The Time of My Life

"I just want to say that, whatever's happened, Doctor, I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I've had the time of my life."

Writer: Jonathan Morris 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 2008

Printed in: DWM 399

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis 

Donna Noble has lost all memory of her travels with the Doctor. But all is not lost, because she's got one final thing to do before saying goodbye.

Verdict 

The Time of My Life was a magnificent comic strip and quite a touching tribute to the wonderfully good companion that was Donna Noble. As is noted in the editor's column of DWM 399 itself, with all that goes on in the series 4 finale such as the Doctor regenerating but preventing a change of appearance, Davros's mad plan going into fruition and an abundance of companions, it's sometimes difficult to remember how sad a farewell Donna got. As is stated in the same aforementioned column also, it does bare resemblance with The War Games and the departures that Jamie and Zoe were given in having their memories of travelling with the Doctor removed, except for their first adventures of The Highlanders and The Wheel in Space respectively. However for Donna she doesn't even get to remember her first meeting with the skinny alien in a suit. Although The Runaway Bride is mentioned, Donna will now have no recollection of mysteriously getting on board the TARDIS in her wedding dress! I liked the subtle reference to Turn Left with Donna mentioning how she shouldn't have told the Doctor to stop in dealing with the Racnoss. I still maintain that that comment is made too much of but that's for criticism in the blogging of the penultimate story of series four whenever I get there. The jumping between adventures in the comic strip was a good little format to see Donna off from this medium. It was pretty much one little story to a page with us jumping from adventure to adventure by conversation! The last word heard in one place would lead us to the first word said in another place. For a tribute and farewell story for a companion, this was somewhat rather a happy feeling comic strip. It was nice to see how appreciative Donna really was of the opportunity she had in travelling in the TARDIS with the Doctor. She'd seen Pompeii burn, the Sontarans, the Doctor genetically create a daughter, a giant wasp and the biggest library in the universe. Not too shabby a collection (and that's just on TV - I'm yet to properly delve into the Tenth Doctor and Donna's comic strips and novels). As well as Donna showing her appreciation, it was actually really nice to see that the Doctor valued having a companion like Donna. She was the privelaged one he chose to share the half-millennium rarity of the Zyglots with. I loved how she was prattling on about her hair being messed up by the wind and then she caught sight of the wonder and just stood in awe. It was indeed a fantastic sight for a fantastic companion to see. The moment on the final page in the TARDIS was a real heartfelt one with Donna initiating the message for the Doctor. The Doctor was so sad to see his great friend say goodbye and for this incarnation of the Doctor it seemed to be on par for sadness as the closing moments of Doomsday. But overall, a wonderful tribute to Donna! 

Rating: 9/10