4-Dimensional Vistas

"I'm lost in infinity..."

Writer: Steve Parkhouse 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: July-December 1983

Printed in: DWM 78-83

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Angus

Synopsis 

The Doctor still feels saddened shock over the death of Fuji, for which he partly feels responsible. But he is soon joined by an American Air Force pilot in the form of Angus. A story of parallel worlds and tides in time soon unfolds, and the Doctor will meet not one but two old foes...

Verdict 

4-Dimensional Vistas was an excellent comic strip adventure and really did continue The Tides of Time graphic novel terrifically well! I get the feeling that despite having one story left to read in the collection that the overlapping story arc is finished after what went on here in an action packed six parts! The story really was eventful and I really liked how it continued pretty much immediately where Lunar Lagoon left off with the Doctor catching up with the American Air Force pilot who shot Fuji at the conclusion of the aforementioned story. To my surprise, that man actually become a new companion for the Fifth Doctor! Angus was very good and I liked how suspecting he was of the Doctor at first but once he entered the TARDIS and saw the Earth from above, and spotted the good ol' US of A, he was certainly ok the same page as our Time Lord hero. I enjoyed how the whole events of this graphic novel were tied into what was going on here. There were good references to Stars Fell on Stockbridge and The Stockbridge Horror which is always an immediate positive in my book as I do love continuity of pretty much any kind in a story. It just adds something special and keeps the overall identity of the show intact. You know it's still very much Doctor Who when other stories get a mention. I've loved it ever since I started watching eight years ago and I'm only going to continue to enjoy them. And in terms of nostalgia in an adventure, the two foes of this comic strip were full of it! Not only did we have the epic return of the Ice Warriors, which delighted me enough, but we also had the return of the Monk! That was certainly unexpected but I must say the moment he was revealed as the Time Meddler the smile on my face was huge! I felt like each part seemed a bit separate and that's probably where the story's one mark lost comes from, but it was full of action and pace. The Doctor realising he was on a parallel version of Earth where World War Two was still present in 1983 was terrific and I loved the moment where he realised, due to what the Ice Warriors and the Monk were up to, he had been going sideways in time for quite a while now. That was obviously causing issues. The Doctor referring to the Monk as a failed Time Lord really was superb but I must admit I was surprised to see a collaboration between him and the Ice Warriors. It was completely unexpected and that was just what made it so good. I rarely get surprised by returns or revelations in Doctor Who due to spoilers or by simply being not up to date or just knowing of other stories, but this was a full surprise and I was truly thrilled. The characterisation of the Fifth Doctor was once again excellent but that was wholly expected with Steve Parkhouse penning his fifth consecutive comic strip as in his previous four he really has captured Peter Davison's likeness with ease. As I've said in countless previous blog entries, it's such a simple thing but it makes a story that much more enjoyable. Angus enjoying the battles with the Ice Warriors was fantastic and I was also just glad to see that the Ice Warriors were fully evil and not on the good guy's side. Good is something they shouldn't ever be and thankfully they were not on this occasion. I quite liked the chase ending with the ravages through the corridors of time between the Doctor and the Monk but the former simply outsmarted the other and landed exactly where the Monk would a millisecond later, which meant his TARDIS and the Ice Warriors were obliterated into nothingness as two things couldn't occupy the same point in space as well as time. Overall, a fantastic return for the Ice Warriors and an unexpected pleasure to see the Monk return!

Rating: 9/10

Caerdroia

"Every time we're in a dark place and you wonder off, something bad happens."

Writer: Lloyd Rose

Format: Audio

Released: November 2004

Series: Main Range 63

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, C'rizz

Synopsis 

Self-exiled to a new universe, separated from his TARDIS, opposed and manipulated by the Divergence and their agent the Kro'ka, the Doctor has been struggling to work out the nature of the cosmic game in which he's an unwilling pawn. Now, at last, he has a chance to find the answer and regain the TARDIS!

Threatened and desperate, the Kro'ka abandons his behind-the-scenes machinations to confront the Doctor directly. But will both of them lose their way in the maze of the strange world in which they find themselves? A world in which a clock may have a cuckoo but no hands, a labyrinth imprisoning a paradox, and a Garden of Curiosities reveals something the Doctor has never seen before.

As the Doctor faces these challenges, Charley and C'rizz provide valuable help. But with the TARDIS itself at stake, the Doctor reaches deep inside himself to find some surprising new allies...

Verdict 

Caerdroia was an excellent audio adventure to continue along the Main Range of Big Finish audio adventures! It really does seem that with this story following the outstanding The Last that the Divergent Universe story arc for the Eighth Doctor has taken a huge swing in the right direction! I was thrilled with what I listened to here and I enjoyed how the story arc finally came centre circle after six previous stories of just going from one Interzone to the next. I wasn't against that and there was always some interaction with Kro'ka to keep the overall arc firmly in the listener's mind, but the first half of the arc was a little disappointing as I didn't think that the setting of a completely different universe was utilised as it should have been. That has since changed and I just loved how the Doctor finally got the upper hand on the Kro'ka after a lengthy time of being in the dark. The Doctor has always held firm that he would eventually get into the driving seat and this story saw that happen, and it was fantastic. The first part was probably my favourite of the four that made up the audio because the Doctor was enjoying taunting the Kro'ka so much. He played him to the perfect tune and never looked like losing control. We learned a lot about the Divergence and their relationship with the Kro'ka and it wasn't what we thought at all. The Kro'ka had been charged with finding out how to get into the TARDIS and really just to get all he could from the Doctor. But this story saw that swim down the drain and the Kro'ka was soon in extreme trouble with his masters for inadvertently bringing the Doctor back to his TARDIS. I really liked how the time sickness of the Doctor, in a universe with no time, brought him to the very place he'd been searching for. I loved that the story was called Caerdroia because of it being a Welsh word and I loved its connections with Greek mythology. I imagine I'm not the only Welsh Doctor Who fan who was thrilled to see a Welsh word on a cover of a performed story and I really did like the subtlety in its meaning for the story. I was not expecting the story to feature three different versions of the Eighth Doctor but the moment that happened at the part one cliffhanger was brilliant. The only thing that really let me down about the story though was Charley's explaining of how each duplicate was a different mode of the Doctor's personality but it didn't really come across that way to me. It was still fantastic to hear three different versions of the same Doctor, and I did enjoy a lot of the dialogue, but it wasn't quite what was said. I liked how with Charley and C'rizz splitting up in the story's events, they were both accompanied by a Doctor whilst the Doctor was still also on his own. Three versions really did provide a lot of opportunity which was magnificent. The final part was terrific in the relationship of Charley and C'rizz and I don't think I've heard them get along as well as they did hear. That's not to say they haven't been friends in earlier audios but things just seemed extra nice here which was wonderful. The scenes inside the cuckoo clock were superb and I also really liked the maze and Minotaur trouble that everybody got themselves into. I was really hoping for a The Mind Robber reference but that didn't come sadly. We did however get great references to Zagreus, Scherzo and The Creed of the Kromon. I liked the humour surrounding the numerous rabbit references but I think the real highlight of this story was the Doctor getting the TARDIS back and I loved how the TARDIS was helping the Doctor to save her. It worked well and it does seem now that things are going to come to an end for the Divergent Universe arc and the timing is certainly right. C'rizz experiencing TARDIS for the first time was brilliant and overall, an excellent audio!

Rating: 9/10

New Earth

"I look a bit different but it's me. It's the Doctor."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 15th April 2006

Series: 2.01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis 

In the distant future, an order of cat-nuns cure all illnesses, but the Tenth Doctor is suspicious of their methods. He must uncover the truth and save Rose from the vengeance of his old enemy, the Lady Cassandra.  

Verdict 

New Earth was a very good episode to kick off the second series of revived Doctor Who! It saw David Tennant's first real full episode as the terrific Tenth Doctor and I was impressed with how good he was this early on in his tenure at the helm of the TARDIS. He of course had his first shining moments in The Christmas Invasion but after being asleep for most of that episode suffering from post-regenerative effects, this is where the Tenth Doctor really begins. And immediately, watching in hindsight and over a decade since broadcast, Tennant already displays many of the traits that we'd come to love and associate with the Tenth Doctor. I loved the comments about him wanting a little shop in the hospital and that sentiment would be repeated in the opener of the next series in Smith and Jones. The Doctor taking Rose to New Earth after the events of The End of the World, a story that was marvellously referenced, was really good and I liked how it pretty much became a sequel to the events that occurred on Platform One. Lady Cassandra might not have been everybody's first choice as a returning villain but I can't blame Russell T Davies for bringing her back, even if she was quite literally talking out of her arse. She would soon be talking out of Rose's mouth though after using a banned psychograph to shift her consciousness into Rose's body. I must say the scenes that followed were particularly pleasing with Billie Piper looking absolutely sensational in that shirt that was just a little too small. I had no complaints with that and David Tennant was one lucky man to get a snog like that off of his companion! She truly looked stunning. She was actually a little distracting in some scenes, that's how good she looked. But anyway, enough about Rose and her looks. I was happy to see the Face of Boe return and I really loved the foreshadowing of Gridlock with his prophecy about the dying wish he would reveal on his third meeting with the Doctor. That would of course turn out to be the Master but that's quite a way ahead yet. I thought the numerous references to the Doctor's new body were great and I thought the Sisters of Plenitude acted as very good villains. I liked the irony of both the Sisterhood and Cassandra being the enemies but they were actually working against each other. That's a pretty unique position to have in a story and it worked pretty well here so that was good. The way the Sisterhood was curing disease was pretty deplorable it has to be said. As much as they were going to try and defend their actions, the Doctor would be having none of it, and rightfully so. He was also disgusted with what had happened to Rose. His reaction to this song earlier in the episode was fantastic though. If was just another day at the office for the Doctor as he cured people infected with every single disease and in doing so created a new sub-species of human being. Not a bad day's work. The disinfectant scene with Rose was something I mustn't forget as well. Another remarkable scene in which, with the added bonus of being showered in water, she looked outstanding. The scenes with Cassandra swapping bodies from Rose to the Doctor were good and I liked Chip's loyalty to his mistress. The episode coming full circle with Chip, possessed with Cassandra, told her former humanoid self she looked beautiful. It would turn out to be the last time she heard those words said about her and I liked how after all Cassandra has done, we were left feeling sympathy towards her at the conclusion. I enjoy writing like that and it was done very well here. Overall, a great start to series two and the first full story that actively features the Tenth Doctor!

Rating: 8/10

Infernal Devices: The Neverwhen

"War is our landscape. It is the air we breath."

Writer: Matt Fitton 

Format: Audio

Released: 22nd February 2016

Series: War Doctor Adventures 2.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis 

On an isolated world ravaged by battle, time itself has become a weapon, laying waste to all who live and die there. Arms and technology are in a state of flux - and it seems that everlasting war is their only option.

The arrival of one bartered Type 40 TARDIS inside this nightmare offers hope to the combatants trapped within.

But when he discovers the truth, the horrors of the Neverwhen will shock even the War Doctor...

Verdict 

The Neverwhen was an absolutely outstanding audio adventure and, at the sixth attempt, has saw a War Doctor score a perfect rating! I was absolutely thrilled with this story from start to finish and it really was a superb conclusion to Infernal Devices. It continued on pretty much immediately where A Thing of Guile left off and an hour or so later quickly replaced it as the best War Doctor audio so far. The story itself got a nice reference in the story and I liked how the Anima device fitted in with the plot of this one. The same can be said for the Annihilator as the series as a whole quickly all tied together with it being revealed that recents events for the Doctor were all a plan to get to the Neverwhen anyway. The references to The Heart of the Battle and Legion of the Lost were excellent and I like how close in proximity the first series is to this second. I'm not sure if the release dates had anything to do with that or not but it's merely academic. This series has certainly been better than the first but that's not taking anything away from Only the Monstrous as my ratings would indicate. I think the reason the quality has been able to increase is the freshness of having three separate writers for the stories. I mentioned in earlier blogs of this boxset that each story seems to have more of a sense of individuality whilst maintaining the overarching story and theme of weaponry in the Time War. It's a brilliant, and of course obvious, theme to focus on and the difference between the weapons in each of the three stories have been great. However, it was the Neverwhen weapon that really stood out for me. The time phasing was simply phenomenal and the concept of it was executed wonderfully by Matt Fitton. The time flux was a horror weapon and the Doctor's reaction to finding out the truth about it clearly indicated that. The Doctor arriving on the planet against his will was good but I liked how he was immediately helping someone out that was infected with the sickness. Daylin was a fantastic character and I liked how she was thankful for the Doctor's help and willingly believed that she wasn't a spy from the other side. Thrakken was accepting but was willing to give him a chance. However, the Doctor would soon be on the run as the first time distortion hit the planet whilst he was there. It turned out that he was on enemy territory and that the very people he was interacting with and had helped were actually Daleks! The time flux had reverted them back to a primary version of the Kaleds and when they were reverting back to the Daleks that we all love, it was simply brilliant. I don't think I've smiled at something in a Doctor Who story in the way I did for an incredibly long time. It was my favourite moment for many a story, I really did adore it. But with the time flux, it meant the Time Lords reverted back to their evolutionary state of the Dark Ages. It was sticks and stones against the Daleks and the death toll would be huge. Except with the time distortion, the dead returned to die again. That was something the Doctor couldn't accept. Kallix and Barnac were good characters and I was glad to hear Valis again after her recent appearance. I liked how Cardinal Ollistra stepped into her own with this story and it was revealed that she wanted to use the Neverwhen flux, along with the Anima device, to destroy the time lock on Skaro and cause civil war at every point on the planet's timeline. That was ruthless but I loved how Ollistra questioned once again why the Doctor has revoked his name. Deep down, this story highlighted that the War Doctor was still very much the Doctor. He was disgusted by the Time War and wanted to see it end as much as anyone, with a wonderful foreshadowing of The Day of the Doctor thrown in, but he couldn't accept the Neverwhen experiments. So by using the potentiality warp, he destroyed it on its beginnings saving many from dying and dying again. Ollistra was disgusted but she would soon be even more annoyed by the Doctor's escape. He'd excellently turned his artron leash into his own weapon and was soon leaving Gallifrey once again. Overall, a simply magnificent audio!

Rating: 10/10

 

Infernal Devices: A Thing of Guile

"Every Time Lord must be a soldier now."

Writer: Phil Mulryne

Format: Audio

Released: 22nd February 2016

Series: War Doctor Adventures 2.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis 

The Daleks are developing a secret weapon on Asteroid Theta 12. It is imperative that their plans are uncovered.

Cardinal Ollistra has her hands full studying the range of ancient and mysterious armaments the universe has to offer, but she makes it a personal mission to investigate the Dalek project.

On this dangerous assignment, there is one particular Time Lord she wants at her side - and he will be accompanying her whether he wants to or not. 

Verdict 

Legion of the Lost was a brilliant such adventure and continued Infernal Devices along very nicely. This second series of War Doctor audios seems to be rather different from Only the Monstrous as where that series followed on story by story, this seems to be more about a running theme of weaponry in the Time War. Now, the stories do follow on from each other but they seem to be standing more alone in this second series which wasn't really the case in the first. I'm fine with either direction as I'm just extremely grateful to Big Finish for providing us with performed stories for the War Doctor! These really are filling the gaps of the wilderness years and that's something I'm delighted about. Legion of the Lost was expectedly referenced and I liked how the story continued here where that left off. The Doctor was literally placed on a leash by Ollistra which was unexpected but I really enjoyed the predicament he was put in. He was helpless inside his own TARDIS. He must have been infuriated! The mission of the Time Lords, or particularly Ollistra, was fantastic and I loved the Trojan horse analogy in getting the TARDIS behind enemy lines and onto Asteroid Theta 12. The exploration of the asteroid was questionable from Ollistra with her sending Jarad and Solex out to see what faced them with the TARDIS scanner not working. Jarad died pretty quickly afterwards in horrific style after being eaten by a space worm. Once the Doctor and Ollistra headed out to see things for themselves, I loved the revelation that the tunnel they were exploring had been dug by the very same worm. But before that, the Doctor trying to interact with a ghostly species in the tunnel was very intriguing with the revelation that the shimmer field brought. It was of course the Daleks. That moment really put a smile on my face I must say. The idea of these Daleks being scientists was very good and I really enjoyed how their experiments weren't even known to high command in the Dalek ranks. The experiment itself though was outstanding. These Dalek scientists were trying to retro-evolve the Dalek species and revert back to the humanoid Kaleds! That was a pretty incredible concept and to hear a humanoid Dalek speaking was superb. It was in pain however and just wanted to die. So the experiments still had some way to go but thanks to the Doctor and Ollistra's intervention, there wouldn't be a seventh specimen. I enjoyed the diversion of the Tempest ship with Trelon and Valis providing the story with two great characters. I really loved the impact the Doctor had on the former's life and it was nice to know that the Doctor had even made huge differences in the lives of Time Lords by his exploration of the universe. The Doctor's talk of companions at the beginning of the story was of particular interest to me but I must admit I like how there hasn't really been a chance of the War Doctor having a companion in this series so far. That's how it should be. I mean, it worked wonderfully well with Cinder in Engines of War but I feel in the audios he should remain companionless. The references to The Myth Makers and Genesis of the Daleks were good and I liked the way the Doctor hid the fact that he had worked out what the Anima device's function was. It was a psychic weapon that turned allies into foes and Ollistra willingly used it on the Daleks which resulted in the scientific base and the high command squadron being destroyed. I wasn't sure why Solex sacrificed himself for the Doctor earlier on in the story but I did think it was brilliant that despite the Doctor revoking his name, deep down he was still the same person he's always been, whether he wants to admit it or not. Trelon sacrificing himself while Valis got away was valiant but I liked the somewhat comedic ending with the Doctor chucking Ollistra out of his TARDIS and leaving her on the asteroid. But she wasn't done tormenting him as she'd sent the TARDIS to its next destination already with the Dalek info input. Overall, a brilliant story and probably the best War Doctor audio so far! 

Rating: 9/10

Infernal Devices: Legion of the Lost

"I wasn't supposed to be a soldier..."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: 22nd February 2016

Series: War Doctor Adventures 2.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

In a time of war, every means of victory must be explored. In the Time War, the unthinkable must be thought, and neither side can afford to be squeamish about their methods. 

When the destruction of an obscene weapon leads to the Time Lord once known as the Doctor uncovering a secret Gallifreyan initiative, he cannot believe what is being considered.

Should victory be sought at any cost? Or are there worse possibilities than losing to the Daleks?

Verdict 

Legion of the Lost was an excellent start to the second batch of War Doctor audio adventures! I've been looking forward to starting Infernal Devices, the umbrella title of the second series of stories, ever since I purchased the set off eBay just under a fortnight ago. I was lucky enough to get it for £15.99 including postage so I saved myself a good fiver by waiting three months and buying elsewhere. I absolutely adore what Big Finish have done but I must admit, I never seem to buy audios off of their own site! It's just wonderful that John Hurt agreed to do these audios and I love how the Time War is being explored in such specific detail. It's clear that the Time War has been raging for a long time before these audios and Only the Monstrous gave us an insight into that. The first series was referenced nicely in this story but I do like how this second series is clearly going in a different direction. Cardinal Ollistra was still present but only at the story's conclusion to provide the cliffhanger leading into the next audio in this collection. I enjoyed the action packed beginning to this story and a smile did cross my face when I heard the militaristic composition of the Doctor Who theme. It really does give the War Doctor audios their own feel and that's exactly how things should be. The scenes on Vildar were excellent and I loved that the Varga plants were present in protecting the Annihilator. They have cropped up since first appearing in The Daleks' Master Plan but I loved how they were specifically targeted to Time Lord DNA. It was a pretty decent defence for their destructive weapon but the Doctor was determined to see that the Annihilator was destroyed. I thought Collis was a wonderful character and I liked how she filled that companion role amiably. The Doctor killing her, despite her willing sacrifice, showed just how different things are in War Doctor stories. It's brilliantly different and I love it. It's exactly what the Doctor isn't and that makes this stage of his life incredibly intriguing. I'm just delighted that it's getting explored as it absolute deserves it. Once the story shifted to Aldriss, it got very sour for the Doctor. He didn't get along with Shadovar at all and once he learned the truth about the Time Lord resurrections, the Doctor was keen to put a stop to it. And that's exactly what he did. I liked the Time Lord involvement with the Technomancers but the sacrificing of the Vildarians was done in horrific style. The Daleks had already wiped them from history with the Annihilator but Shadovar was sacrificing them after plucking them from the mightily interesting Non-Time. That concept was outstanding and I think it could yet play a role in future Time War stories. The Doctor's relationship with Co-ordinator Jarad was a highlight of the story and I also loved how the psychic paper was used by an incarnation of the Doctor that preceded the Ninth Doctor. I really loved Solex referring to the Doctor as the Renegade and I'd really like it if that caught on in the War Doctor audios of the future. The foreshadowing of the events of The Day of the Doctor and the reference to The Night of the Doctor were both brilliant. I really liked the ending with the Doctor putting a stop to the murder of the Vildarians by, fantastically, retrieving the Annihilator from Non-Time after originally turning it on itself by reversing the polarity. He used it on Shadovar after learning that the Horned Ones were a part of each Time Lord that was revived. That was a pretty frightening prospect but the Doctor stopped it in excellent style. I was surprised that the Daleks appeared as little as they did in the story but I thought that was rather fresh. It was nice to hear the War Doctor in a story with a different enemy, in this case Shadovar and the Horned Ones. Overall, a brilliant audio and a great start to the second collection and series of War Doctor audio adventures.

Rating: 9/10

Pull to Open

"It can be perceived only as an expression of simplicity."

Writer: Si Spurrier

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 5th May 2016

Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 06

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Squire, Abslom Daak

Synopsis 

The Doctor and Alice have met persistent foes before - but never anything like the THE THEN & THE NOW, the group of supremely strange cosmic bounty hunters sent to bring them to justice! It's getting so they can't even solve an intergalactic war crime without having to flee for their lives! 

Verdict 

Pull to Open was a superb comic strip adventure to continue along the Eleventh Doctor segment of Doctor Who Comic's Tales from the TARDIS. It seems such a long time now since The Hyperion Empire concluded the original format for Doctor Who Comic and having just the Tales from the TARDIS comic really has given the second year of adventures its own feel. I'm surprised that the other comic didn't continue with the availability of the comic strip stories of the Fourth, Eighth and Ninth Doctors but as long as the graphic novels from Titan Comics are made available in this country I'll be more than happy with that. Anyway, I guess it's a bonus that we're getting the stories from the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors so I shouldn't complain. It actually seems a while now since I read The Then and the Now but I liked how this story referenced its events in some detail. It was a good start to the year for Eleventh Doctor adventures but it quickly saw my hopes of the Doctor and Alice travelling alone dashed as the Squire and Abslom Daak joined the TARDIS crew. I don't know an awful lot about Abslom Daak but based on these first two stories to feature him, he's a rather aggressive character. His denial at being the Doctor's companion was something that I really enjoyed but I think the highlight of this story was the immense references to the Time War. It wasn't something that I expected but it does seem like it's going to be a running theme in the stories featuring this incarnation of the Doctor. That's exciting for me and I really do like the idea of the Doctor being tested about his actions in the life he has tried so hard to forget. The cameos of the War Doctor portrayed him in a way we have never seen the Doctor before and I think that's brilliant because that was exactly what was intended by this hidden incarnation of the Doctor. He was somebody the Doctor hated so much that he revoked his own name. But it seems that the Eleventh Doctor is now suffering the repercussions for crimes the War Doctor committed, but crimes that the Doctor couldn't remember happening. That brought its own problem which was fantastic and I really liked how the memory of a Time Lord was looked at in quite some depth. I had a moment of embarrassment in this comic as I learned that the Squire was actually female whereas I originally thought she was male! I'm not sure how I managed that but thankfully my perception got rectified early on in the run of adventures. That could have caused a lot of confusion in the future. The relationship between Alice and the Squire was intriguing and I liked how the latter knows a lot about the TARDIS and the Doctor from what he saw under the companionship of the War Doctor during the Time War. It's going to be interesting to see where these comics fit in with the War Doctor audios but because the Time War span such a lengthy period, and the depiction of the hidden incarnation looks very young in this story, it shouldn't make much of a difference to things. I do hope Abslom Daak becomes a little less aggressive though but I guess with his wife dead and the TARDIS playing tricks, he had every right to be angry here. The TARDIS shifting its inner dimensions of her own accord was a contrast to The Doctor's Wife and I liked that very much. Exploration of the innards of the TARDIS is always a welcomed sight in my opinion. The Eleventh Doctor thinking he was being tried by the first ten Doctors for his actions as the War Doctor was a sublime scene and really did provide a great image. As has been the case for much of the last week, this story has saw a welcomed break from revision but today was my last day of revision for the year! Tomorrow I sit my final first year exam at university and then I head back home for the summer. I'm looking forward to it very much, just like I'm looking forward to the next comic in this segment of the adventures after the sighting of the the Then and the Now. Overall, a great story!

Rating: 9/10

Lunar Lagoon

"Nice day for a war, isn't it?"

Writer: Steve Parkhouse 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May-June 1983

Printed in: DWM 76-77

Featuring: Fifth Doctor

Synopsis 

The Doctor, seeking rest and recuperation from his trials on Gallifrey, had landed on an island in the South Pacific... and now found himself in the middle of World War II!

Verdict 

Lunar Lagoon was a very good comic strip adventure and continued along the excellent The Tides of Time graphic novel in fantastic fashion. I really have been impressed with the four stories thus far in the graphic novel and I like how each of them is clearly its own standalone adventure, but seems to follow directly on from the last comic strip. I think that's an excellent direction to go in and I must admit, I do hope the current run of Twelfth Doctor comic strips in Doctor Who Magazine return to having an overlapping story arc. Every story just seems so separate which is a shame because I think story arcs are perfect for comics and that's what should happen. It has happened for just about every other Doctor so I'm actually rather baffled why it hasn't happened yet for Peter Capaldi's incarnation of the Time Lord. It was just illustrated so well here with the Fifth Doctor. Just a little reference to The Stockbridge Horror in the brief recap at the start of part two really did make a difference and brought that connection between the two stories that were printed either side of each other. It's not a lot, but it has a big impact. I'm really enjoying Steve Parkhouse's writing of the Fifth Doctor and he once again got his characterisation down to a tee. He really has captured the likeness of Peter Davison with ease which is just wonderful when it comes to reading his comic strips. I think I've mentioned in my blogging of earlier stories from this graphic novel that technically there is no point at which these stories should be able to exist, but who's to say that companions of the Doctor aren't just resting in the TARDIS? As I stated in my recently blogged Twelfth Doctor stories, story placement isn't all that important if the story is a good one. And I'm happy to report that once again we had a good one. The Doctor fishing was an interesting move but I like how he was after some relaxation following his eventful occurrences with Rassilon. I get the feeling that it won't be the last encounter but for now he had to deal with the threat of a lone Japanese soldier! I liked the historical aspect of the story although after having an exam today and then coming back to more revision for another exam, as part of a History degree, this story was a nice relief for me this evening. Tomorrow is the last day of revision which is just wonderful to say, even more so by the fact that I don't have exams next year! But the other work will increase so that could mean less blogging next year which is a great shame. However, I'm on an impressive daily run and I'm on track to complete my first complete month of stories since August of last year. The irony of that occurring during exam sesson will be something I look back on with laughter in the future. I liked Fuji as a character in this story and I thought it was excellent how dangerous just one soldier could be. If a soldier was on his own then he was likely to be desperate which makes him incredibly dangerous. I thought there were still some questions that needed answering after this story finished which was a shame with the appearance of Americans and aircraft from the war showing up in 1983. They sadly did not arrive. I loved the ending though with Fuji dying at the hands of an American because he was made defenceless by the Doctor taking his bullets. The Doctor trying to justify his actions seems to a recurrent theme in this graphic novel and I love it. His morals really are being challenged which is just magnificent. Overall, another good story!

Rating: 8/10

The Stockbridge Horror

"I've neglected the TARDIS for far too long... now it looks like I'm paying the price!"

Writer: Steve Parkhouse 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November 1982 - April 1983

Printed in: DWM 70-75

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Shayde

Synopsis 

Further mystery has struck the village of Stockbridge! Local police found an incinerated body in a ditch - but with no sign of fire! 

In a nearby quarry, an impression of the TARDIS was discovered in solid rock, 500,000,000 years old! 

Verdict 

The Stockbridge Horror was another super comic strip adventure to continue my reading of The Tides of Time in tremendous fashion. I didn't expect to be doing a blog entry tonight with an exam tomorrow, but thanks to some great scheduling and quick learning on my behalf, I've been able to read a quite brilliant story that has momentarily taken my mind off of revision. To be fair, exams this year have been considerably less stressful than in my three previous years and with this being my first year of university, that was not something I expected. But whereas exams make up pretty much the whole grade of a GCSE or A-Level qualification, tomorrow's exam only equates for 20% of my core module which accounts for roughly 6.5% of my overall first year mark. So that's considerably less pressure and I think that has allowed me to maintain what has been a brilliantly lengthy daily run of stories. I took a little break from the graphic novel, which I did not expect to do, and whilst I blogged some fantastic stories I was glad to be back reading this collection of comic strips. Once I start a graphic novel I do like to finish it pretty quickly and whilst I have another exam on Thursday, meaning revision will occupy most of time over the next few nights, I will probably stay within its pages over the next couple of nights as long as I can finish up my revision quick enough. However, that of course takes priority ahead of my blog. A graphic novel that has an overlapping story is something I really like, as was the case with Voyager and Oblivion, and after this story it seems this is going to be the case once again here. Even if it ends with this story, which I suspect it might, it's been present and in abundance which is excellent. The references to and continuation from The Tides of Time and Stars Fell on Stockbridge were superb and I like how this story seems to be a direct sequel to the latter. I think it's good to do it directly after because it keeps the memory of recent events prominent for the reader. This story really did jump from location to location with the depths of the TARDIS getting a good look at for the first time really since The Invasion of Time. I really liked that. The impression of the TARDIS in mud over 500,000,000 years old reminded me a bit of The Fires of Vulcan and that story's memory did put a smile on my face I must admit. The Doctor seemed a bit out of his depth in this story which was a surprise but I was glad that Steve Parkhouse kept up with his great characterisation of Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor. The cliffhangers were all very good which, as I always mention, I think is very important. The creature of fire and stone was very intriguing but one thing that I thought let it down was the fact it wasn't named. It's possession of the TARDIS was outstanding though and I think that's a great plot. It worked really well. The cameo of Rassilon was unexpected and although I thought the trial and its ending were a bit rushed, I very much liked it. It wasn't quite what we saw in The War Games or The Trial of a Time Lord but it was still fantastic. Overall, another brilliant comic strip!

Rating: 9/10

Clara Oswald and the School of Death Part 3

"We are your extinction. You cannot outrun us."

Writer: Robbie Morrison 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 5th May 2016

Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 06

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis 

Chaos descends on the private Scottish school of Ravenscaur, as secrets sunk at the bottom of the bay are dragged into the light! As the Doctor investigates reports of a Tunguska-style event that shook the heavens decades previous, Clara unraveled an establishment conspiracy that cuts to the country's heart!

Verdict 

Clara Oswald and the School of Death continued in excellent fashion with this terrific third part! It's becoming quite a lengthy beginning to the second year of Twelfth Doctor comics but while the story quality is as high as this one is, I don't mind at all. I'm loving the fact that the Sea Devils are getting a feature length story in the modern era of Doctor Who and I think they're perhaps one of the most underrated enemies that have graced us with their presence. The Sea Devils is one of the most iconic stories to date and I loved the references to it in this story, but the artwork flashback to its events were simply stunning. It was a joy to behold and I must commend Rachael Stott on her outstanding work. My face just turned into an instant smile when I turned the page and saw that depiction of the Classic story. As you'll know, it was only just over a week ago that I read the novelisation of Warriors of the Deep in which the Sea Devils appear, not unlike as we saw them when the Third Doctor met them. The references in this story to the UNIT dating controversy was quite humorous and I also enjoyed the Doctor referencing his other encounters with their kind. The only other story that I have blogged to feature the Sea Devils is The Silurian Gift in which their appearance was an unexpected delight. I'm sure they've cropped up in other adventures I am yet to blog but I do like that the Doctor mentioned that he's met them more than once. I think I mentioned in my blogging of part two that I wasn't struck on the appearance and I must admit that sentiment remained until the Doctor distinguished that these Sea Devils were of a warrior class. I thought that was a good explanation and I am glad the significant change in appearance was addressed. I really enjoyed the newspaper flashback to the moment Ravenscaur became the peninsula that it was today and I also loved the humorous moment the Doctor showed up to save Clara, Jack and Lucy. My qualms about story placement in yesterday's blog of The Memory of Winter were not helped with events here as both the sonic screwdriver and sonic sunglasses played important roles in the story's events. I'm yet to rewatch Series 9 but I don't recall an episode in which they both featured. The cameo of UNIT with Kate and two Osgoods would obviously place it prior to Dark Water/Death in Heaven though. Again, it's not really important whilst the story is good. I'm really liking Clara taking control of things, as you would guess was the case from the story title, and I liked how her interactions with the Doctor was causing confusion for Jack and Lucy. I know this is only a comic strip, but somehow Jenna Coleman's immense beauty still seems to shine in this story which was really impressive. The aim of the Sea Devils to increase global warming and return the planet to its climate of long ago was brilliant I must say. Their method of using hybrids in high positions, thanks to the Ravenscaur education, was simply excellent. I really did think it was a fantastic plot point. The Doctor seemed to be getting ahead of himself in revealing the truth about the Sea Devils though as it just advanced their plans and, apparently, brought forward the extinction of the human race. A little bit of a mistake there, eh Doctor? Overall, an excellent continuation of the story and I'm now looking very forward to the fourth, and presumably final, part.

The Memory of Winter

"He didn't do what he did for thanks."

Writer: George Mann

Format: Audio

Released: 7th April 2016

Series: NSA 25

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara 

Synopsis 

In 15th century France the time travellers encounter a band of soldiers protecting a mysterious young woman. Joan of Arc is troubled by voices, telling her things that she should not know about: things concerning the Doctor's own people, the Time Lords. Compelled to discover where she is getting the information from, the Doctor and Clara are drawn into danger.

Verdict 

The Memory of Winter was a superb audio story and it concluded the current run of Twelfth Doctor and Clara audios in magnificent fashion! It really was the best of the four story run so far and I think it's fitting that they saved the best until last. I had full confidence that George Mann would deliver as he is a sublime writer with his Engines of War novel ranking as one of my all time favourites. His other story in this audio series, The House of Winter, was the only other of the three audios to score the same rating as the latest instalment does here so I think it's fair to say that I enjoy him as a writer. And why wouldn't I? He certainly knows how to tell a story. It's been quite some time now since I listened to The Sins of Winter, over four months in fact, but the overlapping arc of these audios remained fresh in my mind as I've listened to each story from the collection. It all started long ago with The Gods of Winter but after delays with release and my hesitation to purchase it, I finally completed the set and ensured that I have kept up with every Twelfth Doctor story, no matter the format, so far. However, I will not be purchasing the 'Choose the Future' novels because they're not my cup of tea. Anyway, onto the story and I thought the plot was absolutely brilliant! I loved the setting of 15th century France and upon reading the story synopsis, I was very intrigued by both the inclusion of Joan of Arc and the mention of the Time Lords. The moment where the Doctor spoke about there being another Time Lord in the area, my face lit up with excitement. It was similar to my reaction when I watched The Doctor's Wife on broadcast. Even though the Doctor did end up back on Gallifrey in Heaven Sent/Hell Bent, this story was clearly set prior to its events so I was looking forward to seeing which Time Lord it was that had survived. However, as the story title might suggest, we didn't get another Time Lord. Clara suggested that it could have been Missy and given that she considered her to still be alive, I personally think the story would be set slightly after The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar but then I'm also inclined to place it before that and shortly after Dark Water/Death in Heaven because of the heavy use of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver. But at the end of the day, I guess story placement isn't really important and the fact that what we got was an excellent audio is what really matters. Joan of Arc is a very interesting historical figure to use in a story and l liked how her horrific death was foreshadowed by Clara. She became much more famous after her death, as is often the case in history, but as I'm studying for a History degree I do love it when we have a story that features a historical figure. I was not expecting her to mention Gallifrey though! That was magnificent. Jemma Redgrave was an excellent reader for the story and I'm now very much looking forward to the UNIT: Extinction audio series that features her playing her usual role of Kate Stewart. Her impression of Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor was superb and her likeness of Clara was also pretty good. Jeremy Winter was a great member of the Winter family and I loved how this story served as the origin of how the calling card fell into the family's hands. The Doctor's realisation of that after taking off in the TARDIS was simply wonderful. The Thrake served as a very good enemy and its connections with Time Lord history was of great interest. Joan of Arc's role with the Thrake was outstanding and I loved how she eventually contributed to its defeat. Mann wrote the Doctor excellently with his personality captured with ease and I loved the line about him not liking compliments. But Clara was keen to console him after not meeting another Time Lord that he may have thought would happen. I'm glad it ended on a humorous note though. Overall, a fantastic audio and definrely the best of the series! 

Rating: 9/10

City of Death

"The centuries that divide me shall be undone."

Writer: David Agnew

Format: TV

Broadcast: 29th September - 20th October 1979

Season: 17.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis 

Whilst on holiday in Paris, the Doctor and Romana discover that something is amiss with time. Who is conducting the secret time experiments, and what connects them to the Mona Lisa? The answers lead them to discover a secret that has been hidden for four hundred million years...

Verdict 

City of Death is a simply wonderful serial! It really is Doctor Who at its very best and it also sees the show have humour play a large role within the plot and dialogue which is probably one of the main reasons it is so good. I love it from start to finish and it measures as one of my all time favourite stories. It has a wonderful TARDIS pairing in the Fourth Doctor and Romana II who are actually slowly going on their way to becoming my favourite pairing. When I first started watching the Classic era, I must admit that I wasn't keen on Tom Baker's incarnation of the Doctor but now I think he's excellent. I'm still actually yet to read an original novel featuring the incarnation but that is something I'm very keen to rectify soon. But as for Romana II, I think she absolutely remains as my favourite on screen companion. She's just marvellous and alongside the Fourth Doctor the pair are simply sublime. I think it's interesting to have the Doctor travelling with a fellow Time Lord, or Time Lady as was first coined in this story, and I just love how Romana is on the same level intellectually as the Doctor. It just brings so much to the pair's relationship and I don't think there's a story where that is more prominent. The comedy value of this story is outrageously good, particularly in the first two parts, and I think adding a Paris location just makes this an instant classic. The plot concerning Scaroth was magnificent and I like how we got to see the explosion of the Jagaroth ship which play a crucial role in the plot at the start of the first episode. I really liked the reference to Destiny of the Daleks and some of the guest characters were really great. Duggan tagging alongside the Doctor and Romana was wonderful and his constant breaking of glass and punching people was another addition to the humour. The Doctor's reaction to ever punch seemed to improved which was great. He really was an excellent character despite being clueless as to what was truly going on. I guess that made him a pretty typical detective then! Scaroth, or Count Scarlioni as he was better known, was a superb villain and I loved the idea of him being splintered through time. I always enjoy the cliffhanger to part two where the Doctor arrives in Florence and is greeted by an alternative Scaroth. It sets up the rest of the story beautifully and I love how each splinter version can communicate with the other. I thought the Countess was also a magnificent character and her early relationship with the Doctor was fantastic. It was a real highlight in my opinion. The theft of the Mona Lisa is a great premise for a story but that wasn't even the main plot which I think is magnificent. The Doctor writing 'this is a fake' on six genuine artefacts of Leonardo's work was wonderful. I was reminded of the Seventh Doctor's comments in Dust Breeding about him having the genuine artefact in his own collection. I guess he kind of deserved it for once again saving the human race. The revelation about the Jagaroth impact on human development was quite incredible and I love how the ship explosion was the catalyst for the human race itself! It's an incredible concept and Scaroth going back in time to put right the wrong his race encountered was thwarted by another tasty right hook from Duggan. The Doctor was pretty happy with that one. It was a great ending to a simply sublime serial of Doctor Who! Overall, one of the very best. 

Rating: 10/10

  

 

The Eleventh Hour

"To hell with the raggedy, time to put on a show."

Writer: Steven Moffat 

Format: TV

Broadcast: 3rd April 2010

Series: 5.01

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy

Synopsis 

The newly regenerated Doctor has twenty minutes to save the world - and only Amy Pond can help him. But she's been waiting a long time...

Verdict 

The Eleventh Hour is a brilliant episode of Doctor Who as it kicks off a number of things in style! This story really does introduce a lot of firsts with it being Matt Smith's first episode as the Eleventh Doctor, Karen Gillan's first appearance as new companion Amy and also the first story to be written under Steven Moffat's tenure as head writer. It also saw a new TARDIS console room, a new sonic screwdriver and even a brand new opening theme and sequence! It really was the beginning of a new era and I'm just glad that it started in style. We continue pretty much where The End of Time left off with the TARDIS in turmoil and we now see the newly regenerated Doctor hanging out of the TARDIS in an action packed first scene. The TARDIS eventually crashes into a shed in the back garden of Amelia Pond's house. It seems incredible to think that it's been well over six years since this story first broadcast but I remember that when I first watched, at just a mere thirteen years old, I never caught on to the fact that Amelia was a younger version of Amy, who had of course been announced as the companion well in advance of the story airing. When it finally struck me what had happened, I had a huge smile on my face so when I rewatch this episode I'm always reminded of my first viewing which I like. Ironically, this story completes my blogging of regular series Matt Smith episodes with just a couple of Christmas specials left to watch. I think I'm going to be careful as to when I watch them as I don't want to run out of Eleventh Doctor TV stories to watch! I've always said that I don't want to blog a story twice (excluding the latest series) until I've blogged every single TV story and whilst my Classic era viewing hasn't been huge, it has increased lately. With an ever decreasing number of stories from the new era to choose from, that can only increase. I loved the little relationship between the Doctor and Amelia and watching in hindsight, it's so brilliantly typical of the Eleventh Doctor to be eating fish fingers and custard. I enjoy both of those foods and I actually wouldn't be against combining the two, as weird as that may sound. Maybe it's the Welsh in me, I'm not sure. Amelia praying to Santa at Easter time was pretty humorous but I loved how much a girl could be scared by a crack in her wall, and the Doctor excellently noticed that. I liked how the post-regenerative effects of the Doctor were clearly noticeable but didn't play as large a role in incapacitating him as in previous stories such as Castrovalva and The Christmas Invasion. The premise of the story was certainly a good one and once the Doctor had gathered the information about Prisoner Zero and the incoming Atraxi, he had twenty minutes to save the world with barely any resources. No nuclear power station. No airport. Just a closed post office and a duck pond without any ducks. His introduction to Amy as we were going to know her was wonderful. Well, after she knocked the Doctor out with a cricket bat. I was surprised we didn't get a Fifth Doctor reference at that point but I was rather occupied by Karen Gillan's appearance in her kissogram outfit. She looked truly amazing I must say. Rory's reaction to seeing the raggedy Doctor was superb and I like how he became a bit of a legend to the people in Amy's life. The Atraxi being lured to Prisoner Zero by the Doctor resetting the clocks was magnificent but I just adored how he brought the Atraxi back to warn them that the Earth was protected. The scene was simply stunning and I liked how Classic era stories were also included in the flashbacks of the Doctor protecting Earth. The moment the Doctor stepped through the graphic of the Tenth Doctor was simply superb and is an image that has stuck with me for a long time. It was the perfect way to consolidate the introduction of a brand new Doctor, and that's something this episode does fantastically well. Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Cindy, Cleo and the Magic Sketchbook

"It's an emotion somewhere between fear and euphoria..."

Writer: Nick Abadzis 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 5th May 2016

Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 06

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy, Captain Jack

Synopsis 

Gabby's best friend Cindy remained on Earth at the end of her last adventure with the Doctor - a decision Cindy immediately regretted! Now, with only Gabby's sketchbook of unseen adventures to guide her, she must find her way back to the Doctor... but sinister forces already have her under surveillance! 

Verdict 

Cindy, Cleo and the Magic Sketchbook was a wonderful continuation of the Tenth Doctor comic strip adventures! It seems quite a while now since I read the fifth issue of Tales from the TARDIS, which has taken over the originally titled Doctor Who Comic, but I was delighted with this story to get me back into the swing of things. Exams are quickly on the horizon so a story of this length is ideal to get my daily dose of Doctor Who, something I will try and maintain as best I can, but I wasn't expecting a story to not feature the Doctor or Gabby in a physical role. That seemed a little bit strange to do in a comic but I didn't mind one bit because it really saw us get to know Cindy on her own. I love her as a character and I think if she joined Gabby as a companion then I'd enjoy the Tenth Doctor section of the comic more than I already do! There was more than one reference to The Fountains of Forever/Spiral Staircase/Sins of the Father which was good as I liked how much of an impact that adventure had on Cindy. We've previously seen her ridicule Gabby for her art documenting her travels but after Cindy saw life with the Doctor firsthand, she wanted a part of it. Gabby's sketchbook is simply stunning and I absolutely adore the parts of a story that show her comments accompanying her incredible artwork. There was an abundance of that in this story which I just loved! Without Gabby technically featuring, we learned an incredible amount about her which was marvellous. She's definitely my favourite comic strip companion ever and I must admit I would love for her to get a role in a performed story if the actress chosen was a wise choice. I really do think she's that good. Her own acronym for TARDIS was pretty humorous which I liked but I also loved her comments about the impact the Doctor has had on not only her life, but the lives of the companions that came before her. She's very much aware that she's not the first companion to step through the doors of the TARDIS and with a neat reference to The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, she's worked out that Donna was her immediate predecessor. This story actually contained numerous references to past adventures which I always love with The Arts in Space, The Weeping Angels of Mons, An Unearthly Child and Pyramids of Mars all getting a nice mention (or drawing!). I loved the irony that this comic has brought to School Reunion with Gabby mentioning that the Doctor has been talking about Sarah Jane after Rose stating that he'd never mentioned her during her travels with the Doctor. It was also nice of Gabby to acknowledge some drawings left by Turlough in the TARDIS. I liked the continuation from the Year 1 finale and The Singer Not the Song with another Anubis reference but I'm quite surprised by the fact this looks set to be a recurring story arc. I thought the second year might distance itself from the first, similarly to the way the Eleventh Doctor comics have, but that doesn't seem to be the case. There's nothing wrong with that I guess but the cliffhanger ending looks set to provide some differentiation! Erik and Cleo appearing again was good and I like how they're still not recovered from the aforementioned Year 1 finale's events. Mister Ebonite was a great little villain and I don't think this will be the last time that we see him but the way, or rather who, in which he was dealt with was simply magnificent! I have been longing for a Captain Jack return to Doctor Who for such a long time now and with ongoing rumours about him featuring in this year's Christmas special, I'm more than happy that he's appeared in these comics! I do hope he joins the Doctor and Gabby in the TARDIS but even if he doesn't, an encounter with the Doctor is simply a must! I'll be distraught if that doesn't happen after this story. I'm sure he'll get along splendidly with Cindy and Cleo though but that can only lead to a meeting with the Doctor. I'm not sure if there's a Torchwood connection regarding Jack being in New York, but whatever the reason I'm just happy he's there. Overall, a simply stunning comic strip adventure! 

Rating: 10/10

Stars Fell on Stockbridge

"This could be the chance of a lifetime!"

Writer: Steve Parkhouse 

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September-October 1982

Printed in: DWM 68-69

Featuring: Fifth Doctor

Synopsis 

Maxwell Edison, a normal man from the village of Stockbridge finds himself entering the TARDIS and the Doctor's adventures.

There's no time for questions when Maxwell suddenly finds himself on an alien spaceship and facing the battle of his love to save his village from destruction.

Verdict 

Stars Fell on Stockbridge was another brilliant comic strip story and continued my reading of The Tides of Time graphic novel in great fashion. After a hugely successful opener with the graphic novel title story, which spread over seven epic parts, I was intrigued to see how this story would do to follow on with just two parts. I was pleasantly surprised that the standard continued which was fantastic. Being as much of a fan of Doctor Who as I am, I've obviously heard of Stockbridge but this was actually my first story to explicitly feature the village. We actually learned that segments of the previous story were also see there but this comic strip saw it officially stated. As far as I'm aware (I try not to give myself spoilers), the village obviously features in the next story but after that I believe it plays a part in quite a few audio adventures as well as playing a part in more than one novel. I'm not sure why it has become such a prominent part of the Doctor Who universe but despite the village appearing in the title, it didn't appear much in the story at all which was fine with another lengthy story set to follow in the village. But of what we did see from the village, I didn't like the people within it. Max was a wonderful character and I actually felt a huge amount of sympathy for him because of his reputation in the village. Stockbridge didn't seem like they'd change their opinion on him but the ending really did put a smile on my face. It was clear that Max was quite mad but even if that is the case I think it's very unfair for him to be given a nickname like 'mad Max'. That's pretty sad. How he's able to locate a ship and the TARDIS remained a bit of a mystery but I'm sure this won't be the last time that the Doctor meets him, as he himself stated. I'm looking forward to what that next meeting will bring and I do hope that we get to learn more about Max's ability. He was tracking life with a broken stick for goodness sake! It was very barmy which I very much enjoyed. There'll definitely be something more to it so I look forward to that being revealed. The Fifth Doctor was once again characterised perfectly by Steve Parkhouse and he really has been able to capture Peter Davison's likeness with absolute ease. I must admit, it does seem strange having the Doctor without any recognisable companions and I've never been quite sure why Doctor Who Magazine didn't use the television companions. I like the idea of comic strips exploring there own thing and I've been a huge advocate of that with the Tales from the TARDIS comics in which we've been introduced to the wonderful Gabby and also Alice. The scenes on the spaceship were excellent and I was very interested with the voice that Max was hearing. It instilled him with an immense amount of fear and I loved the revelation that there was no other life form on the ship, or so the Doctor thought. The TARDIS scanner was no match for a stick though! It was quite insane that Max knew there was a life form on the ship despite the TARDIS not registering it. I enjoyed the cliffhanger which was important because in a story that's just two parts I feel that the halfway stage must have some impact and this story delivered with that so that was good. The ending was done well and I love how Max was able to see, and also boast and predict, the moment the stars fell on Stockbridge thanks to the breakup of the ship in the Earth's atmosphere. It was a wonderful little moment and I do hope that we see a change of perception on Max within the village. I look forward to seeing him again and I'm interested to see what comes next for this mysterious village. Overall, another brilliant comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10

The Tides of Time

"The barriers that separate time are breaking down!"

Writer: Steve Parkhouse

Format: Comic Strip

Released: February-August 1982

Printed in: DWM 61-67

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Justin, Shayde

Synopsis 

The demon Malanicus has taken over the Event Synthesiser, a vast organic machine that controls the flow of events in time. On Earth, the effects are felt as the entire planet is hit by time-warps!

Verdict 

The Tides of Time was an absolutely incredible comic strip adventure to truly kick off the graphic novel of the same name. I purchased this graphic novel quite some time ago now for a steal of a price at £2.99 (including postage!) and although I had read Timeslip a few weeks ago from its pages, that never really felt like the beginning of the graphic novel for me. This collection is all about the Fifth Doctor so today's story really got things going for me and I must say I was amazed at how good this story was. It has immediately become one of my all time favourite comic strip adventures! It completes a rare feat in my blogging of having two perfect scores in a row and I'm obviously delighted with that! I don't just go around giving out 10/10 scores for the sake of it. Stories need to earn it and boy did this do that. I loved it from start to finish and although kicking off the run of the Fifth Doctor in the comic strip pages of DWM with a seven-part mammoth story, it absolutely worked. Every part seemed fresh but maintained the overriding story whilst doing so which was really impressive. After reading the epic Prisoners of Time recently, I must say it took a bit of adjusting to return to a black and white comic story but with seven parts to get through I soon was familiar once again. With this being the first comic strip to feature the Fifth Doctor, I was really impressed with Steve Parkhouse's characterisation of the young incarnation. It was absolutely spot on which just again added to the brilliance of the story. I thought the plot was excellent and paced so well over the seven parts which is actually quite a difficult task when you have a lengthy story. I loved the focus on the Event Synthesiser which in itself was a superb concept. Malanicus was a fantastic enemy and I liked how more was learned about him as the story went on, particularly in the sixth part where we learned that he was actually from Althrace long ago. I probably was not in the best position to be reading this story as I haven't actually read any of the Fourth Doctor graphic novels, despite owning The Iron Legion, and it would seem that the previous story was quite important in understanding some elements of this one. Merlin the Wise seemed a great character but I don't know anything about his backstory so I think I'll have to wait to read his first appearance before I judge him. The Doctor getting a glance of Zoe was magnificent and I like how he was still being haunted by the events of The War Games where he lost his faithful companion and she lost her memory. But in this story we said hello and goodbye to an excellent companion in Justin. I thought he was superb and his grasping of time despite coming from long ago in the past was marvellous. The inclusion of the Time Lords, and more prominently Rassilon, was unexpected but it was an incredibly good surprise. Their appearance was more than warranted with the threats that time faced at the hands of Malanicus and I liked how they provided the Doctor with the help of Shayde on his mission to put things right. Despite this being Shayde's first appearance, it was not my first story featuring the companion as I have read the Oblivion graphic novel in which a spectacular return is made. I love the concept of a shadow companion and I think alongside the Fifth Doctor it'll work superbly. I thought pretty much every cliffhanger moment was good which was another positive and I liked that we had continuation from The Invasion of Time with the Doctor still being referred to as president. The climax was done brilliantly with an action-packed finish but I loved the ambiguity surrounding the conclusion with the Doctor wondering if the events of the story actually occurred or were just remnants of the matrix. I liked that. Overall, a simply stunning start to the graphic novel with a quite incredible adventure!

Rating: 10/10

 

The Last

"Maybe you haven't heard, I don't give in easily."

Writer: Gary Hopkins 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2004

Series: Main Range 62

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, C'rizz

Synopsis 

Trapped on a dying world, the Doctor and Charley come face-to-face with those responsible for the war to end all wars, while C'rizz tries to understand what has happened and learns the terrible truth.

Powerful forces are at work on Bortresoye that not even a nuclear holocaust can tame; natural forces that have excited the interest of Excelsior, the self-proclaimed saviour of her people.

With Charley immobilised and C'rizz left to battle against the elements with some of the victims of war, one final, desperate hope of escape presents itself to the travellers. 

But who will be the last to leave the planet? Who will have to stay behind? And will the Doctor, Charley and C'rizz live long enough to find out?

Verdict 

The Last was an absolutely sublime audio adventure! I was thoroughly delighted with this story and it was a real pleasure to be able to award my first perfect rating for a Main Range audio since The Chimes of Midnight! It's been far too long without the full marks score but to my surprise this was the only the sixth out of sixty-two stories that I have been able to rate in the 10/10 range. I've been very critical lately of the Eighth Doctor story arc in the Divergent Universe but this story was everything I wanted from it. Finally we had something that felt it didn't belong in our universe with the concept of life on the planet Bortresoye and with that came a superb story. I must have had a smile on my face throughout the audio because I could tell early on that I was going to enjoy what was to come. I was rather sceptical about the length of the story before listening as 2 hours 25 minutes seemed an awfully long time for a four-part story but where I had issues yesterday with Point of Entry, each of the parts didn't seem to be too long at all. All three cliffhangers were outstanding and made me want to listen to the next part right away which I always look for. We had a really strong villain in the shape of Excelsior and I liked how practically insane she was whilst maintaining the facade of normality. That was really impressive. She knew all about the devastation the nuclear bomb had caused but was seeming to simply ignore it. She was ruthless and obsessed and that made her a fantastic enemy. The Doctor admitted to hating her which is an extremely strong word for him to describe somebody as. That should give you an idea of how good she was in the part of the villain. Paul McGann gave another stellar performance as the Eighth Doctor and I think I still take for granted how lucky we are to have Big Finish providing us with performed stories with a Doctor we've only seen on television on two occasions. Of course there are comics and novels but they're not quite the same as performed adventures. I really loved the scene at the beginning of the story with the Kro'ka showing the Doctor memories from his past that he'd much rather forget. The first mention of Katarina immediately put a smile on my face and I loved the references to The Myth Makers and The Daleks' Master Plan that quickly followed. But once Adric was soon mentioned, along with a nice reference to Earthshock, we knew it was all a trick. These moments though foreshadowed events that were to come with the death of companions. Although they finished the story very much alive, both Charley and C'rizz met their end in this audio which was rather incredible. I never bought into the idea of Charley actually being dead but once C'rizz joined her in the afterlife I must admit I did find myself asking questions. I was wrong to of course and the Doctor ended up committing suicide to save them, but had they died in this story I would have been happy to accept the circumstances. I don't think it would have altered the rating at all but the moment the companions were heard alive really did put a smile on my face. I thought this was C'rizz's best story yet as companion which just consolidated that perfect rating. Voss and Tralfinial were quite humorous together which was great but I think the best relationship in the story was that of C'rizz and Requiem. The part two cliffhanger enhanced that and I liked how the latter was quite at home with accepting that he was dead. Landscar was perhaps the most interesting character though as he was filled with mystery throughout and it all became clear why at the climax. He was representing the planet and life could only begin again once the last life had ended. It was a pretty incredible concept and one I thoroughly enjoyed. The advancement of the story arc was really great as well and I think it's obvious that the TARDIS isn't going to be found in any of the Interzones. But Landscar revealing that Bortresoye was the planet on which the zones existed was most intriguing. I'm very interested to see where things go from here which is a good sign! Overall, a simply wonderful audio adventure with great characters, a fantastic plot and sublime cliffhangers!

Rating: 10/10

Point of Entry

"I fell in... into my own reflection."

Writers: Barbara Clegg & Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: April 2010

Series: Lost Stories 1.06

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis 

The 16th century. Playwright Kit Marlowe is attempting to write Doctor Faustus when a darkness descends on his life, in the candaverous form of a spaniard called Velez. The monstrosity is in search of a stone blade that was brought from South America...

After a near-disastrous collision with an asteroid in space, the TARDIS makes an emergency landing in Elizabethan England. 

These two events are connected. The Omnim are ready. And the point of entry approaches...

Verdict 

Point of Entry was a pretty decent Lost Story audio but I must say I'm not surprised that it didn't get made into its intended television story. I don't know the backstory behind it not getting produced but I would imagine that it was intended to go out in the originally intended Season 23. Of course, a hiatus came and we eventually had The Trial of a Time Lord take up the entire season which is a serial that I love but I must admit given the high quality of the Lost Stories I have done from this debut season thus far, I was disappointed with the audio. I mean, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it but I just thought it could have been better. Earlier in the season, the three stories that I have listened to were tremendous. The Nightmare Fair, Mission to Magnus and Leviathan were all fantastic stories and although I am yet to purchase the two audios in between, it seems the standard has somewhat dropped. Colin Baker gave an excellent performance as the Sixth Doctor, as he rarely fails to do, and I thought the relationship between him and Peri was a real positive of the story. The pair are one of my favourites to have ever occupied the TARDIS so if a story is somewhat lacking, like this was in places, they can always brighten up what's going on. I'm probably making the story out to be worse than I actually thought it was, as is reflected in the rating, but I think in a story that was overly long it needed to be better. I think the Main Range audios work much better than the Lost Stories of this type because four parts works so much better than two. When a story is over two hours long and it's only two parts, it has a tendency to drag and I think that's exactly what happened here. Even if the story was simply split into two more parts I think the rating might have increased. It was difficult to keep absolute concentration, something which is fundamental to an audio story, in a story as long as this that was lacking in action. The plot was actually good and I really liked the mystery surrounding Velez but I was looking for something a little more exciting. There seemed to be extended dialogue in places where it just wasn't needed. However, the lengthy scene between the Doctor and Peri, whilst the latter was possessed by the Omnim, was probably my favourite moment of the entire audio adventure. The atmosphere was captured really well and there was quite a lot of tension felt which was a big positive. The noise of the flies whenever the Omnim were close was interesting and at first it didn't seem to be relevant to the story but once it kept on getting repeated, it was obvious it would count for something so I enjoyed it once that revelation came. The setting of 1590 was a good one and I think Elizabethan England has a lot of potential for a great Doctor Who story but I wasn't overly struck on the focus on Kit Marlowe. I like the idea of a playwright being targeted and the character was pretty good, but something just seemed off for me which was a shame. Peri impersonating the Queen was a little cheesy with the accent but it did inject some humour into what was actually a pretty serious story up to that point. The story surrounding Jack was quite sad and I did like the reference to The Mark of the Rani but with all the Aztec references that were going on, I was actually amazed we didn't get a The Aztecs reference. The climax though was very exciting which was great to listen to. Overall, a decent story but I'm not too disappointed that it didn't get made into a televised story. 

Rating: 7/10