A Review by Richard Radcliffe 13/10/02
It's quite a novel experience picking up a comic strip that you haven't read since you were 11. This return to childhood is a common pursuit of DW fans, and why the hell not, I thought - I'm bound to enjoy it. And so it was, on a quiet September evening, that I went back to DWW Number 1 and began to read. I was one of those stupid individuals who, at the age of 15, thought it was a good idea to rip out the best articles, and cut up the pictures (to make a wondrous Poster which has long since bit the dust) of my early DWW and DWM magazines. Recently though, thanks to a good mate with more foresight, I have been enjoying all the strips - right from the beginning, so to speak.
The first is perceived in most comic fan circles (not many of those) as being something of a classic. The Strip started magnificently, showing DWW was capable of telling better strips than ever before. That is the general opinion, and I was intrigued whether my memory cheated. I did recall it being excellent - but that could have very well been because it was the first. Iron Legion was also reprinted at every opportunity in Summer Specials, so I even remember reading it on a beach somewhere!
Thankfully coming back to it nearly a quarter of a century later was a good experience - and I can really say now it is one of the better strips. The story by Wagner and Mills is excellent, and the Artwork (by Dave Gibbons) is superb.
What would happen if Rome never fell? This intriguing idea is the basis of Iron Legion. Mixed in is DW aliens, they are running the show - and a fairly horrific show it is too. What is striking about this strip is how grown up it actually is. Bearing in mind that DWW was directed firmly at children, it seems the magazine knew that older children would be out there too. The rest of the Weekly was very child-like in tone - except the main comic strip - and this strip would remain so for the most part. Don't be put off because DWW was a children's mag - the comic strip can be enjoyed by all.
Putting the Doctor on his own was a good idea. It allowed the strip to run indepently from its mother show. There's no Romana and no K9 (at least until Issue 17 that is). The 4th Doctor is depicted well. His love of life and offbeat humour is very evident - this is a Doctor that is ideally suited to the strip. Of course the 4th Doctor had established himself as the ultimate Time Lord by this time on TV - but it's refreshing to see things authentically recreated.
The rest of the characters fulfill the needs of the story. The slave Morris is the big standout, a gentle giant who, Frankenstein-like, has been patched up - he would have been a fine comic companion if only. Vesuvius is the story's only concession to the kids. A silly looking Robot who eventually becomes Emperor - bit daft that - and not in keeping with the rest of the story. The monsters - the Malevilus - are excellent. They are really scary looking creatures with a incredibly sadistic way about them.
I do recall Matthew Jones in DWM, many years after this, recalling a certain image of this strip, in his Fluid Links section (it's actually on Page 2). The TARDIS lands outside a typical corner shop - the fantastic mixed brilliantly with the ordinary. The Doctor wants to stock up on jelly babies. Jones elaborated that this epitomized DW for him - and I can see totally where he is coming from.
I remember the strip being exciting when I was 11. The wonderful thing is when I'm 34 I can still enjoy such things - such is the marvelous appeal of DW. An excellent beginning. 9/10