A Confusion of Angels

"You're one of those Host things, aren't you?"

Writer: Richard Dinnick
Format: Comic Strip
Released: December 2017 - March 2018
Printed in: The Twelfth Doctor #10-13

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

When the Doctor and his companions are drawn to a seemingly empty transport vessel in deep space, they're pulled into an impossible conflict – between the robotic Heavenly Host... and the Weeping Angels!

Verdict

A Confusion of Angels was a very good comic strip adventure to conclude the Twelfth Doctor's run in Titan Comics! I think it's a huge shame to be losing the past Doctor series from Titan to go alongside brand new adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor, but at least this particular series went out in some style! It really did have a lot going on across the four parts with the Weeping Angels, Heavenly Host and Judoon all making returns! I would never have expected for the middle enemy in that trio to make a comeback after Voyage of the Damned but here we are! Throwing them into a story with the Weeping Angels is just a fantastic partnership and these robotic servants actually becoming Weeping Angels was fantastic and a good play on their heavenly nature. I was a big fan of the storytelling. Speaking of the actual story, at times there was probably a little too much going on with everything happening at such a rapid pace but that made for excitement which isn't a bad thing. The return of Margaret the Slitheen (who can be bothered to type out her full name?) was another unexpected addition but it was superb continuity that we got to know post-Boom Town and what she had become once the Doctor returned her home to a new family. This time she was part of the Jingatheen and I liked that we got a little glimpse of her arm and its true Slitheen nature. The Doctor explaining the events of Aliens of London/World War Three and the aforementioned episode where she looked into the heart of the TARDIS was great and I really liked the way the flashbacks were done in the same panels as the Twelfth Doctor explaining events to Bill. I liked how the story fitted into Series 10 continuity with talk of the Vault and Missy helping once again with protocol 13-9. I wasn't too keen on the Doctor distracting in order to get Bill away, but it was good to have the issue of no TARDIS as things started to go wrong. I thought it was great to see a protected image of Max Capricorn and the Doctor's reaction to seeing him again was perfect. Nardole was quite quiet for much of the comic strip but he did have his humorous moments. I never believed for one second that the Host would stay shut down and just part of transformation and I liked how they were written. I couldn't hear anything other than their voice when reading their lines which is fantastic. I wasn't overly keen on the crew of the ship but that was more than made up with everyone else that was around. Margaret being a part of the Shadow Proclamation along with the Judoon was quite the image for an alliance. I didn't think the Judoon actually offered a great deal for the story, but the fact that they actually managed to kill a Weeping Angel was a huge shock! I really was surprised to see that happen, so imagine how I felt when Margaret did the same with her Slitheen claw to decapitate one of the Angels? When they're stuck as stone, I guess it does make sense to just smash them into smithereens. I liked it. I thought the conclusion could have been slightly better as we didn't really see much of the Doctor's plan in action. We just read what he was doing and then had to take it as fact that it had occurred for the most part. It worked well though and was simple. Missy actually helping those displaced by the Angels was a good move, and I loved that the Doctor was displaced in time by one and actually got involved in some of Max Capricorn's business which enabled him to name a ship Titanic! Overall, a lot going on and a good way to end Titan's Twelfth Doctor comic strip run!

Rating: 8/10