In-Fez-Station

"Look at those fezzes glow."

Writer: Len Wein

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 2012

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2012 (Comic)

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis 

The Eleventh Doctor has taken Amy and Rory to Morocco, for no reason in particular. None at all. Well, maybe. There might be something going on with a familiar piece of headwater that he likes to constantly remind his companions are cool. But he'll be reunited with an old enemy using them for their own good...

Verdict

In-Fez-Station was, despite being quite brilliantly titled, a somewhat average continuation of the second volume of IDW's Eleventh Doctor Archives. I felt like this one was targeted towards a more youthful audience and even though it appeared in the comic strip version of the Doctor Who Annual, I really was surprised to see how much the writing deviated from the regular monthly series. The one thing that really annoyed me was the Doctor's dialogue containing plot development that really should have been just included in narration. It didn't make much sense to me that the Doctor was saying some of the things he was and that really had an adverse effect on the characterisation in my opinion and that was a big shame. Things weren't quite the same for Amy and Rory either as they kept referencing indicators of following the plot rather than just letting things advance naturally. One big positive for this comic strip was the unexpected return of the Slitheen and I really should have realised they were imminent when there was the first fart from the man claiming to be suffering from a dodgy kabob. There was only one outcome really wasn't there! The image of the Slitheen all crowding around the Eleventh Doctor was terrific and I really liked that he got to do battle with an old enemy once again. That's something IDW have not been shy on and I have really enjoyed the numerous returns that have occurred. Their plan to wipe out humanity was actually unique and rather good as they were going to use sonic technology to have the human race's best singers sing so high and on such a note that it would resonate with the human body's atomic makeup and turn them into sludge. When the Doctor heard of the plan, he was incredibly calm and didn't seem perplexed in the slightest. I liked that he had a plan immediately but I do question how he was able to use his sonic screwdriver so quickly considering the fact he was tied up and at the mercy of the Slitheen. Something didn't quite add up and that was a shame to me as I felt the story had a lot more potential. Amy and Rory wearing the fez came with humour and their reactions to being taken over was quite comical which was good. The Doctor didn't even need to tell them, they just immediately knew that they'd missed out on everything. That was a slight shame as I'd have loved to see their reactions to the Slitheen emerging from human skin. The Doctor changing the sonic waves to attack a Slitheen's atomic structure was clever but I remain unconvinced how he could operate his device. Also, if the Slitheen knew of the Doctor and the way he's interfered in their plans before, then surely they'd realise he uses sonic technology so they'd be carrying out a huge risk? Overall, a good idea but not quite a great delivery of the story.

Rating: 6/10