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 November 4th, Titan Comics

This latest original story from the ever-growing Titan creative collective brings in yet another new companion for the evergreen Eighth Doctor. How they meet is something of a bizarre coincidence as the Doctor has a legitimate reason for being there as the official owner, but Miss Josie Day is the actual resident at this point in time.

The Doctor is on a hunt for a particular book, but cannot help noticing the remarkable, if somewhat alternative, paintings that litter the house. And things soon take a turn for the worse as the monstrous subjects that occupy the paintings leave the frames and assume corporeal form in the Welsh village surroundings. What they intend to do with the people living there that they round up is not clear, but the twin hearted Gallifreyan with a blue box must add his own dash of artistic inspiration in order to achieve a good outcome.

So many spin-off products have featured the Eighth Doctor, as well as the official Doctor Who magazine comic adventures for a good number of years. Yet it feels like this Doctor is still relatively unexplored, owing to two fleeting appearances onscreen by Paul McGann in 1996 and 2013. His is one of the more romantic and easy going Doctors, who faces danger head-on but likes to give his companions a role to play as well, rather than being the most patriarchal of regenerations.

The approach for this new mini series is that of closely linked issues that can function as stand-alone but reward sequential reading due to the underlying mysteries and main plot involved. Considering the recent mini-series we have had, this is a welcome change in tact, although this opening segment on its own is somewhat low-key; presumably so the other adventures further afield take on rather more life.

Artwork is very impressive here, with perhaps the odd panel of the Eighth Doctor being a little too unlike the McGann 'look'. But all the other original characters and monsters involved look great and the colours and backgrounds are done most effectively to breathe live into this opening story with somewhat of a  laidback tempo. And pleasingly. a distinct anime style of art is used, which makes this mini series even more identifiable than the excellent Ninth Doctor collection (recently announced as becoming a fully-fledged monthly series next year). My personal nostalgia has a real link to Anime (and Manga films) goes back even further in my formative memories than Doctor Who itself. The style really fits, and makes reading this issue in one sitting the very antithesis of an unenviable chore.

The original monster, dubbed 'Witherkin' are of some mild interest but due to their ponderous sheep-herding plan make a rather diluted impression. Writer George Mann is keen to give readers some continuity to enjoy by putting Ice Warriors and Krotons in the group of living paintings as well, but they strangely seem to be overlooked in the sense of how the Doctor responds to their unleashing. 

Mann also provides some links concerning other versions of the title hero. There is a reference to the previously released Twelfth Doctor Issue 12, which had the Doctor encountering a remarkable woman, especially for that era in human history. We also get some references by this incumbent Doctor to the Third incarnation, which perhaps surprisingly are not the most positive in spirit as the Paul McGann version does have some definite things in common  with the much-loved Jon Pertwee one.

I still think this mini series can (and will) pick up a gear or two, but as an example of an opener to a new series this comic is comfortable astute in its confidence and sense of meeting objectives.

BONUS:

No new strips feature this time but some alternate cover are on show.

Writer - Robbie Morrison
Artists - Brian WIlliamson & Mariano Laclaustra
Letterer - Richard Starkings + Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Colorist - Hi-Fi
Editor - Andrew James
Designer - Rob Farmer
Assistant Editor - Kirsten Murray
Published July 29th 2015 - Titan Comics

"We obviously have different concepts of negotiation. I was thinking merely of letting them live. You on another tentacle, are surplus to requirements" -

The Cybocks clarifying a proposition in conclusive fashion.

As so often is the case for the Doctor and his precocious best friend, an intended breakaway has led to an unintended bedlam in 1960s Las Vegas. And not only do they face danger but so does the Wolfpack, headed by the singing superstar that is Frankie Seneca. A certain boxer with more than a few wins to his name - Sonny Lawson - could provide a helping hand (or two) to the Doctor's cause, and end up stopping the creepy crawly interlopers that represent the surviving Cybock Imperium.

It won't be easy with a powerful Time Lord weapon in the hands of the Cybocks, but the Doctor will still fancy his odds in the city where gambling is be-all-and-end-all. No pressure then(!). It is not just a group of people or even a town, but the whole planet Earth that could be wiped out with irrevocable effect, should the initial plan of societal assimilation not prove totally suitable...

We have another opening prologue which is somewhat more rapid in its page count, and reinforces just how evil the chief Cybock is, deep down. The threat of the Time Lord weapon is a nice instance of something meant for lofty and 'proper' purposes being subverted.. And yet while the renegade Doctor cannot be held accountable for the creation of such a danger, he still feels he must fix the fault to the very best of his ability, rather than getting carried away in performing yet more heroics.

The pairing of the Doctor with Sonny is very nicely done. A man of science and intellect is matched with someone known primarily for his fist fighting but who himself is quite astute and was able to learn from set-backs in order to become the sporting champion he is famed for. That Sonny was forced into backing up the mob for his family's safety is a device which reminds us that deplorable acts and allegiances can be rooted in the best of intentions. Doctor Who does not always explore morality and consequences as well as more 'serious' drama, but when it cares to do so, it can certainly be moving.

A device is used to turn normally those two-bit and despicable Vegas gangsters that manipulate the boxer into temporary allies. As the saying goes "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". And furthermore this story does not just feel like having to bring its plot forward, but allows some quality world building as well. We have some wonderful exchanges and dynamics going on. The essential plot is relatively straightforward but avoids the boundaries of predictability just enough to maintain that vital element of tension.

We also get some brilliant comic relief with the 'Wolfpack', which is more than just a simple homage to our reality's Sixties Ratpack. They show some ability to think on their feet and take advantage of their value to the Cybocks. Perhaps having been involved in some unusual scrapes in their reality's movies has given them a built-in-advantage, when something truly bizarre and surreal transpires in that aliens are coming down to the desert in force and looking very mu

Robbie Morrison can pen down-beat tales capably, and pull off romps like this in successful fashion too. The villains are not just any monster of the month(s) but a properly malevolent and devious enemy of the Time Lords themselves. There is some very enjoyable dialogue; if overly jokey at times. The setting and the related vibe are used as much to inform characterisation and plot developments as readers can wish.

The artist pairing of Williamson and Laclaustra is just as strong in this concluding issue, with both action-packed large panels and more emotive or personal small panels being rendered to convince the reader of the narrative as a cohesive whole.

The Doctor's seeming bravery at the end, when he chooses to play a game with the ruthless Commander Kronos ends in relatively simple fashion but does its part in honouring the fascinating backstory of the Time Lords and their many wars over all of time and space. Clara may trust her mood andW unpredictable friend for the most part, but even she must guess what is the method required to pull off a triumph on occasion (c.f.Before The Flood). 

A fine little tale this, and one to read and re-read as the current TV run draws to its end for the time being.

BONUS HUMOUR STRIP - The Meddling Of Clara's Song

Colin Bell again shows his dutiful frame of mind in attempting a one page tag to the main story that echoes some themes but is perfectly independent as well. Following the previous month's Day of the Tune, this sees the vital nature of the translation circuits that each TARDIS carries being made abundantly clear. A number of different, non-humanoid alien - sketched by Neil Slorance - feature in the audience as Clara tries to put on a good performance. Even today, such odd creatures would not be a feature of televisual Doctor Who. 

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Artists: Elena Casagrande
Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Jimmy Beancourt
Colourist: Arianna Florean
Editor: Andrew James
Publisher: Titan Comics
Release Date: June 10, 2015

Last issue Gabby defeated the Shreekers but now she faces a bigger challenge:  mending things with her BFF Cindy. Is there room for a third wheel now that Gabby’s hanging around with the Doctor? As they attempt to sort things out, the Doctor tracks down some out of this world artifacts that are being auctioned off on the black market.  

Before getting into the ups and downs of this issue, there’s a big change to be noted. After finishing the Weeping Angels of Mons storyline, Robbie Morrison wrote a filler standalone issue for #10 before relinquishing the writing duties to Nick Abadzis. This is the first part of the next storyline that will take us through the end of the first year of these 10th Doctor comic book adventures.

This story gets off to a dramatic start but it’s more like Keeping Up WithThe Kardashians than Gone With The Wind. The very first page has a giant panel of Cindy’s pouty face while she is texting Gabby calling her a “bad friend.” That angst filled message is just a device to keep the main characters in New York for another adventure, but it ends up being one of the more annoying moments in this issue.  I had a lot of trouble identifying with these two characters, especially Cindy. All of their early panels together feel like bad reality TV, full of superfluous drama that does nothing for me as a reader. It’s only later when Gabby starts to understand her relationship with the Doctor that things become interesting. Those epiphanies won’t be new to the reader though, we’ve seen them before on the silver screen.  Moreover, after Cindy’s petulant start to this issue, I had already decided that I didn’t like her and nothing in the rest of the comic changed my mind. My only hope is that her character is meant to be irritating and grating and that as this story moves toward its resolution she will find herself becoming the hero much like Gabby did in the last issue.

So, one storyline feels like filler but what of the other? The Doctor gets off to a decent start, strolling through the city singing “New York, New York” and name checking Joey Ramone and the CBGB club as he tries to barge into the secret auction. As he thumbs through a catalogue of junk being sold off as alien artifacts he has a clobbering run in with a professional acquirer. Cleo has made a living stealing items of interest and selling them off to private collectors. She’s here looking for one particular device that offers its user a “fountain of youth.” The technology is too dangerous to allow in human hands, so the Doctor decides to team up Cleo to recover it. He forgets rule number one, don’t trust a mercenary, and ends up being betrayed by her multiple times.

I found this issue to be a somewhat challenging read. The entire secondary storyline with Cindy and Gabby didn’t hold my interest. Watching the Doctor on the trail of a deadly alien device should have been an enjoyable romp, but it wasn’t. I was irritated that Cleo kept making a fool of our hero and that he had ever trusted her in the first place. The artwork did its job but nothing above and beyond. The real saving grace to this story is the final two pages when the Doctor finds himself on the wrong end of the fountain of youth device. The last couple panels all but guarantee that you are going to come back for another installment. I’m hoping that things pick up in the next issue and that this is just a rough start to a new arc with a new writer.

Bonus Comic Strip: A Rose By Any Other Name by Rachael Smith

The Doctor is still depressed over losing Rose-The-Human so he immerses himself in the sitcom Chums. Rose-The-Cat tries to convince him that there are better things for him to do with his time, but instead finds herself completely enamoured with the show as well. After wallowing in self-pity for a long time the Doctor realizes that he isn’t good for anything anymore prompting his feline friend to suggest they travel back in time to when he was good at something. I thought this humour strip tucked away at the end of the main comic was enjoyable and poignant.

Writer - Cavan Scott
Art/Color Finishes - Blair Shedd
Colors-  Anang Setyawan
Letterer - Richard Starkings + Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
Editor - Andrew James
Assistant Editor - Kirsten Murray
Designer - Rob Farmer
Released October 21st 2015, Titan Comics

This penultimate component of the miniseries makes the thoroughly widespread consequences ofthe Time War very apparent, and the Doctor is forced to make another choice that will affect countless life forms across all of time, space and potentially all reality as well.

Thrilling incident follows astounding revelation in this story, as we have every right to expect given the potential demonstrated in prior months. Captain Jack has to somehow control an especially emotional TARDIS stranded in the Vortex which faces an imminent threat from the Unon.

The Lect reveal that their considerably bulky and powerful frames are just a shell for a very much organic alien life form. As that happens the captured Rose is forced to hear their side of the story and possibly change her very attitude to the scenario previously assumed to be clear-cut by the TARDIS crew.

The Time War has already been explored in much length by both TV Doctor Who and the recent Four Doctor special event series. But yet more secrets are un-mined in the narrative as the Doctor converses with several of the Unon. This prompts him into doing the most direct and game-changing action since the adventure first commenced. As that happens his more proud, even pompous side is on full view for all to see.

Whereas previous issues were wholesale action or slower paced showcasing of lovely scenery and character imaging this issue is a smooth blend of the two.

Now we have the more light hearted characters dispensed with, and perhaps rather brutally given the supernova that has decimated Fluren's world, focus swings squarely onto the two opposing forces of Unon and Lect. More personal clashes are resumed in the case of the two alpha males that are Jack Harkness and the Doctor. Whilst it may be a bit more of the same dynamic, and so lack the freshness when employed in issues One and Two, but is still enjoyable and offers up some choice dialogue. It also does not distract from all the important new plot developments.

The writer is also possibly still trying to wrong foot his readership as although we see much of the background of the Unon and marvel at their articulate and noble personalities, there is still scope for them to actually be a lot less benign than they seem. The Lect forces make sudden contact with Rose apparently their newly-appointed and seemingly non-coerced spokesperson. The fine cliffhanger leads the way for a  finale that will almost certainly see a decisive and big battle. And more immediately of concern is just what will the Doctor have to do to regain the Rose Tyler that he thought he knew(!?).

As ever Cavan Scott's characterization and dialogue are well above par - even by the strong Titan Comic standards. I eagerly await what he has to bring in Issue Five, as much as I dread having to move on as the mini-series comes to its end.

Of course, presentation is the bread and butter of any comic book; be it intellectual, emotive, a romp or a heady combination of all these. Blair Shedd goes from strength to strength as he has the stern test of having to convey so many large-scale concepts. Fans will enjoy the fleeting re-visits to foes of the Doctor such as the Sontarans and the Cybermen that had three digits on each hand. The colour work is simply top-notch, and i continue to enjoy the silhouette change-up which almost is the signature touch to this mini-series.

It is also probably the most realistic and photo-style artwork of any Titan range I have reviewed thus far, and for my tastes anyway this is a great approach. Artistic licence is never a bad thing but can sometimes be pushed too far in order to stand out from the crowd. With Series One of modern Doctor Who being such a leap forward in terms of visuals, it seems appropriate to have a 'cutting edge' style here which almost an irrelevance of the decade since Ecclestone, Piper and Barrowman first played their parts together on TV.

BONUS:

There is no humour strip in this issue, but we do get a nice insight into the artwork process which only reinforces the care and attention Shedd brings to the table. Some alternate front covers are also present so as to add full value to this edition.

WRITER: Robbie Morrison
ARTISTS: Eleonora Carlini
COVER BY: AJ
PUBLISHER: Titan Comics
PAGECOUNT: 32​pp​
RELEASE DATE: May 13

After being subjected to the horrors of World War I in the previous adventure, the Tenth Doctor and his companion Gabby return to her home in New York City to check in on her family. When a sudden and extreme rise in noise pollution starts driving the Big Apple’s citizens mad, the Doctor knows he needs to stop it, but will it be too late for Gabby’s family?  

This issue is a standalone story where the reader doesn’t really need to know anything about the comic line in order to get into it, understand and appreciate it. In fact, this was the first Doctor Who comic that I have read in a few years.  Previous adventures and bad guys are mentioned and name checked, but the only information vital to the story is Gabby’s desire to return home, something that television viewers would be familiar with.

Sometimes, the noise of the world is deafening

The story itself is quintessential Doctor Who. You take something normal, average, every day and turn it into an enemy.  We’ve seen this premise in many of the televised episodes over the past ten years, perhaps most strikingly done with the Weeping Angels. In this case, who hasn’t been walking down a busy street and felt under audio assault from car horns, construction work, the buzz of conversation and a host of other noises? It has almost become a fact of life that nearly everywhere you go your senses are under one assault or another.  

In true Doctor Who style, there’s always more going on than first meets the eye. The Aliens behind the sonic attack, are they malicious? Misunderstood? Or themselves the victims?  

There are some political overtones to this story as well. The question is raised- just because something is legal does that make it morally right? What responsibility does a bystander have when something legal but morally reprehensible is happening in front of them?

The other main theme here is grabbing the moment. After the events of the previous story arc involving both the Weeping Angels and World War I, this issue seems to be all about not taking things for granted, whether it be the love of family and friends or even just a moment of peace and quiet stolen from another wise busy day.

The artwork is very appropriate to the story. In a tale where sound is the main villain, just how can that be portrayed on paper? The art team does a really splendid job of making those every day noises stand out, starting first as innocuous letters on the page (so subtle that it was my second read through before I noticed some of them) and then expanding outward, becoming more than just words as the victims succumb.  

A great example of this is the opening three pages. At first we see a very striking war zone image. We hear soldiers shooting at each other, bombs going off and buildings collapsing. The sounds dominate the panels, taking precedence over the pictures. Then it pulls back to reveal that the action we are 
seeing is really just a newscast and we are actually in an apartment with a couple who are arguing and a baby that is crying. All of those noises are now added into the mix, creating a visual cacophony. The following page shows Gabby’s best friend Cindy walking down the street in Brooklyn. Her phone is ringing, sending vibrant red music notes dancing across the panel while we see other noises in the background. Over the course of Cindy’s phone conversation, the background noises encroach further and the panels tighten up claustrophobically until there is nothing but Cindy and the noise.  When we return to Gabby and the Doctor on page 5 we are treated to wide open spaces and that built up tension is finally released.

Some of the wordplay used here is reminiscent of Marvel’s blind superhero Daredevil, who sees using sound. Perhaps it might even be an homage to that style.

One of the major fallacies of standalone stories is the pacing. Echo moves forward at almost breakneck speed with short and concise plot panels and action sequences that are very limited. The reduced number of panels showing explosions and battles is actually a nice change when compared to the massive page eating spreads that dominate most mainstream publications and are used to turn two issues worth of plot into five comics.  

This story has a quick resolution that appropriately gives the reader just a moment to pause for reflection before nudging them on to the next story.

Overall the story was an enjoyable read, but the plot was often predictable. With Gabby as the lead, it was inevitable that she would become the hero and save the day, her family and the earth. It tries to use familiar NYC back drops to give the story a more international feel, but instead it felt like retreading material that was done better on our television screens. All of those short comings are more than made up for by the phenomenal art direction. This was a visually dynamic comic to read.  

Bonus Humour Strip: A Rose By Any Other Name by Rachael Smith.

In this installment Rose-the-cat wants the Doctor to get over Rose-the-human, so she suggests a shopping trip. The Doctor agrees and takes them to a planet just outside Nebula 6879H that has been having a going out of business sale since the beginning of time.  The Doctor tries on a few new outfits to comedic effect and makes some purchases. It seems Rose-the-cat had ulterior motives for the shopping spree when she dives in and begins playing in all the empty boxes.  The strip is mildly amusing, with no real tie in to the main comic storyline except for a line at the end about trying to enjoy the little things in life.

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 July 8 2015 - Titan Comics

One crisis is averted, but still there is much to do for the self-proclaimed 'Mad Man In A Box', as his ship is now gone and potentially in the hands of malicious forces who could devastate the entire course of galactic history.

The Doctor, with no TARDIS to help out , must somehow save two of his companions from a time-bending fate of potentially eternal nature as the musician and the mysterious ARC creature have embarked on a very drastic merger.  This rescue mission is no easy feat as Jones seemingly wants to go out in a blaze of rock super-power glory, and ARC is determined to resolve the mystery hanging over it. And after so much emotional turmoil will Alice be cut off from her own time and life back in London?

What happens to Jones and ARC over the course of the narrative is gripping and helps pay off much of both the year long arc as well as finding something truly memorable for these fine characters to do. Alice is (and remains) the standout but she has perhaps one of the more traditional roles in this particular release, and allows the confused and overwhelmed Doctor to really show how sensitive he can be - below all the mad-cap bluster and energy he normally has to show.

Ultimately it is the lead man, so well brought to life by Matt Smith for the first half of the televisual decade, who is given the really thought-provoking material. He shows his vulnerability, but also his sense of responsibility. He shows his initiative to look after his friends, but also readily admits he could fail in that assumed duty. He seems every bit an alien with a humanoid exterior, and yet a man who will always pride Earth as his home, especially now the Time Lords are no more.

And his reaction right at the end to who actually is the Gallifreyan who has been following him (unbeknown, despite some potentially revelatory moments) through time and space provides a wonderfully personal cliffhanger, as opposed to the 'big MacGuffin' in the hands of latest 'seemingly undefeatable bad guy'.

Once again the art is wonderfully suitable for living up to the fevered imaginations of the writing team on the Eleventh Doctor line, with this time round both Al Ewing and Rob Williams being involved together in coming up with surprises galore for a more than clued-up readership. Simon Fraser has proven he has the sheer quality needed for big ideas and epic events, so I welcome his presence for this end of year finale. He especially excels with all the material showing Jones in different stages of location, being and the emotions entailed.

Perhaps the aftermath of the Roman adventure is strangely lacking in that there could be a bit of a diversion with a character native to the setting; be they from the previous story or a new person altogether. But ultimately the core of this opening story segment is to get us concerned over the resolution of two major problems, and the reader is unlikely to relinquish holding the issue or clicking through its pages onscreen. 

So it's a been a thrill of a year since I first took up the task of reviewing these exciting new adventures from the Titan juggernaut brand. Furthermore the consistent quality from issue to issue has led me to expect a very strong conclusion to this two-parter and to Year One of the Eleventh Doctor's comic adventures.

Bonus Humour Strip: "Timeliney Wimey"

After the head-melting material in the main story this two page piece of smart satire  sees Ellerby once again in fine form both with his punchlines, and the different art techniques used to realise his characters and plot. Be it by luck or design there is a chance to see the Judoon without their helmets in this story, as they manage to track down the Doctor and his 'special friend' River Song.  A cute reference to swinging 60s legend Polly Wright closes off an especially good effort.