By Hook or By Crook

"Why bother reading about something when you can experience it?"

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: August 1997
Printed in: DWM 256

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Izzy

Synopsis

The Eighth Doctor and Izzy arrive at Tor-Ka-Nom in the 28th century, and the companion knows all the best things to see and the major events in its history. The Doctor wants to experience rather than read, but he soon gets caught up in murder and Izzy is victorious in her bet. What will the consequences be?

Verdict

By Hook or By Crook was another excellent comic strip to continue my way through the Endgame graphic novel! I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish and I really wasn't expecting so much from a single parter. It really can be difficult to tell a good Doctor Who story with such a short amount of time, but in just seven pages Scott Gray delivered big time with this adventure! I thought the atmosphere was fun and I just loved the relationship between the Doctor and Izzy from the off. They have definitely settled by now in the comic strip run and I think that readers of a contemporary nature would have had that feeling even more by this point given that each part would only come on a monthly basis. Now, I have to mention it again as it just so confusing but why this story is placed at the backend of the graphic novel collection is just baffling to me! I really don't understand the logic of having it printed after A Life of Matter and Death when it follows on quite nicely from the epic Fire and Brimstone. That Dalek battle was even referenced with Izzy questioning the Doctor getting 'exterminated' and him retorting about her getting caught by the Threshold. The banter was strong and that was wonderful to see. The Doctor's struggle when it came to understanding his companion's to read about Tor-Ka-Nom instead of experiencing it as that was where they had just arrived was really a lot of fun. He just could not comprehend the thinking behind that and so wanted Izzy to experience the place she was clearly enjoying reading about. That was terrific. I also loved the idea of the pair having a bet on how long it would take the Doctor to get caught up into trouble. Of course, that didn't take long at all as he got caught up in some really jammy business that was sending true murder culprits a bit loopy. The reaction of Izzy when she caught sight of the Doctor in a police car was outstanding! Imagine cheering that the Doctor was arrested! It was all lighthearted, except the legal system in this place was pretty darn rigid and the Doctor had already been sentenced to the murders of seven individuals in the last six months and was due for execution! I thought it was interesting that he genuinely seemed to be accepting of the fact that this might be the end for him. His humorous acknowledgement of 'usually' reincarnating, of course meaning regeneration, was great but he didn't expect that this would be an option on this occasion. One of his regrets being not getting to show Izzy more of the universe was a really nice touch though. I thought it was really good comedy once Izzy ended up getting herself arrested after trying to sneak in a cake that was presumably more than a cake to the Doctor in jail. The way Izzy ended up saving the day and preventing the Doctor's execution was marvellous as she used her foreknowledge from her reading earlier in the story to call in the real murderers using her solitary phone call from prison! It tied everything up really nicely and it was fun to have Izzy utilising a bit of time travel to save the Doctor. I mean, the Doctor really ought to start using his ability to go into the past and future for his own advantage once in a while, right? I thought it was a lot of fun and quite telling that when his life was on the line, the Doctor didn't seem to mind a great deal! Overall, a really enjoyable little comic strip adventure.

Rating: 9/10