Beautiful Freak

"I know what it's like to look into a mirror and see a stranger."

Writer: Scott Gray 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May 2001

Printed in: DWM 304

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Izzy

Synopsis 

Izzy struggles to deal with the fact she isn't a human being anymore. Despite the Doctor's best efforts, his newly amphibious companion just wants to die.

Verdict 

Beautiful Freak was an excellent comic strip story and one I found extremely emotional. Now, this is only my second Eighth Doctor and Izzy comic strip but just when I thought she looked like a typically beautiful blonde companion and I'd really love her, it seems that her transformation to an amphibious being in Ophidius will be permanent! I really thought the Doctor would come up with a way to somehow return Izzy to her previous human self but instead he was doing the absolute best he could to console his companion. It's clear to me that Izzy has been travelling with the Doctor for some time (I'm new to the Eighth Doctor era of comics as I've just delved in with the Oblivion graphic novel) and that they've had some tough times together. The Doctor's speech to her about looking in the mirror and seeing a different face was stunning I thought. Some absolutely magnificent dialogue there I must say! I liked how the Doctor was doing his very best to try and use his ability to regenerate to relate and understand how she was feeling. But it wasn't the same and I could obviously see why Izzy was angered by his comments. She knew all about the Time Lords, which again confirmed to me that the Doctor and Izzy have built a big friendship, and the regeneration process and how they just recycle bodies like they're nothing. I wasn't surprised by Izzy's claim to the Doctor enjoying regeneration. We've seen in the likes of The Twin Dilemma, Time and the Rani and The Eleventh Hour that he rather enjoys getting to grips with a new face and body, particularly taking a likening to picking out a new attire! Izzy kind of followed suit as after an eventful swim, she calmed herself down and did her best to accept the situation. The fact that she was suddenly suffering from dehydration due to her paranoia made sense and I liked how she was able to breathe under water. That's one major benefit I guess! She can go swimming for as long as she likes, though I highly doubt that's the kind of opportunity the Doctor was talking about. The Doctor was happy to see that Izzy was back up on her feet and changed out of that hideous bikini. She did her best to look as human as she could and I loved how the Doctor still saw her as Izzy. She'd never look ugly to him. A beautiful tale and I love the softer side of the Doctor that comes with his eighth incarnation. He really does have a big relationship with Izzy and it's going to be lovely seeing that develop further with her new body. 

Rating: 9/10