A Review by Richard Radcliffe 17/10/02
After the excellent Iron Legion strip, set on earth, the TARDIS flies off to Zom - a futuristic city on planet far distant. It was good that the Strip recognized immediately the vast diversity that is DW - and alternated stories accordingly (the next major story would be set back on Earth). At 8 parts (around 35 pages) these early stories certainly were allowed to breathe, and this could very well be one of the main reasons they are so fondly remembered.
Whilst not being quite up to the standard to the previous Rome story, City of the Damned is mighty fine. It's expertly drawn again by Dave Gibbons, and Wagner and Mills show again what fine storytellers they are.
The giant City is brilliantly drawn. Recalling images of Metropolis, it is all straight lines - showing the practicalities and lack of emotion that lie within. The Moderator General rules the people by cutting out all emotions. They are biological robots for all intents and purposes, and the Brains' Trust oversee all.
The fascination is when the outsiders (there always is outsiders in these types of cold places eg Logan's Run) join the story. They glory in their return to emotional state. They have names like FAIRLY ANGRY, SILLY and HUMBLE, the contrast between them and the city dwellers is huge. The Doctor, typically, gets involved in both sets of people - but the emotions will always win over logic.
Again the strip presents violence as it is. The Bloodbugs are nasty little things. They eat up the populace in a matter of seconds, leaving only a skeleton left. This is shown time and time again, until a cure is found (by the Doctor of course) and all live happily ever after. The Bloodbug scenes are quite horrific for a Children's Comic!
Wagner, Mills and Gibbons again give us a vibrant, supremely likeable Doctor - and surround him with fantastic characters. The strip continues impressively. 8/10