The threat to Earth shows no signs of abating as the skies above cities, towns and countryside continue to be swamped by outlandish space craft that defy comprehension by the average human being. The perennial war between the Amstrons and J'Arrodic Federation cannot be ignored much longer, and something must happen before an outcome - positive or negative - can emerge from the tension.

 

Arc and Jones are soon rendered powerless to assist the Doctor, and it falls to redoubtable Alice to accept an incredibly daunting offer of having the chance to end the war all by herself. Her time in the TARDIS will never be more beneficial, as she is forced to become greater than she ever thought she could be. The downside? The probable end of the entire human race...

 

If that premise was not enough, there are other questions that have already been set up and get their pay-off here:

 

*Is Alice's mother really back?

 

* And will this mean an end to the erstwhile Londoner's variable relationship with the man who posesses the mental resources of a 1000 libraries?

 

There has been more than a couple of hints that Alice could depart the TARDIS at the drop of a hat. This story manages to make the three person confrontation between the Doctor, Alice and her apparently resurrected mother the heart and soul of the narrative. The reasons for Alice not listening to her head over her heart will strike a chord with many readers, and furthermore even the Doctor must concede that rebirth is not easily dismissed, given his own recent experiences with a particular companion. Also, the twist involving the Amstrons is interesting and so very Doctor Who - perhaps most recognisably from the brief but memorable Douglas Adams sequence of stories that rounded off the Seventies.

Despite a strong writing effort, the art work is comparatively a slight disappointment, especially given the quality seen beforehand. It tells the story clearly and expressions and scale by and large cut the mustard.

 Panel backgrounds suffer from being bland and/or interchangeable, and the potential to slip some in-jokes and satire into the covers of various books is perhaps a waste, given how much this is about Alice and her acquired wisdom along with natural gifts.  There does feel something lacking when taking the visual experience in as a single cohesive piece of work, and perhaps more tinkering would have helped. However since this second part of the story really is about the character clashes more than the big space extravaganzas, it ultimately feels acceptable.

But having said that, this second and final instalment of the latest story is more than satisfactory. The Eleventh Doctor certainly is at his most assertive here and gets to demonstrate that while he may be lackadaical and take adventures as they come (much like former incarnations such as the Second and Fourth Doctors), he can also put his foot down. Serve You Inc have stopped being an irritation and need to be dealt with head-on, and plenty of speculation can be made before issue 9 rolls along into the consumer sphere.

 Bonus Humour Section:

'Experimental Taste-Buds' by AJ is a fun little piece which aims modestly but still enchants. The decision to mix 3d graphics with apparently real-life photographs is a welcome break from previous efforts.

'Short Change' is Marc Ellerby at his assured best. A phone call across millennia between the Doctor and Amy is made something rather special as the events of one time zone quickly impact upon the other.

 

New problems face the TARDIS quartet as they stumble upon a considerable threat to Earth. The war between the Amstrons and the J’arrodic is leaving a deadly impact on the Doctor's favourite planet. Airlines are unable to get off the ground and a toxic smog is suffocating the atmosphere. UNIT also appear to have their resources rendered null. Can the Eleventh Doctor avert disaster without too much fallout along the way?

One of the more epic stories offered up so far by the series' creative team(s) ensures that there is plenty of spectacle. A horde of futuristic ships are positioning themselves in proximity to Earth. Whilst televised Doctor Who did sometimes meet this level of ambition, it is always a surefire idea in a well-constructed comic book. Also enticing is the visualization of the Doctor and his team having to somehow travel with makeshift jet packs in order to reach their objective
Continuity both from the parent TV shows and from earlier issues is markedly strong here. In this encounter the Doctor follows up his brave head-attire of fez and Stetson with an aviator hat and goggles. We also get the well-remembered catch phrase of "Geronimooo.." prompting a variation from Arc when the protagonists have to make a thrilling leap. And for the second story in a row, Jones suffers a major threat to his survival; yet the real shock is left for the cliffhanger ending that brings part one of this two-issue tale to a close.

To get more background on Alice through her returning home proper is something which feels strong and organic, given the previous work done on her character arc. And in some ways the adventures she has had far away in different time zones have been less demanding than the stone cold realities of her home life struggles. With her being left to cope on her own, as her friends have their latest mad-cap hi-jinks, a major game-changer catches her completely unawares. It may well be the work of the mysterious being that appears to be another survivor of the Time Lord race, but there is no confirmation forthcoming still.
Yet somewhat disappointingly, and given the strong foundations laid for Alice in issue one, she is soon shunted off-page ..until the final story beat. I enjoyed the Doctor's various action scenes but they could have been compressed without losing the crucial element of joie de vivre that make Doctor Who such a personal favourite of so many.

But overall the actual plot is quite engaging and allows the usually forward-looking Eleventh Doctor to show his regret over the catastrophic Time War. Matt Smith was always capable of shruging off the clownish exterior to display vulnerability and cold rage, and it is good to have some reminder of just why the whole franchise is so enduring. We care about the Doctor, and his struggles to keep going on, when so many of his friends cannot join his 'walk through eternity'.
The nominal 'villains' in this story are also well-done. In contrast to the endless battles that pitted Sontaran against Rutan or the Kaleds against the Thals, this particular conflict needs a resolution of a very different kind. Due to its endless length, the actual beginning of the conflict and its context are long-forgotten. All that remains is the underlying desire to avenge the countless lost in combat.

Just as with 'The Weeping Angels of Mons' we have a returning writer - Williams - joined by another new artist. For the tone of the story concerned, Warren Pleece’s work is a strong effort. He is able to supply both believable facial expressions and explosive action moments aplenty. I did find Jones just a touch too different in build to the versions presented beforehand, but otherwise the TARDIS crew gets a very good showcase of their individual personas and mannerisms. And the colouring work that Hi-Fi continues to provide for these stories ensures that both new and returning readers are unlikely to lose interest easily.

Bonus Humour Stories: Once again AJ supplies readers with the opening sketch. This very much does as it says on the tin, as a 'Rebranding Exercise' manages to wrongfoot the Doctor by replacing one enemy with seemingly another in the blink of an eye.
Marc Allerby hits the bullseye yet again with 'An Adventure in Brine and Plaice' Although the Doctor is in every panel, this is very much River Song's story, and comes to a head with her facing another 'impossible' trap to overcome. Furthermore the return of a Second Doctor-era monster is a nice bonus for Classic Series fans and reminds us of Matt Smith's original 'homework' when he went about creating his own version of the Time Lord.

Effectively held hostage by a long-forgotten enemy of the Doctor, the TARDIS crew must try and stop a major distortion in the time vortex itself. Being a Time Lord should give the long-lived hero a sporting chance, but will he go to the extent of sacrificing any number of his fellow travellers?

Any story opening with the panel 'The End' would be lacking something were it not to take a head-scratching premise and run riot with it. Doctor Who of the 21st century has offered numerous 'timey-wimey affairs' - especially with incumbent showrunner Steven Moffat. This story gives the great man a run for his money, and uses the particular comic format to wonderful effect. Every panel of this story has something to offer, and the layout of reverse chronology and back again offers notable re-readability, which is quite unusual for most comic book stories.

The Eleventh Doctor is truly in charge here, but at the same time very keen to make sure that his companions offer a helping hand. Of the three of them it is perhaps somewhat surprising which one provides the best and most dramatic way of confusing the villain. I will not disclose exactly who is involved in making life difficult for do-gooders, but can say that we have another nod back to Classic Doctor Who - akin to 12th Doctor effort 'The Swords of Kali'.

A lot of the dialogue is on the money this month. There are quite a few speeches and bits of exposition that may have been a bit over-done were this to be more conventional a tale. Yet with so much material demanding multiple viewings, a bit of excess is justified. And as the frantic task to unbend the convolutions of chaotic cause-and-effect take centre stage, there is still some very engaging characterisation which lets the reader know some inner feelings and beliefs that the regular protagonists harbour.

Alice and ARC are both very well-done companions that offer interesting but very different qualities. The pastiche figure of Jones is to my mind perhaps a bit weaker in realisation, but still fulfills plot requirements comfortably. There is also some real suspense over just who will be left standing out of this quartet. Without spoiling the storyline, it would appear the worst does happen - but it's lasting effects seem to be minimal. What could have been a big weakness instead amounts to both a justified reset button and a definite progression for the TARDIS crew.

Although I enjoyed Boo Cook's contribution visually in the previous two issues, the return of Simon Fraser is certainly not unwelcome. And he clearly knows how to best use his style to tell such a dynamic story. In addition to dialogue, Rob Williams' writing in general is consistently engaging; managing to make this adventure stand up as a solo piece for the more casual sci-fi or comic aficionado. Somewhat of a relief is the lack of any overt 'SERVEYOUinc' story arc threads, which allows for this issue's villain to stand on his own balletic feet.

In summary, with fizzy dialogue that reflects the sheer zaniness of events, along with simultaneously gripping and carefree plot mechanics, this is a must-read. It will both satisfy fans of this Titan series, and convert those somewhat more sceptical about Doctor Who's suitability for this medium. I was perhaps not too impressed with earlier one-offs starring the Eleventh Doctor, but this holds up as a work of art which rivals the crème de la crème of visual storytelling.

** Bonus comedy strips: AJ's 'Ice Cold' sees the apparent return of an alien that has both helped and hindered the Doctor during his many lives. A sneaky twist however provides a fine punchline.
'Bus Replacement TARDIS' from Marc Ellerby is a wonderfully irreverent effort and also appropriately set in snowy conditions. Amy and Rory struggle to cope with the climate and and an infuriatingly bubbly Doctor who fails to apologise for the change to their 'normal' travel and accommodation.

Issue 5: The Sound Of Our Voices

As this story comes to a climactic showdown, the TARDIS crew must avoid grave peril abroard the SERVEYOUinc research satellite, and find if possible a peaceful solution to the apparant threat of the ‘ARC' creature. The Doctor is required to put on his thinking cap and deduce the vital clue to this mysterious scenario, but is forced to handle violent Security Chief Officer Hart. Suddenly appearing out of thin air in the middle of a crisis has ended up making the time travellers ideal scapegoats for the nefarious goings on. The new companions of the Doctor meanwhile are themselves forced to use their ingenuity - with Alice stepping to the fore as the decisive one, just as John Jones seems like a rabbit in the headlights.

Those readers wondering if Alice and the Doctor will part ways get their answer promptly enough as the Time Lord shows his considerable nous. In doing so he finds the real truth behind the ARC creature, and ensures that those abroad the station realise just why things have got so perilous. Although Alice is in many ways trying to find herself again after losing everything back in her 'real' home, she is also having a brand new start in life. Like so many before her such as Amy Pond and Rose Tyler she can now avoid having to worry about the mundane aspects of life back on Earth. But learning to understand an individual as deep and complex as the Doctor could still outweigh all the giddy heights that are now coming her way.

John Jones on the other had has not really had much of a detailed journey in this two parter; his intro in issue three still being the standard which needs to be met or exceeded . Nonetheless this character does not in anyway detract from events, and there is still plenty of time for some good material to appear. Male companions can sometimes not quite work in Doctor Who as well as the more traditional female counterpart, but there are enough strong examples to inspire Titan's creative team. Also in all fairness Alice was introduced first, and with enough background that she deserves to have further exploration. And unlike Jones she does not represent a take on an iconic cultural figure, and as such deserves focus.

Al Ewing completes the first multi-part story of this comic series well enough; perhaps a whisker short of fulfilling the promise of the first installment. The Eleventh Doctor really feels like the real article that graced TV screens for four years. When the conclusion unfolds, the Doctor's assertive manner in resolving affairs is spellbinding and uplifting. Of note also is the way he evaluates Dr. Rutherford on her actions and instead chooses a rather surprising companion to join him. Ewing complements the decent characterisation with a brisk pace and lively speech bubbles for the majority of the players involved. Although it could be argued that Jones only really works in the story to explain the comment by Hart that there were 'three' in the doctor's party when they first met him on the world of Rokhandi.

I continue to enjoy the efforts of artist Boo Cook, with him providing a style of artwork that engages and fits in perfectly with the sterile and detached future setting. A fine line is trod between a believable world and a slightly 'out-there' dimension, and this evokes quite well the very distinct style that the Matt Smith/ Steven Moffat stories constituted. The expressions of Jones and indeed Alice to some degree are what one would expect of people who do not belong to this corner of space. in a chapter of history yet to happen from their points of view. Also praiseworthy is how Cook’s artwork becomes more literal and realistic to emphasise fierce emotions - especially when it comes to the distinctive face of the Doctor.

As much as I was engaged by this story on the whole there are some areas to criticise. The plot may have some hooks as far as who is really manipulating affairs, but much of the action resorts to the typical Doctor Who trope of running around and making up a solution on the fly. There is also the obvious overuse of Serve You Inc, with little substantial development to compensate. As this is issue 5, the reader will no doubt wish for a bit of a change up. The story arc has become just that bit too noticeable, and hopefully there will be some strong stand-alones which remind the reader of Doctor Who's unequalled scope for a plethora of bold stories.
Issue 4 did have a bit more thematic depth which does not have quite the pay off here. At the same time even the best stories can have this element of mindless action to and fro. This story does at least reach a conclusion which is able to subvert expectations and as a part of an ongoing series it works well enough.

**
Once again the two bonus strips Are from AJ and Marc Ellerby respectively. 'Stop That' involves the Doctor on a planet that seems uncannily like Mars seemingly ready to find some trouble. But before he can get far, it would appear the TARDIS is trying to aggravate him, as concerns his final destination that was foretold long ago.
The second bonus comic has the TARDIS crew of Amy and Rory and gives the Ood a big starring role. Fun is poked at social media and popularity, with the Doctor clearly insecure that he is not quite the darling with the universe that he used to be. 'An Ood Thing To Say' is pleasant enough, but perhaps not quite as funny a piece as Ellerby is capable of.

This new issue in the line of comic strip adventures with The Eleventh Doctor confirms that John Jones is indeed a companion proper following his striking introduction in last month's escapades. Having been somewhat memorable at first, this is perhaps not the best use of this character as he spouts rather frivolous statements and does not really seem to be swept along by the amazing experiences he is so privileged to be having. He instead seems to be treating the whole thing as a trip on the chemical substance level - which may be a deliberate choice by the creative team but seems rather cloying. The old conceit of characters rarely needing comfort breaks is also bypassed as Jones seems desperate to go to a stopover place; when the TARDIS would surely offer much more comfortable options. At least Alice is as engaging as ever, even if she shows signs of being ready to resume her normal challenges in the real world.

The actual plot is nothing too different from the usual outer space fare for Doctor Who. Something is turning members of a spaceship crew researching beetle colonies into human vegetables, and The TARDIS lands at the very moment when those trying to maintain order have become rather paranoid. By being released in time for Halloween there is a perhaps deliberate atmosphere of creepiness and mystery as the rather odd alien entity causing the danger is employed sparingly and thus the tension is quite acute.

The Doctor also has the personal worry of Alice siding against him upon hearing him dismiss her and many of her predecessors as little more than outsiders and stowaways. Yet this is once again a good opportunity for modern Doctor Who to show off its winning character development attributes. Alice is certainly one of the more grown-up and steady of the companions and this means that the sometimes childishly positive Matt Smith incarnation must accept that life can be inescapably difficult. A key objective for a spin-off story in another medium is to try and add something that the source material did not explore - or at least not to a great extent. Thus Titan Comics are justifying their work beyond a purely franscise-level.

Al Ewing returns to writing duties with a much more gripping and memorable story than his previous solo effort in Issue 2. There is a good combination of black humour, intrigue and the threads of 'timey-wimey-ness' coming together from the previous set-up of prior installments. More striking though is that we have a different artist on board for the first time in this particular series, with Boo Cook getting to show off his style of presentation. There is very much a pure sci-fi feel, and by being set on a sterile craft in space there is less need for the heady mix of colours and contrasts that were noticeable in the other stories. For me personally the character designs of Cook stood up well; emotions and defining facial features were to a particularly solid standard.

Most reading this review will be pretty loyal fans of the show, but as some people make comics their first choice of entertainment/escapism, we can only hope these new stories are drawing in a whole new demographic to this five decade (and counting!) phenomenon. Perhaps a singular issue has less impact if not read in sequence after other entries, but there is some good work being done with the story arc and a long-term plan seems confident enough. Essentially the expectation now is that the 'hits' will begin to outweigh the 'near-misses', so that some real momentum is built for the flamboyant Eleventh Doctor.

**
Bonus strips are once again enchantingly amusing. A nice call-back to the wooden Cyberman of Matt's TV tenure features in 'Wooden Acting' by AJ. Can Marc Ellerby do no wrong?? Once again he ticks all he boxes you can ask for with his 'Wholloween' gem. The Doctor may be free to travel anywhere and anywhen but he can't escape alien kids after something tasty from his many forms of sustenance abroad the TARDIS. Amy dressed up as a witch is also of amusement, especially as she can't seem to get her Time Lord chum to make the same sort of effort.

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.