of determination and lateral thinking go a long way, and having a further two assistants to call upon (who have literally become more than the sum of their parts) will turn out to be crucial. The Time Lord realises he must take responsibility for his past actions, once and for all. Will the plan he devises work though?

Themes and characterisation are the order of the day here, with the story and plot really not being terribly important in terms of what the creative team are trying to accomplish. And this is fine. This closing second part functions as a nice 'coda' after a series finale, something that is rarely done with televisual form of Doctor Who.

As I have reiterated many times Alice is the core companion of this run of comic- or to put it another way the 'heart and soul' of these adventures. Her belief in the Doctor, as much as her own unique skillset proves vital when all appears to be giving way to chaos and agents of destruction. Just as the Doctor needs someone by his side, so do the people that end up with him need his unique abilities and complex persona(s) to give them some proper progression in their lives.

It is also good. that as in Part One of this story there is far more significant development for Jones and Arc, whether we count them as one entity or two. It is a brave move by Ewing and Williams to have such a non-communicative and barely humanoid third companion as ARC and they also know when to quit while ahead so that he does not become an impediment for telling certain kinds of stories.

As much as I like K9, and enjoy a good number of the stories to feature the dog-shaped computer genius, there is little objective dispute that he often made things too easy for the protagonists. Thus having an especially powerful form of Jones/ARC would only push this problem to the forefront in any future stories. So a decisive but also poetic solution is achieved in this story's narrative.

All the same, there are none of the mistakes made with the sadly catastrophic Kameleon character that is often forgotten when fans look back at the Peter Davison era. Many issues with the Master's 'on-off' servant were owing to ambition far exceeding resources, but there was precious little characterisation as well. I feel that in a number of months ARC has certainly been pulled off to a good level. But now is the time for either a traditional Doctor and one companion pairing, or finding someone very different to spark off Alice, who may not necessarily be her kind of person.

Jones does in many ways come full circle this issue, but having had the 'trip of a lifetime' and then some - to put it mildly - and now being ready to make his mark in pop culture in Western society. Even more pleasing is the chance to finally see the real grandmother of Alice and without needing flashbacks, albeit at a time when she is herself youthful and attending a gig featuring Jones. This is a great example of the writers being on song as they tie one character's emotional journey to another.

Less positively, I did get frustrated over the immediate backtracking whereby the mysterious Time Lady was no such being, but just another temporal 'crossing  of wires', with the Talent Scout doggedly pursuing the TARDIS crew in all of time and space. We had had a really nice hook from the end of issue 14. and it just seems to be all thrown away. The Doctor's mother supposedly showing up in the final official 10th Doctor story was arguably more intrigue and fan-service than substance. Now this time it is similarly shallow but now also a complete red herring.

On the other hand, where the story takes the reader is still quite fascinating. We have a memorable end to the Talent Scout's story in that he is conclusively defeated, and yet in his own way ends up a winner. It did remind me ever so slightly of the far more disturbing end that befell the evil Astrolabus in the classic Sixth Doctor Voyager. Glancing back at my well-thumbed edition of the epic story, I do note just how similar in looks and demeanour Astrolabus is to the Talent Scout's 'default' form. It would not be inconceivable that this groundbreaking effort from Steve Parkhouse and John Ridgway played some part in giving root to the story arc we have had for much of 2014-2015. Doctor Who should never shy from reprising past glories, so long as there is some new observation process involved.

So onto a final summary of the these colourful tales for one of the most effervescent incarnations of our favourite Gallifreyan. Matt Smith certainly set a template for any writers wishing to take his Doctor to unchartered territory and with various unprecedented characters to join him. Month in and month out there has been drama, comedy, and even a bit of slapstick. Also good forward planning and authentic portrayals of individuals have also been on display. Year One was a veritable success. Year Two could be even more groundbreaking and impressive.

BONUS STORY - Take A Bow Tie:

The humorous one-page effort from Marc Ellerby features the Doctor on an errand or two for significant other River Song. He has his work cut out with Weeping Angels, Cybermen, Silence, and other races that sometimes favour him and sometimes not. He comes through this trial relatively unscathed.. or at least until River has another demanding request for him. The charm of the Doctor is that his greatest obstacles are for us mere Earthlings a great deal easier to overcome. 

Writer - George Mann
Artist - Emma Vieceli
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Letterer- Richard Starkings + Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Editor - Andrew James
Assistant Editor - Kirsten Murray
Designer - Rob Farmer
Released December 8th, Titan Comics

This is the second part of a four issue mini series featuring the 8th Doctor. Previously we were introduced to a new companion, a free spirited artist named Josie. The two had a run in when the Doctor came looking for his copy of Jane Eyre and instead happened upon a young woman squatting in his cottage. They found a list of names and coordinates in the book and in this second issue they head off to Lumin’s world on their first alien adventure together.

Things get off to a rocky start (pun intended) when they land in the middle of a warzone between crystalline invaders the Spherions and their anamorphic cat-like victims, the Calaxi.  In typical Doctor Who fashion within seconds the pair is running for their lives, dodging transmogrifying bullets. Josie isn’t quite fast enough though and is wounded in the leg. When the locals tell them that there is no cure and she will be turned into a crystal creature, the Doctor decides to do the only thing he can to save Josie’s life. End the war.

As mentioned in a previous review, this miniseries is standalone stories that are just loosely tied together. Right now the thread that binds them is the list found in the Doctor’s copy of the Bronte novel. As such, any information needed from previous stories is passed along in the narrative or through the characters. A new reader could easily jump on board without missing a beat.

“War. It’s everywhere I turn. No matter where I go, or what I do, everyone is at each other’s throats. It’s as if the universe wants to tear itself apart”

That lament is one of the Doctor’s finest moments. It really harkens back (or is it foreshadowing in this timey wimey universe?) to his appearance in Night Of The Doctor. He is a man who is being haunted by death no matter where he turns. When Josie is gravely injured he knows this is his chance to steal back an innocent life that would have otherwise been lost.

So where does Josie rank amongst companions now that she has two adventures under her belt? I like her a lot. Though she might be portrayed as a sort of hipster/hippie because she is an artist with blue hair, spacers in her ears and no food in the cupboard, I think she moves beyond such a banal stereotypical characterization. She blew away my preconceptions and delivered a fantastic emotionally charged story. After being wounded she faces the situation with a sense of bravery and compassion that many wouldn’t be able to muster. The bleaker the going, the more poignant and heartfelt she becomes. She reacts to her tragic situation the way all of us would like to think we would, by being amazing, brave and kind. In short, the epitome of what the Doctor loves about us humans.

Overall, I really enjoyed this comic. The art was bright and vibrant, it did a great job selling this beautiful crystalline alien world. The story itself was a pleasant and somewhat uplifting read. The only drawback would be the miniseries format. With all the stories just loosely tied together, it lacks the cliff hanger at the end that keeps you anxiously waiting for the next issue to drop. Even still, the plot and characters have been fulfilling enough that number three will be on top of my “to read” pile once it comes out.

Written By: Cavan Scott,
Artwork: Blair Shedd + Rachael Stott
Colouring: Anang Setyawan,
Lettering: Richard Starkings + Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt

Editor Andrew James, Assistant Editor: Kirsten Murray
Designer: Rob Farmer
Released December 2nd 2015, Titan Comics

Weapons Of Past Destruction: Conclusion

This climactic finale to the mini-series manages to combine enough for readers' hearts and heads, with also some pure sensation and bursts of colour that serve to enliven any given panel. The Doctor gets to have a lot of morally sound commentary on the actions of the misguided Unon and show his deep concern for the all but extinct and forever distorted Lect.

Plenty of material of note also features for Rose Tyler and Jack Harkness. Rose has had to absorb a lot of alien planet history in a relatively short period of time and feels a bond for the half-crippled Lect, who now rely on battle 'tanks' and barely resemble the scientists and artists that occupied their now-destroyed home world. Jack is separated from the Doctor and Rose, and faces the prospect of an eternal limbo. But whilst captured he manages to realise that while the Unon have done some monstrous things, not all of them are irredeemably 'bad'.

The shades of grey that war is inherently all about is a strong theme, and that theme is effectively explored in this epic. It is also as relevant as ever in our own society in the 21st century. The title of the story misquotes a frequent headline that cropped up during the early part of the last decade, and that phrase still resonates and still has foreboding meaning now.

Although the  Lect would seem to have the more just cause, there is no dispute over their having a 'bull in a china shop' manner. By using such formidable war machine shells they have roamed parts of space and operated in a way that has shaken those with less battle-minded priorities, who may be present. The Unon may have a didactic and sanctimonious leader in Arnora, but still her intentions in shaping the universe have some substance and grounding.

Satisfyingly, we see the Doctor decide to ultimately let the war 'resolve itself',  although some help from Captain Jack ensures the Time Lord does not get cut down as a result of being somewhat passive this time round. It is reasonable for the Doctor to be an observer, as this war was not really his doing on a fundamental level.  Important figures on both sides of the battle die, but ultimately a peaceful solution does present itself, with a little help coming in the form of the Doctor's ship.

I have not discussed covers in any detail in any of my prior comic reviews for this site, but would like to on this occasion. Most of the ones used for this now-concluded mini-series look at least eye-catching if not mesmerising; my personal favourites being issues Three and One. Somewhat disappointingly this fifth issue bucks the quality trend in its choice of the main cover, which effectively acts as a close zoom at our heroic trio.

And as regards reflection on the miniseries as a whole and how each individual 'fifth' stands up: Issue Four perhaps was the highpoint of the run. It certainly had both incident and plot development but also gave the art team a free rein at showing their skill and ability to present such wonderfully 'out there' concepts. This issue is almost a bit more closed, (if also focused), and evokes the early issues again. But having a clear ending to the story which seems organic and fitting is a good quality. Also,  readers that committed to this long-running story do have their patience rewarded now, and indeed in the near future.

Several times this year Christopher Ecclestone showed his typical warmth and generosity - when the main spotlight and cameras are engaged elsewhere - of reprising the Ninth Doctor for respectively an engaged couple, and later a poorly fan of the show. Of course the chances of his ever coming back on-screen for a proper new story are as sparse as that of Paul McGann being entrusted with a fully fledged TV spin off. But clearly the readership and the critics think that the character that succeeds the worn "a bit thin" War Doctor deserves as many extra stops in his travels as can be made possible.

As much as this publication is a decisive end to a story that began quite some time ago now, it is in fact just the beginning as far as the Ninth Doctor comic book series goes. Cavan Scott will again be the writer, but will again other able artists on the endeavour; starting with Adriana Melo. I look forward keenly to a more flexible and experimental run from spring 2016 onwards that can utilise all manner of stand-alone, multi-part and arc-linked monthly editions.

A final word then before any more 'missing adventures' materialise:

Fantastic!

Bonus Material:

Once again some alternate covers are presented, in the absence of a humour mini-story.