Where Nobody Knows Your Name

"Nobody made you responsible for the state of the universe!"

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: April 2003

Printed in: DWM 329

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

Following the devastating loss of Izzy Sinclair, the Eighth Doctor goes to a bar to drown his sorrows. He questions his role in the universe and seeks comfort in Bish the bartender, who isn't actually all that he seems...

Verdict

Where Nobody Knows Your Name was a really strong opening adventure to The Flood graphic novel! This is the fourth and final volume of comic strip adventures for the Eighth Doctor and after a roundabout way, this will eventually conclude my reading of this comic era. It's been seven years since I read Oblivion and dealt with Izzy's departure from the TARDIS and I still firmly remember how emotional that was. I read my blog entry for that comic strip finale and it all came flooding back as we see the Eighth Doctor dealing with that loss here. I loved that Izzy's departure had a profound impact on the Doctor and he wasn't exactly moving on as he so often did in the Classic era. He had stopped and was taking time to reflect, not just on Izzy but on his purpose in life. His discussions with Bish as the bar owner were delightful and I loved how the Doctor's role in the universe was likened to as a job. Hearing how he was referring to saving the universe as a position was fun but he was experiencing a lot of consequences lately and that was tough to accept and deal with. Just having the Doctor in a bar was a little strange given everything associated with it and the drinking culture, but that just showed how much he was missing Izzy. Was he after some conversation? Whatever his aim in coming there, he was in the right place. Renaldo was an amusing character that would go on to provide the impetus for the Doctor to get back on his feet and reaffirm his purpose and role for the universe, as Zalda emerged hurt and defeated by the fact this robot had cheated on her. She now was ready to blow herself up and take the bar with it to get back at him, but the Doctor was in the prime position to just calmly talk her out of it and calm her down. He'd just experienced a huge loss in his life so he could very much relate to Zelda and what she was going through. It didn't take long at all for her to turn off the explosive device and that was the cause for applause and celebration. This was the Doctor back to his best and it was all so simplistic which was really nice. I thought the ending on the final page once the Doctor was back on his way to the TARDIS with Bish revealing himself to actually be a very familiar shapeshifter in the form of Frobisher was wonderful! Neither party knew of their meeting given both taking on new forms here, but the idea of Frobisher helping the Eighth Doctor get back on track was excellent and really strong comic strip continuity. The Doctor not actually revealing his name was a shame as I suspect a reunion here would have been a lot of fun, but it's good to know what Frobisher is up to and that he's a good guy on hand to provide advice. Overall, a really good comic strip adventure and an important break in events for the Eighth Doctor. 

Rating: 8/10