Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor #3 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE FOURTH DOCTOR No. 3, July 2016

Whilst Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby’s collaborative script for Issue Three of “Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor” undoubtedly contains plenty of action, suspense and engaging elucidation, the writing team’s early decision to previously reveal that Lady Emily Carstairs already owns a centuries old stone statue of Sarah Jane Smith within her mansion’s gallery, rather makes a mockery of any tension supposedly generated by this comic’s central plot thread. Indeed, predominantly focusing upon Professor Odysseus James and the female reporter’s exploration of the gorgon’s creepy caverns, this twenty-two page periodical’s 7,412-strong audience were undoubtedly simply asking themselves when the Time Lord’s assistant was going to be petrified as opposed to anxiously pondering whether she was going to endure such a hideous fate…

Of course, the same cannot be said for the ardent feminist’s blustery companion, who initially seems to believe that the pair have inadvertently fallen through “some damned clever hinged opening or hidden lock mechanism” rather than been erroneously transported through time and space straight to the Medusa’s fearsome lair. His destiny appears to be very much in the laps of the gods as he excitedly discovers a Corinthian helmet “almost straight from the Bronzesmith’s forge” and a classic Xiphos shortsword; “What the British Museum wouldn’t give for this beauty!”

In fact, the “expert” in chrononautology’s infectious enthusiasm for the duo’s forebodingly dark and twisted journey throughout the venomous monster’s multi-tunnelled underground labyrinth is arguably one of the highlights of this publication, and it certainly must have made many a reader sigh in relief when the increasingly endearing character miraculously evades the glare of the gorgon and somehow manages to flee her serpentine presence. Admittedly, this desertion of Sarah Jane does leave the journalist’s calcified ‘corpse’ at the tender mercies of a triumphant, hideously-formed, multi-limbed mythological beast, but the time-traveller’s fossilisation was more as a result of her audacious curiosity, rather than the apprehensive scientist’s unheroic nature.

Equally as able to hold the attention as this comic’s competently compelling narrative is Brian Williamson’s artwork. The British illustrator genuinely depicts a truly harrowing journey for this comic’s protagonists through the statue-infested catacombs of Medusa, and seemingly provides every one of the creature’s grotesque trophies with a haunting look of terror upon their stricken faces. In addition, the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design graduate manages to imbue the rather dialogue-heavy exposition scenes between the Fourth Doctor and Athena James with some much needed animation; something which is particularly appreciated once the Gallifreyan has outwitted the Scryclops and begins experimenting upon the Lamp of Chronos.

Writers: Gordon Rennie & Emma Beeby, and Art: Brian Williamson