A Review by Richard Radcliffe 12/6/03
The 7th Doctor continues apace, slowly becoming the longest Doctor in the strip. Ace is joined by Benny, reflecting the success of the New Adventures books. The writers continue to swap and change, but John Ridgway returns to provide most of the artwork at this time. Debuts of future stalwarts WS Gray, Martin Geraghty. Summer 1992 to Spring 1994.
Ravens (188-190)
A solemn, doom-laden warrior who has just lost his family. A street gang that causes mass mayhem and bloodshed. We're in dark, mysterious 7th Doctor territory here. Andrew Cartmel is the writer, and you get the impression this is where he wanted the 7th Doctor to go eventually. For that reason Ravens, like Fellow Travellers before it by Cartmel, is highly interesting.
The story is all about atmosphere. Cartmel tells a very simple tale where the artist has free reign in their representations. It's credit to Brian Williamson (inks by Smith and Pini) that this comic strip is so alive and memorable. The combination of writing and drawing talent combine wonderfully well. You can really get lost in these panels, and you feel quite relieved you survived intact!
The Raven is 2 things here. It is a Japanese soldier, willing to freeze to death because of his tragic loss. It's also a group of streetfighters ready to bring forth a demon. I'm a big fan of Angel. I love the dark overtones, the mass of wonderful demonic creatures - not all bad - who infest LA. I suspect Andrew Cartmel will like Angel too - his stories fit that show superbly well.
The Doctor is on his own here. He's the one who brings the 2 Ravens together, for the mutual benefit of the Jenkins family. This is Time's Champion bringing seemingly unconnected people together for the good of all - a real hero, who uses others to save the universe (or in this case a family).
There's something incredibly noble about this Doctor, in spite of his pawn wielding antics. There's also something hugely interesting and complex about such a character. Cartmel knows the 7th Doctor better than most - he shows it here.
Another wonderful strip - and such a triumph after quite a few duffers. 9/10
City of Devils (Holiday Special '92)
In keeping with the nature of the Holiday Special, this can be seen as a sequel to K9 and Company - but also a prequel (many years before the event) of the Big Finish Sarah-Jane audios. The fact is that Sarah-Jane was one of the greatest companions of the Doctor. She was strong enough, character-wise, to carry her own stories. Whilst this is not the best, it shows potential - and it's a shame there wasn't more over the years. But I suppose that's the beauty of DW - there are so many stories to tell, about so many individuals related to the show.
Sarah-Jane Smith and K9 travel to Egypt to help out Doctor Martyn and his assistant Townsend. An archeological dig is facing a hard time, people missing or dead. Once inside the underground vhamber they find a labyrinth of passages. Suddenly they are confronted by Silurians, and are taken round a magnificent underground city. Talks between the Silurians and humans commence, and hope is rampant for the future.
I couldn't get my head around Silurians in Egypt, to be honest. Maybe Bloodtide has coloured my acceptance of Silurians/Sea Devils - they are better on an island, or in a jungle. The barren landscape of Egypt seems too open for this secretive race. I was very impressed with the city underground though. Of course, the strip can do these sorts of things much better than any other medium. Nonetheless Vincent Danks does a fine job with the art. Sarah-Jane is presented as petite and pretty, but with a drive that distinguishes her from the crowd. Gary Russell's story isn't brilliant, but it's not a bad adventure for Sarah-Jane. It is rather open-ended though - a shame for a one-off strip. I like resolution with these kind of stories!
The obvious is also telegraphed rather with Dr Martyn. All the way through he reminded me of the Doctor - the definitive version so to speak. When K9 and Sarah-Jane state this to the readers, it really was unnecessary. K9 is useful for back story, but very little else.
City of Devils is a pleasant little tale, perfectly suited to the apecial. Now where's my copy of Comeback? 7/10
Memorial (191)
The first entry from a man who will dominate the comic scene over the next 10 years is a corker. At only 1 part it crams a delightful story of war and the value of life. Warwick Gray emerged over the next few years as an outstanding writer, and it is in evidence right from the start.
Most of the strip is set around a war memorial in Westmouth. The only players are the 7th Doctor, Ace, Simon Galway (an old man who fought in the Second World War) and an alien life essence - the Telphin. As the truth emerges of the connection between Simon and the Telphin, so the Doctors motives are again called into question. The fact that the Doctor went to the Telphin world and sought out their life essence is incredibly in keeping with the Time's Champion persona that Andrew Cartmel helped create.
The story is wonderfully drawn by one of the great DW artists - John Ridgway. His art had really been missed in the magazine, and here he returns with some lovely work. It's a comic that you find yourself really admiring, rather than just reading it. I admire the skill and talent of the artist, and it is wonderful to spend time with his creations.
Memorial is definitely a comic strip that can be enjoyed again and again. A marvelous little tale with all round brilliance. 10/10
Flashback (Winter Special '92)
Rather peculiar one this one. It appears in the Winter Special of 1992. A Gallifrey special was proclaimed on the front cover, and the articles justified this within. As every major Time Lord we know was dissected, there's this strange combination of 1st and 7th Doctors within.
DWM had just started presenting Benny with the 7th Doctor, so this was New Who looking back, so to speak. The prolific Warwick Gray pens the tale, with the greatest artist of all - John Ridgway - on board too. It seems Benny has enquired about ancient Gallifrey. The 7th Doctor can't go there (it would defy every law imaginable), so he constructs a hologram - which seems to satiate the new companions interest.
It shows Thete (the 1st Doctor using his nickname apparently) and Magnus (obviously the Master) at odds concerning a sphere containing artron energy. The Master plans to drain it of all energy, aiding the Time Lords in their mastery of Time. The Doctor claims the sphere is a living creature, and therefore it must not suffer. The case goes before a Time Lord Tribunal, and the Doctor wins. It was the end of the Thete/Magnus friendship - and thus has quite a major impact on DW mythology.
It's pretty good to see the 1st Doctor in his ceremonial robes. They suit him far more than they did the 4th Doctor! There's a fair amount of novelty value in bringing the 1st and 7th together too (even though they do not interact). The experiment was repeated very differently with the same 2 Doctors with another special a couple of years later.
Flashback contains some wonderful artwork first and foremost. Not only are the representations of the characters spot on, but the holographic device is used to place the Doctor and Benny in space - it's a great image, and quite magical. I liked this strip just fine. It's considerably better than the majority of strips of that year. 7/10
Cat Litter (192)
This is a showcase for the imagination of both Marc Platt (the writer) and John Ridgway (the artist). The TARDIS needs a tidy, and the Doctor decides to execute the reconfiguration programme. Ace is caught up in these room changes, believing it is her who has caused the mayhem.
The strip is presented like a snakes and ladders board. Each panel has a number, and during the course of the strip it countdowns to zero. The strip is not adverse to telling stories in different ways from the norm, and it can provide something quite unique and memorable. Ridgway himself was responsible for the classic Once Upon a Time Lord, Rupert Bear, graphics - and he again produces something quite distinctive, but from a clear inspiration.
The story is not really that substantial, this is more a focus for the talents of the artist. But then again Marc Platt probably came up with the idea anyway. It's nice to have a bit of runaround every now and again anyway, and this is a certainly a novel way of presenting it.
The runaround belies some quite profound moments though. The very fact that the TARDIS is reconfiguring of its own accord, ready for new faces, prequels the introduction of Benny, and the loss of Ace in the New Adventures. The comic strip strived quite hard at this time to fit in with Virgin continuity - rather ironic considering the strip never really bothered with keeping up with the TV (Frobisher, Sharon).
Not a bad stand alone runaround all things considered. 7/10
Pureblood (193-196)
This, like the next story, is the 7th Doctor making sure his own timeline is intact for the future. It fits the manipulative nature of the 7th Doctor to behave in such a way - preparing the future to fit in with his own perceptions. So that's where this Sontaran civil war, within the Rutan war came from I expect - a desire to show the Doctor ensuring the future, his future, is intact.
Trouble is there is very little to get excited about in this 4-part tale. The writing isn't great - the story just not that interesting. The artwork is poor (the 2 Colins, Andrew and Howard). We are back in not very good 7th Doctor strip territory here, and after the return of Ridgway and a few very good 1 parters, that was disappointing.
This is the first strip story for NA companion Benny Summerfield. With her huge earrings it isn't quite as I imagined her. But in the 21st Century we now have the marvelous Lisa Bowerman portrayal as definitive. At the time it was probably okay. Once again the strip is trying desperately hard to match Virgin continuity - so much better when Ground Zero finished off the 7th Doctor run.
The Sontaran and Rutan war popped up in quite a few TV stories. The books have delved into it too - but an eternal war is not where I really want to be. Both sides are completely obsessed with war, and it is very difficult to find more than the 1-dimensional characters we usually encounter.
The Sontaran civil war, between cloned and pureblood Sontarans, was an attempt to bring some different character traits to this race. But the end result is a return to the status quo. The Sontarans and Rutans are still fighting, the pureblood Sontarans integrating with the more dominant clones.
The space saga across the 26th Century that is this story is, is yet another example of how the comic strips really fails to present existing monsters well. Just didn't enjoy this one very much at all. 4/10
Emperor of the Daleks (197-202)
The epic story that straddled the anniversary DWM 200, was the inspiration of Paul Cornell (helped by DWM editor John Freeman). The definitive New Adventure writer, apparently, gives us a tale where Dalek continuity is firmly to the fore. There are references to quite a few Dalek stories, including the last Dalek strip adventure Nemesis of the Daleks. Flung into the mix is the Dalek killer himself - Abslom Daak - it seems no Dalek story in the early 90s was complete without him, despite the fact he died last time he appeared.
Coming out as it did in 1993 when the New Adventure Deceit was imminent, there's a case for Daak overkill. Also included are the Star Tigers from the supplement strip in the early days of DWM/DWW (thought they were dead too! Bit of time looping going on methinks). There's also, of course, Davros and the Daleks. The blasts from the past are everywhere, and it seems essential that everything fits into established Dalek continuity perfectly. The story also leads into Remembrance of the Daleks (TV), Bringer of Darkness (Summer Special 1993 strip) and Up Above the Gods (DWM 227 amongst the past Doctor run of Comic Strips of 1995). Rarely has a story been prequeled and sequeled so extensively - it's pretty much a pivotal point in the whole comic strip DWM run, as a result.
Getting your head around this mass of continuity is the greatest challenge of this story. When you give it your full attention there is an incredibly rich story in there, in its own right. It doesn't rewrite Dalek history like War of the Daleks so pointlessly did, it just fills in the gaps, and I expect many a fan will like that very much.
The art is provided by Lee Sullivan - I hadn't realized he has been involved with DW for so long (he had been doing comic strips a few years by 1993). His artwork is very good, everyone looks like they should (Benny being like she was in Pureblood, but better drawn), and the story is very well presented - the artwork telling the story just as much as the words - effective comic strip then.
The bringing in of 2 Doctors is very effective. The 6th Doctor and Peri are the TARDIS team for the first part - the ones who pick up Davros. This part of the story is continued in Up Above the Gods - a good battle of intellects between the 6th Doctor and Davros. For Episode 2 the action switches to 7th Doctor and Benny. There's also a wonderful little scene where the 6th and 7th Doctors meet right at the end. This completely knocks the idea of the 7th Dr killing the 6th Doctor (a crazy idea anyway) on the head. The audios also look like redressing this anomaly in DW print too - and that's for the best.
Emperor of the Daleks certainly brought a greater interest for the Daleks from this reviewer. I was intrigued how all the pieces of Dalek history fit together, and I'm not usually fussed about that sort of thing. The best thing about Emperor though is one single 2 page panel. Issue 200 is in grand colour, and it concludes with a marvelous poster-like panel of the Daleks, Davros and the Doctor. It's superb - but the story that surrounds it is pretty good too. 8/10
Bringer of Darkness (Summer Special '93)
Usual writer, Warwick Scott Gray, and new artist, Martin Geraghty combine for this DWM Special strip from 1993. This combination was to dominate the strip for a huge run later on - and the effectiveness of the partnership is apparent right from the off. The Doctor is the 2nd, with Jamie and Victoria along for the ride. DWM was running a Dalek strip at this time, so this complements Emperor of the Daleks quite well. It is notable, like that story, for its references to past stories - and its depiction of Victoria.
The 2nd Doctor has very limited comic strip stories, compared to other Doctors, so it was nice to see Troughton's Doctor in print. Gray perfectly captures this Doctor too. Setting the story directly after Web of Fear, just before Fury From the Deep, there is a nice insight into Victoria's character. It shows that she was getting tired of the death and destruction, and the extremes to which the Doctor had to go to, to achieve his ends. Much of the 7 pages are taken up with Victoria's thoughts, and this is by far the best aspect of the strip.
The story, about the Daleks' secret base, and the Doctor having to destroy it, is okay - but it really only provides a showcase for Victoria's thoughts and future planning. The artist captures the TARDIS crew reasonably, but it is the writing that really proves their characters.
A rare 2nd Doctor escapade in the comic medium, and a very fine companion study. 8/10
Final Genesis (203-206)
Now here's a strange thing in DW History - please correct me anybody out there if I've got the wrong end of the stick on this.
Blood Heat, A New Adventure Book by Jim Mortimore, was published in October 1993. It contains the 7th Doctor, Ace and Benny. It has the Silurians and Sea Devils on an alternate earth.
Final Genesis, a comic strip from DWM by Warwick Gray, was published in September 1993. It contains the 7th Doctor, Ace and Benny. It has the Silurians and Sea Devils on an alternate earth.
I had to check the dates were correct, I didn't get DWM back then, and have only come to this story 9 years later thanks to back issues. The main idea is almost the same for both book and comic. I wonder who had the idea first. Saying the stories are the same though would be wrong. They might have a similar selling point, but they are quite different once you open them both up.
Blood Heat had a rundown world where the Silurians were masters, Final Genesis had the humans and Silurians ruling together. But I am reviewing Final Genesis here, and there's quite a bit to like about it.
There's a concerted effort to make the Silurians act the same as the humans - they are fully integrated. It's a bit of shock to find the 3rd Doctor dead (like Blood Heat - that's the last time I will mention that!), and UNIT now called URIC - UNIT has a better ring to it I feel. There's a couple of Silurian Doctor and Master clones too in Thactus and Mortakk - that's quite clever.
The art is pretty good too, by Colin Andrew - but I just couldn't get my serious head round Silurians in battle gear, or Silurians with overcoats. They just looked silly - the amalgamation of Silurian and human pushed a little too far. Then when we discover a crossbreed is being developed, I just thought "This is getting very silly: and I was ready to move onto a new sketch/story.
Final Genesis is not my favourite strip, far from it. It's not a bad story - but it would have been a much better story told with no pictures, just words. Like Blood Heat in fact! 5/10
Time and Time Again (207)
Now this is perfect stand alone strip material! Paul Cornell writes a story that all of us has thought about writing - a key to time search with all the Doctors involved. I suspect such an idea would be dismissed immediately by Justin Richards or Gary Russell, in their respective roles - but the strip embraces it - if only for 1 issue. This is pure fun, and gives off a warm glow to every fan who reads it.
John Ridgway is the best artist ever to grace the strip, and he recaptures the 7 Doctors wonderfully well here. That the strip is in colour is a bonus - this is marvelous nostalgia. Not many artists can present all the Doctors supremely well - both Ridgway and Cornell show the Doctors in wonderfully apt settings for each incarnation. Picking on just a few characteristics it really shows off the excellence of them all.
The strip starts with the 7th Doctor, Benny and Ace up before the White Guardian. The Black Guardian has changed history, and the Doctor has never left Gallifrey. Earth has been invaded countless times as a result and Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Sea Devils, Sontarans all were successful and live on Earth. The 7th Doctor, Benny and Ace have to restore the Key to Time - which happens to be everywhere the past Doctors are. Thus the 3 go off to 6 previous Doctors, and restore 2 pieces (very easily) each.
The strip is a rehashing of old stories, taking moments from those stories and inserting 7th Dr, Ace and Benny in there. But whereas Terrance Dicks' Eight Doctors ran with this fun premise too long, Time and Time Again is a jolly little romp - over in 5 minutes. It's perfect nostalgia.
It's there to bring a Ready Brek glow to fans everywhere, and it succeeds very well in doing so. Nothing original, no long reaching arcs, just fun with characters we know and love. 9/10
Cuckoo (208-210)
Dan Abnett has shown himself to be a good comic strip writer over the 5-6 years preceding this strip. Only twice, on his very first outings (Echoes of the Mogor, Hunger from the Ends of Time), has he had John Ridgway doing the art for his story. All kinds of artists, Lee Sullivan excepted, have not really given his stories the best forum. Here he has a great artist - and the story is better as a result.
The setting is 1855, and in a scene that is reminiscent of the much later Sleepy Hollow film, something very nasty happens to a traveller on a coach. This strip was presented in 1994, but the inspirations clearly go back a very long way. The story concerns an amateur paleantologist, a woman - Mary Anne Wesley. She is about to discover an alien skeleton, and the discovery will severely change the scientific scene of the late 19th Century. The Doctor is there to prevent the discovery.
With artwork by Ridgway that wonderfully evokes the mid 19th Century this story is a real treat. The alien infiltration is done simply, and this pseudo-historical is exactly the sort of story DW does best, in any medium. At 3 parts it is just about long enough to go into certain details, but it doesn't outstay its welcome either - 3 parts is perhaps the ideal length for the strip format (24 pages).
The 7th Doctor always seems to have some prior mission in mind in his stories - he rarely lands not knowing what will happen. It was this kind of foreknowledge that resulted in the manipulative Doctor of the New Adventures. This story, with NA companions Benny and Ace prominent, continues that theme - but it is more impressive all round. The companions are well presented, and Soldier Ace actually comes across very well. Her desire to leave things be comes from deep within - you have to ask though, why does she travel with such the Doctor. She knows she will be used, yet she still carries on. Benny is a much more fitting character - she trusts the Doctor for the most part and accepts his higher motives usually.
Of the guest stars it is only Thomas Gideon (thanks to the fine prologue) and the alien Surcoth who emerge with rounded characters. Surprisingly Mary Anne Wesley, the central reason for the Doctor's involvement, is largely on the sidelines. There's a nice conclusion to the story featuring her character though.
Cuckoo is an impressive story all round - it's such a pity the best comic strips didn't have a higher circulation. 9/10
Uninvited Guest (211)
Sampling TV villains and monsters is something that works very well in the comic medium. Right from the word go I knew this was the Eternals from Enlightenment we were dealing with, and like the aforementioned story this is a study into their callous treatment of ephemerals.
We arrive at a party, the 7th Doctor is already there, on his own. Lord Prospero, the Eternal party holder, is telling a story about how a group of Eternals gave atomic power to a world, and that world then destroyed itself - great fun for all Eternals everywhere. The Doctor takes matters into his own hands, destroying one of those fancy crystals, and condemning (at least in their Eternal eyes) the Eternals there to a normal birth, life, death existence. It's a lesson from Time's Champion, and it's one he is very quick to give. This Doctor doesn't hold back in extreme actions, in effect killing the Eternals.
The strip is notable for being the last 7th Doctor strip before DWM went to past Doctors. It also is one of John Ridgway's last efforts - one of the greatest strip artists. Warwick Scott Gray has written a nice one-off strip, building on TV adventures - and furthering the 7th Dr's manipulative character. Pretty good, stand alone story. 7/10