Goodbye to All That

"Do you have a sword?"

Writer: Eric Saward

Format: Comic Strip

Released: June 2021

Series: Lytton #4

Featuring: Lytton

Synopsis

The hunt is on for the Positron, an artefact held in a warehouse full of alien technology. The mysterious Mr Seaton has tasked Lytton with acquiring it. Barely escaping from Aldwych West, Lytton, Wilson and their new friend Artemis are pursued through a catacomb by androids. Separated, Lytton is imprisoned, while Wilson and Artemis face off against the androids...

Verdict

Goodbye to All That was a good little story and a more than decent conclusion to the Lytton series of comic strips from Cutaway Comics! This has been a delightful four-chapter run highlighting the character of Lytton and I really do hope that the next time tease that concluded this chapter will come into fruition as a second series of comics is definitely something I'd be interested in purchasing! I have to admit, the first third or so of this chapter had me slightly disappointed in how quick everything seemed to be resolved with the positron and Mr Longbody. It was good to finally get an image of the alien creature referenced way back in the first instalment of Down These Mean Streets A Man Must Go and I was fascinated to find that he looked similar to Mr Seaton. Of course, the revelation came at the end that these were actually redesigned Tereleptils which is something I really didn't see coming! I love the idea of the Tereleptils coming back and having Eric Saward at the helm, writer of The Visitation, was terrific for these alien enemies. They're iconic dating back to that Fifth Doctor serial and whilst I really liked the surprise, I'd have loved for a full chapter involving Lytton encountering the Tereleptils with the reader having knowledge of their identity. I think that also would have been a strong selling point as combining different elements of the Doctor Who Universe is always fun. They looked really impressive and definitely seemed more menacing, but I must admit that I'd have preferred something a little more faithful to what we saw on television. On the other hand though, I can appreciate the desire for doing something new with them and modernising them and using the comic strip format as an advantage. Shend coming back was nice and whilst it was all a bit quick with the transaction and giving the positron over to send the Tereleptils back on their way home, things came full circle nicely. I liked that we also got the answer about E.V.E and it was a great turn of events to find that Artemis was actually Mrs L, who was the mutated woman all along! Containing the same characteristics and personality but enhancing that now with some street fighter abilities was very fun. It probably came a little late for Lytton to question Arti on everything she took in her stride because she didn't bat an eyelid to a great deal of things, but better late than never! There was some good action in this one but as you'd expect with a chapter four finale, there was a lot of dialogue to try and tie up all the loose ends. That didn't hurt things but it lost a slight level of excitement and pace. I thought Wilson had a quiet finale which was fine but I've really enjoyed him paired alongside Lytton. The way things ended for Lytton was nice and the image of him in that familiar police hat was delightful in suggesting that the version of Lytton we saw encounter the Doctor on television might be an alternate reality version. Little subtleties like that is so much fun. As a whole, this was another good story to conclude what was a great and consistent comic strip run! 

Rating: 8/10