Dreamland

"Some men are born great; others have crates thrust upon them."

Writer: Phil Ford

Format: TV animation 

Broadcast: 21st - 27th November 2009

Series: 4

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis 

During a visit to a local diner, the Tenth Doctor stumbled upon a mysterious alien artefact that leads him on a mission to rescue Rivesh Mantilax from the threat of the Viperox and the clutches of the US military. 

Verdict 

Dreamland was an excellent feature length animated special! I like how quickly after The Infinite Quest we were given another animated special (I say special as I watched the feature length version on the DVD, not the original six parts it was split into), and I certainly think that this was an improvement. The animation sequences were perhaps questionable and nothing up to the standards of the animated reconstructions of missing Classic stories such as The Reign of Terror and The Ice Warriors, but it did its job I guess. David Tennant gave a magnificent performance and for him it would have been like recording an audio adventure so with the recent Big Finish announcement of a new UNIT series based within the revival period, surely it'll pave the way for stories to actually feature the Doctor as well. I bloody well hope so! David Tennant would be magic on audio, I guarantee it. I loved his performance in Colditz and that was some time before he was even cast as the Tenth Doctor! Georgia Moffet appearing as Cassie was very welcomed as she performed so well as Jenny in The Doctor's Daughter! I still maintain that the daughter of the Doctor should still return in some form or fashion. She's played by a stunningly good actress who has more than one connection to the series and surely her being the Doctor's daughter is enough to warrant a return? Even if it's in audio, prose or comic strip! I demand that it happens. Playing a much different role here, Georgia filled in nicely as the lite co-companion for the story along with Jimmy. The relationship between the pair was very good throughout and I liked how it blossomed into a full blown relationship. It was nice how the Doctor could see that. His reference to humans and Time Lords being different due to an accident in dimensional geography was superb! He's acknowledging wonderfully the similarities between himself and humans and even throws in a football reference when Russia are referred to as the Reds. I must dispute his thinking that the Reds referred to Manchester United when everybody knows that the official Reds are Liverpool! Five times, Doctor. Five times. The Viperox were intriguing enemies and I thought the idea of a Queen Viperox was very good. The concept of hatching robots had me baffled I must admit but she looked impressive! The Doctor's reference to having a bad effect on royalty was marvellous, especially with it being this incarnation! Tooth and Claw and The Shakespeare Code back up his remark! The setting of 1958 in Area 51 is questionable due to the compound's construction but the idea was there and that's what is important. Colonel Stark was a good head of the base and I liked his typical American bravado in trying to dominate the situation and ignore anyone who can obviously help. The U-turn of the Viperox on the US government was good and set up nicely for the climax. I liked Mr Dread and his alliance and the inclusion of Jimmy's grandfather was great. The shooting of robots was very good and I liked how well the sonic screwdriver was utilised in this episode. The love story of the captured aliens we saw pre-credits was nice and overall, a superb little animated episode! David Tennant the massive standout star. 

Rating: 8/10

The Ambush

"The Yeti surrounded the truck. A strange mist shot out of the guns they held..."

Writer: Andy Frankham-Allen

Format: Short Story

Released: February 2015

Printed in: DWM 483

Featuring: Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart

Synopsis 

Prior to the arrival of a mysterious blue box in London's Underground, Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and his cohorts are doing their best to thwart the invasion of the Yeti. 

Verdict 

The Ambush was a superb introductory prelude to the upcoming Lethbridge-Stewart novel range from Candy Jar Books! What a wonderful little idea it was to give us a prequel of sorts inside the pages of Doctor Who Magazine! As if the final instalment of the comic strip adventure The Instruments of War wasn't enough in terms of continuity stories, we get this terrific little bit of prose! I love how the story was set immediately before the Second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria's arrival into the London Underground during The Web of Fear! I know the range is called Lethbridge-Stewart and the focus should firmly be on the character who would later become the Brigadier, but judging by this prelude it seems the stories will be from the point of view of Lethbridge-Stewart himself but not in the same fashion as James Goss's writing in The Blood Cell. I really didn't like that so hopefully that isn't the case here! I loved the mini interview with Shaun Russell, the head of publishing at Candy Jar Books (one of the main people responsible for this range), and I was excited to learn that they had secured the rights to all things created by Mervyn Haisman! This leaves us open to stories featuring the Yeti and it was confirmed that we'd get a return of a much upgraded Dominators accompanied by the Quarks! I really can't wait for that one, I love a return of a Classic villain no matter the format! It was pretty much confirmed that after the first batch of four books that'll hit stores quarterly starting in February, we'll get another four in 2016 with an exciting prequel to a Classic story promised. I like the idea of this range being released quarterly as it'll leave us anticipating the next release. I found the claim that these novels will be similar to the old Virgin range intriguing as they were just before my time in terms of release or me discovering this wonderful world of Doctor Who so I look forward to getting a taste of what they were like. Of course, I have delved into a couple of the novels and am yet to read my recently purchased copy of Transit, a book I believe to be from the Virgin New Adventures range. The little story we had here over three pages was very good and I loved the accompanying illustrations! They really were superb. The destructive nature of the Yeti was depicted really well and similarly to how they appeared on television in the serial that this story was set immediately before. The horror of the web was captured superbly and it just set up The Web of Fear magnificently. The arrival of the Doctor, though not named, was fantastic and I liked the mention of how this meeting would prove to be one of the most important meetings in the life of young Colonel Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart. One he'd never forget. Overall, short but very sweet! I've certainly got a taste for this brand new range of novels now and that's exactly what the story was aimed to do. 

Rating: 8/10

Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders

"He knew there was no gentle way of breaking the grip of the terror that had held Metebelis for so long."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: 

Series: Target 48

Featuring: Third Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis 

'It's happening, Brigadier! It's happening!' Sarah cried out. The Brigadier watched, fascinated, as the lifeless body of his old friend and companion, Dr Who, suddenly began to glow with an eerie golden light... the features were blurring, changing... 'Well, bless me soul,' said the Brigadier. 'Who will he be next?'

Verdict 

Doctot Who and the Planet of the Spiders was a superb sendoff for the Third Doctor in the prose format! Of course, the releases of stories from Target books didn't follow the broadcast order of the television stories, which I think was a positive move in regards to sales, but this story depicts the swansong of Jon Pertwee's brilliant third incarnation of the Doctor and sees us introduced fully and properly to the concept of regeneration. It's finally explained and we're given a reason why and how the Doctor can have many different bodies and faces. I've never watched a James Bond film, but to my understanding the change of actor isn't incorporated into the franchise or continuity whereas here it has become a fundamental part of ensuring the series remains fresh. Just look at last year's season finale! Through regeneration, we got to see a female incarnation of the Master in Dark Water/Death in Heaven. I love how with the novelised format of this story things are able to be slightly different from the TV serial. Here we were welcomed to a lovely cameo from Jo Grant! Of course on television we saw the letter the Doctor was given from her but here we could fully imagine her writing it as she was part of the openings of the book! I like the unusual beginning to the story with the Doctor and his companion, Sarah Jane on this occasion, being split up and up to something not connected. Inevitably, the two situations would be connected but I like the idea of the Doctor dragging the Brigadier along to a dull trick of the mind show. The Doctor was mightily intrigued by the professor and it first it was unclear why as the Brigadier could see through the 'trick'. But then the Doctor asked a splendid question! Why was a man with actual powers using cheap tricks? Things then got interesting. I loved how Sarah responded and went along to meet Mike Yates after his unfortunate removal from UNIT. The reference to Invasion of the Dinosaurs was nicely thrown in. The chase scenes between Lupton and the following Doctor and Sarah were wonderful! After Lupton had the power of the spiders inside of him (or rather on his back) he'd teleported the Metebelis crystal from the Doctor's grasp to his own hand. The chased ensued as Lupton stole the Doctor's hovercraft whilst the Doctor himself set off in the helicopter directing Bessie, driven by the Brigadier with Benton and Sarah as passengers, to keep up with the chase. The sudden disappearance was superb. I liked the hunt for the crystal once Tommy had fallen upon its possession. I loved the irony of him wanting to give it as a present to Sarah but she wasn't too keen to stay with the mindless guy. How things would have been easier had she just accepted the gift! The setting of Metebelis Three for the second half of the novel was fantastic and I loved how the Doctor stirred up a revolt after his humorous arrival just in time to rescue Sarah. The Queen Spider was a tremendous central enemy but I must admit I did prefer the Great One. The story of how the Spiders came to be dominant on Metebelis was wonderful and enhanced just how powerful the crystals were. The reason the Great One was so eager to have the stolen crystal returned was great as she wanted to rule the universe and have her power enhanced even more incredibly than it already was! Not much to ask for then. The revelation of K'anpo being Cho-Je and technically vice versa was magnificent. I loved how he was a Time Lord and an old teacher of the Doctor's! It was fantastic how it was him who explained the regeneration concept. He even regenerated himself! He guided the Doctor into ending the Metebelis crisis and as he returned the crystal, the Great One was no more as the power overloaded. The Doctor though was being destroyed by the crystal's power and after eventually stumbling back to Earth three weeks after he'd left, the regeneration sequence occurred. The Brigadier and Sarah's reaction was wonderful to the final moments of the Third Doctor. Overall, a magnificent novel! 

Rating: 9/10

Dalek

"You would make a good Dalek."

Writer: Robert Shearman

Format: TV 

Broadcast: 30th April 2005

Series: 1.06

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis 

The Doctor and Rose arrive in Utah, 2012, to answer a distress signal and meet a collector of alien artefacts who has one living specimen. However, the Doctor is horrified to find out that the creature is a member of a race he thought destroyed: a Dalek. 

Verdict 

Dalek is just an absolutely outstanding episode of Doctor Who and it's easily my favourite Ninth Doctor adventure by quite a long way actually! It's the only Christopher Eccleston story to rank inside my top 10 episodes of the revival (though this is subject to change as I'm yet to revise the list to include the Twelfth Doctor's stories). With Doctor Who returning to our screens, the Daleks had to come back as well and I love the idea of there just being one sole Dalek. It reminds those viewers who watched the programme from 1963-1989 just how destructive one Dalek can be. With their return in the series finale not far away either, it shows new viewers just how powerful and fearful one Dalek can be so it escalates the odds stacked against the Doctor in The Parting of the Ways when there's an entire fleet. Watching now, nearly a decade after broadcast, the 2012 setting is quite humorous seeing as for the story and Rose it's 7 years into her future but for me it's 3 years into my past. To be honest though, it didn't make a difference at all where and when this was set. With Utah, we knew the museum was obviously in the United States but that's all we needed really. The arrival of the TARDIS into the museum, 53 floors below ground, was brilliant. They'd got hold of a distress signal and now were coming to help. The artefacts in the museum were incredible. I'm sure we could have had a couple of more references to the Classic series but I wasn't complaining really as we saw the claw of a Slitheen which saw Rose disgusted despite the recent encounter but then the Doctor saw the head of a Cyberman. Probably my favourite design of them too! Is this where Kate retrieved the head to cooly reference The Invasion at the beginning of Death in Heaven? I'd certainly like to think so. Henry Van Statten was a brilliant character and I loved how greedy he was when it came to money and his collection of alien artefacts. The musical instrument Adam had paid $800,000 for he just tossed aside despite the Doctor showing him how to use it ever so delicately. Adam was a good character and I liked how well he got on with Rose, with the added flirtation too. He was a genius and I liked how much he enjoyed his job. Who wouldn't enjoy working for a man who owned the internet in a hidden museum full of alien exhibits. Van Statten devising the name 'Metaltron' was pretty cool but the torturing was hard to watch. That's what made the start of this episode so incredible for me. We felt sorry for a Dalek. The Doctor would not show the same remourse though in the moment the Dalek was revealed. A wonderful revelation. The Doctor showed just how evil these were as he cowered away and begged to be let out. The Time War must have been something incredible and we'd later learn a great deal about it in The Day of the Doctor. Some dialogue nicely continued in line with what was said in the anniversary episode which I think is very important. The Doctor's reference to Davros without namedropping him was outstanding. It was up there with his upmost joy at knowing that the Dalek was useless. It's weaponry was useless. The Doctor had to end it. After all the suffering of the Last Great Time War, he had to see the Daleks were ridded from the universe. So he attempted to extermimate it but Van Staten wouldn't allow it. He saved the Dalek's life and in turn put the entire planet in jeopardy. After Rose touched the Dalek in pity, it regenerated itself. Rejuvenated, it unleashed a massacre. It downloaded the internet and replenished itself. The Dalek was loose and unlike anything we've seen before. They'd improved and were more fearful than ever. Exterminating right, left and centre the Dalek seemed unstoppable. The ruthless scene where it just exterminated the wet ground killing multiple people was frightening. I loved the throwback scene to Remembrance of the Daleks with the elevation up the stairs. Adam wasn't so cocky now. The Doctor thinking he had killed Rose was a shocking moment and did appear as though the companion had died. But because it was Rose who regenerated the Dalek, it was changing and didn't carry out its primary function. I liked the theme throughout of the Dalek doing what it honesty believed was correct. And the Doctor seemed to respect that in an uncomfortable way. The quote that you can see above was one of my favourite moments in Doctor Who history. I can't imagine a bigger insult for the Doctor. He'd ordered the Dalek soldier to die as it would never get any orders. But Rose was then who'd act as higher in command, albeit against her will. As the Dalek casing opened to reveal the atrocious mutant, it welcomed the sunlight. It just wanted freedom. The Doctor was about to destroy it but Rose allowed him to see his wrongdoing. The Dalek wanted death and self destructed in an incredible climax. The Doctor had won the Time War. It seemed that Rose had won herself a date as well as Adam entered the TARDIS before dematerialisation. Overall, a wonderful episode and I thought this was a perfect introduction to the Ninth Doctor for my six year old cousin who I introduced the programme to on Deep Breath's broadcast. He'd loved Human Nature/The Family of Blood with the Scarecrows and he was silent throughout this episode with his hands grasped close to his face. Watching him watch this episode for the first time was an absolute pleasure. He was familiar with the Daleks thanks to Into the Dalek, but not anything like they were presented here. 

Rating: 10/10

The Nameless City

"This is the place where myths go to die."

Writer: Michael Scott 

Format: Novella

Released: November 2014

Series: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories: 02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis 

When Jamie brings the Doctor a mysterious book, little does he realise the danger contained within its pages. The book transports the TARDIS to a terrifying glass city on a distant world, where the Archons are intent on getting revenge on the Time Lord for an ancient grudge. 

Verdict 

The Nameless City was a brilliant novella (I think that's the correct term!) to continue along the reading of 12 Doctors, 12 Stories (and if you're lucky enough like me you also got the 12 postcards edition!). The collection started off fantastically well in A Big Hand for the Doctor and this story was certainly on the same standard. I really liked the author's style and I loved the start where the identity of Jamie wasn't stated, though from the description it was pretty easy to work out. Still, there was that sense of doubt without the initial confirmation and that's something I liked. But perhaps not as much as the identity of the villain and main enemy of the entire story never being named, even though we can work out exactly who it was that set up the chain of events resulting in the Doctor and Jamie's visit to the Nameless City. I loved how in it being a nameless city, that's exactly what it came to be called. In being nameless it became its own name. A little brain teaser there! The idea of the Master hiding behind his professor alias was terrific and the way Jamie was lured into 'helping' him from the staged robbery was superb. I liked the twist of the professor paying the person who robbed him! Jamie had been sold, and to be fair it's not that difficult to fool the young Scotsman. His 'reward' for helping the professor was great as once the Doctor was given it and began to translate it, things started to get very bad. A TARDIS flight lasting way over eight hours soon followed as the Doctor spoke the word Necronomicon, naming the book and setting the broken TARDIS in motion. With much of early Time Lord history shrouded in mystery, could the Archons possibly have been the ones to create TARDIS technology? Their certainly appeared to be some validity in their statement as the very liquids the Doctor needed to give the TARDIS the equivalent of a blood fusion were stored in lakes outside the Archons' glass city. I loved the prologue where we learned about these mysterious beings and how they ruled the time before time. It's quite incomprehensible yet understandable at the same time. I liked how this was the only part of the novella to feature a mention of the Master but that was just in casual way when referencing them being there before the Doctor, Rassilon and the Time Lords. But a powerful war with the Time Lords had left them pretty much wipes out and deserted at the edge of the universe. The idea of a TARDIS flight taking as long as it did helped enhance the scale of just how far from from the Doctor and Jamie would be. The reference to the Doctor being called Gallifreyan seems out of place with this being the second incarnation though I'm not sure why. I guess because it's set prior to the Time Lords' debut in The War Games. In regards to story placement, I'm assuming this story is set between The Faceless Ones and The Evil of the Daleks seeing as the Doctor and Jamie were travelling alone. This only occurred briefly on screen between the two aforementioned stories. The mention of Polly's reference to the Doctor looking like an unmade bed was tremendously good. I liked how the Doctor's regeneration in The Tenth Planet was also mentioned. A lot being made of the Doctor not being human from Jamie was an intriguing take within the story and the mystery surrounding his age was also brought up on more than one occasion which is rather unique, especially for this incarnation. Upon arrival at the Nameless City, I really liked how the description of the buildings was simply wrong. It hurt to look at it due to the Archons not fully living in this dimension. The way the Doctor was able to repair the TARDIS was quite comical but I didn't quite buy how easily he escaped the Archons into the TARDIS. The use of the sonic screwdriver was welcomed and I loved how Jamie playing the bagpipes helped defeat the ancient rulers of time! The Doctor had thwarted that member of his own race with the goatee who hated him so much. Now, who could that be?

Rating: 9/10

The Instruments of War Part 3

"The fate of this world, probably the balance of power in this corner of the galaxy, depends on what we do tonight."

Writer: Mike Collins 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 5th February 2015

Printed in: DWM 483

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis 

As the Warsong's power increases under Rutan control, their quest to weaponise the planet comes into fruition. Can the Doctor and the Sontarans prevent an imbalance the universe has never experienced before?

Verdict 

The Instruments of War concluded in brilliant style with this third and final instalment that was released with today's Doctor Who Magazine! After the story was set in superb motion in the first two parts, I loved the action packed style of the conclusion. I know the Sontarans and the Rutan were appearing in visual Doctor Who together (I believe for the first time ever) but the amount of destruction and devastation was quite unbelievable. Though, judging from the declaration at the end of part two I guess I should have expected something like this. The Warsong's function was to weaponise the entire planet after all, using literally anything and everything. I thought it was a little bit of anti-climax that after a great big cliffhanger, we're told the Warsong takes time to collect all the resources needed to weaponise the whole planet. There's no doubt it was believable and logical but I was hoping for immediate danger! Bruckner was once again a superb villain though I do wish the Sontarans were given centre stage as the enemies of the comic adventure! I was so utterly thrilled when I flicked the page and saw that the Sontarans were back in part one but they haven't quite returned to the ways that made them one of my favourite enemies in the Classic series. The revival has seen them represented as good guys really which just isn't the right direction for the warriors of Sontar! Don't get me wrong, I love Strax and I don't mind him as a comical exception but here the Sontarans aided the Doctor in stopping the Warsong, even if it was against the Rutans and in the belief that they'd have it as theirs to use for themselves. The Doctor breaking that need to them was superb. I loved his reaction to seeing that Clara was with Bruckner. After him expressively telling her to stay put, where else would she be? His use of the term 'they' was wonderful as it implied that she wasn't the first companion to explicitly disobey his instructions, and I'm sure she won't be the last. The action packed finish was outstanding and I love how the unlimited budget of comic strips was able to give us a real party piece of the Warsong's obliteration taking Bruckner and the Sontarans with it. The ending was rather nice too with the Doctor delivering on his promise of taking Clara to the Frost Fair in 1641. Those two really are made for each other. As a whole, this story has been fantastic and certainly an improvement from The Eye of Torment! In the early stages of these Twelfth Doctor comic strips, it's clear that the format is in safe hands! 

Rating: 9/10

The Wedding of River Song

"My friends have always been the best of me."

Writer: Steven Moffat 

Format: TV 

Broadcast: 1st October 2011

Series: 6.13

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory, River

Synopsis 

As the Doctor prepares for his death at the hands of an impossible astronaut, something goes wrong. All of history is happening at once and the Doctor is still alive. Will the universe survive?

Verdict 

The Wedding of River Song is an excellent series finale! It ties up all the numerous loose ends the series has given us, going way back to The Impossible Astronaut. I liked the way the series was laid out with much of the first half always referencing a series arc of some sort with Amy's pregnancy dilemma and the looming death of the Doctor. But after Let's Kill Hitler where the Doctor found out about his future death, the series arc was very quiet which I'm a fan of. Only from the climax of Closing Time and what we knew from part one of the series was the finale set up. After the previous episode's finish, it seemed like the Doctor was headed straight for Lake Silencio. However, the farewell tour would go on just a tad longer yet. If the Doctot was going to die then he wanted to know why. So he set about on a little mission to find out all he could about the Silence. Watching back, it's lovely seeing how everything about them, the question and Trenzalore would come full circle in The Time of the Doctor. The genius of Steven Moffat at hand. The idea of River preventing herself from killing the Doctor, overpowering the spacesuit was a mightily brave one after we'd been fed for weeks that the Doctor's death was a fixed point. That fixed point just didn't happen which caused history all to happen at once. The Doctor was once again reunited with Winston Churchill who was now the Holy Roman Emperor! History was in a right kerfuffle I must say. The War of the Roses was reported as entering its second year by the press, a Roman on horseback was waiting at a red light and Charles Dickens was being interviewed live on television! A great little reference to The Unquiet Dead. Churchill talking about downloads was rather comical and I liked how he referred to the Doctor as the soothsayer. Time had gone wrong and it was because of a women. Hell in a high heels to be precise! A stunning description of River Song. I'm not entirely sure how she was able to stop a fixed point in time from happening but if she did manage to overpower the spacesuit, then why should fixed points not be rewritten? It set up something incredible though. I liked how the eye patches weren't really eye patches and instead were nice little tools allowing the wearer to retain information on the Silence. Amy's arrival into the episode in James Bond style was incredible and wow oh wow Karen Gillan looked absolutely spectacular. Her hair was ridiculously gorgeous. I've always thought that Jenna Coleman was the most beautiful companion but after this series six rewatch Karen Gillan has certainly made me think about things! The train trip to Cairo was good and I liked how Amy still remembered adventures with the Doctor thanks to the crack in her bedroom wall. Rory was in a different situation though and was serving his wife from another reality. The flirting between the Doctor and River was as good as ever and I really do think they're incredible together. But after seeing Peter Capaldi interact with Michelle Gomez's Master/Mistress, I'd love for him and Alex Kingston to get a chance to show what they can do. The surge of the Silence from the containers was terrific and I loved their devastating arrival. Kovarian was left to die and after the heartache she'd put Amy through on Demon's Run, Amy reattached the eye patch causing her death. She deserved it, simple as that. Amy realising who her Rory was in true style was wonderful as she shot down the Silence saving 'Captain Williams'. The Doctor initiating his wedding with River was stunning and I loved how he didn't really whisper his name. After Dorium's prophecy and a game of live chess, and the events of Let's Kill Hitler, the Teselecta owed the Doctor a great deal. And it would in turn save his life. The Doctor tricked the universe to escape his death. River, shortly after the events of The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone revealed the truth about the Doctor being alive and well. A superb end to the season and a clever way of cheating death. But I must mention the tribute to Nicholas Courtney in the form of the Brigadier here. A touching moment and the moment the Doctor learned of his old friend's death was rather an emotional one. He'd mentioned Rose and Jack in the story but I'm not sure any of them were as close as the Brigadier. Overall, a superb finale! 

Rating: 9/10 

  

Closing Time

"Cybermats are infiltrators. Very small, very deadly. They collect power like bees collect pollen."

Writer: Gareth Roberts 

Format: TV

Broadcast: 24th September 2011

Series: 6.12

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Craig

Synopsis 

Craig Owens is having enough trouble trying to care for his child. The last thing he needed was the return of his old friend the Doctor. And it looks like he's not alone as trouble seems to have followed him into Colchester, bearing a familiar silvery shine. 

Verdict 

Closing Time is an excellent penultimate episode of this high in quality sixth series of the revived Doctor Who. I'll start straight away with the enemies of the episode and I'm glad that after they were embarrassed in A Good Man Goes to War they've quickly been given a chance to redeem themselves! Despite a lack of appearance, I thought the Cybermen were terrific. Knowing that they were in town was more than enough of a fear factor present which was used highly effectively. After his success in The Lodger, it was inevitable that Craig would make a return to the series because he's just superb! I think he's created a debate whether he can be considered a companion or not, I personally would say yes because the Doctor does acknowledge him as his partner (something he considers as a new word for the more traditional companion). I loved how he didn't realise that it was referencing the fact that it appeared the Doctor and Craig were in a relationship! The Doctor's arrival at Craig's house was tremendous. After Craig and Sophie had had a child together, this was the first time he'd been left to look after baby Alfie on his own. Sophie had left ridiculously basic instructions and ensured that her parents and Craig's parents would call to check in also. But he wasn't expecting the Doctor to show up! And he certainly hoped he wasn't wearing his noticing face. That moment was sublime! The Doctor's attempts to convince himself that he would just leave and not save the human race was brilliant. Of course he wasn't going to leave. He'd noticed almost immediately that something was wrong. Funny how he can notice that but not realise at first that Craig and Sophie had bought a new house! A new house he didn't like the redecoration of even though it was the original interior design. Moments after he claimed he was leaving, the Doctor ended up working in a toy shop. What better job for the Doctor? He got along splendidly with the kids which was nice to see. But what was lovely was how the Doctor comforted Alfie, or as he seemingly preferred to be called, Stormageddon. When the Doctor mentioned once again that he could speak baby, it struck me that we've never seen him attempt to physically speak it. Now that's something I would enjoy seeing! Craig's reaction to learning the Doctor could communicate with his newly born child was hilarious. Matt Smith and James Corden are perfect for each other. The comedy they brought to the episode bouncing off one another was sublime, it really was. The predominant setting of the shop was very good and I liked how the Cybermen were camped underneath after being dormant for centuries. Finally technological advancement had meant the council provided them with newfound power and slowly but surely shop staff were being converted into Cybermen. I liked how they had a teleport device hidden in the out of order lift and also a tunnel hidden behind a changing room mirror. Very subtle I must say and very good. I liked how this episode was very much about the Cybermen attempting to rebuild themselves into a force once again. This group had been stripped down to the very core but they were getting back on their feet. The return of the Cybermats was marvellous and it's about damn time the little shifty menaces made a TV return! We haven't seen them since Revenge of the Cybermen and I'm not entirely sure why. I think they're terrific. I wasn't struck on them having proper teeth and I didn't quite buy that they could get Craig off of his feet but the Doctor jumping through an unlocked door made up for that. Oh, Doctor. For someone so incredibly intelligent you aren't half an idiot sometimes! The attempts of the Cybermen to convert Craig into their Cyber Controller were fantastic. I loved the irony of them saying he was intelligent yet the Doctor's shushing seemed to hamper that theory somewhat. For the second consecutive episode he's appeared in, I liked how Craig defeated the enemy at hand with love. His love for Sophie worked expertly in The Lodger and now hearing the crying sound of his son allowed him to reverse Cyber conversion. If anything could defeat the emotionless Cybermen, it's the loving bond between father and son. I loved how the Doctor acknowledged that his days were coming to an end. But he'd spent his final hours tidying things up for Craig to ensure Sophie wouldn't get too mad at him. It was wonderful seeing the Doctor acknowledge Craig as a mate. The Doctor and Craig were incredible friends and together, they'd defeated the Cybermen with love. But then, after the whole series arc of the Doctor's looming death had been kept quiet in recent episodes (something that I'm a fan of), River was face to face with Kovarian. The Silence were back and we learned who the women in the spacesuit who kills the Doctor was. Tick tock goes the clock, till River kills the Doctor. 

Rating: 9/10

Me and My Shadow

"Millions of people following a disgusting little man with a Charlie Chaplin moustache... that's mad."

Writer: Scott Gray 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: June 2002

Printed in: DWM 318

Featuring: Fey

Synopsis 

Austria. 1941. The Nazis have invaded and are after some crucial documentation for the war effort. But one women, a women who has travelled in space and time, stands in their way.

Verdict 

Me and My Shadow was a splendid comic strip adventure to continue along my reading of the Oblivion graphic novel rather nicely. I loved the setting of Austria in 1941 with a Nazi attack! I'm currently studying Nazi Germany as part of my History A-Level so I love any appearance of a historical figure but here we had a whole bunch of Nazis! With it only being a one part comic strip, they weren't as effective as the Nazis that appeared extensively in Colditz but I still liked it. The determination to gain some important documentation from leaving the country was good though I would like to have known why it was significant to the war effort of Germany. This story served as my introduction to Fey, a woman who I later learned (and did guess) was a former companion of the Eighth Doctor within the comic strips. I liked her. I really liked her in this outing. She was just playing with the Nazis! After someone close to her had died and been fed to the dogs of the Nazis, quite literally, she'd had enough. As the comic strip is so brilliantly titled, she was in conversation with her... well, shadow. Shayde was intriguing and I do hope an appearance was made in the past! Judging from what went on I'm confident he did as a past story was seemingly referenced. It just seems like I need to do some catching up on previous Eighth Doctor comic strips! I guess I'll have to wap out some more cash to purchase earlier volumes. After Izzy was kidnapped at the climax of the previous story Children of the Revolution, it seems like the Doctor is extremely angry and is seeking help from those close to him to go and find her. Well, that's my assumption anyway. It's all very A Good Man Goes to War like. I found it mightily strange that Fey apparently often received signals from Rassilon himself. She must be somebody very important! I do look forward to discovering more about her character and seeing her relationship with the Doctor. But it seems the direction of this graphic novel is now pretty simple - find Izzy and explain that she is not Destrii! It was rather short at one part long so not too much more can be said but I simply have to mention how incredibly brilliant my chosen quote is! Absolutely sublime and that's a moment from the story I simply loved. Overall, a great personal introduction to Fey for myself and she looks like a companion I'm really going to enjoy. I look forward to delving into her original stories but for now, let's see how she helps the Doctor in the pursuit of Izzy.

Rating: 8/10

Children of the Revolution

"You are the Doctor! You are the one foretold! The saviour of the Daleks! All hail the saviour!"

Writer: Scott Gray 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: January - May 2002

Printed in: DWM 312-317

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Izzy

Synopsis 

A submarine is cruising the area, when it is supposedly attacked by Daleks. Nobody is killed and everyone is taken prisoner. 

When the Daleks find the Doctor, he attempts to trick his way out of the room before the Daleks hail him as their saviour.

Verdict 

Children of the Revolution was a simply stunning comic strip adventure. I think I mentioned in my blogging of Ophidius that this story was the reason I bought the Oblivion graphic novel and there's no doubt that the £9 I paid has been absolutely worth it! What a story this was. A sequel to The Evil of the Daleks! That in itself almost seems impossible seeing that it was deemed to portray the final destruction of the Daleks - something we seemingly saw! But no, amazingly Dalek Alpha returned! I just couldn't believe it. He'd (is it right to refer to Daleks as male?) gathered an escape party on Skaro shortly before the destruction took place. Had that simply been started then I'd have questioned the believability but because we were shown that escape in glorious black and white flashback I loved it. It made since and fitted the story expertly. I adored how Alpha was referred to as 'first born' and that's exactly what he was. Still bearing the mark the Second Doctor had given him way back in the aforementioned serial. I remained sceptical throughout over the humanised Daleks' motive and I really did think there was an alterior motive. But as the story got on time was running out for a larger plan to take centre stage and it genuinely seemed that these Daleks were 'good Daleks'. The human factor seemed to have done its job. Although I'm yet to listen and blog the second series of Dalek Empire, named Dalek War, I know from the conclusion of Project Infinity that 'good' Daleks appear but I just can't imagine them being anywhere near the scale of these humanised Daleks! These were Daleks that genuinely idolised the Doctor. Cracking sentence that was! They even had a monument of the Second Doctor's head to remind them of the man who distanced themselves from the Daleks as we know them. Davros claims to have created the most powerful race in the cosmos, but I would argue that award goes to the Doctor for these humanised Daleks. It was mentioned in the story the irony around them becoming much more powerful than we've ever seen them before. The irony hadn't befallen Alpha either which I thought was good. Izzy's story during the adventure was intriguing and I like how the Doctor had taken her to Alison to try and help Izzy with this still newfound change. She mentioned in The Way of All Flesh how the one thing she feared was getting used to not seeing her human face in the mirror. To not feel uncomfortable in this alien skin. But after she seemingly got high on the thrill of swimming and rushing through the alien ocean, that unknowing feeling was relinquishing. She was getting used to the form of Destrii, even if it meant her getting kidnapped at the end! Kata-Phobus was an interesting creature, massive in size, and was the true enemy of the story. He was the one who had shot down the ship causing fifteen deaths. He'd brought the humanised Daleks to Kyrol and allowed them to live in secrecy. But he was plotting their downfall. Alpha's describing of the pain of existence was absolutely incredible. Because they were Daleks, every race in the cosmos wanted them dead. But they weren't evil, and that's why the rest of the Dalek race wanted this breakaway group dead as well. So they had to live in secrecy despite their incredible advancements in technology. They'd grown significantly in numbers, eight thousand was a figure mentioned, but it was all a plot of Kata-Phobus. He'd farmed the Daleks to engulf them giving him one big surge of food supply. He'd already cannibalised the last of his own race and now the Daleks were next on his list, ready for the humans to come next. However, in an incredible act of sacrifice, the Daleks at the command of a stunning speech by Alpha, self-destructed. Every single one of them. Despite Alpha being distraught at the Doctor going against his word, they saved the humans. Amazing. Overall, an astounding comic strip adventure with a cliffhanger that's got Izzy in a spot of bother! 

Rating: 10/10 

The Mind Robber

"We're nowhere. It's as simple as that."

Writer: Peter Ling

Format: TV 

Broadcast: 14th September - 12th October 1968

Season: 6.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis 

Escaping from a volcanic eruption on the planet Dulkis, the Doctor is forced to use the TARDIS Emergency Unit, which takes the craft out of normal time and space... and out of reality itself! The time travellers arrive in a mysterious world peopled by fictional characters but also by creatures from mankind's worst nightmares.

Verdict 

The Mind Robber was a second consecutive serial of excellent quality to continue the start of season six. Continuing directly on from the climax of The Dominators with the island on Dulkis becoming a volcano, it was nice to immediately start off a brand new story with danger and a serious threat. The TARDIS was being buried in volcanic lava and I loved the irony of the Doctor when in an extreme emergency with Jamie and Zoe panicking, he paused over using the emergency measure switch in the TARDIS. As Zoe pointed out, isn't that what it's for? With those wretched fluid links overpowering again, the only thing the Doctor could do was exit the universe. Not quite how the Eleventh Doctor entered the bubble universe in The Doctor's Wife, they literally left the universe and any attached bubbles behind. I liked how the companions once again explicitly ignored instructions given out by the Doctor. He'll come to learn that it's a recurring theme during future adventures. The Girl in the Fireplace an immediate example. Whenever faced with the concept of nothingness being outside the TARDIS I find it incomprehensible. Surely it's impossible to be nowhere? And if they'd landed, they must be somewhere. I do think that within the Whoniverse, nothing is something. The fact that images of the respective homes of Jamie and Zoe were shown on the TARDIS scanner, attempting to lure them outside, suggested evil was at work. I found Jamie's reaction to seeing Scotland quite surprising though I'm not entirely sure why. He'd been travelling with the Doctor for a very long time (it does seem an age since I blogged The Highlanders!) and not once to my recollection has he hinted at missing home. Zoe's city looked very impressive too. Speaking of Zoe, this was her second full adventure as companion now and after the impressive debut in The Wheel in Space I'm slightly disappointed with how she's performing. I thought she'd provide the Doctor with an intellectual challenge and have some brilliant banter with Jamie due to his lack of high intellect but despite hints, we haven't had much of that yet, if any. The White Robots were an intriguing bunch and I loved the fact that we were frightened of them despite them barely saying a word. Jamie and Zoe's capture resulting in the Doctor exiting the TARDIS into nothingness was great. The setting of the Land of Fiction was just brilliant - what an idea! It's certainly a unique one but it's also a fantastic one. A world of fiction is something but I loved the threat in the climax of the Doctor becoming fiction himself. That was something he couldn't allow himself to do! The fictional threats of the Karkus, Madusa and the Minotaur were superb! I wasn't overly keen on the Madusa scene being used as a cliffhanger though because it had already been established that all that was needed to be said was that it didn't exist and it would cease to be a threat. The Master of the Land of Fiction was good and I thought our first glimpses of him were very The Keeper of Traken-esque. The fact the master brain actually controlled him and harnessed his imagination, as he had wrote many stories, to create and sustain this fictional land was brilliant. The attempt to get the Doctor to take his place was also good. Patrick Troughton provided us with some good humour here and I loved how the Doctor couldn't make up Jamie's face! A very efficient way of dealing with an actor's illness. Gulliver and Rapunzel helping the TARDIS trio out is a sentence that perfectly depicts how bonkers this serial really was! Overall, a very strong story with a wonderful setting. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt though! 

Rating: 8/10

The Dominators

"An unintelligent enemy is far less dangerous than an intelligent one, Jamie. Just act stupid, do you think you can manage that?

Writer: Norman Ashby

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10th August - 7th September 1968

Season: 6.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on the pacifist planet of Dulkis for a nice holiday. But that's far from what they'll get as the Dominators have also landed, and are planning on blowing up the planet! 

Verdict  

The Dominators was a fantastic story to kick off the sixth season of Doctor Who. Before I get into my thoughts about the details of each episode I would like to say that Derrick Sherwin absolutely got the story right by reducing the episode down to five episodes. I think it could have performed equally as well as a four part serial but despite the oddity, the five part format was absolutely fine. Six parts I think would have dragged things out. Thankfully that was not the case. The episode started off well with the Dominators arriving in their ship and immediately soaking up the radiation on the island on Dulkis that had been there for the previous 172 years after atomic testing. I thought the Dulcians were an excellent species and I loved how once they saw or heard things, for the most part, they just accepted it as fact. Imagine if we as the human race did that! Oh I think there would be disastrous consequences. The tabloids would be having a ball! The Dominators were great villains but I must admit I didn't quite by into their name. Domination is a powerful word and for them to call themselves Dominators based on the fact they conquered a few galaxies I found a little silly as it seemed the Quarks were doing most of the aggressive work and I guess that's why it was they who returned on numerous occasions in the TV Comic comic strip adventures. How I would love to get my hands on some copies of them! The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe's arrival on Dulkis was very comical. After showing Zoe the events of The Evil of the Daleks at the end of The Wheel in Space, the Doctor wanted a nice little break and holiday so he took the TARDIS to Dulkis, a planet of pacifists. Upon arrival, a giant explosion was heard and death had occurred. Not quite what the Doctor was hoping for. Zoe did tremendously well in her first serial as companion. I think it really helped that we got to know a lot about her in the season five finale and she seems to have settled almost immediately which is a stark contrast to Victoria. Her performance in The Tomb of the Cybermen was far different from Zoe's confident portrayal here. I wasn't too fond of the Dulcian clothing but I could live with it. The war museum was good and I liked how it was prone to clumsiness from the likes of Jamie. I was quite surprised and baffled though that artefacts on display were still functioning. The dissension between the two Dominators was excellent as it provided stalling for their ultimate goal, power drainage on the Quarks and the threat of an internal conflict between the Dominators. Toba's thirst for destruction and domination was magnificent and that signified a decent enemy but I liked Roga even more. He still had that desire for domination but wanted to achieve it through sufficient and sensible means which meant preserving resources. Cally was a good character and I liked how he was known for conjuring up balderdash situations but this time it was true! His father wasn't so sure and eventually became a slave of the Dominators. Jamie was brilliant in this story and I liked how well he got on with Cally, destroying a few Quarks along the way. I understand that the writers (Norman Ashby is of course a pseudonym) were unhappy with the result of the Quarks appearance but I just love them! It's simple and they don't appear evil which is a frightening quality to have. The Doctor's working out of the Dominator intention to blow up the planet creating a nice radiation fuel soak up for them was tremendous. I liked how they simply caught the bomb and sneaked it onto the Dominator ship, but I didn't buy that the deposit was only twelve feet away from the hiding spot. Still, the humour that came with it was good. I wasn't overly struck on the yet to be resolved ending but overall, an excellent story to open the season. 

Rating: 8/10

The God Complex

"I'm not a hero, I really am just a mad man in a box."

Writer: Toby Whithouse 

Format: TV 

Broadcast: 17th September 2011

Series: 6.11

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory 

Synopsis 

The Doctor, Amy and Rory get trapped in what appears to be a 1980s hotel. But there, a Minotaur roams and he feasts on those who become subjected to their biggest fear, which lies behind one of the hotel room doors. 

Verdict 

The God Complex was another excellent story to continue series six along nicely and after the little blip in quality with Night Terrors, things are certainly back to the exceptional level of the first half of this season. It started off excellently with Lucy being hunted by a horrific looking creature and then she was lured into a hotel room and saw her biggest fear. The fictional gorilla that frightened her as a child. I liked how she wrote down what was going on as she tried to prevent the Minotaur from engulfing her. But she couldn't hold out any longer. Praise him. Praise him. The arrival of the TARDIS trio was good and I liked how the Doctor is seemingly not delivering on his promises of seeing something amazing lately. Things weren't quite as intended in the previous episode The Girl Who Waited and instead of seeing beings you could only talk to in hot air balloons, they'd arrived in a squirmy hotel. Amy wasn't impressed but I loved the Doctor's immediate interest in the craftsmanship. When meeting Rita, Howie and Gibbis, I loved how the Doctor immediately took a shine to Rita's intellect and ability to handle the situation. He jokingly fired Amy and seemingly straight away offered to take her as his third companion. She did seem perfectly suited for the role and it was evident she'd have no problem getting on with the Doctor. Things weren't meant to be though as she suffered death at the Minotaur's hands. It was courageous and just brilliant of her to get as far away from the Doctor when she noticed the first symptoms. Praise him. He was watching on the hotel CCTV but when the beast arrived he couldn't watch a women he immediately cared for perish in horrendous circumstances. The idea of a hotel setting is magnificent and I love how each room contains the biggest fear of somebody. A quite brilliant idea. After only recently watching School Reunion, I must say I am mightily impressed by Toby Whithouse's writing and I'm certainly going to be looking at exploring more of his works! The scene where the group entered the room containing the Weeping Angels was superb. It seemed they were Gibbis's greatest fear. His species were really weird I must say. They embraced invasion so much they were planting trees so the invaders could takeover in the shade! I loved seeing the Sontaran on the wall of victims with the biggest fear listed underneath. Defeat being the Sontaran's was absolutely perfect. Amy's room containing events that would have taken place during The Eleventh Hour with Amelia waiting for the Doctor to come back was quite emotional. Rory really felt like a spare part in this episode, especially when it was revealed Amy's faith in the Doctor was so powerful that it brought them to the hotel. I mean Rory didn't even have a room and didn't say goodbye to the Doctor in the shocking conclusion! The Minotaur being labelled as beautiful on more than one occasion was quite baffling but I loved the moment the Doctor worked out what was really going on. The scene with the mirrors was outstanding. He knew that thinking of the something that gives you faith was what was bringing the Minotaur in. The fear in the rooms was bringing out the faith and the Doctor had been encouraging them to think of it. Bad move. Praise him. Once Amy became subjected to the Minotaur's will, in very The Curse of Fenric-esque style, the Doctor incredibly made Amy lose her faith in him which defeated the Minotaur allowing it to die as it wished. The moment at its death with the twist reference to the Doctor was terrific. I liked the reference to the Nimon being a distant cousin but I was mightily surprised by the conclusion. The Doctor was telling Amy and Rory to leave permanent stay on the TARDIS. He'd see them again but they should leave his side. He wanted them to live and not suffer the fate of previous companions who didn't leave by their own will. Amy and Rory would leave a normal life, for a while at least. 

Rating: 9/10 

The Girl Who Waited

"I'm going to pull time apart for you."

Writer: Tom Macrae

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10th September 2011

Series: 6.10

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis 

The Doctor, Amy and Rory land on a paradise planet... in the middle of the one day plague. Amy is left behind and for her time is running at a different speed. Can the Doctor break through the walls of time to prevent her ageing before their very eyes?

Verdict 

The Girl Who Waited is a quite stunning episode of Doctor Who. It's an incredibly emotional episode and it really highlights the loving relationship Amy and Rory have in such a great way. It really is an emotional roller coaster. The episode started off humorously with the TARDIS trio struggling to pronounce the planet they were about to visit. I'm not even going to attempt to try and spell it! Upon arrival, the Doctor & Rory and Amy were soon split up in such an avoidable way. The Doctor had told Amy of the incredible sights she'd see so she wanted to take photos on her phone. Just while she went back into the TARDIS to retrieve it, the Doctor and Rory entered the green anchor room. Amy, of course, pressed the red waterfall button and was separated from her husband and her raggedy man. The time glass was a super little tool and I loved the concept of time advancing at different speeds depending which side of the glass you were on. Within minutes Amy had been waiting for a week on the other side! The Doctor's rescue mission was soon clear as he took the time glass and fixed it up to the TARDIS to track Amy and smash down the time walls. It didn't sound the best of ideas and the result soon proved that there may have been an alternative, or searching for one would have at least been worthwhile. Amy was wondering around endlessly and she chose the garden as her waiting point. But the Handbots were after her, hoping to put out the unregistered bacteria on her. That would result in her death however due to the difference of species from what the planet inhabited. The threat of the disease that only affected two-hearted races was good as it gave Rory a bigger role in the episode whilst the Doctor was stuck inside the TARDIS and his own little quarantine. The glasses being an eye camera for the Doctor was great but once Rory had tracked Amy, what we saw was rather shocking. The moment Rory stared into his wife's eyes, now 36 years older, was heartbreaking. Amy was no longer the drop dead gorgeous red head that we know and adore whilst travelling in the TARDIS. She was now aged and withered and must be well into her fifties. That's not the Amy Pond I've found incredibly attractive during her time in the TARDIS. She'd built herself a sonic probe, got herself a nice pet Handbot called Rory and knew how to evade the Handbots perfectly. If they came constantly, or consistently at least, I did wonder how she'd manage to sleep but when it comes to a Doctor Who story I can't be too harsh on things such as sleep! She was now spawning a sword and wasn't afraid to smash the Handbots into bits. I was intrigued though by her statement saying how once she entered this paradise she died. If life had been so horrific and a living hell, then why not let the Handbots just get you? I'll answer my own question there as I like to think that despite her admittance of hating the Doctor more than anyone, she still had the hope that one day he'd come back and rescue her. That day was today. 36 years too late. Amy had changed considerably but Rory could still see it was her and it was clear the love and affection he felt for her. The moment she laughed was quite emotional I thought. The Doctor remained hopeful of fixing things but it seemed all was too late. The time glass though showed Amy, as we knew her, waiting. She saw her future self and after a heartfelt conversation about Rory, the older version decided to change time. She would help save the past Amy which would therefore erase older Amy from history. That was his justification for his lying. If time was rewritten she'd never have existed. Erasure was not dying it seemed was his policy, and I would be inclined to agree. After his stunning observation at the time glass shout watching loved ones die or live, this was quite something. Rule number one - the Doctor lies. And that's what he did here. He'd given older Amy false hope to save younger Amy. I liked the reference to regeneration not being able to be used for the disease though after reading the Guide to the 50th Anniversary DWM Special, I believe Steven Moffat has gotten extremely lucky with mentions surrounding regeneration in this episode and in Let's Kill Hitler a few weeks prior. Amazingly, it just about manages to tie in with The Time of the Doctor fantastically. Rory's determination to save Amy was incredible but that soon turned to despair as he watched the Doctor close the TARDIS doors on older Amy. The conversation at the TARDIS doors was even more amazing than the one the two Amys had through the time glass. An emotional ending to a stunning episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Character Assassin

"You are all pseudonomic entities, existing in a realm of total fiction. I see only words on a page, clothed in the illusion of reality."

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: December 2001

Printed in: DWM 311

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis 

The Master arrives in the Land of Fiction and is looking for the chairman of a rather pulpous group of gentlemanly individuals. The person he's after? Professer Moriarty.  

Verdict 

Character Assassin was an excellent 'special' comic strip! I love the idea of a story featuring just the Master and as Scott Gray brilliantly explains in the commentary on this adventure, having a story without the Doctor just shows you how big the Whoniverse really is. Anything can happen and that's exactly shown here! Despite this story featuring at the back of my Oblivion graphic novel and dubbed as a bonus strip, I read it after The Way of All Flesh because it was released in the Doctor Who Magazine that followed the conclusion of that story. I'll go in the order that they were released rather than what they appear in the graphic novel. I did exactly the same with Keepsake in my pretty recent readings of Doctor Who Classics: Volume 7. I'm not sure why they're printed a little out of sync with the DWM ordering but it doesn't really make a difference. My thinking would be that because the story doesn't feature the Doctor and Izzy then it doesn't offer anything leading up to Oblivion which will act as the finale of this graphic novel. If it had been printed in the order of DWM release I can't see what harm it would have caused as the only reference to the word 'oblivion' being acknowledged came in Ophidius. But anyway, enough of my qualms about the layout of the graphic novel and let's get into the story at hand, even if it is a short one but that's what comes with a 'special' comic strip. The Crystal Throne would seem to be a recent exception however as it bridged the gap between the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors over two splendid issues. I loved the fact that the Master was narrating his own story! It tied in wonderfully with the Land of Fiction setting and was quite ironic too. The Master arriving at his destination was great with the infamous hypnosis getting him side his desired house. He met many people, from what I gathered were other comic strip universes and none of which I recognised, and he wanted to become part of the little club they had going on. Whoever the members were, the Master seemed like he'd fit in. I'm intrigued to know how access to the Land of Fiction is gained as it certainly didn't appear that the Master stumbled upon exiting the universe as the Doctor did at the end of The Dominators and beginning of The Mind Robber. I was slightly surprised that even without the Doctor the latter story was not referenced. As you see in the picture above, the Master being summoned amongst an audience was brilliant but I loved how he was after the chairman of the whole fictional facade. A certain Professor Moriarty. Now, I'm not a Sherlock Holmes fan but I know who the aforementioned person is, mainly because of his comparisons to the Master! And it's that comparison that inspired this story as writer Scott Gray thought the famous Sherlock villain was pretty rubbish and nothing compared to the Master. I've never seen Sherlock but I'll agree with him. You just can't beat the Master! And he achieved just what the author was hoping for as he metaphorically kicked Moriarty's ass! But then he pondered, would he be satisfied just ruling a fictitious land? It would appear not as he declined the invitation to become chairmen of the club. It was an intriguing comic strip, they always seem to be with an absence of the Doctor! The use of the tissue compression eliminator was splendid and I loved how the incarnation of the Master was Roger Delgado's. A triumphant return in a great comic strip! 

Rating: 8/10

The Way of All Flesh

"I am Susini of the wasting wall. I am the greatest artist to ever grace the nine dimensions... and you shall have the honour of becoming my clay."

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: July - November 2001

Printed in: DWM 306, 308-310

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Izzy

Synopsis 

The Doctor and Izzy arrive in Mexico on November 2nd 1941, the Day of the Dead. But a mysterious alien race, headed by an enthusiastic necrotic artist, are imitating the dead.

Verdict 

The Way of All Flesh was an excellent comic strip to continue my reading of the Oblivion graphic novel rather nicely. I thought it started off well and I loved the setting of Mexico during the Day of the Dead celebrations. I've never quite understood the Mexicans' philosophy on the dead. I understand that losing loved ones is a painful time, I know from experience, but to mourn those lost in a celebratory way doesn't quite seem right to me. Anyway, it's a great time for the TARDIS to land and for us to have a story from. I was mightily intrigued how this story seemed to me, in a weird kind of way, to be a mix between Revolutions of Terror and The Blood of Azrael. Now I know those two stories were released some time after the story being blogged but because they're still relatively fresh in my mind that's the feel I got here. As for the companion, I didn't like Izzy much in this story sadly. I really loved her in Ophidius but since she's taken on the form of Destrii I am struggling to adapt to seeing her as an alien. It just doesn't seem right to me and I don't think she's anywhere near as effective as she could have been had she remained a beautiful blonde. She was pointed at, derogatorily abused and just laughed at really. Her reaction to the TARDIS landing on Earth was really rather sad. Does this mean that we can't have anymore adventures on our home planet whilst Izzy's the companion? I certainly hope not, though I'm not convinced it matters too much in the comic strips. The Torajenn were rather despicable enemies and the fact that they imitated the dead was rather horrific. Had I seen a loved one in the form that appeared in this comic strip I would be quite disgusted! But that made them effective and that goes a long way to making a great enemy in my opinion. The way they got their cloaks from pictures was brilliant and I thought the part three cliffhanger and its resulting resolution was actually rather sad. Izzy had described earlier in the story how she liked that everything felt strange in the alien body as she didn't want to forget what it was like to be human. That was shown so wonderfully well in Beautiful Freak and it was continued here. She saw her previous human form and she was so close to embracing her, which would have resulted in her death. Thankfully though she was given a helping hand. I found the absence of the Doctor for long periods of the story quite surprising and somewhat comically annoying. Now the main reason I bought this graphic novel was for the acclaimed Children of the Revolution but it was also for some visual Eighth Doctor stories so not seeing him much in this adventure was a slight pain. But his triumphant return at the end was worth it I guess. The use of the sonic screwdriver was something I liked and the way it took apart the Torajenn was excellent. Susini was an intriguing character and why necrotic art is appealing is beyond me. It's utterly disgraceful and the scale she was hoping to achieve it on was awful! She really was evil. Her thoughts on the dead were despicable but I liked the reference to the wasting wall. She ended up plummeting to her death though but had left her mark in the form of a skeleton tower, that the Mexican people wanted to preserve! Their thoughts on death really are baffling. But I'll leave them to it. Overall, a fantastic comic strip adventure but I do hope Izzy somehow regains her human form! 

Rating: 8/10

School Reunion

"The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss they define as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world of a relationship, everything has its time and everything ends."

Writer: Toby Whithouse

Format: TV 

Broadcast: 29th April 2006

Series: 2.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose, Mickey, Sarah Jane, K9

Synopsis 

After UFO sightings and a sudden increase in exam results of a nearby school, the Doctor and Rose take employment as a teacher and dinner last to investigate. But also on the case is a journalist called Sarah Jane Smith.

Verdict 

School Reunion is an absolutely wonderful episode of Doctor Who. It's just beautiful and it's not often you get to describe an episode with that adjective. The story starts off tremendously with a school headmaster eating a child who lived in a children's home. She wouldn't be missed so she was just devoured. Well, something good is going to happen in this episode after that! The Doctor being a physics teacher at the school was great and I loved his humour when it came to delivering the lesson. His being ashamed of himself after saying "correct-a-mundo" (check me on spelling!) was superb. Then things got interesting as Milo, a pupil, knew barrel loads of information far beyond human knowledge. He gave the Doctor the calculations to travel faster than the speed of light. Not your average physics lesson. I loved the humour surrounding Rose being a dinner lady but wow, she looked absolutely sensational. The moment where Mr. Finch introduced Sarah Jane to all the teaching staff ranks as one of my all time favourite moments in Doctor Who. The reaction of the Doctor was just astoundingly good. He was so utterly overjoyed and pleasantly shocked to see his former companion whom he had not seen since his fourth incarnation. Now considerably older than when we last saw the renowned companion, I loved how she was still pursuing her journalism which is how she'd met the Doctor in the first place way back in The Time Warrior, some 32 years before this episode was broadcast. When Sarah saw the TARDIS in the school and then saw the newly regenerated Doctor behind her, it was an incredible moment. She'd been hoping to run into the man who showed her the universe and now she had found him. I liked how she was angry at her abrupt departure in The Hand of Fear and I thought it was so typical of the Doctor that he left her in Aberdeen rather than Croydon. Rose's position in the episode was an extremely awkward one as she realised that she was far from being the Doctor's first companion. Mickey's description of it being like the missus and the ex was more than adequate! I liked Mickey here, even if he did screech like a girl at the packets of rats. This episode really did see a blend of the old and new and when Sarah and Rose compared adventures shared with the Doctor we had some quite wonderful references. Sarah mentioned Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Planet of Evil, Death to the Daleks, Pyramids of Mars and in quite spectacular fashion Terror of the Zygons. Rose tried to trump that with references to The Unquiet Dead, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Aliens of London/World War Three, The Parting of the Ways and Tooth and Claw. But if anyone's judging, I'd say Sarah was the victor in that argument. But the references didn't stop there as Sarah recalled The Christmas Invasion events and she almost seemed quite jealous that Rose was there with the Doctor on top of the spaceship. Sarah bringing the Doctor to see K9 was almost as equally wonderful as her return! The reference to The Invisible Enemy and K9 being cutting edge in the year 5000 was marvellous. The Doctor was again pleasantly surprised and it's lovely that companions of the '70s were returning and not being forgotten with the revival. The Krillitanes provided excellent enemies for the episode and I love the idea of them being a physical amalgamation of the races they conquered. The comparison to it being like people of a nation was sublime. I am interested in knowing when the Doctor previously encountered them though. Their attempts to crack the Skasis Paradigm through the school children was terrific and I liked how their oil was enhancing pupil intelligence. Mickey believing himself to be the tin dog of the TARDIS team was comical and I loved how it was the original tin dog who pointed out to him that they were in a car when needing to get into the deadlocked school building. Eventually Mickey grasped what K9 was insinuating and smashed the door down. The Doctor expressively declining the invitation to be a God was tremendous and I admired Sarah's speech about love and loss in life. K9 sacrificing himself to blow to the Krillitanes and the school was a touching moment. When Sarah realised what's happened I thought the Doctor embracing her was wonderful. Good ol' Sarah Jane. I liked how she didn't approve of the new TARDIS interior when compared with the Classic version and I thought it was nice how she encouraged Rose to not give up travelling with the Doctor. And then Mickey officially became companion at Sarah's recommendation! A Smith is back on board. Overall, an emotional and just outright stunning episode. Welcome back Sarah Jane Smith!

Rating: 10/10

Menace of the Molags

"Cars will not start. Lights fail. The tube trains are stationery. As panic begins to grip the city, the Prime Minister declares a state of national emergency."

Writer: Steve Livesey

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 1973

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 1974

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

As an alien ship towers above the Houses of Parliament, the country is sent into a frenzied panic. But the Doctor knows who the culprits are, and death is not on their agenda. Can he convince the human race that this is the case?

Verdict 

Menace of the Molags was a mightily impressive comic strip story! For an Annual adventure this has to rank right up there with the likes of The Time Sickness and The Grey Hole as the truly great stories to appear in the yearly Annuals. It's no secret what my opinion is on the length of the stories that appear in the Doctor Who Annuals (that's mostly a dig at the ones we've had since the 2005 revival due to the short length and child target audience) but the Classic era comic strips that have appeared in the Annuals have been very good to be fair. Six pages, not being aimed specifically for the younger audience who would be inclined to buy Doctor Who Adventures, is an adequate length and this comic strip just proves that you can pull off something special in the small format. I just loved it! Immediately after the ship's arrival in the skies, the human race was sent into panic. Frenzied panic. The Houses of Parliament took the appearance of an alien ship above the building as a threat, and I guess I can hardly blame them, so words of the Prime Minister himself were heard in a little Doctor Who comic strip! I really like that fact. With all the reference and appearance of politics and political leaders in the revived series, this almost seemed out of place in regards to the era it appeared in. But it's not only featuring the Third Doctor and Jo, it was released during the actual time they were the TARDIS pairing so there's no possibility of forgery, though I'm not sure that's the word I was looking for but you get my point. I loved the eagerness of the Doctor to just go against the orders of the Prime Minister and to go in a helicopter and contact the ship. After the message they'd broadcast to the globe, the Doctor knew who would be on board. He wasn't too happy with the Brigadier for refusing his helicopter request but he and Jo swiftly disappeared and ascended in one anyway! So typically brilliant of the Third Doctor during his time with UNIT and I also adore how Jo prodded along with him, going against her employer. The scenes in the Molag ship were good and I liked how the Doctor immediately got on with what appeared to be the Molag leader. He knew what they needed so he was happy to offer it to them and fetch it himself! The life cycle of the Molags being told by the Doctor was a beautiful tale and I find it mightily intriguing how they start off life as a seed and then as we later saw could spawn into basically a dinosaur! This comic strip illustrated an unknown preview to Invasion of the Dinosaurs and I do hope the writer looked back on this comic strip when that TV serial was broadcast. Of course, the idea of the two stories is completely different but the imagery is very reminiscent. The descent of the Molag ship to the surface to meet with world leaders was met with mass tension from the onlooking crowd. We knew that they were part of human mythos and were the drawings of cavemen we've seen preserved for centuries, but some idiot in the crowd blurted out that the Molag was the devil and a religious theme momentarily took centre stage. Humph. Religion is just something ridiculous and I dislike how people couldn't grasp their head around an alien. Alien life is so much more believable, and likely, to exist instead of the ridiculousness of the Devil, supposed ruler of Hell. Anyway, rant on religion over, the ending of the story was comical with the Doctor stopping the dinosaurs (is that what they actually were?) in their tracks and giving the Molags the scientific equipment they wanted and then assisting with making sure Earth was safe from any threat. Overall, a quite brilliant comic strip with politics, dinosaurs and a wonderful relationship once more between the Third Doctor and Jo. I must say I was impressed!

Rating: 9/10