Terror of the Cabinet Noir Part 2

"When I'm an old maid in my bed, I'll take up reading. For now, I'll stick with sword-fighting."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th March 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 16

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor finds himself teamed with a rebellious French swordswoman to battle the infamous Cardinal Richelieu and his secret police! But it's not just the Cardinal they have to worry about - it's his allies, who definitely aren't from around here...

Verdict

Terror of the Cabinet Noir continued in excellent style with this terrific second part of the comic strip adventure! I really was impressed with part one and after rereading it those thoughts definitely did not change. It has taken me a little longer to get around to reading this middle installment of the story than I would have liked but I am quite pleased that this month I have gotten somewhere close to the days of old on this blog with the most monthly entries of the year so far. The next issue of Doctor Who Comic is actually out now and I will be looking to purchase that tomorrow and hopefully not take so long in blogging its contents as has been the case with the last two issues! I really liked the continuation of the late-17th century French setting in Paris and the continued mystery surrounding Richelieu still being alive fifty years after his historical death. That explanation was given to us in some style with a wonderful flashback scene at the hands of Bishop Mazarin. I liked how easily the Doctor managed to get the information from him and he now knew some key details about the Cabinet Noir and what it would mean for France's future. The theme of religion has been very good and it's not often that you'll get me praising it so there's a rarity! But the theme is definitely in line with the time of the story's setting which was a big positive for me. I thought Julie was once again magnificent filling in for the companion role as this story is of course set prior to the events of The Return of Doctor Mysterio and all the connotations with Series 10 that is currently in the middle of being broadcast. I do enjoy doing stories of other mediums whilst the series is ongoing with that current Doctor, even if it isn't set alongside the new episodes, and that was realised here with the way I was reading the words of the Doctor. The characterisation of Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor really was brilliant in this part of the comic strip and I have always said that it makes for much easier reading and usually a better appreciation for the story when that is the case. His relationship with Julie has been terrific thus far and she definitely is quite different to the friends he is used to. The use of Gargoyles as minions in this story was unexpected but definitely something I approved of! I really did like it, especially when they could speak. They mercilessly arrived into the Doctor and Julie's presence by killing Mazarin in gruesome style and that didn't sit well with Julie as she declared a fight. A fight with gargoyles who already wanted to kill her. The Doctor though had information already about the secret dark library and the whole idea of darkness shining through in this comic strip is very good. What lies in store for the eclipse is something I'm sure we'll find out in the final part and that is something I am looking most forward to. The Doctor and Julie arriving at the Palace of Versailles only to find that King Louis XIV himself was part of the same eminence coming from the Cabinet Noir was unexpected but provided a fantastic cliffhanger! It really has set things up nicely for a fast-paced conclusion to the story and that is one which I am very looking forward to reading!

Thin Ice

"Plan: let's get eaten." 

Writer: Sarah Dollard
Format: TV
Broadcast: 29th April 2017
Series: 10.03

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

4 February 1814. The Doctor and Bill chill out at the last great frost fair on the frozen Thames, enjoying the carnival atmosphere and eating pies. But sinister lights are swarming beneath the ice, luring people to their doom in the black depths of the river - and as the Doctor gets on the case, a desperate band of local urchins could provide the clues he needs. Someone powerful and ruthless is plotting to attract as many people to the fair as possible... but why? And what lurks at the bottom of the Thames, waiting implacably for the first ominous cracks in the ice?

Verdict

Thin Ice was a great episode to continue along the tenth series of the revived Doctor Who! After an incredible debut in Face the Raven, Sarah Dollard was back to treat fans with another script and whilst she failed to replicate the astounding success of her first episode, a task that was always going to prove difficult, she still produced a very good story. It was definitely an improvement from last week and I must say I really was a big fan of the historical setting. The last Frost Fair of 1814 is a good place to set a Doctor Who story and I liked that the Doctor's past visits to the event were briefly referenced. The Georgian period is a time that I have studied in quite some depth and although it isn't my favourite I still found it very interesting so a Doctor Who story set there in Regency England is a good thing in my book. The Doctor and Bill certainly dressed for the occasion and I really must say how much I am enjoying the latter as our new companion. She really is a breath of fresh air and I just love how full of questions she is. This was her first trip to the past and her queries about changing it were wonderful. The Doctor dismissed that brilliantly though my mentioning how the decisions she made in her own time would have just as much of an impact on her own personal future. Bill's reaction to seeing Spider die was excellent and the way she challenged the Doctor about death was superb and probably my favourite moment of the episode. The Doctor definitely did care about those that died around him, and those that he had killed, but his way of coping was to move on. And to do it quickly. Bill will soon understand that. I love Pearl Mackie though and there's something about her voice that makes her queries just that more interesting. The mystery of the lights under the ice was intriguing and I loved how the Doctor had noticed them too without even saying a word. He knew the TARDIS had brought them to the fair for a reason but he wasn't too keen to get to work right away. The reveal of the creature under the ice was good and its size was quite extraordinary! How it came to be in chains was never really answered but the secret of the Sutcliffe family was rather sinister and the Doctor wasn't a fan of that. The creature needed people to produce interstellar fuel and at the end of the day, the family had been killing people for a profit. A horrific principal and way of living. I did like that the Doctor made Bill give him an order about what to do in the situation and acknowledged that despite everything he has done for Earth, it was not his planet. Right now, it was Bill's and the decision was hers. She made the right decision of course and the way the Doctor freed the massive creature before Sutcliffe could blow up the ice was great. Bill, along with Kitty and co, evacuated the ice wonderfully and the problem was quickly resolved. The mystery of whatever is in the vault was enhanced further in this story with Nardole's cameo and he wasn't too pleased that the Doctor and Bill had gone off travelling. Just why the Doctor took an oath and what exactly is in the vault is yet to be seen but I do look forward to finding out! Bill's disbelief at no recording of the creature being made in history was wonderful and I love how much she is loving learning from travelling with the Doctor, Overall, a very good episode!

Rating: 8/10

The Indestructible Man

"Internal strife and divisions had been almost entirely overcome, as had the pernicious superstition of religion."

Writer: Simon Messingham
Format: Novel
Released: November 2004
Series: PDA 69

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The Myloki. Mysterious aliens from beyond Space and Time.

Their target: EARTH.

The human defenders of PRISM are enmeshed in a doomed interstellar war against an unknowable invader armed with the power to possess, duplicate and destroy from within.

Only one man stands in their way. A man destiny has made indestructible.

Against all odds the legendary Indestructible Man saves the Earth but victory comes at the highest price. The world economy collapses, governments crumble and PRISM itself is torn apart by a best-selling expose.

AD2096; PRISM has gone underground, becoming the clandestine SILOET headed by new commander Hal Bishop.

Bishop receives an urgent summons to his headquarters. An infiltrator has been unmasked and captured in the heart of SILOET itself. Fatally wounded, the infiltrator makes a miraculous recovery. It appears he is indestuctible.

The implications are terrifying.

The Myloki may just have returned. And who is left to stop them? 

Verdict

The Indestructible Man was a very good novel and after a break of over six months I am delighted to have read a feature-length Doctor Who novel! It really does feel like forever since I blogged Dead of Winter but finally I am able to be back with a book and although I did read Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden last week, there's nothing quite like a full on novel. It was eventful, intriguing and full of mystery and really did challenge each of the main characters in very different ways. We had the Doctor nearly suffering a regeneration, Jamie mentally broken down and Zoe pushed to her limit as she watched the man she agreed to marry shot before her very eyes before being forced to help the man who did the killing. The 2096 setting was very interesting and I am quite surprised at Simon Messingham's depiction of planet Earth in the late 21st century. Will Earth really be as this book lays out? I guess only time will tell. One thing I do hope happens though is what is said in my quote for this story and that is that religion is realised as being mere superstition. Earth becoming secular would be a dream. I liked how this story followed on from a war thirty years previous that the Doctor had no involvement in and I also loved the abundance of past story references. The Doctor's reputation was huge in this novel and his connection in the events of The Tenth Planet, The War Machines, The Invasion and The Claws of Axos getting mentioned was fantastic. I also loved the reference to Spearhead From Space, which is of course later in the Doctor's timeline than this story takes place, when it came to regeneration. I liked that this book should have served as the Second Doctor's regeneration story but thanks to some Myloki intervention in the Doctor's DNA, he was spared a change of appearance, something he was rather surprised about. I thought the characterisation of Patrick Troughton's second incarnation was pretty good throughout the book and I did like that his friendship with Jamie was really highlighted. Zoe seemed a little separate from events at times which in itself was interesting but she was brilliant in her own technological way. There was more than one reference to The Wheel in Space too which was great. The Doctor mentioning the events of An Unearthly Child, The Gunfighters and The Web Planet when asked about his former life was superb and I also enjoyed the mentions of The Macra Terror, The Abominable Snowmen and The Moonbase. Bishop was a good character and I did like how stubborn he was when it came to dealing with the war against the Myloki and the issue the Indestructible Man provided in being the key to the solution. Captain Matthews reforming after being obliterated to dust was quite reminiscent of Captain Jack's survival following his explosion in Children of Earth: Day One. He really was indestructible. He was half human and half Myloki but had been created all at the same time. A perfect copy. Too perfect. The destruction of Taylor earlier on in the story had us believe that Matthews was destroyed but that wasn't the case. The Doctor working out just why the Myloki had returned and what they were was good to see and the gradual reveals worked well. I liked the inclusion of extracts from Verdana's book throughout the first half of the novel and the switch in setting to Barbados halfway through was good. Of course, a lot of the story also took place on SKYHOME which played a big part in the story's events. Our author did enjoy his acronyms and capital letters with PRISM also playing a crucial role. I was surprised every letter of Global Response wasn't mentioned as a capital. Alex Storm was a good character and his relationship with the Doctor was very cagey which made for good reading. I was quite shocked at some of Jamie's actions in the novel but that just emphasised the emotional trauma he had gone through in rightfully believing the Doctor had survived what was described as a graphic gunshot. The ending was quite sombre given the build but it did work quite well despite it being calmer than expected. The war that the human race didn't even know about had returned and was settled without them knowing about it again. The Indestructible Man entered another realm and to the Doctor's envy would be at one with himself. Overall though, a very good novel!

Rating: 8/10

The Happiness Patrol

"Happiness will prevail."

Writer: Graeme Curry
Format: TV
Broadcast: 2nd-16th November 1988
Season: 25.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

On the planet Terra Alpha, bright fluorescent lights and garish candy-striped colours are abound. The population constantly display happy smiles. There's no sadness on Terra Alpha. Anyone feeling remotely glum disappears. Quickly. Having heard disturbing rumours, the Doctor and Ace arrive to topple the entire regime overnight.

But they haven't reckoned upon the varied punitive measures enforced by colony leader Helen A. There are many delicious ways to vanish on Terra Alpha - you can be hunted down by the omnipresent Happiness Patrol or mauled by Helen A's ravenous pet, Fifi. But an especially unlucky few will themselves in the sweetie factory manned by Helen A's psychotic henchman - the Kandy Man.

This time, happiness will prevail...

Verdict

The Happiness Patrol was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of its quality and although I did very much enjoy the story, the bad elements really did bring down the rating of the story and prevented it from being something brilliant. I thought the initial concept surrounding the Happiness Patrol was excellent and although the uniforms were a little questionable, I must remember that this story was produced during the 1980s so I don't think my thoughts would have been the same regarding them had I watched this story on its original broadcast. Unfortunately, I was not alive to witness it. This was the first time I have watched a story with my young cousin for quite some time and this was one adventure that he requested we watch together as it is one that doesn't get shown on television for him to watch. I am sure he now realises why as I could tell he didn't enjoy the story much and gave a rating of two marks less than what I did. I might have been a little generous but I do appreciate the good elements of this story. I really did like the concept of unhappiness being eradicated and as fate would have it the story wasn't actually too dissimilar to this past week's new episode of Smile. It's quite ironic that both adventures get the same rating. I thought this was one of Sylvester McCoy's best performances as the Seventh Doctor and whilst I far from dislike his incarnation, I often voice his Doctor as my least favourite but this story had me questioning that which was terrific. This is only the second time I have seen the serial and the first was five years ago so it's fair to say I couldn't remember too much about what happened. Ace was pretty good and whilst I'm not a fan of hers I thought she was more than tolerable which was a bonus. It still does irritate me a little bit though when she refers to the Doctor as 'professor'. I liked that the Doctor arrived on Terra Alpha for a reason rather than just coincidentally and his encounters with numerous sections of the Happiness Patrol were very good. He and Ace's attempts to get arrested were quite humorous, especially when they failed at the first attempt. Ace creating a relationship with Susan Q was good and I liked how well they got along during the story. The concept of a prison that was just a waiting zone was good too. I thought Helen A was an excellent villainess and her character really did suit being an enemy of the Seventh Doctor. Their final conversation was a really good way to finish. One thing I wasn't so keen on though was her fondness for the fondant surprise. This is where the story got a little silly for me and the concept of the Kandy Man was just quite ridiculous really. The costume, for what the character is, is actually brilliant but the character itself is just ludicrous. A being made of sweets? Even in the Doctor Who universe, that's a little far fetched in my book. I mean, it could be stopped by lemonade! What kind of threat is that? Its demise was probably expected and when the crumpled heap exited the pipes I couldn't say I was too surprised. The way the Doctor solved the overall problem on Terra Alpha was good and his way of portraying excessive happiness really did put him in a good position which was great. Overall, I honestly believe it is better than its reputation would have you believe but it certainly doesn't come without its flaws.

Rating: 7/10

Smile

"You've got to keep smiling."

Writer: Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Format: TV
Broadcast: 22nd April 2017
Series: 10.02

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

The Doctor takes Bill to the colony world Gliese 581 D. It's a bright, sunny world, tended to by the tiny bird-like Vardies and their user interface - the Emojibots. There's just one thing missing: the colonists. As the Doctor and Bill investigate, they discover that to keep smiling is their only hope of staying alive...

Verdict

Smile was a pretty good episode but I must admit I was hoping for a little better to follow on from last week's stunning opener. I thought it was an interesting move to announce this as being Bill's first 'proper' trip in the TARDIS and although that is probably referring to the events of The Pilot, it could also be used as an opening for comic strip stories and novels to fit in. I am looking forward to new prose with the Twelfth Doctor and Bill but I think I will have to wait until after university finishes for the summer to read them, which will hopefully still be whilst the series is on television. It was great to just have a new episode the week after the last one and I must admit that after reading the DWM preview I was a little sceptical coming into this week's viewing. I was surprised with the direction the episode went in and I think the main thing that didn't work for me was the lack of other people for the Doctor and Bill to interact with. I thought the pair were brilliant together once again and I liked that we got to see them together for quite an extended period of time but there is only so much bouncing off each other that could be done. The Emojibots were intriguing and I do like the concept of a future colony being ran and aided by robots who can speak emoji. It was very cheesy though and even though I frequently use emojis when I message on social media, I really wasn't sure how feasible it was that they would survive. I think they'll adapt significantly in the short term so I really don't know what they would be like at a time where the human race was on its last legs. Bill's reaction to seeing the traumatic events that lay ahead in her planet's history was excellent and I really did enjoy her once again. She's just very fresh and vibrant and I love how she's questioning the Doctor. She really is probing him about the TARDIS being stuck as a police box which I love and I like how she thinks she's worked out why the Doctor keeps it that way. Her comment about the chairs in the console room was also wonderful. The relationship between her and Nardole, who barely featured, seems a little frosty at the minute but I am sure that will improve given time. I'm now intrigued to see what is so important in the mysterious vault that it has the Doctor staying on Earth but I don't think we will get any answers regarding that for quite some time yet. The Doctor playing Bill along a bit was good and I really am enjoying the teacher-student dynamic that is going on between the pair. The revelation that the human setup team was being used as garden fertiliser was pretty grim but it did provide us with the necessary threat in the form of the Emojibots. The fact that they were actually alive and learning was a good revelation and I thought that the way they adapted their understanding of happiness was actually quite good. It was reminiscent of the Nanogenes in The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances in what they thought healing was so that was good. The Doctor explained things well to the future gun-happy colonists but the revelation was actually quite poor for my liking. I know a number of problems are solved by simply turning things on and off again, or simply hitting the reset button, but in a Doctor Who story? Nah, I'm not having that I'm afraid. That was quite a cheap way to make everything okay again but I did like that the story finished on a positive note with an excellent lead in for the next episode. Overall though, a bit of a mixed bag but thanks to the brilliance of Capaldi and Mackie I've probably been a tad generous with my rating.

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden

"Of course we should interfere. Always do what you're best at, that's what I say!"

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Novel
Released: August 1980
Series: Target 45

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

A freak accident locks two ships together in space - and a distress call brings the Doctor, Romana, and the faithful K9 onto the scene. The Doctor's efforts to separate the two ships involve him with treacherous drug smugglers, ferocious monsters, and a savagely dangerous planet called Eden...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden was a brilliant little novel! I was so happy to be back reading a book once again and this was actually my first experience of prose Doctor Who in nearly six months. Travelling on what was the usual train journey from south to mid-Wales and with all my university work for the Easter holiday completed early, reading a Who book was the only option to pass the time. My choice was quite random and despite the lengthy break in reading anything Doctor Who, I was quite pleased that this particular book was quite short at 111 pages. I finished the story nearly an hour before my venture concluded and that was positive for me as I am now typing this blog on the final stages of my journey. I thought the story started off well and that usually is the case with a book penned by Terrance Dicks. No matter what story he seems to take on, his writing always captures the reader. At least, when that reader is me. The setting of the Empress spaceship was excellent and the whole idea of hyperspace travel was really intriguing. The concept was explained well but I did have a little chuckle when the passengers of the far future were said to be enjoying video cassettes as their in-flight entertainment. Who knows, maybe there’ll be a retro revolution in the future when hyperspace travel is feasible. The way that the Empress and the Hecate became intertwined with each other and I also really liked that the Doctor’s arrival actually was not coincidental. He had received the mayday call of Captain Rigg after the special clash and had responded promptly. The characterisation of Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor was excellent and I was delighted to be reading an adventure with my all-time favourite companion Romana II. Lalla Ward’s likeness was effortlessly captured by Dicks and she really was fantastic in this story. Dicks recreated the wonderful relationship between the pair superbly and that was a real highlight of the book. Tryst was a good villainous character and I liked the whole concept behind his CET machine. Romana knew immediately that it was not as safe as its owner thought it was and that would soon be realised with the more pages I turned. The story’s main focus being centred around the drug of vraxoin was good, although I did feel that the way it had been smuggled onto ship was a little obvious. It did take a while for the Doctor to admit that it would have to have come aboard through the CET machine and that obviously placed Tryst as a prime suspect when it came to the drug smuggling. Dymond’s involvement in that trade was something I did not suspect though so that revelation was very much welcomed. Fisk was quite a humorous character and it was funny to see how little he regarded people’s lives if it would mean a promotion. The Doctor’s disgust at people making a profit out of human misery was excellent and that really did highlight his character very well. The way Dicks captured the humour and seriousness of Baker’s fourth incarnation was fantastic. K9’s inclusion in the story was brilliant and he really did provide something very different. His logical replies to the Doctor always infuriate him which I love and I also enjoyed how he apologised for saving Romana’s life. The Mandrels provided a threat but they really were quite pathetic when it came to stopping them. Even K9 had no problem but their role in the story would actually be much more significant as they were revealed as the source of vraxoin, when burnt to a crisp that is. That was a great revelation, though I did feel it came a tad too early. The ending was very exciting but it almost seemed to come a little too quick and easy. The Doctor’s way of using the CET machine to capture Trysk and Dymond though was a hilarious way to leave things which I couldn’t help but enjoy. Overall, a very good novelisation!

Rating: 8/10

The Pilot

"Time And Relative Dimension In Space. It means life."

Writer: Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 15th April 2017
Series: 10.01

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

Two worlds collide when the Doctor meets Bill, and a chance encounter with a girl with a star in her eye leads to a terrifying chase across time and space.

Verdict

The Pilot was an outstanding episode to kick off the brand new series! Series 10 really has started with a bang and I was absolutely delighted with what I watched. I thought this was a perfect introduction for Bill as the new companion and I really loved how the very first scene was her formally meeting and conversing with the Doctor for the first time. Despite Nardole already being an established companion now, I liked how his presence was somewhat minimal whilst we were introduced to Bill. I must say that I have already fallen in love with Pearl Mackie as an actress and I really do think that she and Peter Capaldi will be terrific together. Matt Lucas being there will just add humour which is fantastic. I really am looking forward to the rest of the series after this superb opener. I think this episode has to go down as my favourite one that sees a companion introduced and I loved how it was all about her. For any new viewers to Doctor Who, this was a perfect jumping on point as everything was explained to her but for longtime viewers like myself this was also a real treat as Bill provided a unique take on being let into the Doctor's world. Her reaction to the TARDIS was probably one of my all-time favourite scenes and Mackie's expression was just delightful. The comments about sci-fi before she was let into the world of Doctor Who were magnificent and I just love everything about Bill. I like how she's working in the university rather than actually being a student but the reputation that the Doctor's lectures carries sees her go. And based on the snippet that we got I can see why! His explanation of time was fantastic and the line I have taken as my quote for the story was simply beautiful. When I read it in the DWM preview I thought it was astonishingly good and hearing the Doctor say it made it all the more better. As well as introducing us to a new companion, this episode also actually had a really great plot! The quality of a story can sometimes be forgotten when a new character is being introduced but there was no such problem here! Heather was a really intriguing character from the start but the life she was surrounded by was very familiar to me as I am a second year student at university, and I'm only nine miles up the road from Bristol. The way she and Bill clearly attracted each other was very good but I liked how there was something more there once the revelation of the puddle was realised. The resemblance the puddle had to leaked oil from a car was good and I liked how Bill quickly picked up on the fact that it was the spaceship equivalent. I liked how Steven Moffat returned to the idea of using water as an evil intelligence and it was used, albeit in a very different way, in The Waters of Mars. Heather chasing Bill across time and space because of the promise she made whilst in her human conscious was quite incredible and I loved how the power of a thought and crush was fully realised. We went to Australia and even in the midst of the Dalek-Movellan war which was quite incredible. The Movellans getting a return, no matter how brief, was wonderful and it was a really nice throwback to Destiny of the Daleks. I must also mention a couple of other nods to the past with the collection of sonic screwdrivers on the Doctor's desk really putting a smile on my face. I also loved how the two people he had photographs of on his desk were River Song and Susan. The way he talked to those photos after he realised he'd be letting Bill join him on his adventures was fantastic. Bill refusing to let her memory be wiped was brilliant and I liked how that would lead to the Doctor changing his mind about travelling with her. I can't wait to see Bill establish herself as the new companion and I think alongside the Twelfth Doctor and Nardole, we have a quite terrific TARDIS team on our hands for the new series. Overall though, a simply stunning series opener!

Rating: 10/10

Doorway to Hell Part 4

"We are all lost here."

Writer: Mark Wright
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 6th April 2017
Printed in: DWM 511

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Jess

Synopsis

With the Master holding all the cards over the Doctor and the Collins family trapped in what appears to be Hell, will this finally be the moment the Master is victorious over his greatest adversary? Time spillage and emotions are flying everywhere, and one Time Lord won't escape with his life intact...

Verdict

Doorway to Hell concluded in stunning style with this fantastic fourth and final part of the story! This comic strip sees an end to filling the void between the TV series being on and off air and Bill will soon be joining the Twelfth Doctor on his comic travels in the next issue. But we have to meet her on screen first and it really does feel like an eternity since her casting was announced and that brings me to my little preview of this month's edition of Doctor Who Magazine. Now, I only finished the last issue today which I thought was brilliant but I am now looking very forward to being formally introduced to Pearl Mackie! Bill looks set to be a terrific companion and I can't wait to watch The Pilot tomorrow evening. I am looking forward to the preview in this issue, along with the two episodes that follow it, but I must say I really am not a fan of the title of episode one. I am sure I'll talk more about that in tomorrow's blog though. This issue really does look set to get me in the mood for Series 10 and I really am anticipating its arrival! The interview with Pearl herself should be great and I like how she is taking the centre of attention for this issue, which is absolutely right. The cover looks wonderful too. The Art of the Producer interview also looks set to be good and I like how the magazine now seems to be all about the current product. It's exciting to have Doctor Who back on our screens again and this issue will definitely add to my excitement. Now, to the comic strip itself and I must say I adored every part of it! This is definitely the best Twelfth Doctor comic story to date from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine and I am glad that the hype of the inclusion of Roger Delgado's original incarnation of the Master was lived up to. For me, the story was all about the Master and as he is my all-time favourite Doctor Who villain, I was delighted to have a full story with the original incarnation up against the current Doctor. It really was wonderful to see and just highlights the beauty of the comic strip format. Just about anything can be done and it's delightful to read every month. But this story didn't just include the original incarnation of the Master, it actually served as his regeneration story which was something I did not expect! Now, we saw the Master regenerate at the end of Utopia but a Classic era incarnation getting a regeneration in 2017 was just so unexpected! It worked wonderfully though and I liked the ambiguity surrounding just what the next incarnation of the Master looked like. Was it one we have met before? Unlikely but I think it's good that they kept it hidden. It's nice that we have a bit of closure for this incarnation of the Master though as that was not able to happen with Delgado's untimely passing. I thought the relationship between the Doctor and the Master was superb in this part of the story and once the Doctor worked out what the Master was after, he absolutely went to town on ridiculing the threat he provided him. He made the Master sound miniscule which was just incredible. The Master's reaction to the Doctor announcing his age was brilliant and I liked the continuity from Heaven Sent/Hell Bent. The way the Master's regeneration was triggered was terrific and put an end to the plot hole of the story excellently and I also loved how the Doctor did admit that the Master truly has mastered the art of survival. The way the Doctor departed from the Collins family was quite emotional but I liked how it brought a clear end to the story arc and saw thing all caught up ready for the new series. Overall, a simply superb comic strip story!

Rating: 10/10

Old Girl: Aftermath

"You have many friends, you're well-loved, you attract only the best and most well-intentioned..."

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th March 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 16

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy

Synopsis

Tested by Anubis at the far reaches of the universe... is he following in the genocidal footsteps of his father?! Reality invaded by the old. angry gods of Primeval Time! The Doctor, Gabby and Cindy have their work cut out for them, as the endgame of Year Two begins!

Verdict

Old Girl started off in terrific style with Aftermath serving as a stunning opening part of the story! This one really does look to be an epic and at five parts, with a year's worth of build, I really am hoping for big things from this second year finale of the Tenth Doctor comic adventures! I do hope that the current TARDIS trio remain in place for the third year of stories, or at the very least Gabby remains, as the team are brilliant together and that was highlighted in this comic strip. Cindy was still very much feeling the effects of Roscoe's death in The Jazz Monster/Music Man and she does seem devastated that she can't go back and change things. Gabby knows how she feels after meeting Jamie in The Weeping Angels of Mons so it's good that Cindy has someone who knows how she's feeling. I really liked the opening of this story with Maria reading the Doctor's palms. I am quite surprised that he let her do that but some of her comments were wonderful. I really liked her description that I took as my quote from the story of the people the Doctor meets and takes on his travels. I also found it interesting to see how much trust Maria has placed in the Doctor without him even knowing it. He can't go telling the whole truth about where he and Gabby go but she knows that he has good intentions and it won't be his doing if Gabby isn't safe. This story has been building ever since The Fountains of Forever/Spiral Staircase/Sins of the Father and I am glad that the Doctor is now finally dealing with his luring promise to Anubis. The fact that he is the son of Sutekh always leaves the possibility open that his intentions are actually evil but the cliffhanger has really got me thinking now, which is an excellent thing. The Shining Horizon setting was brilliant and it was great to see Dorothy Bell once again. Her relationship with Gabby in this part of the story was a particular highlight but I was also intrigued by her interaction with Anubis. It quickly turned from being the peace-loving conversing it initially appeared to be. The idea of looking into parallel universes and picking the best possibilities really struck me as an intriguing concept but Cindy and Gabby hearing Roscoe's jazz through one made me think the windows aren't all they're set out to be. Cindy wanting to go with the Doctor to the Primordial Universe to Amenthes was good but just what they'll find on the power facilities of the Osiran's homeworld in ancient times I'm not too sure. That is, if they get there at all. The Tenth Doctor having another 'impossible!' remark moment was fantastic and I like how that signifies real danger. His explanation that the map of time and space had literally changed before their eyes was superb and I can't wait to see how that is explained and put right. Gabby being shown the statue of Sutekh by Dorothy was very good but I liked how she wasn't just happy with seeing the front. She wanted to go all the way around and view it from all angles. Except, she got a bit more than she bargained for as all was not as it seemed on the Shining Horizon. Sutekh's statue had been graffitied with a number of statements. The general consensus being that Sutekh lives and will soon arise. An excellent cliffhanger to a brilliant opening part of the story!

Music Man

"Stamp your feet like your life depends on it! Because it does!"

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 12th January 2017 
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 15

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy

Synopsis

In jazz era New Orleans, the Doctor, Gabby, and Cindy have found the cause of the mysterious illness stealing the ability from musicians and one musician in particular to Cindy, Roscoe, the Nocturne. Facing off against a foe that nearly destroyed another world, the struggle to keep it from getting a foothold on Earth is very real...

Verdict 

Music Man was a great conclusion to the story already started in The Jazz Monster! It seems like an eternity since I read that opening part of the story as it was actually my first blog entry of 2017. Fast forward three months and I have finally completed the adventure. It really has been a long time since my last Tenth Doctor story but I was glad to be reunited with him in Doctor Who Comic. His segment of the comic is probably my favourite when it comes to the characters as Gabby definitely has been my highlight of anything Titan Comics has produced (that I have read so far). She really is just a wonderful companion and I love the style of story that comes with her travelling in the TARDIS. The stories are often told through her which is brilliant and I love the little narration notes we get from her. We can really learn a lot about her character through those and now Cindy has joined the travels, we really can see her maturity. Gabby has come a long way since Revolutions of Terror and it's wonderful to see. She was beginning to understand why the Doctor left things so often unexplained and I think she's showing how much she knows about her Time Lord friend. The story continued from the cliffhanger of the previously part well and I liked how there was no real break in the action. The King Nocturne was a good monster and I loved the humour that the Doctor provided when it came to his questionnaire comment about the creature actually being a monster or a virus. The concept behind the King Nocturne was a little difficult to comprehend but I liked how much this story played with the idea of sound. Gabby used what she learned in The Singer Not the Song very well in dealing the with King Nocturne but it didn't actually end up working too well. The Doctor didn't seem too thrilled with her, even if it did provide his catalyst for the resolution, and wanted to go and solve things on his own. Gabby would not allow that though and she gave me another fantastic reason to love her as the companion. She pleaded with the Doctor to let her help him save the world and he couldn't refuse. He had to reassure that she was not to blame for the unfortunate events that happened and now they were going to stop them. The jump ahead in time to Chicago was good and I liked how we got to explore a bit of America in the story. It makes a change from the usual New York setting! I enjoyed the reference to Medicine Man/Arena of Fear and I do think that the emotional events of this comic strip will actually bring the TARDIS trio closer. Cindy is still relatively new and after getting emotionally attached to Roscoe, she was devastated to find that he was a casualty of defeating the King Nocturne. I thought his act was courageous but the explanation of just how it dealt with the threat was a little lacking in my opinion. Had there been some definitive and extended explanation I think the story would have scored a mark higher. That's not at all to say it wasn't good! I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm now intrigued to see where things go from here with the Tenth Doctor and co. Overall though, an emotional and quite action-packed story!

Rating: 8/10

Cryptobiosis

"A captain never abandons his ship."

Writer: Elliot Thorpe
Format: Audio
Released: December 2005
Series: Subscriber Exclusive 03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

There's a ship out there, on the ocean.

She's called Lankester and every year she sails from Madagascar to New Orleans and back again. Every year. Without exception. Regular as clockwork.

Her schedule is never behind. Her cargo is always fresh.

This strip, she has passengers. The passengers have baggage.

And the baggage might just be enough to sink her...

Verdict

Cryptobiosis was a very good little audio adventure! It was great to once again be doing a story of the audio format and I must say that I do like these little Subscriber Exclusive stories that accompany the Big Finish Main Range of audios as the length of these adventures can sometimes be preferable. That preference was felt today as after researching for an essay on American women on the Home Front during World War I, I was very much looking for some relaxation and what better way than a Doctor Who audio? I was delighted to find that this hour-long story was next up in my Main Range run through and it was nice to have a break from the essay research. This was a historical of a different kind and I really did enjoy the 1901 setting on the Lankester. Placing an entire story on a ship could have its restrictions but I think the shortened format definitely helped in preventing that become an issue here. The pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Peri is one of my all time favourites and it was wonderful to be doing a story featuring the pair once again after quite a lengthy time since my last outing with them. Colin Baker was as brilliant as ever portraying the softer version of the Doctor's sixth incarnation and Peri works wonderfully alongside him when the story is set later in the Sixth Doctor's timeline. The concept of the mermaid appearing in a Doctor Who adventure is surprisingly one I don't think I have come across before which is terrific as after almost 1,000 blog entries, Doctor Who still manages to conjure up an incredible range of tales. Amy was a fantastic character and I liked how the truth about her was revealed. The Doctor knew there was something unique about her but I don't think even he suspected her of being a Mermaid! Peri shared an extremely emotional moment with Amy which probably turned out to be the highlight of the story as she was absolutely outraged at the fact Amy was left to die. The revelation about her daughter gave Peri something to fight for and she was determined not to let the Merbaby fall into the hands of De Requin. He was a sadistic villain and his plans to place every Mer-Creature into some kind of zoo just to make himself rich really was an evil plan. All he cared about was himself and money and would happily kill to ensure that it would happen. Nereus though was not going to let that happen. He had already lost his daughter in Amy and he was not about to let his granddaughter and the rest of his species follow suit. The Doctor would be on hand to help with that and although he was not thrilled with the Merman's killing earlier on in the story, he knew that De Requin had to be stopped. The mention of the Vortisaur was a nice foreshadowing of events to come for the Doctor in Storm Warning and I also thought that Captain Callany was quite a humorous character. His method of talking privately with the Doctor didn't make much sense but I guess it achieved its purpose. He was probably the most useless ship captain I have ever come across, though that might be a bit harsh. I really liked the fate of De Requin with the Mer-Creatures hoping to turn the tables on him and actually make him the sort of zoo exhibit he was so thirsty to profit out of. Peri hoping to save those who had jumped off the Lankester was admirable but I understood the Merman's reluctance. Overall though, a very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Terror of the Cabinet Noir Part 1

"Every little secret you hide away in the dark is ours to see."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 15th January 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 15

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor meets a young French swordswoman by the name of Julie D'Aubigny but they're almost immediately on the run from a man who died fifty years ago. It's a romp of piracy, peril and paranoia and there are a number of questions put forward... But will they be answered?

Verdict

Terror of the Cabinet Noir started off in brilliant style with this outstanding opening part of the story! It moves us into a new era for the Twelfth Doctor in his segment of Doctor Who Comic and I must say that I was very impressed. I always seem to like the idea of the Twelfth Doctor stories the most from the comic because it's current with what we see on television. These stories fill the void we have whilst the TV series is off air and just about anything can happen, as seen in Doctor Who Magazine's Twelfth Doctor stories, and you can never be too sure that it will all be okay. With the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors it's different because we've seen their beginning and end and the comics are just adding to what was in between but with the Twelfth Doctor it is a continuation and I really like that. The Doctor didn't actually feature too much in this opening part which is usually something I'd rather not occur but it actually worked wonderfully well. The French setting of Paris in 1695 during the reign of Louis XIV is superb and I really do like that it has a similar feel to The Reign of Terror. I must say that I thought the artwork for this comic strip was absolutely phenomenal and it really did make for easier reading. I particularly liked the pages where we learnt what was basically the life story of Julie D'Aubigny and it seemed she really is a fascinating character! I was unaware that she was actually a real person so her inclusion in a Doctor Who story really does intrigue me. The bio that was provided at the end of the story was really helpful in understanding what her character is all about and I must say it seems likely that she could become a companion. I'm not sure where the future lies for companions in the Twelfth Doctor stories though as I know they like to run with what's on television and with Nardole already arrived and Bill on her way, I think we could just see the Doctor travelling on his lonesome until things are caught up. That's absolutely fine by me. Now, I am in the midst of doing a degree in History but sadly I don't have any French modules on offer and I haven't studied or researched the period in question so my knowledge is quite general, but the idea of Richelieu being alive some fifty years after he died is quite interesting. I'm sure that will have something to do with the mysterious Cabinet Noir. That concept of religious confession doesn't sit well with me as I am a firm Atheist but when it comes to a Doctor Who story that has religious elements I am willing to let it slide. I'm not sure why the image of Jesus on the cross was featured so prominently though. It's certainly interesting to see where the absolving of sin element of the story goes from here, especially when Julie killed Verlock, or so she thought. The duel between her and the Doctor was wonderful and I like how he instantly earned her respect. His criticism of her opera performance was so brilliantly in line with Peter Capaldi's incarnation which really was fantastic characterisation. The pair being on the run together almost immediately after meeting was just typical of the Doctor and I loved how unimpressed she was with the TARDIS. She simply deemed it as a parlour trick which was great. But it seemed that she was now here to stay, at least temporally, and I look forward to seeing how the Cabinet Noir is dealt with! Overall, an excellent start to the comic!

Fast Asleep

"I let one of them die."

Writer: Rob Williams
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th March 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 16

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Squire, Abslom Daak, River, War Doctor

Synopsis 

The endgame begins, as the architect of the Doctor's pain stands revealed, and the truth behind the Squire is out in the open at last! With Alice still trapped in the Time War, and Abslom itching to take a chainsword to the enemy, can the Doctor broker peace and balm his guilty soul?

Verdict

Fast Asleep was an absolutely superb comic strip adventure! It really did set up the finish of the second year of adventures for the Eleventh Doctor very well and we finally started to get some answers as to just what has been going on for the past twelve stories or so. I took the unusual step of reading a story from an issue after one I was yet to finish but I felt that after reading Kill God only a few days ago, the memory of this segment of the comic's story was still strong so it made sense to push on with things rather than starting a new story with the Twelfth Doctor. I can't read last issue's Tenth Doctor story until I reread its opening part but I foolishly left the issue in which that appears back home so that will have to go on hold for now. Anyway, after an absence in the last story the Eleventh Doctor returned to the frontline of action for his segment of the comic and I really liked the characterisation of Matt Smith's incarnation. He was worried and panicking about what he'd let happen to Alice and that part of his character was captured on the page wonderfully. I'm still intrigued to see what happens with River Song and I liked how the writer tried to convince us that she could possibly die by mentioning how the future is not written in stone. There was a nice reference to Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead but it's no secret that River will recover. I do though look forward to seeing how that pans out. It still seems weird to me that we have Abslom Daak travelling with the Eleventh Doctor but with the Time War focus, the Dalek hunter does seem to be a good fit, even if he doesn't always get on with the Doctor. Although the scenes in the TARDIS were of interest, it was what happened in the Time War parts of the story that really struck me in this comic strip. Alice learned a lot of what lead her and the Doctor to the point of being on the run and the creation of the Then and the Now from the paradox was excellent. I didn't expect that to be Alice's route back to the Eleventh Doctor but I was absolutely okay with it! I really did like it. The Volatix Cabal creature that seemed to be more characteristic of a Dalek this time around was intriguing and its comments really did get me thinking. It was just so weird and wrong and that's everything that I loved about it. It seemed to perfectly fit the Time War which was great. I liked how the paradox that was created by the psilent songbox was the explanation for how the War Doctor would not remember his encounter with Alice. He was able though to help his future self by relaying a message he would not remember giving which I thought was excellent. The fate of the Master seems to be sealed but he always finds a way to come back and I'll be surprised if we've seen the last of him in this second year of adventures. This story finally revealed to us some information about the Squire though which I was delighted with! It was obvious from the start that she wasn't what she seemed but I didn't expect her to be part of the Volatix Cabal. Just how the Doctor fails to have any memory of her is yet to be seen but the way she just shot Abslom Daak was quite a way to finish a story! It was a pacy and action-packed story that started answering a lot of questions whilst still leaving us with things to be answered. Overall, a superb story!

Rating: 10/10.