Running Wild: Tholos

"The temple is restored."

Writer: Alex Hewitt

Format: Audio

Released: November 2026

Series: Fugitive Doctor Adventures 3.01

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

To uncover the secrets hidden within her mind, the Doctor voyages to the Temple of Lucidity – a great tholos floating through space – where a multicoloured tiger will teach her the secrets of the mystical dream-language of Oneira. 

But are the Arkiris Tiger's motives pure? How has the Doctor's dogged pursuer, Cosmogon, managed to follow her here? And why does Cosmo have a new face?

Verdict

Tholos was an excellent start to the Running Wild third series of Fugitive Doctor Adventures! After a summer spent with this mysterious and early incarnation of the Doctor across the Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure, I was delighted to be retuning to a full cast series with Jo Martin at the helm for Big Finish. This one looks to be a really intriguing collection and I'm enjoying the theme of the Doctor trying to find herself. Quite literally. She was questioned here on why she was searching for answers regarding the past she couldn't remember and I thought the answer was a little obvious. Of course she deserved to know what she had been put through! Having her on the run from Division is exciting and that enigmatic Time Lord organisation certainly means business. The forced regeneration of Cosmogon was very reminiscent of the fate befalling the Second Doctor at the end of The War Games and I like how they believe a new incarnation might fare better in bringing the fugitive back in. I still maintain that placing the Fugitive Doctor between Season 6 and 7 is the best way to fit this incarnation into established continuity, but the ambiguity is part of the fun. Not knowing keeps me fully invested and I'm intrigued to hear the finale of this boxset due to its name, but that's jumping ahead of myself. I thought the vibe here felt very 1960s hippy which was fun with the Temple of Lucidity more than living up to its name. Exploring the dream space was excellent and I loved pushing that further by incorporating time travel. Nothing seemed linear here and that was evident with the Doctor being requested to save the Temple retroactively. That almost feels like cheating but I like the potential it brings. The future is shaped by the past indeed. Playing around with time works for me and I hope that's taken even further moving forward. Comsogon's new incarnation was really strong and I liked how it took her a long time before she even got a chance to see herself in her new body. She was also getting involved deeply with what was happening locally at the Temple with the Arkiris Tiger proving troublesome and somewhat confusing for her. She wasn't the only one but that was part of the appeal. I thought the Oneira language was a strong concept and the way the Doctor got a quick grasp of how she could use that was brilliant. She was able to conjure things up with her mind and that's certainly a good attribute to have in her locker! The mystery of the Man in the Grey Suit is good stuff and I'm very intrigued for the direction this goes moving forward. Playing around with identities is great with this incarnation because not even she knows who she truly is. I like how Cosmogon also has a role to play and she's certainly offered an enticing bargain the story's conclusion. This is just the beginning and that feels perfect for a series opener. It's set things up very nicely and now I can't wait to hear where things go moving forward! Overall, an enigmatic and fascinating concept. An excellent episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Challenge of the Piper

"Pay up before I play a tune you will not like!"

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: June-July 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 705-709

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

Arriving in the town of Hamelin in the late-thirteenth century, the Doctor and his grandchildren find the children prised away by the Pied Piper. He is teaching the Mayor a lesson to honour his deal, but the Doctor must pass three tests to free the children...

Verdict

Challenge of the Piper was a magnificent comic strip adventure to continue my way through the run from TV Comic! I think this was my favourite of the original comic strip run so far and I was fascinated before listening because this was actually one I had heard of prior to reading. I can't pinpoint why that is, but maybe it's the connection with Day of the Clown? I loved so much about this and even though it gets a spectacular rating, there was still so much silliness. But honestly that is part of the charm of reading these comics now six decades later. It really is a privilege and I just adore them. The Middle Ages as a setting works really well and I was quite glad to ground the comic strip in history. That hasn't really happened yet up to this point so it was certainly refreshing. I love seeng the TARDIS interior because it's just so different to what we get on screen with the way John and Gillian are keen to observe their arrival surroundings before exiting the ship. The Pied Piper as a villain is a marvellous concept, but I'll be honest I'm not actually sure if he was in the wrong. He was proving a point in a pretty stubborn way by taking the children from the town of Hamelin after being wronged for ridding the locale of its rat problem. He was promised a payment twenty times that of what he received so he was understandably irked! But to take all of the children into a fantastical land is maybe going a little too far. But this was the Middle Ages and things aren't quite what they are today, or even in the 1960s when this comic strip was published. I thought the Doctor was written brilliantly here and I do enjoy the First Doctor when there's a plan to follow and someone to stop. He would not be leaving until the children were returned to Hamelin and I enjoyed how that was obvious from the word go. He would fix this, no matter what. Quite what he would have done without his haversack is beyond me because that might be the barmiest and most ludicrous accessory the Doctor has ever utilised. When I say you have to read this comic strip to believe how many times and for just how ridiculously they went to the well with that plot device I'm not doing it justice. It was utterly insane and the fact it kept on happening was incredible and made me a fan. It just shouldn't be feasible or believable, but it was so far beyond the realms of possibility that I could let it fly. It was sensational to think that he had a parachute inside that he could deploy in a split second between jumping out of the tower window to reaching the ground, but also having a hot stove and breakfast supplies to cook on there! Oh, and just the small matter of an echo sounder to measure the depth of water in a bog that was blocking the Doctor and his grandchildren's way. Yes, a bog served as a cliffhanger. If 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' wasn't my favourite childhood book then I'm not sure that would have flied with me, but I couldn't help to do anything other than laugh. They had to go through it! The Pied Piper had strong vibes of The Toymaker which was good and I really enjoyed how the three tests felt like they were taken from within The Celestial Toymaker itself. Foreshadowing? The moment the Doctor successfully passed the tests was great and showed the Piper wasn't all that evil as he wasn't disappointed by the fact the children were going to be returned. The Doctor announcing to the Mayor that "I'm Doctor Who and I've brought them back" felt iconic to be honest. It was just sublime. The less said about Gillian referring to the Mayor as pompous and fat the better. This really did have everything for mostly the right reasons. A wonderful read. A superb comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10

Prisoners of Gritog

"There is no escape!"

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: July 1965

Printed in: TV Comic Holiday Special 1965

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

When the TARDIS lands on Spekra, Doctor Who, John and Gillian find themselves in a prison rescue, with some very strange allies!

Verdict

Prisoners of Gritog was an average comic strip story to continue my run through the TV Comic adventures. This is still so much fun to be reading, but the quality definitely feels like it took a step down with this story which is a shame. It was noticeably different in being printed in the TV Comic Holiday Special so it was just a four-page tale which really isn't much room to play around with at all. It was also intriguing and different to be printed in colour which is a stark contrast from the monochrome of the regular TV Comic strips. Now, I can't find conclusive information on whether this story was ever originally printed in black and white but given that it found itself within a special release, I could certainly see that this was straight to colour. That in of itself provided some wonderful continuity errors and discussions, particularly around the TARDIS interior and console. The imagery of them being red seems to come right out of the Doctor Who Annuals of the Classic era because they never quite match what we saw on screen. It's fun to think about though because the television show itself was also black and white so would seeing a red TARDIS console be as jarring as it was for me reading over six decades later? I think it's pretty clear even in monochrome on screen that the TARDS is not red on the inside, but giving a bit of colour to things never hurt anybody! I like it in the fact that it's wrong and that definitely is a different perspective of reading when I am. It's just fascinating to be able to look back on this stuff and see how far things have come. Whilst I am on the discussion of the TARDIS in these comics, I must say how intriguing it is to see the effect used for what must be the dematerialisation and depicting it travelling off into space. The spiral image is really good stuff and again shows how far things have come as we would not traditionally think of the TARDIS travelling through time and space in the way it does here. There's no real indication of the Time Vortex. Spekra itself was a just fine setting but we didn't really get much chance to explore it. I'm fascinated that the TARDIS trio want to leave immediately after they set the prisoners free and don't even try and bring down Gritog himself! That felt like a big continuity gap as whilst I absolutely agree the Doctor and his companions would help free those wrongly imprisoned, surely they would also go much bigger picture and put a stop to the man in charge also? It seemed like they couldn't wait to get going again which felt random as the story whizzed by and it felt like they'd barely set foot on Spekra. Gritog looked pretty menacing as a villain but again we didn't have enough time to really appreciate his sinister side. All of the ingredients were they, we just ran out of time to finish cooking the recipe. The TARDS being impenetrable to Gritog's weaponry would have been fine as an explanation without anything further required, but the Doctor then casually dropping how he turned on the magnetic beam by chance before they exited felt incredibly too convenient. There's a lot of that in this TV Comic run, but that was a step too far for me. Overall, a good read but an average story. 

Rating: 6/10

The Gyros Injustice

"The robots have taken control."

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May-June 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 699-704

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

On a distant world the threat of plague has divided the human population into two factions, the primitive land dwellers and then old men who live within the mechanised cities, guarded and dominated by the work robots, the Gyros. What happens when the two factions meet?

Verdict

The Gyros Injustice was another intriguing comic strip adventure from the fabulously whacky world of the TV Comic run. I'm starting to get settled now into these stories but it doesn't feel any less incredible to be reading them. I'm loving them for their absurdity and this comic strip certainly had that in abundance! You could be forgiven for being confused at me including Gillian in my 'featuring' section because she disappears in part one and only returns right at the end! Imagine reading this contemporarily and the companion just vanishes for five weeks! I mean, I don't think she has offered a massive amount as companion or the Doctor's granddaughter since stepping aboard the TARDIS, but that's beside the point. It did provide a good thread throughout the story though as we aimed to reunite her with the Doctor and John, but it would have been nice to get a panel or two to just check in on her and make sure she was okay. I thought the setting was strong and it's fun that we're subtly resembling the journey of Ian and Barbara with John and Gillian. Even though they're the Doctor's grandchildren, the endgame does appear to be returning them back to Earth. Will we venture back to the sight of The Klepton Parasites? I'm very intrigued by the direction of these comics because there doesn't appear to be an overlapping arc or anything, but continuity is starting to be established. It's also completely ignored in parts which is great fun. Why was John referred to as Johnny for much – but not all – of this comic strip? It felt entirely random and even the Doctor jumps at the chance to call him boy rather than by name. It just felt a tad strange. The Gyros looked impressive and the concept isn't bad at all with them as robotic guards. I think some clarity and just more explanation or background on the plague would have been beneficial, but I did like seeing the older population cowering in safety with the Gyros as their helpers. They were in control despite being in the shadows but encountering outsiders was a horrifying prospect as witnessed by their reaction to the Doctor being in their presence. His claim at seeing the plague before and knowing its cure was a little odd and quite the jump I must say. It didn't quite make sense and felt like a sudden advancement of the situation. I was impressed with a few of the cliffhangers and the opening one where the TARDIS was literally being dug around on a bridge to send it crashing to the floor below was tremendous. That was incredibly unique. I thought the appearance of the primitive land dwellers being unfaithful to their current health condition was good stuff and certainly explained why they were still feared by the older men. The rescue of Gillian in the concluding part was fine, if not a little rushed. I thought things were a little too open-ended with the situation on the planet though at the end with the Doctor not being seen to provide the cure and the Gyros were still in existence! I did chuckle at the fact the writing referred to the Doctor as 'the brilliant Doctor' on no less than three occasions! They're not wrong of course but it was just good fun. The image of them on the carts and doing the unexpected was sensational as well as we've never seen the First Doctor so mobile! Overall, wackily weird and good fun despite some omissions in quality and background. 

Rating: 7/10

On the Web Planet

"A sting that can destroy a rock!"

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March-April 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 693-698

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

The Doctor returns to Vortis to discover the Menoptra are once more under threat by Zarbi. This time the giant ants are being directed by the alien Skirkons. Disguised as flying Zarbi, they have come to plunder Vortis of an energy giving mineral, Galvinium X. 

Verdict

On the Web Planet was a glorious little comic strip to continue my way through the TV Comic run! This was absolutely absurd in all of the right ways and I found myself laughing and smiling as I was reading through. It's just bonkers but you can get away with that in a comic strip and that's certainly the case here! I think if the story was published today and not over six decades ago then I would have a very different opinion, but it's easy to forget just how much Doctor Who in its entirety was still in relative infancy here. I didn't realise until after I finished reading the story that it was published just one week after The Web Planet concluded being broadcast on television. That's a phenomenal turnaround and just an all round great idea. Trying to keep continuity with the television series is the right move even if continuity can't keep up! Events here certainly take place after those of the aforementioned serial because the Doctor is something of a legend on Vortis for his efforts in stopping the Zarbi and the evil Animus that controlled him. He was welcomed back but the planet wasn't quite how he had left it! The idea of the Zarbi being able to fly was impressive, especially considering the fact they hadn't grown anything resembling wings! It was also good stuff to give them a weapon in the form of the sting ray, but then it turned out much of the Zarbi we saw in the story were not Zarbi at all! The reveal of the Skirkons controlling them was a bit of a surprise I must say but it made sense as an explanation for the newfound abilities of the Zarbi. I must say, some of the artwork in this adventure was absolutely glorious. I've made no secret of my dislike for The Web Planet but the whole planet and setting works wonderfully in a comic strip format. There's so much opportunity with the insect-like creatures and just Vortis itself. It was presented so well and I imagine at this time this was a terrific little companion piece to what came on screen. It really is incredible to think that this came less than eighteen months after Doctor Who itself was a thing. Some of the imagery here was staggering and consecutive panels in part four were just extraordinary. First, we had the Doctor getting hit on the head by a rock that knocked him unconscious, and then his body was carried and flown away by the Zarbi! That really was incredible stuff and just had me laughing out loud. It was crazy. I think the idea behind the rare mineral was decent, but it's also hilarious that the name of it was just eradicated for like four parts! The way John deduced the rock was strange and then the Doctor jumping to it containing the rarest mineral in the universe was also fantastic in how ludicrous it was. Talk about a plot jump! That mineral actually forming the basis of the Skirkon defeat was good stuff though as the Doctor used the venom gun of the Zarbi suits to blast it and take the whole mushroom up with them! John aiding in stopping the device that was controlling the Zarbi was good and I really liked that the companions felt more involved here. It was also strange to see the Doctor ask for a gun not once, but twice! That felt very uncharacteristic but in a story where he referred to himself as Doctor Who, I think the rules are able to be bent slightly. Overall though, quirky and whacky. A joy to read.

Rating: 8/10

Eternity

"Red skies at night, TARDIS's delight."

Writer: Jonathan Blum

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 16

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

Eternity was a great little short story to conclude my reading of the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! This has been a wild ride of sixteen adventures focused on different aspects and elements of confinement and isolation, so finishing in the TARDIS is a very strong place for this kind of theme. There’s some beautiful irony in the fact of Sarah Jane getting angered and frustrated about being stuck within the TARDIS given that its size is essentially infinite. There’s something fun about that and I think Sarah Jane was the perfect companion to showcase this. It’s not difficult to get annoyed at the Fourth Doctor but the relationship Sarah Jane has with this incarnation in particular meant it was perfect for this story. Here he was acting like he wasn’t taking things seriously and giving silly responses to questions Sarah Jane was asking with sincerity. The aim of getting to Geshtinanna was fun but the concept of it taking nine weeks for the TARDIS to arrive there was sublime! I do think things got slightly repetitive but that’s always going to happen in the kind of story. That helped showcase the frustration Sarah was feeling though as there were only so many white roundels she could keep looking at. I understand that. This was almost like certain scenes in the latter stages of The Invasion of Time or Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS in such an expanded scale. Nine weeks! The description of the Doctor just continuously pacing about was good and I can understand why even that was annoying to Sarah Jane. At least the TARDIS mixed with her brainwaves and provided an alteration between night and day. Perspective there is important! I really liked exploring the concept of eternity and trying to comprehend it is fun. The Fourth Doctor providing an example of it was wonderful as he pondered on the distance between the numbers one and two, but then also highlighted how just because you would die before you could count to infinity, it didn’t mean the numbers would stop. That was a morbid moment for sure and really put things into perspective! I liked the idea of the TARDIS riding along mathematical equations and just touching upon science and mathematics as was done here really worked for me. It was fun to see Sarah Jane's frustration grow as the days racked up and you couldn't really blame her to be honest. Imagine being cooped up in the TARDIS with no interaction with the outside world and the only company was the smiling idiot that was the Fourth Doctor! No wonder she was going insane.The TARDIS clock playing a big part was intriguing stuff and the irony of not being at the intended destination after all was a delight. Overall, a fun little read to conclude what has been a really strong and good collection! I must admit though, I'm looking forward to a book solely dedicated to one theme rather than things splitting into quarters. 

Rating: 8/10

Greenaway

"You're making a lot of noise for a ghost."

Writer: Peter Anghelides

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 15

Featuring: Second Doctor

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

Greenaway was a very intriguing little story to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! This is the penultimate short story in the collection and it’s certainly been a fascinating mix of tales across a number of confined and isolated spaces. Is there anything that has a feeling of being confined more than a hospital bed? I’ve only had one serious injury in my life and that was when I was eleven in snapping my femur clean in half after getting hit by a car on the way home from school, so I have experience of confinement in this kind of setting! I was not on life support like Greenaway was here but I couldn’t walk so being stuck on a hospital bed is something I can relate to for sure. I was there for a week and it was pretty tough, so to find out at the end of this story that Greenaway had been visited by the Doctor across a span of fifteen years was staggering! I like the idea of him having a history with the Doctor and fighting off an invader with the First Doctor and Steven. I’d love to hear more about that adventure because it must have made an impact if the Doctor was still visiting him in hospital. And he was doing so across numerous incarnations! That was really fascinating as whilst the Second Doctor seemed like the main incarnation for the story, it was also clear the Fifth and Eighth Doctors also paid a visit. The visits didn’t stop there though as an unknown ginger Doctor also showed up. Might this be Merlin from an alternate universe? Or reading now when I am can I assert that this could be any incarnation beyond the Fifteenth? It is fun to ponder on and I love playing around with the mystery of future or alternate versions of the Doctor. The discussions between Greenaway and the numerous Doctors were interesting stuff and I just felt sorry for the titular character to be honest. He didn’t really know where he was or why he was there. Did he really experience time in the same way as others? Was he aware he was really dying? The Doctor claiming to communicate with him just telepathically was quite something and the whole essence of a coma there was getting really deep. I won’t pretend that some elements of what was actually happening were a little bit confusing, but when you’ve got multiple Doctors across numerous times visiting a hospital patient it’s not going to be simple! Was it even linear? I don’t think it matters and that does become part of the charm. It wasn’t exactly charming for the Doctor to be switching off Greenaway’s life support machine though to free him from his prolonged existence and accept that death had come. The little epilogue at the end that caught me off guard with the page gap was a nice touch to show that he was actually still alive all these years later. It was impressive going and I like the idea of him still wondering if the Doctor will come and visit him again. I wonder if he ever did or ever will? Overall, an intriguing tale for sure but a few more details and clarity would have been welcomed!

Rating: 7/10

The Final Hour

"You took the Robots for granted."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: April 2023

Series: The Robots 6.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

Liv Chenka's time on Kaldor is almost at an end. The Company seems more powerful than ever. There's unrest on the streets, the people are scared. And Tula is in trouble with her boss... But there are those who stand against the Company. Those with a new vision of the future for Kaldor and its Robots. And intricate plan is in motion – the Chenka sisters are about to spend their final hour on the planet.

Verdict

The Final Hour was an excellent episode to conclude the sixth and final series of The Robots! Wow, what a finale to the series and the spinoff range as a whole. Kaldor has been an enthralling setting for six series of wonderful robotic action and I really did get somewhat emotional as the time drew near for Liv to return to her travels in the TARDIS with the Doctor and Helen. I mean, we've already heard her departure and hasty arrival back in Escape from Kaldor but this felt different. More time was given and we've been on a pretty huge journey with Liv and Tula across the last eighteen episodes. It has been a superb spinoff range and it's no surprise that it got such strong reviews. I'm delighted to have caught up now and this felt like a fitting way to end things. The relationship between Liv and Tula as siblings has never been straightforward and I like how things finished in a somewhat patchy situation for them both. Liv had sacrificed her last two weeks with Tula by keeping her isolated in order to keep her safe. I thought that was a nice touch but it also must have been a pretty difficult situation. I've enjoyed touching upon the realisation that Liv would soon be going back off world and it came into full focus here pretty abruptly. Before the episode had barely started we only had an hour or so left if the Doctor was going to keep his appointment! I thought then plot was really strong and having Kirran back was a terrific choice. She's a strong character but the reaction to her downfall here was fantastic. She was Company through and through and the revelation of them using the Sons of Kaldor on paper as a scapegoat to get their own way and control was sublime in its villainy. That all helped them get the data chips and avoid any suspicion. It was certainly impressive! Linking back with the efforts of Toos and Poul was really good stuff and I loved the scene at the end with Liv having agreed to go along with Toos and her suggestions by having a robot duplicate created that was incredibly lifelike. Tula never will be rid of her sister! I think that's quite fun and dare I say does it leave any room for a seventh boxset? I'd love to hear their adventures continue. Utilising Sorkov here was really well done too and I thought Liv's line that people would be surprised to know just how many survivors of the Sandminer incident in The Robots of Death there would be was magnificent. It really does play a big part now even all this time later! And why wouldn't it given the vibrant world that serial created? I thought the infiltration of the Company software and tackling onto a patchwork update was excellently done and before we knew it all of their assets in terms of information was in the hands of the Kaldoran people. What was a company if it had nothing to sell? What a line. Kirran still choosing the wrong side even when she was defeated and offered a chance by Liv was a shame because she ought to have known better. It was also very Doctor like of the companion which was great stuff. The return of SV23 to point Liv in the right direction of where the TARDIS would arrive was brilliant stuff and I loved that we got an extended TARDIS scene as she was reunited with the Eighth Doctor. Their discussion on family was enlightening and I am desperate for more information about the Doctor's side! He almost seemed tempted to discuss his family and Liv realising that he at least had a child was intriguing for her! He never talked about them and his comment of them leaving him before he'd even left Gallifrey was fascinating. I don't think we'll ever know, and the not knowing is part of the charm and appeal. I love a mystery. Liv's departure with Tula was heavy stuff and I like that she declared her love for her sister, but sadly Tula ran out of time to say it back. At least she's got a Robot version now though! Overall, a devastating end to the Company but now it's time for Kaldor to rebuild. Liv is back with the Doctor and this break away has been quite spectacular! Overall, a fantastic finale to what has been a wonderful spinoff. 

Rating: 9/10

Face to Face

"We're moving into the endgame now."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: April 2023

Series: The Robots 6.02

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

When Tula wakes to find some strangely familiar faces in her living room, a battle of wills breaks out. Not everyone can leave... but will they let the right one out?

Verdict

Face to Face was an excellent episode to continue my way through the sixth and final series of The Robots! As we head for an emphatic finale, I thought this was a really strong penultimate episode to really test the relationship and love between our resident Chenka sisters. I think they've been close for quite some time across the last few boxsets in this range so it was good to continue the theme of Force of Nature and where that let off with Tula wanting some time away. It's not really been questioned how she feels about Liv, but the direction of travel for love going the other way is something Liv isn't necessarily comfortable dealing with. I think that's good to explore and it was tested brilliantly here. I thought the concept was just delightful in having two versions of both Tula and Liv, with them arguing amongst themselves about who was the true version and who was the Robot duplicate. The arguments there weren't exactly new but the history of the Chenkas made the dialogue enthralling. I really could have listened to them go at it all day arguing over who was the true article. We touched upon their shared memories which was really well done and I liked their background getting focused on. The history of the Chenka family is something we could definitely explore further so any hints at that here were more than welcomed. I am not usually a huge fan of multiple versions of a character in the audio format because it can become very difficult to follow without the visual aid of just seeing them! We did have the two versions of Liv wearing different coloured scarves to differentiate themselves in the story, but that hardly helps us as a listener. I was surprised with how early on the Robot version of Tula was destroyed and it was done so pretty emphatically! The two versions of Liv bickering with each other was tremendous and it's almost scandalous that it turned out neither were the true version! I must admit I didn't see the twist at the end coming and I was kicking myself really because even I was questioning the validity of the 50/50 answer to the question about their father's vase as the means to prove who was the real version. It showed Tula was pretty darn clever in how she worked everything out and that was marvellous. She's been going through a lot lately so for her to really showcase her qualities was fantastic. She made the whole vase story up and confronted the second robotic Liv rather wonderfully. She suspected it all along and played her like a fiddle to find out what the Company were after. It turned out they wanted to know the whereabouts of Toos and Sorkov which is good stuff and links nicely with the entire range as a whole. They were the logical options to ask for help from in their predicament of being trapped in the apartment, but it turned out even that was a copy! That was nicely done and the explosions that worried the robotic Livs actually being the true article trying to rescue her sister was tremendous. She's always causing trouble! The incredible declaration of love from the robotic Liv almost feels like a huge shame that it wasn't the true version because their time back together and rekindling their relationship is almost over. It's crazy to think that Liv has been back on Kaldor for a year but now it's nearly time to go. I look forward to what I'm sure will be a fantastic and emotional finale! A brilliant listen.

Rating: 9/10

Force of Nature

"How will you feel when she abandons you again?"

Writer: Helen Godwin

Format: Audio

Released: April 2023

Series: The Robots 6.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

A month after Tula's enhancement chip was compromised, she and Liv join a compulsory 'Recovery Training Course' to help rehabilitate those infected. But they soon become embroiled in the tensions between the course participants and a very human-like SuperVoc – seemingly with its own agenda...

Verdict

Force of Nature was a great start to the sixth and final series of The Robots! So the end has come, but we're not quite finished yet. This looks set to be an explosive concluding boxset and I like that the events here have created a bit of tension between Liv and Tula. I think that's good in presenting their relationship because they've grown closer across the last couple of series despite being on somewhat shaky foundations. I've enjoyed them coming together so to have them potentially pulling apart due to Robot influence is a very strong dynamic. The hangover of Toos being involved is really good and I liked how Tula was still suffering from everything that happened in Kaldor Nights with the Studio. The continued effects of talking in binary briefly whenever she said the word one was disturbing and I really liked that. It's so eerie to hear people talk that way as they go instantly from a normal conversation to feeling they're robotically possessed. Artificial intelligence is a very real threat in the current world and even though it was only out a few years ago, this series does feel ahead of its time. Maybe that's because its foundations are rooted decades earlier in The Robots of Death and it was a timely reminder at the start of the episode to hear that this episode was in honour of that serial's writer Christopher Boucher. The legacy he has left here is staggering! I thought Yinka was a deeply disturbed character here and that made her a very strong villain. Although it was the robotic influence of SV113 that enhanced that. The way she was being used as a means of humanising was intriguing but again it was disturbing to hear Robots trying to relate. The discussions surrounding empathy was fascinating because the idea of it being a choice to fit Robots with that capability shows just how much control humans still had. And that was something that SV113 wasn't exactly thrilled about. Her desire to break free from human control was exciting and the plot she devised with Yinka when it came to Lorrelle was incredible. She even dobbed herself in to out Yinka as whilst the Robot had given the idea and the means to eliminate her temporarily and not fatally with the allergic reaction by swapping the food packaging, it was Yinka who went along with it. That almost made her worse. I thought foreshadowing events to come in two episodes time with Tula being influenced by SV113 about Liv was harsh on the med tech because I don't think it's entirely fair to say that she has always abandoned her. I mean, we've already heard her rejoin the Eighth Doctor and Helen during the events of Ravenous so I know she does leave Kaldor again and I'm very intrigued to hear where her relationship with Tula will sit at that point. The way things ended here with Tula thinking some separation would be good was a bit harsh on Liv after everything she's done for her recently and all of her data chip issues. But that's the influence of the Robots and I like how things feel like they're brewing into something big on Kaldor. The Sons of Kaldor seem to be active and I'm excited to hear where things go from here. Overall, a great start to the final series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Hijackers of Thrax

"These pirates are running a black market in space."

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 690-692

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

A century in the future, vital supply ships to Earth's colony on Venus are being seized by a band of pirates under command of Captain Anastas Thrax. The Doctor leads a revolt by Thrax's prisoners aboard his invisible space station...

Verdict

The Hijackers of Thrax was an incredible little comic strip adventure, and not entirely for all of the right reasons! This is certainly a quirky tale and that's part of its charm. It has basically everything that is wrong for a 1960s Doctor Who story in the expanded universe and that really is part of what makes me smile. It's established by now in continuity (for the most part!) that the full name of our Time Lord hero is not Doctor Who, and yet we have him addressing a radio video link as that! It's just fun, but at least we get Doctor written in full and not the very annoying abbreviation. I've never been a fan of that so at least it had something right. I can't complain too much in that regard though because this is contemporary and the main show hadn't been on the air for eighteen months at this point! So the rules aren't quite what they are now. This is a common feature and just adds to that feeling of nostalgia for me as I'm reading. I think I'm definitely still in the mindset of reading for interest in what they did with the comic strips at this time and not solely judging on story quality, but I don't want to be too literal in passing my judgement. I have to take a step back and appreciate that I'm reading this comic strip story over six decades after it was printed. The fact I am able to read it all is something that is not lost on me and I hope as I continue my reading through this comic strip run that I continue feeling like this. I am just delighted. I find John and Gillian a little strange as companions to be honest, and once again I thought the latter did very little at all. I think it's delightful though to get the TARDIS scenes with them looking out of the scanner as if it were a window! They're watching space fly right past them as the TARDIS travels from one place to another and I think that's great. They're children so they should be gazing in wonder at space as they travel through it. I thought the plot of the story was pretty simple and basic which is absolutely fine in an adventure such as this. It was three parts long which equates to just six pages so we're certainly not going to reach the heights of The Klepton Parasites! This adventure is essentially a version of The Space Pirates before we even had it which is intriguing as Thrax and his gang were actually referred to as that within the story. I thought that was fun in hindsight and shows how experiencing a story really does depend on perspective. That line would have meant nothing if reading at the time the issues of TV Comic came out. Robbing the supply ships and hiding invisibly behind a cloud of mist was good stuff, but I must say I was audibly laughing at the resolution. I understand this centred around supply ships going missing on a regular basis, but using potatoes to attack Thrax and his mist machine? That's just outrageous. I don't think they needed the Doctor present for that! I also wasn't a huge fan of John using violence to distract a guard and the Doctor going so far as to congratulate him! But that's part of the charm in reading these because they're so different. I mean, The Land of Happy Endings would tell you these stories take place all in the Doctor's head but surely even he couldn't conjure up such a crazy resolution. Defeat by potatoes! Spudtastic. Overall, a fun and quirky read that bordered on the ridiculous. 

Rating: 7/10

The Therovian Quest

"We'll soon have a cure for your people."

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: January-February 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 684-689

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

A seemingly incurable disease is gradually wakening the people of Theros. The Doctor and his grandchildren travel with Grig, a Therovian astronaut to the planet Ixon, where a moss grows that might provide an antidote.

Verdict

The Therovian Quest was a terrific little comic strip! I am delighted to be able to get stuck right in with the original comic strip from TV Comic and you can expect to see these comic strip adventures featuring prominently in my blog over the coming months. I'm delighted to have access and it's just incredible to be able to cover them to be honest. This follows on nicely from The Klepton Parasites without recalling much at all about that tale, but that's good because it serves as an easy jumping on point. We get the TARDIS referred to as such for the first time in the comic run and I love the TARDIS interior scenes we get here. The scale of the story is actually pretty incredible considering it takes place across just twelve pages but we do some serious travelling! From Theros to Ixon and an asteroid in between, the Doctor and his grandchildren willingly leave the TARDIS very far from home and that actually served nicely into the resolution and what they got out of their part in curing Grig's people. The Therovians were an intriguing people and I was quite struck by their appearance. The artwork was impressive and they did seem to stand out on the page which I liked. I also think that's true of the Doctor here because his pose is pretty demanding and it's good that he takes centre stage when it comes to attention. I still think there's room for improvement where John and Gillian are concerned as companions because I don't think they offer a great deal when it comes to dealing with threats or potential issues, but I do enjoy them at the start of stories when things are being setup. It's an intriguing dynamic but this is still very much early days so I'm intrigued to see where things go from here. I thought the threats in this story coming from more 'normal' sources in the form of a giant lizard was good and those kind of things always feel more problematic. What can the Doctor do to defeat them? They act on instinct and there's not a grand plan to thwart. The Doctor was required for his expertise here though but to be honest he didn't have much of a choice with Grig having a gun in hand. He was delighted to have assistance though and there was trouble back home. Venturing across the cosmos and eventually to Ixon was good stuff, but I must say this story could have been even better if we actually got a bit of detail about the disease that had ravaged the Therovian people. The panel of the Doctor examining the disease was laughable in how little it depicted! I do wonder if my nostalgic and just joyous nature of being able to read these stories will wain, but I admit there's probably some bias in that regard when it comes to my rating. But I feel like it's allowed and part of the enjoyment I have in reading the story is what they were doing with the comic strip and not just solely the story quality. It's such a fascinating read. The quest concept works well and the moss retrieval was almost taxed when it came to Ixon which I liked. Get the Doctor and company to find it from the centre of the planet which was the most dangerous place on offer, and then make the Therovians pay for it! I thought that was wonderfully dastardly. The escape to the ship was good and I liked that when the moss did as the legend advertised and cured the people, the Therovians offered the Doctor something back in return. He would of course venture back to the TARDIS and onto more adventures which rounded things out very nicely. Overall, a great comic strip adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Frozen Worlds

"Small decisions weren't meant to change things this much."

Writer: Katharine Armitage 

Format: Audio

Released: June 2023

Series: Interludes 06

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

On the peaceful world of Nauros, the children play a game. There are creatures in the skies – the bat-like Flitters – which feed on possibilities, and the game is to find out who scores the highest. But now, crops are failing and the planet is in danger of starving. And when a time traveller meets the Flitters, it seems things can only get worse...

Verdict

Frozen Worlds was a great little episode! I've jumped ahead a little here in doing the Interlude that comes with the release of the Far From Home series of Seventh Doctor Adventures but given that it features Ace as the companion instead of Harry and Naomi, I felt it was pretty safe to get listening to this one and tick it off. It was a really intriguing concept and I'm almost disappointed that it was just an Interlude and not an extended full-cast adventure! I am absolutely grateful to get the Interludes to accompany a number of releases over the last couple of years – even if they now appear to have come to an end – but they are limited in their scope. They're basically longer Short Trips which is no problem at all, but I do think the idea at the centre of the plot would have benefitted from being longer and with more than just one actor. Sophie Aldred did an absolutely fine job as the narrator for this story, although I must admit it feels a little jarring to hear her familiar voice refer to Ace in the third person! A Companion Chronicle this very much is not. Her Scottish impression when impersonating the Seventh Doctor continues to be wonderful though and it did help with giving the story that authentic feeling, even if he didn't feature a huge amount compared to Ace. I thought Nauros was a strong setting and it's actually quite nice for the Doctor and Ace to visit an apparently peaceful world! It certainly makes for a change. I would have liked Ace to be a little more appreciative of the Doctor showing her the world, but she wasn't exactly thrilled about the ice sight he was providing. The line from him about it being incredibly cool was tremendous though as an absolutely supreme dad joke. I could just hear the disappointment on Ace's face. The Flitters were frankly wonderful and whilst the biting description actually sound like it would hurt and definitely more than a nibble, I was intrigued that it was almost treated like a drug. The concept of the multiverse is of course not new but the scale of it here was incredible. We saw on screen in Rise of the Cybermen that things can be different based on small decisions gravitating one way or the other, but hearing them be endlessly created here was incredible! Literally a decision as small as keeping ahold or dropping a rock by Ace set things into all sorts of temporal directions. Being a time traveller here was unlike anywhere else and exploring that was done really well. I thought comparing the number of worlds they had visited and created was incredible. Ace was down for competition but she was experiencing something she hadn't dreamt of. It was almost like a feeling of being high the entire time, at least that was my interpretation. I can't say I have ever taken a recreational drug in my life. The atmosphere and background music really gave it that kind of feeling which was good because it was just an hour of Ace tripping! Talk about unique. Touching upon different worlds in this regard was brilliant and the potential really was endless with so many decisions differing meaning so many different possibilities. I liked that a lot. Overall, a great little listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Blood & Steel: Auf Wiedersehen

"Why am I not worthy of being a Cyberman?"

Writer: Victoria Saxton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 7.04

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Can Bernice Summerfield stop an alien invasion after it has happened?

Verdict

Auf Wiedersehen was a great episode to conclude the Blood & Steel seventh series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This is something of a sad listen as it's the last in the range to feature Benny alongside the Unbound Doctor following the sad death of David Warner. He would have later appearances in The War Master and Time Lord Immemorial, but I associate him with Benny as his companion and this feels like a premature end to their time together. They've been through so much together and I'm intrigued to hear if The Eternity Club will make reference to her being alone on her travels again. The ordeal here would certainly be understanding as an endpoint for Benny because not only was she frankly appalled by the setting of 1930s Berlin and sticking around there, but she had been subjected to some pretty terrible torment at the hands of the Cybermen. Looping full circle with Willkommen was nicely done with the nanites coming into play in a very big way! I like going microscopic when it comes to the Cybermen because the potential really is endless. The scale from large to micro is wonderful because the threat really does come in all shapes and sizes! I thought the Doctor seemed quite in control considering the cliffhanger finish to Ubermensch where he was seemingly becoming a Cyberman which I must admit was a tad disappointing. I did like that his physiology as a Time Lord and his sheer stubbornness were preventing him from going full Cyberman or even anything close to be honest, but I was expecting a bit more of a metallic tone! David Warner not getting the chance to go full Cyberman feels like a wasted opportunity! But he was channelling his inner alternate Seventh Doctor with what he put Benny through here. I liked how she was out trying to spread hope and being separated from the Doctor gave her added responsibility. Continuing the theme from the Cybermen's perspective about the wasted resource to come in the Second World War was still chilling even if it did feel a tad repetitive. It really is a brilliant dilemma to put the Doctor in regarding the Cybermen as an alternative to World War Two! Of course, he's never going to break established history but the fact of defeating the Cybermen means the Nazi rule continues for years to come is incredible. I don't think that was touched upon enough outside of Benny's distain for where and when she was, though that was admittedly brilliant. It was fascinating to hear her in a vulnerable state here and the genuine fear she had when the Doctor appeared to be sacrificing her and staying strong to ensure the Cyber Planner wasn't victorious was incredible. She was really scared and he knew that, but he had the safety net of having already reprogrammed her nanites and then using them against the conversion chamber. That had a widespread impact on those converted and whilst the body count and people needing burials would be large, it was better than the alternative! The Doctor always felt in control and it was impressive how calm and collected he was, but he didn't always show it! Johannes was an impressive character as a villain and that's such a good German name for the enemy. His ranking amongst the Cybermen was a little surprising though. I really liked the use of the pulse as that felt really realistic and just such a wide threat. Benny touching upon how Wulf would have reacted to it was a nice throwback as well. Overall, I thought this was an impressive finale to what has been a terrific little series! I've loved the continuing story arc and naming all the episodes in German was a nice element too. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Blood & Steel: Ubermensch

"The perpetual pain of the person trapped inside, forged in metal."

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 7.03

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Why does the Doctor want Bernice to join a German archaeological expedition?

Verdict

Ubermensch was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Blood & Steel seventh series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This was a really strong story that had a dark tone right from the off. I mean, when you're in then midst of the Nazi era of Germany and the Cybermen are involved, it's going to be dark but this was an impressive atmosphere. Two different versions of purity combining is a touch of genius and it's nice that we're in a different situation to Silver Nemesis in that we have them coming together rather than on opposing teams both out to get something for themselves. I thought Lotte made for a superb villain and it was lovely to hear a female character in that role for this era. She didn't feel oppressed or subpar despite the male dominance of the time, but she kept firm in her beliefs and that was actually disturbing. She had no children and to her that meant she had not fulfilled her role for her country. The brainwashing had well and truly worked on her. The mystery of the Vrill was good and I liked that Lotte was an archaeologist herself so the Doctor wanting Benny to get involved in the expedition was a bit of a no brainer. It does feel a little strange that they're sticking around in 1930s Berlin when the Doctor believed the Cybermen were no longer a threat, but that would obviously turn out to be far from the case! He pointed out that they would not be coming back and even though they couldn't change history and had to let the people deal with the consequences of the very future they were creating, there were still points of interest to him. His failure to recognise the involvement of the Cybermen does feel like a pretty big oversight though! Benny's reaction to that was glorious as she showed him the familiar tear duct image in some seriously good The Tomb of the Cybermen vibes. There was a strong feeling of that serial going on here and I loved it. What else was it going to resemble with an archaeological theme? Lotte was after the Vrill as an ancient species but she found something much better as far as she was concerned. It didn't take her long to welcome being like them and that was fascinating stuff. Hearing her become partially converted was really intriguing and it was such to the point that her natural way was already along the way to becoming one. That was chilling and I loved it. The Doctor attempting to use gold to thwart the Cybermen here was logical but that weakness seems to have been eradicated! That's certainly problematic and Benny wasn't exactly thrilled that it seemed like he was going to lose now. The Doctor was almost accepting of his defeat and that was a bit surprising, but he wasn't exactly in the best situation! The cliffhanger of him being injected with the nanites and being on his way to joining the Cybermen was superb and really sets the scene for a quite emphatic finale! I'm very excited to hear how things conclude here because the setup has been really strong. Benny is struggling but it seems like she's going to have to go it alone now. Overall, another fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Blood & Steel: Wulf

"You're a Cyberman now."

Writer: Aaron Lamont

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 7.02

Featuring: Benny

Synopsis

A young man returns home – will he save his village or will it save him?

Verdict

Wulf was another great episode to continue my way through the Blood & Steel seventh series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This dealt with the after effects of Willkommen in a strong and very emotional way which is pretty ironic considering the Cyber element of the ongoing story arc. Benny avoided become anything close to a Cyberman by the narrowest of margins, but the nanites got to Wulf and ensured he was at the least partially a Cyberman. He had enhanced strength and was clearly possessing some sort of cybernetic qualities. It's a shame we didn't have a visual because there's something inherently chilling about a partial conversion. We saw it in Cyberwoman and Ashad was also pretty disturbing! It just works well as part of the fear factor and who would think that the Cybermen are scarier when they're not fully turned into one? This did feel a bit like Wulf's version of Bill in The Doctor Falls which was really nicely done, except he basically knew what he was. He wasn't a full Cyberman yet, but he would never be the same again. The fact he even returned to his home village was a bit of a surprise in of itself because it would likely not be normal or welcomed for him to be accepted. But the community pulled well and he was actually useful for manual labour and the kind of thing. I mean, it's good that he was still able to contribute utilising his strength, but it must have been weird to try and be integrated. His family tried to act as if nothing was different and I'm not convinced that was the right approach. Surely you have to discuss and adapt to the elephant in the room? It was still early days for Wulf though I guess and he was coming to terms with his newfound existence. Well, Benny confronted him in an apologetic way as she found him after hunting remaining Cybermen with the Doctor and she was brutally honest with him. She acknowledged her part in failing to help him but she did think he was dead and I can see things from her perspective. He was showing emotion though and that's ironic given what happened to him. He didn't seem angry at Benny though which was nice. He was just sad. I mean, when Benny is warning everyone that Wulf will be a danger one day it's not difficult to understand why! She had to be prudent though and that meant tackling awkward situations. I was surprised by the absence of the Doctor until the very last scene but this is Benny's series and she shone here. I was really impressed with her and I liked continuing the theme of their setting. She was after the Cyberman but she was almost more disgusted when getting involved with a man in uniform. Considering when and where they were, her distaste for the Facists came out in full force. That was terrific. I thought the way things ended were a little ambiguous or leaving things perhaps a tad too open-ended? I'm not convinced anything was actually really resolved from Benny's perspective but it said a lot by the end that she didn't even want to say goodbye to Wulf. He was obviously going through some substantial changes and went against Marius which was a bit of a shock, but becoming partially converted into a Cyberman will do that to you! Overall though, a really strong listen to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Blood & Steel: Willkommen

"Are we going to stick around and overthrow the Nazi Party?"

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 7.01

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Why do the Cybermen wish to save the people of Berlin?

Verdict

Willkommen was an excellent start to the Blood & Steel seventh series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This has been a release I have been looking forward to getting to for such a long time and it started off without any kind of disappointment. The prospect of the Cybermen being in 1930s Berlin is a sublime concept by itself, but throwing in the pairing of the Unbound Doctor and Benny is just delicious. I can't see any incarnation of the Doctor from any universe being anything other than disgusted by the Nazi regime, but it was actually Benny who was venting those feelings in a very strong way here. I mean, this is her series so that felt right and it was actually down to the Doctor to try and somewhat reason with her. This was established history and they couldn't overthrow the Nazi Party despite her best wishes. She had such distain for nearly everyone she met and that was before she knew the Cybermen were involved. The Cyber Planner having a prominent role was fantastic and I like how the Cyber era feels very much Second Doctor here. The Cyber design almost sounded like The Tenth Planet with the description of cloth and the monotone voices, but the depiction on the cover would say otherwise. I must say how glorious that familiar Cyber logo on the drooped Nazi flag looks as well! Just glorious imagery. I think the predicament of the Cybermen trying to conquer Earth by starting with Germany at this time is very intriguing because now a lot of people who support the Nazis will have to be saved. The Cybermen referring to the human race as a resource was chilling and I loved it. Their plan to prevent World War Two by harvesting up much of the German population as a resource to ensure that there were no people to fight the war was pretty incredible to be honest. They claimed to be in Germany to help and that really is some way to go about it. They'd forecasted a time where much resource was going to be wasted and now they were here to avert it. Benny showing her familiarity with the Cybermen was a nice touch harking back to Silver Lining was terrific and that was one of the very first Big Finish I ever listened to so that was a nice bit of nostalgia in that regard. She knew the threat they carried and she was not being heard when she was explaining that if they put on the Cyber suits of armour, they would never be able to take them off again. I thought that was stunning in its depiction of the Cybermen. The Doctor really harking on the emotional inhibitor of the Cybermen was excellent and he wasn't having it that they had no feelings. I think he proved it as well because his challenging of the Planner with it still breathing and getting it to feel again was sensational. His own feelings were tested in a big way too when it appeared that Benny was going to be converted into a Cyberman. They'd already harmed her and that was bad enough, but the job was far from done. Benny's relationship with Wulf was a real highlight and him being forgotten and subjected to some sort of Cyber conversion judging by his voice at the conclusion was a really strong cliffhanger. She can't remember him in the immediate aftermath of her conversion dealings, but the Doctor was on hand to save her and prevent her going full Cyber. Overall, a fantastic series opener! A fine use of the Cybermen, a sublime setting and a great setup of what's to come moving forward. A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

The Klepton Parasites

"We shall fight and we shall win!"

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November 1964 - January 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 674-683

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

Two schoolchildren, John and Gillian, meet their grandfather Dr Who for the first time, with John accidentally activating the old man's time travelling machine, to traverse the barriers of time and space. 

On an alien world in the 30th century, the peaceful Thains have been invaded by the warlike Kleptons, who wish to destroy the Thains' city and enslave them

Dr Who and his grandchildren thereafter find themselves in a battle for survival as they bring down enemy ships, fly to the Kleptons' secret underwear base, and hope to thwart their plan...

Verdict

The Klepton Parasites was a fascinating comic strip adventure! This was honestly an absolute pleasure to read and I can't say how happy I am to finally be ticking off the first ever Doctor Who comic strip! This almost feels like they've found a missing episode in some regard because for so long these early comic strips have felt out of bounds and somewhat unattainable. Thanks to a lovely WordPress website I found via Facebook completely by chance, it seems I'll be able to keep cracking on with the early comic strip run of TV Comic and beyond! I've always felt that Panini should publish graphic novels of this era of comic strip and I wonder if it's a rights issue? It feels like it almost has to be at this point because why wouldn't they explore and monetise these? I thought the start of the story was intriguing to say the least as John and Gillian wonder their way aboard the TARDIS to meet their grandfather for the first time. It's a fun and unique take on An Unearthly Child because it shares similarities with the police box shape in the junkyard and the Doctor being the grandfather, but they couldn't be more different either. Where are the parents as the middle generation that just let these children wonder off at night? It's baffling but the quirkiness is a huge part of the appeal. I do think I was reading this adventure in a slightly different light to how I would read another comic strip of the current era because it just had a sense of nostalgia and the unknown. This comic is the first and sets such a tone moving forward. It almost feels like I'm coming at it with my History degrees hat on and just seeing the interpretation of Doctor Who as a comic strip at this point in time. The show had barely been on television for a year which is staggering to think about and they pull something like this out of the bag? Huge compliments. The story works well and I think kicking off with a ten-parter is bold and audacious to say the least, even if each part is only two pages. I loved the artwork depicting the First Doctor and I almost find it comforting now for alternative media of this time to refer to him as Dr Who. It's so wrong that it's right. I would have liked a little more time inside the TARDIS with John and Gillian getting to know their grandfather and the TARDIS itself. We got the bigger on the inside reaction but there are so many questions! Why haven't they met him until now? Are they of the same race? A dash to the thirtieth century ensued though and the Kleptons needed defeating. The misery of the Thains was palpable as they seemed completely helpless to being conquered. The artwork was superb for a black and white story too and I really enjoyed the Kleptons being in their glass domes. John cracking one with a throw of a rock and actually causing significant damage was impressive! I enjoyed the action in the story and the scale of different settings was impressive. From the land to the sea, this really did have it all! Going underwater to tackle the Klepton menace was great and the Doctor using their own technology against them by turning their Creepers against them was terrific. The imagery of the explosion and the narrow escape in the ships was wonderful to see. The story was basic in that the Doctor and his companions were stopping an alien invasion of a peaceful species, but it just works well as an introduction to the medium. The imagery is just vibrant and the world-building is tremendous. It's far from perfect and I think the grandchildren should feature more despite their age – which brings a terribly different dynamic altogether from what was featured on screen – but it's just good comic strip storytelling! A pleasure to read. A fun run is on the cards indeed. 

Rating: 8/10

Nine Minutes Past Four

"Regeneration was a lottery."

Writer: Beth Axford

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2026

Printed in: Tales of the TARDIS Prequel

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Ninth Doctor

Synopsis

Two very different but freshly-regenerated Doctors are summoned to help the Remembered TARDIS. Only through working together and remembering their shared past can they hope to move forward and become the Doctors they were born to be...

Verdict

Nine Minutes Past Four was a wonderful little short story! This was a fantastic bonus release to accompany the publication of the Tales of the TARDIS collection of short stories which is something I'm really excited for because the potential combination of reunions is very exciting. Nothings feels out of bounds when it comes to the Remembered TARDIS and that is evidenced enough right here as we have the Fourth and Ninth Doctors meeting! That's such an exciting duo because they really could not be more different as incarnations of the Doctor, and placing them together after both had just regenerated was very intriguing. It was such a unique dynamic because this clearly takes place during the events of Robot for the Fourth Doctor when he snuck off in the TARDIS which is fun, but also quite problematic when it comes to continuity! I'm sure Doctor Who and the Face of Evil will have something to say about the depiction and timeline placement here. But who cares? Who says he didn't have more than one trip? Of course, for the Ninth Doctor this is set right after we saw the War Doctor regenerating in The Day of the Doctor and got that glimpse of Eccleston coming through the golden regenerative glow. That's hugely exciting because this can arguably serve as the first chronological adventure for the Ninth Doctor and his post-regenerative story! That's something touched upon in The Bleeding Heart but this feels a little different. This definitely felt more personal. Credit must go to Beth Axford here as the writer because she captures the essence of both Doctors at the earliest possible point in their lives without it feeling like they're already too developed. The Fourth Doctor tackles regeneration with a smile on his face and sheer jubilation almost whereas the Ninth Doctor is pretty sombre. The former picks up on that and is clearly trying to help the latter which is a nice touch. I think the prospect of the Remembered TARDIS trying to remind the Ninth Doctor of just who he is works really well and I love at the end that he states he knows who he wants to be. It's obviously going to be difficult, but he wants to leave the Time War behind him. Easier said than done for sure! I thought the Ninth actually challenging the Fourth a little on his jaunt with references to Sarah Jane and the Brigadier was a nice touch too, as was the recollection of An Unearthly Child and how Ian and Barbara helped shape the Doctor into who he was now. Who the Ninth Doctor wanted to be again. I liked the description of the items in the Remembered TARDIS and it's fun to think that the TARDIS itself wants to help its occupants. It feeds on memories and the Doctors gave them that in abundance with a quick snapshot of their entire lives! I liked the numerous companions mentioned, although I'm not convinced we needed to dip into the future. And Clara and Martha being named out of order felt like a small oversight. But in terms of setting up the book and calling out to other Doctors and companions to come and bring their stories and memories, this was magnificent. A joy to read. I can't wait now to purchase the book and get started on the collection! Overall, a wonderful read. More of this please. 

Rating: 9/10

O, Darkness

"Not really the place we've been led to expect, is it?"

Writer: John Binns

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 14

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

O, Darkness a pretty average story to get me back on track in continuing my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips. This was an intriguing setup as in my head when the story opened with Adric I immediately assumed this would be a Fifth Doctor outing, but it was actually set during the events of the E-Space trilogy! I think that’s a good idea as there’s definitely grounds for exploration of that universe and there’s certainly plenty of manoeuvring with the timeline. This was set between State of Decay and Warriors’ Gate which I enjoyed because we see two very different companions at two very different points in their life as companion. For Romana, she’s already able to challenge the Doctor because she’s a fellow Time Lord but on top of that she’s also been travelling with him a long time now and for more than one regeneration! It’s no surprise that Adric felt essentially relegated to the background and the shadows within the Structure as it was basically left to the Time Lords to try and fix the situation within the Structure. That was a decent setting but I don’t think there was anywhere near enough clarity or description concerning it. I know that we’re in E-Space and so things aren’t quite as we know them and ambiguity can be good in some instances, but I don’t think this was it. I’m not even convinced it was ambiguous I just think it was lacking in explanation. J was a bit of a weird character and I found the dynamic of a perspective shift halfway through the story from Adric to the Doctor and Romana a little off putting. I would have liked to keep things from Adric’s point of view as whilst I’m not a big fan of his character as a companion in the slightest, I do think he’s troubled and getting some internal insight at this early point in his time on the TARDIS would have been good. We got a little bit so it was odd to have that just change drastically. That’s not to say I’m not a fan of the Fourth Doctor and Romana, but it was just strange. I can’t believe I’m saying I wanted more Adric! His annoyance at being stuck within the Structure was good and should have stayed with the duration. The Doctor going over the same thing time and time again was annoying him as well which was amusing and I could perfectly see the Fourth Doctor doing that. Forty times up and down the same character. The anger he showed towards J for not confirming the existence of the cassettes felt a tad out of place and I was glad that Romana confronted him a little on that. I thought the way they physically got out of the Structure and opened the darkness allowing the light in was a bit bland. I’m not sure it was wholly exciting either. There needed a bit of an adrenaline boost into the story which is a shame to say as I try to see the best in every adventure. Romana was nice in comforting J and preparing him to exit the comfort of the Structure taking it step by step. He’d been confined for a year so it was always going to be a tough task to restore some semblance of normality. Overall, an interesting setting and a very strong placement in the timeline, but this needed more. 

Rating: 5/10