The Gyros Injustice

"The robots have taken control."

Writer: Neville Main

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May-June 1965

Printed in: TV Comic 699-704

Featuring: First Doctor, John, Gillian

Synopsis

On a distant world the threat of plague has divided the human population into two factions, the primitive land dwellers and then old men who live within the mechanised cities, guarded and dominated by the work robots, the Gyros. What happens when the two factions meet?

Verdict

The Gyros Injustice was another intriguing comic strip adventure from the fabulously whacky world of the TV Comic run. I'm starting to get settled now into these stories but it doesn't feel any less incredible to be reading them. I'm loving them for their absurdity and this comic strip certainly had that in abundance! You could be forgiven for being confused at me including Gillian in my 'featuring' section because she disappears in part one and only returns right at the end! Imagine reading this contemporarily and the companion just vanishes for five weeks! I mean, I don't think she has offered a massive amount as companion or the Doctor's granddaughter since stepping aboard the TARDIS, but that's beside the point. It did provide a good thread throughout the story though as we aimed to reunite her with the Doctor and John, but it would have been nice to get a panel or two to just check in on her and make sure she was okay. I thought the setting was strong and it's fun that we're subtly resembling the journey of Ian and Barbara with John and Gillian. Even though they're the Doctor's grandchildren, the endgame does appear to be returning them back to Earth. Will we venture back to the sight of The Klepton Parasites? I'm very intrigued by the direction of these comics because there doesn't appear to be an overlapping arc or anything, but continuity is starting to be established. It's also completely ignored in parts which is great fun. Why was John referred to as Johnny for much – but not all – of this comic strip? It felt entirely random and even the Doctor jumps at the chance to call him boy rather than by name. It just felt a tad strange. The Gyros looked impressive and the concept isn't bad at all with them as robotic guards. I think some clarity and just more explanation or background on the plague would have been beneficial, but I did like seeing the older population cowering in safety with the Gyros as their helpers. They were in control despite being in the shadows but encountering outsiders was a horrifying prospect as witnessed by their reaction to the Doctor being in their presence. His claim at seeing the plague before and knowing its cure was a little odd and quite the jump I must say. It didn't quite make sense and felt like a sudden advancement of the situation. I was impressed with a few of the cliffhangers and the opening one where the TARDIS was literally being dug around on a bridge to send it crashing to the floor below was tremendous. That was incredibly unique. I thought the appearance of the primitive land dwellers being unfaithful to their current health condition was good stuff and certainly explained why they were still feared by the older men. The rescue of Gillian in the concluding part was fine, if not a little rushed. I thought things were a little too open-ended with the situation on the planet though at the end with the Doctor not being seen to provide the cure and the Gyros were still in existence! I did chuckle at the fact the writing referred to the Doctor as 'the brilliant Doctor' on no less than three occasions! They're not wrong of course but it was just good fun. The image of them on the carts and doing the unexpected was sensational as well as we've never seen the First Doctor so mobile! Overall, wackily weird and good fun despite some omissions in quality and background. 

Rating: 7/10