His Mad Pranks

"What mystic craft did cause the air to groan, then vomit forth two souls in garb most queer?"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: April-September 2025

Printed in: DWM 616-617, 619-621

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

The Doctor and Belinda need their latest reading for the Vindicator, and the seventeenth century makes for the right opportunity. But the Doctor is back in Stockbridge, and things are never that simple.

Verdict

His Mad Pranks was an excellent comic strip adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda! It's pretty incredible that at the time the first part was printed the Doctor and Belinda's televised adventures together had barely begun, but by the time it ended they weren't even the current TARDIS team! I mean, we don't know who the current TARDIS team is following the shock regeneration cliffhanger at the end of The Reality War, but I'm delighted to be extending the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda. I think they came to a far too premature end so anything to extend their stay together is great in my book. It's a big shame as well that we had a month delay with part three and it does feel wrong that one comic strip adventure takes half year to complete, but anything we get I very much appreciate and welcome. I thought the artwork itself was pretty excellent here and whilst the likeness for Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation was a tad hit and miss, the depiction of Varada Sethu as Belinda was absolutely spot on. I was so impressed with that, especially for her debut comic strip! I am intrigued by comments in the latest DWM issue's Galaxy Forum of what's to come for the comic strip with an indication that it might not just be Fifteenth Doctor tales, but I kind of hope it is until the next series – whenever that may be – airs because the timeline of this incarnation is far too short! Right, into the story itself and I thought this was a superb pseudo-historical! This was a terrific mix of history and barminess from afar with Robin Goodfellow a really wonderful character. Belinda recognising him as Puck was fascinating and that must be some year seven English class she had because I don't recall learning anything about him or similar at that age range! The way he constantly talked in rhyme was majestic and really did wonders for the flow of the comic strip. This is fast paced with each part being just six pages which feels a couple too short, but this was one of the better-paced stories in the magazine for a while. I think it's the best regular style story in years to be honest. The gradual way in which Goodfellow was revealed to be not of this Earth was fantastic and I must admit I followed suit on the Doctor's reaction when he reverted to an orb as the power finally failed! Finding out that he was using the rhyme to actually harness energy from humans was some way to go about things, but the realisation that he wasn't actually the villain was played out nicely. Well, until he was fully recharged and then wanted to play god. That was in keeping with the theme of the Fifteenth Doctor era but he ended up trapped in the prison he was then powering below the well. That was pretty neat and tidy and a strong sense of irony! I thought Mistress Price was great until she revealed herself to also not be of this Earth, but she was then just shot dead! The Doctor's lack of reaction to that surprised me a little. Thomasina not wanting to marry Valentine was a powerful reminder of seventeenth century society because she really just didn't like him, even if he wasn't a horse as bestowed upon him by Goodfellow. The Doctor being on the verge of getting burned at the stake was quite the image and cliffhanger, although the references to Houdini are beyond tiresome now. Surely there's another way to get out of being tied up? I liked how Belinda touched upon The Well with it clearly being a recent event as she laid eyes on a more traditional type. Although this one did have an antigravity system! Goodfellow draining the Doctor's brain with him as a willing recipient to keep the true prisoner of Belphagor trapped was a nice touch, before his plan came crashing down. The threat of losing the vindicator was also a nice addition of trepidation to the story. Overall, a sublime little comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10