The Time Sickness

"But this planet's the location of a massive warp in Time and we're now inside a Time Force Barrier."

Writer: Trevor Baxendale
Format: Comic Strip
Released: August 2008
Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2009

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

The Doctor and Donna arrive on a mysterious planet after receiving a distress signal. As they exit the TARDIS, the Doctor discovers the planet is disintegrating and Donna has aged at least 50 years...

Verdict

The Time Sickness is the perfect example of how to write a brilliant story in just a few pages. Six pages of comic strip excellence was this adventure! Immediately with Donna having been aged and the danger of a disintegrating planet, so many questions were raised within the first few lines. The humour between the Doctor and Donna about the latter having become a 'granny' was hilarious, typical good banter between the Tenth Doctor and Donna as we see countless times. The time sickness itself was marvellous and the explanation of the planet having a distorted time barrier, unintentionally, was great. The reference to the Third Doctor's iconic catchphrase was a lovely touch and reversing the polarity of the neutron flow actually fixed Donna's ageing! Not only was it beautifully referenced but it was also a resolution! The Sentinels looked really good and once revived I liked their thanking of the Doctor for fixing their planet. Overall, wonderful plot, good twists and climax! Can't ask for much more from a short comic strip!

Rating: 10/10

Loups-Garoux

"I'm the Doctor! And I'm offering Ileana my protection. I'm stronger and more worthy than any puny human or wolf!"

Writer: Marc Platt
Format: Audio
Released: May 2001
Series: Main Range 20

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Turlough

Synopsis

Germany, 1589: the townspeople of Cologne pronounce a sentence of death on a mass-murderer who has stalked the countryside in the guise of a ferocious wolf.

Russia, 1812: retreating from Napoleon's invading forces, a merchant's daughter is rescued from bandits by a handsome partisan with a ravenous appetite.

Brazil, 2080: The Doctor and Turlough arrive for the Rio de Janiero carnival.

Is wealthy heiress Ileana de Santos all that she seems? What sinister ailment afflicts her invalid son, tended by the mysterious Doctor Hayashi? And who exactly is Rosa, engaged on a secret quest to fulfil the destiny of her extinct tribe?

Time is running out for Rosa, Ileana and the Doctor, as the fearsome shadow of an ancient werewolf moves ever closer...

Verdict

Loups-Garoux was a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable audio adventure! I loved the irony from my listening point. With a large proportion of the adventure set on a train, I found it coincidental that I myself listened to the entire audio whilst travelling by train also - which I think helped shape the setting and surrounding which was an unexpected bonus. The plot was fantastic and I adored Pieter Stubbe as the villain, the voice was just mesmerisingly evil! Perfect for a werewolf villain. The 'Grey One'. The character of Ileana was excellent and the relationship she garnered up with the Doctor was humorous whilst being touching. The cliffhanger to part three highlighting that perfectly. The futuristic (a century or so) Brazilian setting was superb and the references to the Amazon rainforest being wiped out now was a harsh reality. It's inevitable and the Doctor saying it almost caused war could be a good insight into the future. The mysterious atmosphere of the story was a key highlight and it always kept me wanting to listen to more, to solve the mystery and see what twists would occur. I wasn't expecting Ileana to be a werewolf herself, that was a great twist! Rosa was a wonderful character, in constant communication with her Grandpa, the relationship she made with Turlough was very nice and we finally saw a softer side of Turlough, actually having the affection of a member of a species he so hates: humans. The linking from Brazil 2080 to 16th century Germany and Napoleon's invasion of Russia was very clever. With my French not being too bad, I liked the clever audio name of Loups-Garoux, not spelt entirely correctly but the basic translation is Werewolf. The werewolf theme throughout the story was great and the train setting really allowed for something different! A fantastic plot and a good, ironic and payback-themed climax!

Rating: 9/10

The Silurian Gift

"He held out his hand. 'I've been in your shoes, Lizzie. I've destroyed whole worlds and have had to live with the burden. Believe me, you don't want to press that button.'"

Writer: Mike Tucker

Format: Novel

Released: 7th February 2013

Series: Quick Reads 07

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor

Synopsis

"My new Fire-Ice will solve all the problems of the planets!"

The world is on the brink of crisis. As fuel runs short, society begins to break down. One man seems to have the answer. But is it too good to be true?

The Doctor arrives at an old oil refinery near the South Pole, concerned by claims about this new form of energy. He soon discovers something huge and terrifying is stalking the refinery. It brings death and destruction in its wake.

The battle has begun for planet Earth.

Verdict

The Silurian Gift was an excellent novel that I enjoyed from start to finish. The Quick Read format was perfectly long enough for the story which was fantastic. Using economic crisis as a base, the plot flourished the moment the Silurians were introduced (which was inevitable from the book cover) as Pelham's scientist behind the Fire-Ice which would apparently wipe out the crisis. I really liked now for once, although not their actual intention, the Silurians were the enemies. The highlight of the book for me was the unexpected appearance of the Sea Devils! When I read their name and learned of their return I was pleasantly shocked! The reference to The Sea Devils by the Doctor was clever and humorous. The Sea Devils weren't the only dormant species to return in this story, as the Myrka returned in emphatic style. It was a brave move bringing back a relatively unsuccessful enemy from Warriors of the Deep, but the Myrka worked incredibly in the novel format and shaped the story and danger magnificently. The Silurian family story surrounding Partock and Oclar was emotional but it also helped epitomise the hatred the Silurians have the 'apes' who now rule the planet. The 'guest companion' (as I like to call characters like Astrid, Lady Christina etc), Lizzie was a fantastic character and I liked the Doctor's liking of her and her journalistic passion. The fact that she actually turned out to be an environmentalist was surprising but was great and added a lot of prowess to the novel. The climax of the plot was very good and it was great how the Doctor had again failed to get the humans and Silurians to coexist on the planet they should be sharing. He's tried in many incarnations, but always seems to be failing. One day, perhaps. But for now all we got from the Silurians was a terrific story and allowed the brilliant Eleventh Doctor to take on three classic villains out once!

Rating: 9/10

Fans

                                      

"We've received a message, Clara! They love me! Let's go see them!"

Writer: Rik Hoskin

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 26th March 2014

Printed in: DWA 342

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The Doctor and Clara receive a message from their biggest fans and decide to pay them all a visit

Verdict

Fans is a majorly mixed bag of a comic strip story. Now, I understand that it is incredibly hard to tell an excellent story aimed at a younger audience over just 4 pages, but where the fun Ball-Pit Beast succeeded, Fans did not sadly. It had a moment of humour and something that seemed so perfect for the Doctor, but then he arrived and there were people with TARDIS heads? Nah, a species doesn't evolve that much based on a legend! I also didn't understand why the Doctor and Clara were almost immediately accused of being impostors using the legend of the box to their advantage. The cover story, after going along with it, from Clara was quite good but the TARDIS head people seemed to buy it way to easily and let the pair escape with ease! Short, as all the DWA comics are, but a better story can still be told! This was mixed on an average scale.

Rating: 5/10

Lost Souls

"Coffee, good idea. Then Torchwood's going to Switzerland."

Writer: Joseph Lidster
Format: Audio
Broadcast: 10th September 2008
Series: BBC Radio #1

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Martha

Synopsis

When scientist start to disappear prior to the activation of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Swtizerland, Dr. Martha Jones of UNIT asks her friends at Torchwood 3, still grieving over the recent death of two colleagues, to investigate.

Verdict

Lost Souls was my first Torchwood audio, perfectly timed with it set after Series 2 but before Series 3, and it was excellent! I loved the plot and thought a story based around the Hadron Collider at CERN was fantastic and allowed something that's been in the news in the recent past for what it could potentially do. The alien entity that snuck through to this dimension during a previous test on the Hadron Collider was great and I thought the way it imitated the deceased Owen and Tosh was good and showed its callousness in using the loved ones against the team. Using Lisa against Ianto was also very harsh but a good reference to Cyberwomen. I loved how Martha was back and when she was in need of help, she turned to Torchwood and the familiar Jack rather than her colleagues at UNIT. I know the Doctor would be happy with her choosing. The sad reference to the funeral service of Tosh and Owen was nice and it must be hard for the Torchwood team doing what they do continuing on with their jobs and routine. I think Martha was a nice consoling figure who the team could tell that they weren't actually alright after the deaths of their friends. Oliver was a good character and the way love got to him, ultimately killing him, was fantastic (in the story sense). A great story with a good plot and a welcomed return to Torchwood for the nightingale Martha Jones!

Rating: 9/10

The Door to a Winter Long Ago

                               

                                      

"The door leads to another time. Another century even. Fifty years from now."

Writer: Moray Laing
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 10th August 2013
Printed in: The Official 50th Anniversary Annual

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The Doctor's playing around in the TARDIS causes a wooden door to appear in the bedroom of a young boy. However, the door is a gateway to London in 1964, and as the Shadowy Creatures pounce on the time distortion, the Doctor and Clara need to repair the damage and rid the universe of the door!

Verdict

The Door to a Winter Long Ago was an excellent little comic strip adventure! I thought the story was good and liked the idea of the Doctor's goofing around causing a doorway between two different time zones. I liked the relationship between the Doctor and Clara, but thought the artwork for Clara could have been done so much better! The Shadowy Creatures were good enemies, similar to the Reapers as seen in Father's Day, they thrived and fed on things which shouldn't be in a certain time - in this case a mobile phone. The way the Doctor solved the issue of the door and two children running through a door to go sledging 50 years ago was good and simplistic which was great to see. Short, as the annual strips tend to be, but The Door to a Winter Long Ago was very good!

Rating: 8/10

Undercover

"A small device of the utmost importance has been stolen, Doctor... we know by whom but we are helpless to do anything about it!"

Writer: Roger Noel Cook
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 1970
Printed in: TV Comic Holiday Special 1970

Featuring: Third Doctor, Brigadier

Synopsis

When a 'small device' is stolen from UNIT by foreign agents, the Doctor dresses as an old woman and uses his obedience spray to get it back.

Verdict

Undercover was my first ever Classic Series comic strip and it was certainly a comical one! I liked the relationship between the Third Doctor and the Brigadier here, even if it was only minimal, as it always is good. UNIT getting the Doctor to do their dirty, undercover secret work again was good but I certainly wasn't expecting the Doctor to go undercover as an elderly women! The appearance was rather funny and the use of the obedience spray seemed somehow too easy, but allowed for humour. The short plot was simple enough and with the bypass of the spray the Doctor could retrieve the device UNIT wanted returned to them. I liked how the Brigadier helped the Doctor get away at the end, as his spray was wearing off, as a policeman. Overall, a bit short and convenient - but very humorous nonetheless! I look forward to finding more classic comic strips!

Rating: 7/10

The Greatest Mall in the Universe

"You want shopping? I can do shopping. I can do the shoppiest shopping you've ever shopped in!"

Writer: Colin Brake
Format: Comic Strip
Released: August 2008
Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2009

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Visiting a planet-sized shopping centre, Donna is mistaken for celebrity Krystal Diva, and is kidnapped by two hapless security agents. Meanwhile, the Doctor must race against time to uncover the real kidnappers, locate Krystal and save Donna before the opening night of a new chain of shops, Ryson Robot's...

Verdict

The Greatest Mall in the Universe was an average comic strip in all honesty. It just never got going, no immediate danger, no scary monsters and barely a plot thread - just shops. A planet full of shops so therefore it's the greatest mall in the universe. An understandable concept but I can't help but hink that Donna is being depicted very differently in comic strips than she was where it really counts, on TV. I can't imagine Donna being thrilled and overwhelmed by a shop planet like she was here. After all the effort she went through in Partners in Crime to find the Doctor once more so she could see the stars, to me shops don't seem appealing to Donna. I thought the plot was seriously lacking in all fundamentals although the concept of the android Donna was good, it could've been elaborated on so much better if given the length. I liked the quirks of the Doctor in this though and that's what was the highlight - of course the Doctor liked shopping! A decent climax, but overall, pretty average.

Rating: 5/10

Minuet in Hell

"The legends of Gallifrey speak of a world where everything is horror. Horror and pain. A world from where there is no escape from the creatures who crawl on the crust of the land."

Writer: Alan W. Lear (with Gary Russell)
Format: Audio
Released: April 2001
Series: Main Range 19

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Brigadier

Synopsis

The twenty-first century has just begun, and Malebolgia is enjoying its status as the newest state in America. After his successful involvement with Scotland's devolution, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart has been invited over to Malebolgia to offer some of his experiences and expertise.

There he encounters the charismatic Brigham Elisha Dashwood III, an evangelical statesman running for Governor who may not be quite as clean-cut and wholesome as he makes out. One of Dashwood's other roles in society is a patron of a new medical institute, concentrating on curing the ills of the human mind. One of the patients there interests the Brigadier - someone who claims he travels through space and time in something called a TARDIS.

Charley, however, has more than a few problems of her own. Amnesiac, she is working as a hostess at the local chapter of the Hell Fire Club, populated by local dignitaries who have summoned forth the demon Marchosias. And the leader of the Club? None other than Dashwood, who seems determined to achieve congressional power by the most malevolent means at his disposal...

Verdict

Minuet in Hell was a fantastic audio adventure that sees the meeting of the Eighth Doctor with an old friend, the wonderful Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. I was particularly looking forward to the relationship between the two, especially after it was the highlight with the Sixth Doctor in The Spectre of Lanyon Moor. However, I had to wait nearly 2 hours for them to finally bump into each other in the final part. It was a rather rushed hello and any adventure featuring the Brigadier with an incarnation after the Fourth Doctor, especially one whom the Brig has never met, the greeting and banter filled relationship is an instant highlight. The plot itself was very good and I liked the idea of the story jumping straight into a terrible situation with the Doctor and Charley split up, and none of them knowing anything. Literally, barely nothing. It was all mysterious and I liked how gradually through the audio that things began to click and memories started to return. The Brigadier's role in the new state of Malebolgia was excellent and I adore the idea of, despite retired, the Brig is still being used as a spy, showing he's still a major asset to any company or organisation. Dashwood was a good character as were most of the guest cast, but the standout was Gideon Crane in my opinion. I really liked how he knew so much more about the Doctor and his past, than the Doctor himself (who was suffering heavily from amnesia)! The explanation as to how Gideon thought he actually was the Doctor was very good. Dale was again a terrific character. The cliffhangers were all very good, particularly the one at the end of part two. The references to many companions such as Ace, Evelyn and Susan was nice to hear, as references to past stories and characters are something I always love! The unfolding of the plot was good and the aspects of the PSI regenerator would rewrite human history, but it seemed that it was in the wrong hands and certainly wouldn't help the insane. The many references to hell were something I disliked, due to my Atheist beliefs, I just dislike anything and everything associated to religion! But the climax was enjoyable and overall the story was good. The exit of Ramsay, showing his true colours now, and the continued mystery behind Charley - the girl who should be dead, all added to the storyline. Very good!

Rating: 8/10

Mission to the Unknown

"The Daleks are planning the complete destruction of our galaxy. Together with the powers of the outer galaxies, a war force is being assembled."

Writer: Terry Nation
Format: TV
Broadcast: 9th October 1965
Season: 3.02

Synopsis

On the planet Kembel, Space Security Service agent Marc Cory is investigating a recent sighting of a Dalek spaceship. His suspicion that the creatures may have established a base proves well-founded. He learns of a plot by the Daleks to invade and destroy the Solar System, be he is discovered and exterminated. The Daleks and their allies vow to conquer the universe, beginning with Earth...

Verdict

Mission to the Unknown is a tremendous little 'cutaway' episode. With the Doctor, Vicki and Steven having a well deserved rest in the TARDIS after recent encounters with the Daleks, the Monk and the Drahvins, Vicki is wondering what is happening on a planet seen on the TARDIS scanner (this was seen in the final moments of Galaxy 4) and we, the viewer, get to see what is happening on the planet that turns out to be Kembel. I liked the Kembel setting with the jungle and danger closing around the Space Security crew. Cory, along with Lowery were great characters and they also allowed us to gain the knowledge of what the Daleks have been doing since the Doctor thwarted their invasion of Earth in The Dalek Invasion of Earth. I liked how Terry Nation didn't have the Dalek Supreme voyage on the chase through time the last time we saw the Daleks in The Chase, as now there is still a Dalek of rank amongst the cosmos, and boy does he have a plan on his hands (or sucker)! I adored the idea of an alliance between the Daleks and six delegates of planets from the Outer Galaxy, to conquer the entire galaxy as a single alliance! A majestic concept. I thought the Varga plants were an excellent species and it was typical that a half-plant, half-animal creature was native to Skaro! Cory's attempts to get his message out via the rescue beacon must've been emotional to try and record after killing his friend Lowery who'd become a Varga plant, and learning of the horrific Dalek plan! He was exterminated. Will his message be found and cause the saviour of the universe to come forth to Kembel, or will the Dalek alliance conquer the universe? I look forward to seeing the unfolding in a future serial that this episode has obviously served as a prequel for, a brilliant one of that.

Rating: 9/10

Galaxy 4

"Not all the dominant species in the universe look like humans. Our appearance might shock you as it shocked the Drahvins."

Writer: William Emms
Format: TV
Broadcast: 11th September - 2nd October 1965
Season: 3.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

The Doctor, Vicki and Steven arrive on an arid planet where they meet the beautiful Drahvins and the hideous Rills. Each has crash-landed after a confrontation in space. The Rills are friendly, compassionate explorers. The Drahvins are dull-witted, cloned soldiers, terrorised by the intelligent, warlike matriarch Maaga. With the planet just a dawn away from explosion, the race for ship repair is on and the TARDIS crew get caught in the conflict...

Verdict

Galaxy 4 is a fantastic serial and it's a joy to behold that Airlock (episode 3) was recently found allowing my first viewing of this story to be a lot better than it would have been without. I enjoyed the indifference of opinion, and the telling of events, between the Drahvin and the Rills. The Chumblies were a wonderful addition to the serial and provided the Rills with vocal contact and physical mischief. I loved all of their little antics and traits and just thought they were terrific! The sound that accompanied them wherever they were was very good. The plot itself was fantastic with the planet due to explode in two dawns, not long considering night only lasted 4 hours on the planet with three suns. The Doctor's use of the astral map, not seen since The Web Planet was fantastic and provided an excellent episode 1 cliffhanger. I thought Steven was excellent as companion and it seems he has immediately settled in the TARDIS since stowing aboard in The Chase. The clever reference to The Space Museum was superb and I again really liked the relationship between the Doctor and Vicki, that has been a standout since Susan's departure. I thought the Drahvins were extremely intriguing and unique, a cloned soldier army of blonde armed women seemed like it didn't add up - but it did very much so! Their hatred of the Rills, for no apparent reason, was again intriguing. The way the Doctor and Vicki immediately got on with the Rills was fabulous and it was great how the Doctor went to extreme measures and risks to give their ship power from the TARDIS to take off from the doomed planet. The Drahvins, headed by the evil Maaga, had disgusted the Doctor so much with their callousness, lying and discrimination of the Rills, that he left them to die on the planet. He raced to the TARDIS and left the Drahvins and Maaga on the planet with a useless ship. They'd soon be floating amongst the stars. Overall, a fantastic serial and it was wonderful to have a 'new' William Hartnell story, as will be many times this season! Superb!

Rating: 8/10

The Time Meddler

"It's a TARDIS. The Monk's got a TARDIS!"

Writer: Dennis Spooner
Format: TV
Broadcast: 3rd July - 24th July 1965
Season: 2.09

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands on the Northumbrian coast, where new companion Steven discovers a Viking helmet and the Doctor deduces they must have arrived in the 11th century. Steven remains sceptical, especially when he and Vicki encounter what appears to be a Saxon hunter with a modern wristwatch. Investigating a nearby monastery, the Doctor discovers further anachronisms. Who is the mysterious monk observing the time travellers' every move, and why is he so interested in the outcome of the Battle of Hastings?

Verdict

The Time Meddler is a brilliant serial. Quite superb. It's never dull and it starts right off with some action where the Doctor and Vicki, after reference their missing of Ian and Barbara for the last time, think there's a Dalek in the living quarters of the TARDIS! It turns out to be Steven, who we briefly met at the end of The Chase, the previous TV serial. I liked how the Doctor accepted him 'on face value' and allowed Vicki to be more expressive now. I like how now she can open up more, she's no longer the new girl around Ian and Barbara who'd been on board for some time before her arrival in The Rescue, she's the one with TARDIS experience and Steven is the new boy. I thought the Monk was absolutely brilliant and adored his meddling ways! It was clear from the episode one cliffhanger that the Doctor knew who this man was and that later became clear. They were from the same place, of the same species, and the Monk not only had a TARDIS, it was an improved version than that of the Doctor's! The episode three cliffhanger was one of my favourites yet - up there with episode one of The Reign of Terror, where Vicki and Steven stumble aboard and discover the Monk's TARDIS! The instant relationship between Vicki and Steven, whilst separated from the Doctor, was terrific and the pair instantly bonded. Another great relationship, of course for many different reasons, was that of the Doctor and the Monk. Humour and envy, intrigue and mockery. The Doctor had the upper hand in regards to intelligence it seemed but the Monk's devious plan would take some stopping! He wanted to alter one of the most well known historical events; The Battle of Hastings! He wanted to kill the Norwegian Viking fleet to allow Harold Godwinson to defeat William the Conquerer! The climax was fantastic and I adored the way the Doctor defeated the Monk, a nice letter plus the retrieval of his dimensional stabiliser. Accused as a Viking spy, the Monk was trapped in 1966! Fantastic.

Rating: 9/10

Mr. Nobody

"I hereby declare my status as a legal representative of the Hyper-Temporal Magistrate Authority, as shown on this official badge which you can all plainly see. I wish to act as a defence counsel for this Earthling!"

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: September 2005
Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2006

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Vandos Tribunal teleports Phil Tyson to their ship to execute him for crimes committed against the Vandosians. The crime were committed by the Vandosian Shogalath, who they believe has reincarnated into Phil! The Ninth Doctor and Rose arrive, but can they save Phil from execution before it's too late?

Verdict

Mr. Nobody was a pretty decent read. The plot was a bit uneventful but then it somehow seemed to be good at the same time, rather confusingly. Maybe that's the power of the terrific artwork or by the commanding presence of the Doctor. I'm not quite sure. I liked the character of Phil Tyson and how after a brief experience with the Doctor and Rose, the extra-terrestrial and an alien tribunal, that he would no longer be the coward-like character scared of his boss and wary of putting a step in the wrong. He was now alive and thrilled, and would grasp hold of life and live it the way it should be! The Vandosians were good but their logic was somewhat questionable! They were going to execute Phil because they believed he was the reincarnation of their greatest enemy, Shogalath, and would sentence him for crimes committed in a past life? It was all a bit barmy to be honest. I loved Rose in this though and how she helped Phil through the difficult understanding of what was going on, with a beautiful merry-go-round simile. A clever but basic climax, overall - pretty good!

Rating: 7/10

The Many Deaths of Jo Grant

"I wasn't going to let this happen. After all we'd been through, the Doctor wasn't going to die like this, on his knees, in the mud."

Writers: Cavan Scott & Mark Wright

Format: Audio

Released: October 2011

Series: Companion Chronicles 6.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Brigadier

Synopsis

When Jo Grant was very young, her grandmother told her that there was a time for everything. A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to live and a time to die.

Since meeting the Doctor, Jo has laughed till she thought she might burst. She has also shed a few tears along the way, but has lived more than she ever thought possible.

But now, as a strange spaceship materialises over UNIT HQ and a heavily injured Doctor returns to Earth, it is Jo's time to die. Again, and again, and again...

Verdict

The Many Deaths of Jo Grant is an excellent listen! I thoroughly enjoyed this Companion Chronicle and thought Katy Manning did a stellar job in reprising her role as the joyous Jo as well as performing the story and bringing in all the traits of both the Third Doctor and the Brigadier. I really loved the concept of the story with Jo being hooked up to a mindscape creating false scenarios in her mind, but to her seem and almost are extremely real. And she dies at the climax of every scenario. I loved the risk taken by the Doctor to rescue the Xoanthrax baby due for execution, but now he'd caused the aliens to follow him to presumably 1970s Earth to retrieve what is theirs. I adored how despite injured, the Doctor was willing to sacrifice himself for the baby and in return Jo actually did sacrifice herself for the Doctor, throwing herself in front of the Doctor when he was about to be shot. It was really great how the concept of self sacrifice was illogical and alien to the Xoanthrax, so much so that they wanted to do tests on Jo. And that's exactly what the audio was based on, scenarios created from Jo's own mind to see if she would sacrifice herself again. Throughout all the different scenarios, the mysterious and excellent Rowe was turning up (actually the Xoanthrax conducting the test) and he never seemed normal. A touching moment was the fact that the Doctor risked burning out his own mind to enter the mindscape and help his loyal and trusty companion. The references to how Jo died 412 times was quite shocking! Some by Daleks, Ice Warriors and even the Master, it was clear that Jo had had an eventful time whilst being tested. But it was fantastic how the Xoanthrax weren't actually all that evil, they just wanted to test why Jo sacrificed herself for the Doctor which was good. She did it because it seems she genuinely loves this man (not in the relationship sense) and couldn't bare it without him! I also liked the references to by entering the mindscape himself, the Doctor's sacrifices were relived. He'd made them for Liz, Jamie, Zoe and Susan (as well as countless others as we know). Overall, a wonderful concept and a terrific performance from Katy Manning!

Rating: 9/10

The Chase

"Yes! Home! I want to sit in a pub and drink a pint of beer again. I want to walk in a park, and watch a cricket match. And above all I want to belong somewhere and do something, instead of this aimless drifting around in space!"

Writer: Terry Nation
Format: TV
Broadcast: 22nd May - 26th June 1965
Season: 2.08

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Synopsis

The travellers are forced to flee in the TARDIS when they learn from the Time-Space Visualiser from the Moroks' museum that a group of Daleks equipped with their own time machine are on their trail with orders to exterminate them.

Verdict

The Chase is a tremendous story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. After the successes of The Daleks and The Dalek Invasion of Earth, it was inevitable that the infamous Daleks would be returning to Doctor Who pretty quickly. After the surprise lead in at the end of The Space Museum, I adored how the Daleks had built themselves their own time machine, also bigger on the inside! The many locations explored during the story was excellent. Aridius was a good planet to explore and I liked the cliffhanger with the Dalek struggling to exit the sand. The scenes on the Empire State Building were outstanding for humour with the Alabama tourist, superb indeed. The Mary Celeste setting was excellent and I enjoyed the humour when Vicki knocked out Ian! The havoc caused once the Daleks arrived was great and it explained how the ship's crew had all mysteriously disappeared, at least in the Whoniverse. Mechanus was a terrific setting with beast-like flora, a jungle and an outstanding city. The way the Mechanoids, which looked excellent, placed the foursome in a contained room, like specimens in a zoo, was really interesting. The plot itself with the Daleks chasing the TARDIS through time, always gaining, was excellent. The use of the Time-Space Visualiser was fantastic and I personally would love to have a machine of its capabilities! The arrival of Steven in the story was good and I really liked him on first viewing. The way the crew helped Steven escape and in turn escape from the Mechanoid city soon to be invaded by Daleks, which the Doctor put an end to with his explosive machine, was brilliant. I adored how the Daleks referred to the TARDIS crew as their greatest enemies and were after revenge after the events of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. The references to that story were very good and I also liked the humorous reference to The Space Museum in regards to Barbara's cardigan. The idea of the duplicate robotic Doctor was outstanding but I just don't understand why they didn't use Hartnell for the majority of the scenes. The sad and sudden departure of Ian and Barbara was emotional but wonderful. The Dalek time machine, capable of going anywhere in time and space, was empty and defeated of the Daleks. Ian and Barbara took their chance despite the Doctor's stubbornness, who needed the persuasion of Vicki, and returned home. A few years ahead of the time they left but they were back home. The Doctor and Vicki watching them on the Time-Space Visualiser was a lovely touch and showed how much the Doctor has developed since An Unearthly Child. Angered at Ian and Barbara storming onto his ship, now devastated to see them go. A wonderful story but a lot of production errors hurt it in parts, but I try not to let that affect it!

Rating: 9/10

T-Shirt Terror

                                      

"They've managed to break through to our dimension via those t-shirts. They're using them to make a connection, then replace the wearer!"

Writer: Eddie Robson
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 12th March 2014
Printed in: DWA 341

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

When the Eleventh Doctor and Clara return to London, a new fashion is in and Clara immediately takes the trend. But has she bargained for more than its worth with the evil Loum using the new T-Shirts as part of an invasion plan?

Verdict

T-Shirt Terror was a unique story to say the least. Quite literally an invasion attempt via a T-Shirt! I liked how upon arriving back home in London, Clara was quick to get into fashion with the new t-shirts being worn by everyone. 4,000 sold in a week, quite successful then! But in actual fact they were home to a portal to a pocket dimension where the wearer would be sent too after being replaced by the evil Loum. I thought the simplicity in which the Doctor saved the day was a bit too convenient but then provided some good humour with Clara! Overall, a good DWA comic for its length, but more could still have happened.

Rating: 7/10

The Five Dimensional Man

"Is that where he comes from... a fifth dimension?"

Writer: Kate Orman
Format: Audio
Released: 31st May 2011
Series: Short Trips 3.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe


Synopsis

An American 50s housewife gets more than she bargained for when she offers help to a strange women who appears in her kitchen...

Verdict

The Five Dimensional Man was a great little audio! It worked very well and although the story had a lot of potential to be expanded upon, the short length of 18 minutes still worked fantastically. I liked the American theme and with the setting 1959, the astronaut mentions were cleverly placed. I adored how Zoe ended up in Betty's kitchen! But she didn't seem at all moved or surprised by how she arrived there - more curious than worried. She was a great character and had a tremendous sense of adventure. Once the Doctor arrived, who she humorously mocked in regards to war, she was willing to be thrown into the future on an alien colony as a secret weapon! She almost seemed perfect for the Doctor. Jamie being held hostage by Stirling was good, who himself made a brilliant villain just on description of past events! The climax was quite good and I liked how Betty returned home with, what you could almost hear was a smile on her face. She'd just been to the 28th century and you could tell she had loved her snapshot amongst the universe. Overall, a terrific little audio!

Rating: 8/10

Imaginary Enemies

"The Sheep of Doom cares not what nasty little girls think! Return the Raggedy Doctor or he won't be the only one with a broken head tonight."

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Srip
Released: 13th December 2012
Printed in: DWM 455

Featuring: Amy, Rory

Synopsis

In Leadworth, the nativity play is almost starting and young Amelia Pond is being teased before the school play by the main star Veronica saying she's mad and she'll get locked away forever. Veronica breaks the Raggedy Doctor doll Amelia made whilst in the library she's visited in the mirror by a man who appears similar to a reverse Santa Claus claiming to be her uncle 'Krampus', who is really a member of the Pantheon trying to prevent the future Amy and Rory from getting married and join in the mad man in the box, and conceiving their child who would go on to kill the Doctor...

Verdict

Imaginary Enemies was a terrific comic strip! A thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the setting of Leadworth in the primary school at the time that Amy and Rory were children, along with their would-be daughter Mels of course! A nativity play on the cards was perfect for the Christmas style story and uncle Krampus' attempts to distort the future were excellent! I thought Veronica was a bit of a bitch but I guess all schools, no matter what age, have a snob present. The humorous relationship between Amy and Rory that we saw on TV countless times was present in their childhood here. The mentions to Amy's Raggedy Doctor doll, which was decapitated (!) were lovely. I love thinking how much Amy adores that doll, and is still frightened by the crack in her bedroom wall. The plot was good and the evil, cunning plan was just superb! Mels being in the story was unexpected and she brought a lot of menace, as you can expect from who she is to become! The resolution was simple but effective and the snapshot of Amy and Rory, grown old together after The Angels take Manhattan was a wonderful touch. Overall, a great comic strip!

Rating: 9/10

The Pyralis Effect

"We will illuminate you. We will illuminate you all!"

Writer: George Mann
Format: Audio
Released: October 2009
Series: Companion Chronicles 4.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis

Long ago, the planet Pavonis IV was saved from certain destruction by the Doctor. Now it is dead, laid waste by environmental catastrophe, but a few survivors and their precious race bank survive on the starship Myriad. Their mission: to scour the universe for the fabled dimensionally transcendental obelisk in which their saviour travels, and persuade him to save their world again.

As the TARDIS arrives, by chance, on the Myriad, the Fourth Doctor and Romana are just in time to see the crew achieve their goal. Or so they think... Death stalks the corridors of the ships, the artificial intelligence CAIN has lost control, and a force is about to be unleashed that threatens the entire galaxy.

Verdict

The Pyralis Effect was a great little Companion Chronicle audio adventure and finally saw me enter a blog of decent length with the Fourth Doctor, read by the beautiful and wonderful Lalla Ward. Romana II is in my top three companions of all time and to hear her return in performed Doctor Who, narrating the story, was spectacular. Lalla did a tremendous job of telling the story and put in all the traits of the Fourth Doctor excellently. I liked the brief bit of banter between the pair and also loved how, just like any incarnation, past or future, the Doctor went wondering off from his companion. I loved the mention of the legend of the Doctor on Pavonis IV, a white haired man with three companions, an obvious and terrific reference to the First Doctor and his companions; Ian, Barbara and either Susan or Vicki. As I'm currently in Vicki's tenure with my TV serials, I like to believe that it is her who was present with the First Doctor. CAIN was a intriguing character and I really liked Romana's interest in him. His persona was frightening yet somehow calm. Suri was also a fantastic character and seemed like there was a lot more to her than what was told which I liked. The cliffhanger was very good and definitely made me want to listen to the next part straight away which I always look for! As the plot unfolded, the exciting climax was good and very enjoyable. A comedic moment at the end, something almost unthinkable - the Doctor had ran out of jelly babies! But overall, a great audio and it was wonderful to have Romana II with her Doctor again. (I had of course seen her meet the Sixth Doctor in The Apocalypse Element). Very good!

Rating: 8/10

The Space Museum

"The least important things, sometimes, my dear boy, lead to the greatest discoveries."

Writer: Glyn Jones
Format: TV
Broadcast: 24th April - 15th May 1965
Season: 2.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands on the planet Xeros, where a vast museum houses a collection of relics from the galactic conquests of the mighty Morok Empire. Whilst they are exploring, the Doctor and his companions make a disturbing discovery: their future selves are preserved in the museum as exhibits in a display case!

Now the time travellers face a terrible dilemma: how can they escape their fate, when every decision they make could be taking them a step closer to their doom?

Verdict

The Space Museum is a fantastic serial that seems to undeservingly go unnoticed in quality when fans talk about the early years of Who. Episode one was absolutely outstanding and I adored the mystery, silence and tense atmosphere. The way in which the TARDIS crew's clothes mysteriously changed form their Crusading attire back to normal and the fact that the foursome weren't leaving any footprints in the dusty surface was just eery brilliance. The horror discovery in the Morok Museum of conquests, themselves, dormant-like, was superb and led the way for the story to unfold. A continuous dilemma with an unknown answer - how can the four travellers continue their ventures when every step could be leading them to their doom. A concept I adored. I really liked the cliffhangers, particularly episode one. Vicki's involvement with the Xeron revolution attempts were excellent and now that she's more than settled in as companion, as well as the Doctor's fondness towards her, I'm liking her a lot! I just wish the production team would have her attire something similar to what she was wearing in The Romans. Lobos as Governor was a tremendous villain and his sinister calmness made him excellent! The scene with the Doctor and the Dalek exhibit is an all-time favourite of mine and is certainly a historically good scene in the Whoniverse. The climax with the revolution taking place was great and Vicki's involvement was terrific. The surprise lead in to the next serial with the Daleks appearing was fabulous! The Dalek's 'greatest enemies' were on their way from Xeros, but it seems the Daleks have a time machine of their own and are keen to avenge the Doctor and co for events in The Dalek Invasion of Earth. I look forward to the next serial where the chase will be on!

Rating: 9/10

The Broken Man

                                       

"Okay, we've lost the Doctor, a giant tetris game is about to eat Prague, and I'm seriously freezing. Got any ideas?"

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th August 2012
Printed in: DWM 451-454

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

Prague, 1989: Patrick Lake and his family are desperate to return to London, but Patrick is hiding a dark secret from his wife - he is a British spy working undercover to bring down Yuri Azarov, a man whose rise to power leaves devastation for all. Patrick finds an ally in a traveller called the Doctor, a man whose name echoes throughout history, according to Patrick's associate Hugo Wilding. But the Doctor's attempt to discover the truth leaves Patrick's family - and Rory - at the mercy of Yuri and his sinister, inhuman, sidekick...

Verdict

The Broken Man was an excellent read and for my first comic strip split into parts, a great concept, it was brilliant! I really liked the Prague setting during 1989, of course it's historically important and allowed the Doctor to enter the timezone. The villain of Yuri Azarov was really good and his sinisterness made him unlikable which is what you always look for in a villain-like enemy. Patrick Lake's character was good and I liked how he was actually a spy looking to bring the downfall of Yuri, not the accountant his wife and child thought he was. The story being centred about a 16th century book was interesting and the fact it was home of The Movora was unique - I loved the concept that it existed in 2D form so could simply pass through walls, floors and anything really! It was exuberantly coloured and it's form of killing was horrific! I adored the lipstick that Amy had to get out of trouble, a gift on Mother's Day, from River Song of course which we've seen her use numerous times. The cliffhangers were all very good and the banter between Amy and Rory, though minimal compared to many other stories, was still fantastic. The Golem was a terrific concept and I liked how religion was specifically mentioned in Doctor Who, that doesn't happen often. As an Athiest, I don't mind but religion has shaped history significantly. After reading this comic in the Hunters of the Burning Stone comic strip collection, I was given a recap of the The Chains of Olympus collection in which it seems an alias has been going around and I do hope to find out what is buried in man. It seems to have been following the Doctor everywhere and I hope to find out what it means! The climax was excellent with Heather heroically saving Prague and her daughter and the Movora Queen being defeated. I loved being reunited with the trio of the 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory in a fantastic story!

Rating: 9/10

Exit Wounds

"Okay. So, if you're seeing this I guess it means I'm well, dead. I hope it was impressive, not crossing the road or an incident with a toaster. I just wanted to say, it's okay. It really is. Jack, you saved me. You showed me all the wonders of the universe and all those possibilities and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thank you. And Owen, you never knew, I love you, all of you. And... I hope I did good."

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 4th April 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.13

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis

When the villainous Captain John Hart returns to abduct Captain Jack Harkness whilst unleashing a wave of destruction and terror upon an unsuspecting Cardiff, it's up to Gwen, Ianto, Owen and Tosh to save the day. Meanwhile, Captain Jack is forced to face some demons from his past...

Verdict

Exit Wounds is a phenomenal finale of the second season of Torchwood. A destructive and emotional plot with a heartbreaking climax. Continuing straight on from Fragments, Captain John returns in damaging style. If we thought he wrecked havoc in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, what he caused to Cardiff here was ruthless and shocking. 15 separate but simultaneous explosions in strategic positions to the capital city. Cardiff was left helpless but this caused Gwen's brilliance to shine through astronomically. I liked the banter between Andy and Rhys, an unsung highlight. The brotherly reunion of Jack and Gray wasn't as expected. Gray would never forgive his brother and after finding out that Jack would never die, he wanted his brother to suffer for letting go of his hand, as seen in Adam. His plan of burying Jack 20ft underground in 27AD, right underneath where Cardiff would be built over the following 2,000 years - Jack would be the heart of the city so to speak, just repeatedly suffocating on a mouthful of dirt every time he revived. A ruthless plan of revenge by Gray. John's clever trick of the 'sentimental' ring allowing Torchwood of 1901 to dig Jack up and freeze him until 2008, where he brilliantly knocked for his release, was very clever. Once Jack returned, he knew he was to blame for Gray's childhood being destroyed and accepted that. John's coming back to help Jack once the detonator was detached from his skin was fantastic and showed that he wasn't all that evil and had feelings for Jack. I loved how the Torchwood team took control of Cardiff and attempted to keep the city from any further destruction. As if the explosions weren't bad enough, Weevils were on the loose and the nuclear plant was on the verge of meltdown. Owen was dealing with the meltdown whilst John triggered the Weevils to leave the streets. Owen and Tosh talking to each other, at their final moments, was heartbreaking and incredible emotion. They should have got that date. Tosh being shot by Gray was a shock and the scene of Owen running, not in time, to escape the meltdown was saddening. The man already dead would watch his body decompose at the hands of radiation. A hero's death, saving Cardiff, just like Tosh. She bled to death after struggling to get the communicator to reach Owen and talk him through the prevention of the meltdown. Once Jack, Gwen and Ianto returned to the Hub and found out what had occurred, they were devastated. A devastating episode, fit for a finale. Torchwood has been changed dramatically - Tosh and Owen are dead and the cast has been significantly changed. I look forward to seeing how the next series pans out with a new aspect to the Torchwood team. But Exit Wounds was all about Tosh and Owen who did good, heroically dying saving Cardiff.

Rating: 10/10

Fragments

"You're in Torchwood: Cardiff. The Torchwood institute was created to combat the threat posed by the Doctor and other phantasmagoria."

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Released: 21st March 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.12

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto,

Synopsis

After the team gets signs of an unidentified life form, they (apart from Gwen who's running late) go to investigate. Searching an abandoned building, the team discover they've been trapped and the building explodes. The explosion causes the team to be trapped in various places; unable to contact each other. Gwen and Rhys arrive, and as they dig everyone out, the team's lives flash before their eyes revealing how Jack, Ianto, Owen and Toshiko got recruited to Torchwood.

Verdict

Fragments was an excellent penultimate episode of the series and really allowed exploration into the history of the team member's lives. Having seen how Gwen joined Torchwood in Everything Changes, and seeing the creation of Torchwood in Tooth and Claw, now we got to see how Jack, Tosh, Ianto and Owen all got recruited to Torchwood, and it was terrific. Jack's recruitment was something I enjoyed, he was looking for the Doctor but after having his cards foretold by a youth prophet, he discovered he'd have to wait a century to find the Doctor, so he needed something to do in the meantime. So he joined Torchwood having already been offered further assignments. I really enjoyed Tosh's recruitment and showed just how intelligent she was! Incredibly so and she would go to extreme lengths for the ones she loved. Jack's arrival to save her from UNIT was fantastic. Ianto's persistence to get a job at Torchwood was very cleverly done and linked very well with Cyberwomen, tying it up fantastically. Owen's recruitment was intriguing, after the love he felt for Diane in Out of Time I wouldn't think it possible that he had loved someone as much, if not more, a few years previously. But he had and was engaged! But his fiancé had an alien growing in her brain so as you guess that didn't work out. The Torchwood team of 1999 going into the new Millennium was full of bloodshed which was intriguing, and if Jack was looking for the Doctor then he should have visited San Francisco if '99 was the year! The way the team were lured into the house full of explosives was great and now, as I expected, Captain John has returned for the season finale, and he's bringing Gray with him. A tremendous episode that has set up the series finale excellently.

Rating: 9/10

Ball-Pit Beast

                                       

"Oh, how sweet - we're at the Dropzone! It's a space nursery, where busy alien mums and dads leave their delightful kids for the day."

Writer: Glenn Dahin
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 26th February 2014
Printed in: DWA 340

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The Eleventh arrive on the Dropzone Asteroid in the year 2936. It's the home of an alien babysitting area but as soon as the TARDIS lands, a ball pit turns into a beast...

Verdict

Ball-Pit Beast is probably the first blog entry I've ever done where the story is in line with release date. I picked up the latest issue of Doctor Who Adventures for the first time earlier this week pretty much for the comic strip alone, just to test it out and despite its shortness in length, it was actually really good and I enjoyed it! It didn't take long to complete at all with just 4 pages to get through, but the artwork was excellent. Now, the story was quite clearly aimed at the younger audience (around 5-12 I'm guessing) but its canonical and part of the Whoniverse nonetheless and I for one enjoyed it! The Eleventh Doctor and Clara is my all-time TARDIS pairing so I welcome any stories with them. The idea of an alien babysitting dropzone was excellent and of course Smith's Doctor would love it, almost feeling at home! Clara was great too and the graphic of the Ball-Pit Beast, which just actually wanted to play based on the telepathic message of the dropped-off babies and children, was tremendous. Barely long enough for a plot but the story itself was very good and enjoyable! I look forward to issue 341...

Rating: 8/10

Down the Rabbit Hole

                                        

"Everything you see here is a tribute to the endurance of stories told thousands of years ago - stories that are still being told today!"

Writer: Davey Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 2006

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2007

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor and Rose visit a world of fair tales, where everyone is an android...

Verdict

Down the Rabbit Hole was another fun Tenth Doctor and Rose comic strip story. Continuing my flashback to the 2007 annual, I really enjoyed the comic. The concept was great where everyone was actually an android so the Doctor registered no life despite the insane realism of the people they were encountering. Rose was intrigued and I liked her irony when it seemed that everything was safe for once. Of course, that didn't turn out to be the case. The name of the story was unique and I liked how it tied into the climax of the story with the Doctor saving the day and leaving history to take its natural course. Overall, like the blog entry, short but sweet! Let the comic strips continue!

Rating: 8/10

Mirror Image

"The door's not even locked! That's practically an invitation! 'Dear Doctor and Rose, please investigate me, love creepy castle.' I'll go this way, you go that way."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 19th April 2006
Printed in: DWA 02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose


Synopsis

Landing near a creepy alien castle, the Doctor and Rose split up to explore. Rose enters a room filled with mirrors but she is snatched by her evil reflection and finds herself in another dimension full of Mirrorlings, creatures waiting for their chance to escape using the mirrors to take on a new life and replace the originals, all of whom are stuck along with Rose - some for as long as fifty years!


Verdict

Mirror Image was a short and sweet comic strip. It was perfect for its length and depicted the Tenth Doctor and Rose brilliantly. I really loved the way in which the Doctor was immediately curious and wasn't too happy that the castle door was unlocked just because it wasn't a challenge! Brilliant. The plot itself was good and if expanded on has the potential to be a sublime story. The Mirrorlings were quite ferocious and looked very glamorously coloured thanks to the brilliant artwork of the story. The way the Doctor, similarly to in New Earth, noticed that Rose wasn't herself without mentioning it was pure excellence and typical Doctor. The way he rescued Rose from the Mirrorlings trap was genius. Very clever! Overall, this comic strip was short but very sweet!

Rating: 9/10