The Return of the Daleks

"The slave has destroyed the masters!"

Writer: Steve Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: October-November 1979

Printed in: DWM 1-4

Featuring: The Daleks

Synopsis

A long time ago on the planet Anhaut, the Daleks were defeated. Nobody quite knows how, but when they return for revenge secrets are discovered and it makes for one hell of a story. One that could be adapted for the big screen...

Verdict

The Return of the Daleks was an excellent little comic strip story! This actually kicked off my reading of the graphic novel collection of the same name and it did so in spectacular style. I'm no stranger to stories not featuring the Doctor given the extensive number of Big Finish spinoff series, as well as the likes of Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Class on screen to name a few, but the comic strip format is definitely one that has potential to explore the Whoniverse beyond the Doctor so I'm delighted to get stuck in. I didn't realise when I was reading that the story actually was printed in the pages of the first four issues of what would become Doctor Who Magazine and that quirk just makes it all the more impressive. I know Doctor Who comics came before that magazine in the likes of TV Comic and TV Action (please hurry with the collection of those stories, Panini!), but DWM is the birth of a whole new comic era that is still ongoing today. The Daleks are obviously going to be first choice when it comes to delivering a comic strip without the Doctor, but keeping things current with the first part being introduced by the Fourth Doctor is intriguing to me. How did he learn about the events of this story? In such detail as well? It's fun to ponder on but what a story it is. I like the idea of the Daleks having been defeated on Anhaut some eight-hundred years ago and the mystery of not quite knowing how was fascinating. I have degrees in History so delving into the planet's archives was really fun. I was a little sceptical that nearly nobody knew what a Dalek looked like despite their name having such a profound presence in society, but from there things became rather glorious. The concept of making a movie about the Daleks' defeat in history and being able to play with the end due to a lack of historical records is great stuff, but when the Daleks themselves invade the filmset then that'a all the recipe for a marvellous adventure. Glax as the would-be filmmaker was a fun character and even after everything that had happened, he was still thinking of how he could turn events into a film. That was good fun. Hok Nepo as the big local movie star getting cast in the role of General Nor-Din was fantastic because the returning Daleks thought he was the real deal when invading the filming even after all this time! That was a glorious little twist. The truth regarding Nor-Din and him setting up the vortex defence so those faced with a Dalek return could find the means of defeating them again was admirable. He had gone through so much to rid them and the mental strain it had taken showed everything about the toll. It was literally draining him. I thought Kuay as the Dalek servant that brought them back to Anhaut was a fine character and when the Daleks got what they wanted from her she was surplus to requirements. She escaped extermination and quickly defected against the Daleks and utilised the crystal inside her head to link with Nor-Din's contraption and send the Daleks packing rather emphatically. It was an explosive end to what was a fascinating comic strip adventure! I was a huge fan. The artwork was really impressive too which is always a bonus in the comic strips! Overall, a terrific read. 

Rating: 9/10