Watching Doctor Who

(Erik, my Evil Twin, Convention partner, and frequent commenter here, was kind enough to write a review of the two Doctor Who Comic Books that are out there now. I haven’t had a chance to read them yet, you see. All hail Erik! Enjoy.)

Our good Doctor has made his long awaited return to the world of comics in not one but two forms. Let’s take a look, shall we?

First, we have the original stories based upon the adventures of the 10th Doctor and Martha. These are written by Gary Russell who has written so much regarding the Doctor and his chums that if you don’t know who he is, look on your Who related bookshelf or Big Finish CDs. The first issue is a stand alone story with a foe familiar to fans of the new series popping in. It begins with a brief recap of the Time Lords for the uninitiated but quickly drops you into a story that is already in progress. This is a technique that I enjoy as it lets you know these characters have been living before you turn the first page, although it does sometimes create a little confusion on the first read (which could be the case here). He has a good grasp of the voices of the Doctor and Martha and I could easily hear them saying all their dialogue in my head. He is also able to fit the stories into a single issue without making them feel rushed or like you’re skipping over bits. The art by Nick Roche is also very good. It is caricaturist and unique, but also very sharp and you have no problem recognizing who is who and the panels are never boring to look at.

The second issue is also a stand alone story, but is also the beginning of a longer serial with a mysterious “Big Bad�? causing havoc. Both of the issues have scattered about nice little winks for us relating to the Doctor’s past, actors and even pop culture, but in a good way (as in fleeting references to “A Clockwork Orange�? and “Monty Python,�? not Paris Hilton and American Idol). This is also something I always enjoy, as if they are little Easter eggs left for those who will love them, but not getting in the way of those who won’t get them. Still, including the Bay City Rollers among the Best of British Pop, not so sure about that one…

The physical comics themselves are of superior quality. These are not the tissue paper covers and newsprint pages you remember as a kid. The covers are of good, stiff stock and the pages themselves are high quality, glossy paper. Another nice thing is, being as they are being released by an independent press (as in not DC or Marvel), there are no ads breaking up the story, they are all at the end of that issue’s adventures. This is something that makes me very happy. Sadly, they are a bit on the pricey side at $3.99 each. This may come as a shock to those of you who last remember buying a comic when they were $.25 and issue, but I must say, you do get quality for the price you are paying.

All in all, I highly recommend these to the seasoned Whovian as well as the newcomer or simply a fan of good comics. I do wish they had begun these earlier, though, so we could have had Rose involved. No offense, Martha, I love you to bits but…well…its Rose.

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Doctor Who, Comics

I’ve been thinking about the Doctor Who New Series Adventures hardback novelizations lately. I have quite a few of them, but I’ve only managed to read one so far. Well, one and a bit of another. Have you read the New Series Adventures novelizations? If so, did you like them, and do you have a favorite? (I’ve seen many people refer to Stone Rose in fanfiction, but nary a mention of The Clockwise Man for example.) In case you’re curious, The Official Doctor Who Site has reviews of most of these books available.

Here are the books so far:

1. The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards

2. The Monsters Inside by Steve Cole

3. Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner

4. The Deviant Strain by Justin Richards

5. Only Human by Gareth Roberts

6. The Stealers of Dreams by Steve Lyons

7. The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner

8. The Feast of the Drowned by Steve Cole

9. The Resurrection Casket by Justin Richards

10. The Nightmare of Black Island by Mike Tucker

11. The Art of Destruction by Steve Cole

12. The Price of Paradise by Colin Brake

Well, I’ve read The Clockwise Man, and I really enjoyed it. I then picked up The Monsters Inside, but it failed to grab me right away, so I stopped there. Have you enjoyed these books? Which one should I read next?

Doctor Who, New Series Adventures, The Clockwise Man, Justin Richards, The Monsters Inside, Steve Cole, Winner Takes All, Jacqueline Rayner, The Deviant Strain, Only Human, Gareth Roberts, The Stealers of Dreams, Steve Lyons, The Stone Rose, The Feast of the Drowned, The Resurrection Casket, The Nightmare of Black Island, Mike Tucker, The Art of Destruction, The Price of Paradise, Colin Brake

Doctor Who: Aliens and Enemies by Justin Richards is a companion book to Doctor Who: Monsters and Villains, and it was just as fun to read as its predecessor. All sorts of new and classic foes are discussed within its 95(or so) full-color pages, and even a few friends, such as K-9. I loved the pictures of the Clockwork Robots especially. The author also treats us to some behind the scenes insight into how some of the effects were created for the show. Did you know that the gas masks used in the episodes “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” were actually specially made for the show? Cool, eh? Some bits of information that have not appeared in the show are included as well, so keep your eyes peeled for them. The only downside to this book that I can see are the couple of factual errors that I encountered. (For example, on p. 49 it states that “The Five Doctors” was originally shown in the UK on 25 November 1963, when it was really first shown on 25 November 1983.) Aliens and Enemies is fun and informative. If you are the sort of person that likes a bit of extra insight, this is the book for you. (By the way, am I the only one who wants to know for sure that The Rani died in the Time War?)

Doctor Who, Aliens and Enemies, Justin Richards, Monsters and Villains

Doctor Who: The Shooting Scripts contains the almost final scripts for the episodes from season one of the new Doctor Who. I wish that they would publish a book of the scripts for season two, as this one is just fabulous. Each episode’s script is accompanied by an introduction by the author of that episode. Sometimes, this gives the reader some background on where the idea for the episode came from or information on previous versions. For example, the Dalek wasn’t always in “Dalek.” There was some question about the rights to use the character. Okay, I just love this book. I love being able to read the stage directions as they give just a bit of extra insight into the episode. The couple of scenes that are in the script, but didn’t make it into the final cut of the episode, are a little window into what might have been. The pictures that accompany the scripts really add to the fun. I want season two. Actually, while we’re dreaming big, I want the Torchwood scripts too.

Doctor Who: The Shooting Scripts, Doctor Who, scripts

Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards is the first of the new hardback Doctor Who tie-in novels, and I loved it. It was just like reading an episode. I could almost review it like one, come to think of it. The featured characters are the ninth Doctor and Rose, and the action takes place in 1920s London. (The Doctor and Rose are in town to see the British Empire Exhibition.) There are twists and turns, scary aliens, unexpected friends and foes, a few obvious subplots, and even a “bad wolf” reference. As usual, Rose has to wear period clothing, while the Doctor only goes as far as changing his shirt. This adventure seems to take place early on during the first series. Certainly, it’s pre-Captain Jack. There are many references to time and chess, and they seem to weave their way through the story. The characters aren’t the most well developed I have ever encountered, but the pace of the story more than makes up for this. The action drags you along in its wake and, if you are not careful, you will find yourself reading way past your bedtime. Just as with any good episode, I want to go read it again now.

Doctor Who, The Clockwise Man, Justin Richards

Okay, I finally received my Official 2007 Doctor Who Annual! (cue the cheering section.) Yes, it’s aimed at kids, but I really enjoyed it. It’s full of information, activities, and comics. Have you ever wondered if your teacher is an alien? The ten warning signs are offered on page twenty-three. You can even discover which of The Doctor’s companions you would be. I keep ending up as Captain Jack for some reason. (I heard that.) If you have yet to see all of series two, however, I should warn you that this book contains spoilers. There is a whole two page spread on the last episode of the season. This is my first British television annual. I am not sure if this is typical of annuals in general, but I shall certainly purchase next year’s just to compare and see. To sum up: full of pictures, projects and fun.

Doctor Who Annual

I was looking at my Doctor Who Role Playing Game (fasa corp., 1986) today, and I came across the book called A Sourcebook for Field Agents. I thought, “Heavens, what a blast from the past!” I had to share some of it with you, so here is a quote from the section entitled “Intervention: An Introduction.”

“(excerpted from: Policy Guide For Novice Field Agents, by Lord ‘X’, (internal publication of the Celestial Intervention Agency)
Of Aid To You
This document provides the most basic background and guidelines for your work. It is the barest bones of the knowledge you will require, but it is the result of, not the usual Gallifreyan theorizing, but of the raw experiences your predecessors have had in the field. Herein you will find the terms, theories, principles, and practicies of time travel; many of these will be familiar to you, but others may take on a new clarity. You will learn about the dangers posed by the temporal marauders who are our bitter foes. The history of Temporal Nexus Point Earth is discussed in depth, giving you an example of how intervention on one small planet can affect the time lines of all the universe.”

Sorta makes you wonder if The Doctor ever read that policy guide…

Doctor Who Role Playing Game, A Sourcebook for Field Agents, The Doctor