Doctor Who: Once Upon A Time Lord [Part Two] - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: ONCE UPON A TIME LORD, November 2023

Perhaps rather unsurprisingly concluding his “incredible Doctor Who comics debut” with the Tenth Doctor confronting all of the dead souls he’s created throughout his numerous adventures, Dan Slott’s conclusion to the celebratory “Firelight” is debatably rather dissatisfactory. True, the American author does inject a few noteworthy moments within this crescendo of cameos, such as the Cybermen once again battling a handful of Daleks as John Lumic unemotionally looks on. But all these scenes are so stiflingly short-lived, that there’s rarely an appearance that maintains a reader’s attention for any significant length of time.

Indeed, considering that the Gallifreyian simply gallops past all these people without any problem, courtesy of the alien werewolf from “Tooth And Claw”, this entire yarn appears to have been penned simply to provide Matthew Dow Smith the opportunity to pencil as many of the Doctor’s numerous enemies as he can. However, the narrative’s conclusion is wonderfully written, with the all-powerful Pyromeths finding themselves utterly helpless before the stern-faced time traveller once they discover to their utter horror that the fairytale Martha Jones has carefully been telling them was actually the truth; “Suddenly they could hear it. The wheezing, groaning sound of the TARDIS…”

Far more disappointing is this graphic novel’s much smaller, “special bonus” script, which features the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler perturbingly battling the Terileptil whilst orbiting the Earth at the start of the Twenty-First Century. Based upon the popular pairing spouting nonsense as they tie the “space-faring reptilian species” up in knots with plenty of tongue-twisters, Slott lamentably just repeats this particular incarnation’s penchant for de-evolving his foes back to when they were a much less dangerous species of extra-terrestrials.

Much more successful than the writing for “Rhyme Or Reason” are arguably Mike Collins’ clean-lined illustrations, with the West Bromwich-born artist rather pleasingly capturing the physical likeliness of both Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper as they joyfully outwit the supposedly highly sophisticated, technologically advanced fish-like humanoids. In addition, there’s a real stiffness to the movement of the Terileptils in “Doctor Who: Once Upon A Timelord” which nostalgically mimics the creatures’ awkwardness when seen on the small screen during the 1982 televised show “The Visitation”.

Writer: Dan Slott, and Artists: Christopher Jones & Matthew Dow Smith, and Mike Collins

Doctor Who: Once Upon A Time Lord [Part One] - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: ONCE UPON A TIME LORD, November 2023

Whilst it’s rather unlikely that many of this hard-back graphic novel’s readers will actually “be on the edge of your Tardis as Martha recounts three unbelievable tales of The Doctor facing off against his deadliest foes”, many should still enjoy Dan Slott’s penmanship for the book’s opening adventure “Firelight”. Indeed, a fair few Whovians probably felt that it was something of a shame the “Eisner Award-winning Spider-Man writer” wasn't asked to use his forty-page plus plot as the basis for the science fiction television programme’s Sixtieth Anniversary celebrations; “So all of those incredible ludicrous things I said you did… You actually did all of that?!”

For starters it is arguably all too easy to imagine actor David Tennant thoroughly captivating a small screen audience with the Tenth Doctor’s antics as he desperately attempts to have his time machine get swallowed whole by an enormous killer space salmon. The entire build-up to this ‘Jonah and the whale’ moment is wonderfully entertaining and rather pleasingly adds an extra element of interest to the superstitious Sycorax, courtesy of the vicious intergalactic plunderer Admiral Scarrr and his ‘Moby Dick’ like obsession with the mighty Troutanicus.

However, probably this comic’s best yarn concerns the Time Lord’s decision to match wits with both the Third Reich and the alien Osiran Horus during the Second World War. Absolutely crammed with all the Egyptian puzzles and mummeries a fan would expect from a narrative clearly inspired by Robert Holmes’ “Pyramids Of Mars”, this pillaging of the extra-terrestrial's treasure beneath the sands of North Africa contains a mesmerising mixture of shocks and tongue-in-cheek humour - most notably when the obnoxious and utterly arrogant Colonel Heinrich Munsterhausen demands that the 'god' send him straight to the Realm of the Dead, and is promptly executed by a robot mummy.

Disappointingly though, this book’s artwork does occasionally prove something of an obstacle due to Christopher Jones’ splendid layouts quickly being replaced with the much rawer pencils of Matthew Dow Smith as the action moves from the peaceful planet Bibalabinko to the stormy Plasma Seas of Sirenia Seven. Admittedly, Smith’s proficient panels still help with the storytelling. But when compared to the prodigious artwork of the “Young Justice” illustrator, the stark contrast in quality is disconcerting to say the least.

Writer: Dan Slott, and Artists: Christopher Jones & Matthew Dow Smith

Doctor Who [2020] #4 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO No. 4, March 2021

Apart from a horribly clichéd conclusion which revolves around the Thirteenth Doctor’s decision to activate a stolen Venusian spaceship’s conveniently-accessible self-destruct device so as to save Humanity, there arguably wasn’t much to Jody Houser’s plot for Issue Four of “Doctor Who” to keep its readers either enjoyably enthralled or even briefly entertained. Admittedly, the twenty-two page periodical does contain one brief moment of action when the female Time Lord’s friendly extra-terrestrial Queen bravely battles her much more ferocious counter-part for control of the aforementioned vessel. But even this savage clash of vicious kicks and lashing scorpion-like tails is over within the space of a handful of panels.

Instead, the American author seems to spend the vast majority of this comic desperately trying to pad her storyline out with a series of dialogue-heavy conversational pieces, and portraying the Gallifreyan’s Tenth incarnation in a less than charitable fashion. Indeed, there genuinely appears to be some sort of ‘hidden agenda’ going on with this book’s narrative to seemingly show Jodie Whittaker’s character as the two-hearted adventurer’s definitive regeneration by having her repeatedly scold her earlier male self in front of the TARDIS crew and telling him to “just shut it.”

Equally as unlikeable is Houser’s suggestion that the ‘holier than thou’ “live wire” is apparently perfectly entitled to criticise others for proposing that they use violence to achieve their personal goals, such as the technology-stealing scavenger aliens who have abducted both Nikola Tesla and Thomas A. Edison. Yet when it comes to stopping the Skithra, the Doctor doesn’t even batter an eyelid when she quickly elects to literally blow all the aliens orbiting Mars out of the sky without any warning whatsoever; “Love a good plan, or a bad plan with room for improvisation. Or an idea that could become a plan.”

Desperately trying to make this publication’s narrative last just long enough to fill out its required page count is Roberta Ingranata, whose prodigious pencilling at least manages to provide those bibliophiles able to successfully endure Jody’s sedentary script with a modicum of pleasing eye candy. In fact, one of this comic’s highlights is the Italian illustrator’s excellent ability to provide all of its quite considerably-sized cast with plenty of readily recognisable facial expressions and physical mannerisms.

Writer: Jody Houser, Artist: Roberta Ingranata, and Colorist: Enrica Eren Angiolini

Doctor Who [2020] #3 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO No. 3, February 2021

Considering that two thirds of this twenty-two page periodical are essentially a dialogue-driven rehash of the 2020 televised episode "Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror", Jody Houser’s script for Issue Three of “Doctor Who” most likely lulled the majority of its readers into something of a stupor. In fact, it is arguably hard to imagine just why the American author picked Nina Metivier’s story for the basis of this book’s plot in the first place, when the only elements of it which she’s pays homage to are that particular broadcast’s conversational pieces, as opposed to its pulse-pounding action sequences depicting the Skithra’s attempt to abduct the famous Serbian-American inventor at his Wardenclyffe lab.

Admittedly, the “Eisner-nominated comic writer” does inject her narrative with a moment of dynamic tension when Rose Tyler decides to help out the Skithra’s Queen in dispatching two of her race who have been tasked to wake the Sea Devils earlier than history had actually planned. But this short-lived sequence is debatably more silly than tension-filled though, especially as the Tenth Doctor’s young companion supposedly kills one of the giant extra-terrestrial scorpions simply by hurling a rock at its head ‘David verses Goliath-style’.

Sadly, the rest of this publication predominantly just follows the Time Lord’s first female incarnation as she goes about her business chatting to the likes of Dorothy Skerrit, pointing out how much more experienced she is to her younger self, and being ‘holier than thou’ when her allies are forced to kill their opponents before they themselves are killed; “This is a war, Doctor. One I’ve been fighting for a long time.” Indeed, the Thirteenth Doctor’s arrogant belief that she can solve every problem solely by talking rather than doing anything physically harmful increasingly grates upon the nerves, as does her perpetual levity at the fact that the Earth’s history has been significantly rewritten and resultantly her “fam” currently consists of another of the Gallifreyan’s past regenerations.

Disappointingly adding to the lethargic atmosphere of this comic book are Roberta Ingranata’s layouts, which for once appear somewhat rushed in places and are clearly designed to help ‘pad out’ the publication. Of particular note is the Italian artist’s repeated use of large blank voids between some of her panels in order to fill out the odd page, and the illustrator’s uncharacteristically poor pencilling of the eight-legged Skithra.

Writer: Jody Houser, Artist: Roberta Ingranata, and Colorist: Enrica Eren Angiolini

Doctor Who [2020] #2 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO No. 2, January 2021

For those readers of Jody Houser’s “Alternating Current” narrative whose heads weren’t already spinning from the plot’s incredibly confusing mix of different incarnations, companions, allies, and popular monsters, the American author’s inclusion of the villainous Skithra in Issue Two of “Doctor Who” as the supposed saviours of humanity will surely have done the job. Indeed, the sudden appearance of the extra-terrestrial scavengers as the Thirteenth Doctor’s apparent rescuers comes completely out of the blue, and arguably just makes an already convoluted plot packed full of long-winded interactions between characters who should never really meet in anything but the worst fan fiction, even more outlandish.

Of course, the explosions, death rays and subsequent foot-chases which follow the hive species’ prison break does at least imbue this comic’s seriously sedentary storytelling with some much needed energy and action. However, a lot of the dynamism generated by the Skithra’s shocking entrance is sadly soon diluted by the writer’s insistence of pairing their Queen up with the current TARDIS crew as they almost nonchalantly make their way back to the time machine and revisit the usually somewhat humorous set-piece of a new visitor describing the ship’s dimensionally transcendental interior as being “inside bigger.”

Quite possibly this twenty-two page periodical’s biggest disappointment though is the lack of chemistry shown between the Tenth Doctor and the Sea Devil enslaved Rose Tyler. The nineteen-year-old Londoner is understandably a little reluctant to believe a madman in a box who inadvertently lets slip that her still living parents should actually be dead. Yet that initial unease lingers throughout the couple’s uninspiringly long conversation, and doesn’t cease even after the heavily-armed young woman has entered the Gallifreyan’s spacecraft, and this comic’s audience have been subjected to another “bigger on the inside” scene.

Fortunately, for those bibliophiles able to negotiate such a debatably bizarre book, there is at least the enjoyment of looking at Roberta Ingranata’s artwork. The Italian does a very good job of sketching the central cast just as they would appear on the small screen, and captures all the awkwardness of the Sea Devils when they awkwardly lumber after their escaping workers whilst cutting down several of the humans’ scorpion-like rescuers in the process.

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO" #2 by Peach Momoko

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious #2 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: TIME LORD VICTORIOUS No. 2, November 2020

Despite pitching the Tenth Doctor and the Daleks together against a common foe, Jody Houser’s narrative for Issue Two of “Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious” probably contained far less action than its 6,000 readers anticipated. Indeed, apart from an all-too brief confrontation between the oddly rusty Prime Strategist and a lone Hond scout, not a single gunstick is fired in anger until this forty-four page periodical’s end, when unsurprisingly the extra-terrestrial pepper-pots turn upon their former ally in order to eliminate him; “The Doctooor is no longer of use to the Daleks. Exterminate!”

Up until this point, the bloated book’s plot predominantly focuses upon the fast-talking time traveller and his dilapidated guide to the Vault of Obscenities simply discussing how to access the derelict building’s “power not seen by any Dalek in living memory” and its weaponry’s subsequent use to defeat "the primordial ooze given sentience as an embodiment of the concept of pain.” Such a lengthy conversation might somehow manage to work on the small screen given actor David Tennant’s remarkable energy and a dynamic music score with which to underpin any tension the long-winded, word-heavy sequence was trying to convey. But in the medium of a comic it debatably just plays out as a seemingly endless carousel of well-pencilled panels portraying the brown-suited Gallifreyan pontificating about all life in the galaxy being of prime importance.

In addition, the presence of a lone Hond advanced guard on Skaro makes little sense when the publication’s entire purpose is to supposedly tell the story of how the titular character stopped the Dark Times terrors from ever reaching the Dalek’s home world; especially when it is intimated that if they did so then the universe would come to an end. To make matters worse though, it is never explained how the ‘immortal slime’ is in a position to tear its way up from the bowels of the planet straight into the most heavily-guarded fortification that Davros’ creations have ever built. The unkillable creature just suddenly appears in the Vault’s epicentre and starts up a conversation with its two enemies.

Perhaps this comic’s biggest disappointment however comes with its inclusion of the Thirteenth Doctor to supposedly save both her former incarnation’s bacon and ultimately, the day. Nonchalantly stood waiting for her predecessor to run by whilst being chased by a posse of angry Daleks, the apparently omnipotent blonde-haired “live wire” doesn’t actually do anything but run down a few corridors alongside herself. Yet the adventurer’s condescending arrogance and dislikeable demure strongly suggests that if she hadn’t shown up at the last minute, the Tenth Doctor would somehow have failed to escape from his gun-toting mechanical pursuers…

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO: TIME LORD VICTORIOUS" #1 by Andie Tong

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious #1 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: TIME LORD VICTORIOUS No. 1, October 2020

Considering that the Time Lord Victorious saga was “told across audio, novels, comics, vinyl, digital, immersive theatre, escape rooms and games”, this forty-four page periodical’s 6,600 strong audience probably struggled to see what all the fuss was about in September 2020. For whilst Jody Houser’s script certainly heralds the return of the Doctor’s “deadliest enemies”, her pedestrian-paced plot of the Gallifreyan’s Tenth incarnation simply conversing with a variety of Daleks on Skaro is hardly the “thrilling new adventure” promised by “Titan Comics” in its pre-publication fluff.

Instead, all Issue One of “Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious” arguably offers its readers is an exercise in how to draw out an actionless, dialogue-driven narrative across an entire double-sized comic book using such techniques as sedentary soliloquies, a coma-inducing chase sequence through the known universe, and yet another confrontation with the Emperor Dalek in which the so-called supreme ruler of the Dalek Empire once again begs the Doctor for help because the race of inhuman killers are "scared" of being defeated by another alien race; “The Hond are alive. And they are coming for us. The Dalek armies have held them back. But now they are coming to Skaro to invade. To exterminate… The Doctooor will save Skaro and the Daleks.”

Of course, that isn’t to say that Houser’s narrative, based upon a story by James Goss, doesn’t contain some noteworthy features, as the appearance of the dilapidated Prime Strategist and his ‘tour’ of the Vault of Obscenities attests. But this rusty, bent-out-of-shape Dalek sadly only makes an appearance towards the very end of the badly bloated magazine, and then is debatably just used by the Eisner-nominated author to demonstrate just how physically immobile the original design of the Kaled Mark Three Travel Machines were before ‘its people made flying cases’ so as to overcome large holes in the ground.

Fortunately however, those bibliophiles brave enough to endure this book’s lethargy do at least get to enjoy plenty of Roberta Ingranata’s excellent pencilling, with the Italian illustrator providing an astounding good likeness of thespian David Tennant and his easily recognisable mannerisms throughout. Indeed, the artwork makes it very easy to imagine the actor actually saying the lines, as well as helping the Prime Strategist navigate the ruins of the mysterious vault with all the tangible energy the Tenth Doctor was famous for when seen on the small screen.

Writer: Jody Houser, Artist: Roberta Ingranata, and Colorist: Enrica Eren Angiolini

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #2.4 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR No. 2.4, May 2020

Despite packing this publication with plenty of thrills in the shape of the Weeping Angels, Nestene consciousness, and of course a triumphant team-up with the Tenth Doctor, there’s something of a disconcertingly familiar air to Jody Houser’s script for “A Little Help From My Friends” which arguably must have made the twenty-two page periodical’s plot a little too simplistic for some of this book’s readers in May 2020. Sure, the “writer of comics and other story-shaped things” certainly tries to raise the ante by suggesting that the TARDIS could be invaded by Steven Moffat's "quantum-locked humanoids" at any moment, and then later by depicting Sixties London being momentarily overrun by Autons. Yet such is the comfortable confidence of the two incarnations of the same Time Lord that it’s genuinely hard to find much menace in either the murderous plastic mannequins as they run amok through a packed shopping street or even the formidable-looking visage of the Nestene’s bulbous leader; “I thought you said this was the way to the loo! Us? We’re just tourists. I didn’t even want to be here myself.”

In addition, practically everything within this comic would appear to be ‘played for laughs’ with almost everyone within its quite considerable cast taking the opportunity to verbalise at least one wisecrack whenever the situation looks set to go from bad to worse. These almost endless gags do have their moments, especially when David Tenant’s persona repeatedly bounces ideas off of his future self with an energetic “Oh, but that’s brilliant.” However, after a short while such persistent levity completely erodes any suggestion that the time travellers are in any sort of trouble, to the point where even the Doctor’s frustrating habit of leaving her companions’ in the dark as to her ultimate plan doesn’t generate any sense of mystery whatsoever, just a lethargic feeling of ‘what will be will be’… 

Luckily, all this ‘adventuring by numbers’ is well-pencilled by Roberta Ingranata, who quite wonderfully captures a good likeness of the televised characters in the vast majority of this book’s panels. Stunningly coloured by Enrica Eren Angiolini, the TARDIS console room has debatably never looked better than it does in this magazine, with the Italian’s choice of oranges and yellows superbly contrasting with the light blues and whites she later utilises to represent deep space.

Writer: Jody Houser, Artist: Roberta Ingranata, and Colorist: Enrica Eren Angiolini

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #2.3 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR No. 2.3, April 2020

Bearing in mind that this twenty two page periodical depicts the exploits of two incarnations of the Doctor, four members of the TARDIS crew and the Machiavellian machinations of both the Weeping Angels and several automatons animated by the Nestene Consciousness, there surely can’t have been many fans of this comic who weren’t in awe as to just how much energy Jody Houser imbues “A Little Help From My Friends” with. In fact, seeing as how well all the different aforementioned elements interact with one another, the vast majority of this ongoing series’ readers were probably lamenting just why the American author’s script for Issue Three of “Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor” hadn’t been used as part of a screenplay for an actual broadcast (Christmas) special of the BBC science fiction programme.

For starters, there’s plenty of tension to be had out of the marvellously penned sequences involving the titular character and Martha Jones cautiously rummaging about “some creepy” clothing store. Surrounded by the heads, arms, legs and torsos of numerous mannequins, some bibliophiles might have anticipated the confrontation awaiting the overeager explorers just around the corner. But the sudden appearance of a featureless police officer lurking in the back storeroom is still rather startling, especially when a sudden jump scare is thrown into the mix a la the Auton’s hand from the March 2005 televised story “Rose”.

Likewise, the Eisner Award-Nominee’s portrayal of the Tenth Doctor, teaming up with Ryan Sinclair, Yasmin Khan and Graham O’Brien, is similarly tense, with the Time Lord’s “Fam” working in unison to thwart the feeding frenzy of a Weeping Angel. The dialogue for both Ryan and his granddad is absolutely spot on throughout this slowly-evolving ‘chase’, yet is only a taster of things to come, when Houser turns her attention to the banter between the “happy-go-lucky” Gallifreyan and his female successor; “Weeeell, plan is really more of a metaphor for making it up as I go along.”

Helping all these scintillating shenanigans along are Roberta Ingranata’s marvellous storyboards and Enrica Eren Angiolini's colours, which impressively exude both the appropriate levels of apprehension needed for so dark a narrative, as well as the physical nuances of the very actors involved in the television show. Indeed, the mannerisms and facial expressions of the leading cast, especially Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor, are so good, that in some ways it’s hard not to imagine this comic simply being a collection of colourised tele-snaps from one of the show’s missing episodes.

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR" No. 2.3 by Karen Hallion

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #2.2 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR No. 2.2, March 2020

Considering that the enticing words “Tenth Doctor Team-Up” are boldly emblazoned across the top of this twenty-two page periodical, it’s difficult to envisage that many of the comic’s readers were particularly pleased with Jody Houser’s snooze-fest of a narrative inside. Indeed, considering that the Tenth and Thirteenth personifications of the Time Lord never actually meet within this instalment of “A Little Help From My Friends”, it is probably far more likely that many bibliophiles will think themselves ‘hard done by’ by this book’s sedentary storyline, if not dishonestly mislead; “Old habits. And very smart friends. I should have known better than to try and pull one over on you.”

Of course, that isn’t to say that the current TARDIS crew don’t get to spend some time with “one of the greatest incarnations of the [time-travelling] character”, as Yasmin’s unsuccessful attempt to convince the “happy-go-lucky” Gallifreyan that she is a probationary Time Agent in 1964 London attests. But half a dozen pages dedicated to the nineteen-year old police officer struggling to outwit the duster coat-wearing ‘champion of the oppressed’ isn’t anywhere near as gratifying a scene as witnessing the post-Time War Doctor encountering his future self and together tackling the imminent threat of “a familiar foe…”

Sadly however, the writer of “other story-shaped things” seemingly believes that just such pair-ups will suffice, and as a result, the other half of this publication’s decidedly lack-lustre plot focuses upon actress Jodie Whitaker’s “confident explorer” supping tea and eating custard creams with Martha Jones in a local diner, whilst divulging to the medical student that she’ll live on after the Londoner stops “travelling through Time and Space with him…” This rather touching conversation is well penned by Houser, yet still debatably drags on for far too long considering that it is only at this dialogue-driven scene’s end, that we finally get to see the pair enter the mysteriously empty Face Fashion store.

As a result, probably this comic’s sole redeeming feature is Roberta Ingranata’s impressive pencils, which provide plenty of pleasing eye-candy to an otherwise unexciting experience. Of particular note are the Italian illustrator’s figures of the leading cast, whose mannerisms and facial expressions are uncannily close to their television counterparts. In addition, the Milan-born illustrator’s backgrounds are well worth scrutinizing for hidden clues as to just who the main villains of this piece might actually be…

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR" No. 2.2 by Hannah Templer

Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #2.1 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR No. 2.1, February 2020

Following on from the supposed “success of the first season” and apparently “created by the stellar sci-fi team of Eisner-nominated writer Jody Houser and Shades of Magic artist Roberta Ingranata", this opening instalment to “Titan Comics” second series of “Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor” probably had many fans of ‘Nu-Who’ frothing at the mouths in anticipation, when it was first announced at the New York Comic-Con that it would depict the Tenth and Thirteenth Doctor joining “forces against the Weeping Angels in a new comic series!” Yet whilst this twenty-two page periodical’s plot certainly contains plenty of ‘screen time’ for actor David Tennant’s incarnation of the Time Lord, absolutely nothing of any particular interest occurs within the America author’s script due to the TARDIS crew simply following him around Sixties London at “a safe distance.”

Disappointingly, the same can also be said for this publication’s secondary story involving Martha Jones working “as a shop-girl” at the Face Fashion clothes store. Admittedly, the sequences involving the twenty-three year-old medical student and “the first woman to play” the series’ titular character reaffirms the Gallifreyan’s blatant rudeness, when she completely blanks Martha’s ginger-haired co-worker Janice after the poor woman has offered to help her. But apart from the Thirteenth Doctor’s poor manners, nothing happens until this comic’s conclusion when Jones returns to an eerily-deserted shop having forgotten her jacket.

In the meantime all this book’s presumably frustrated audience have to enjoy are a few flashbacks to “not so long ago” when “the Tenth Doctor and companion Martha were attacked by the menacing Weeping Angels” and stranded in the past as per the June 2007 television adventure “Blink”. Unfortunately, this over reliance upon the nostalgia of a highly popular broadcast episode wears thin really quickly, especially when Houser takes an opportunity to have a dig at her male predecessor because the time traveller “was really thick back then…”

Luckily, one thing “A Little Help From My Friends” doesn’t suffer with is poor pencilling, with Roberta Ingranata desperately trying to pull out all the stops to make this dreary, dialogue-driven sequel contain at least a modicum of pace. The Italian artist does a great job of capturing the look and feel of England’s capital city in 1969, and also manages to imbue the Tenth Doctor with the infectious, highly energised “happy-go-lucky guise” his somewhat zany persona is so well-remembered for.

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO: THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR" No. 2.1 by Paulina Ganucheau

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #1 - Titan Comics

DOCTOR WHO: THE TENTH DOCTOR No. 1, August 2014

With its incredibly well-written introduction to ‘new companion’ Gabriella Gonzalez and the young woman’s “dead-end job in her family’s New York Laundromat”, it's arguably a pity that Nick Abadzis’s narrative for Issue One of “Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor” wasn't around to follow the BBC science fiction programme’s episode “Journey’s End” as a televised adventure in July 2008. Indeed, the consistent clash between the rebellious Gabby’s dream of “bigger, better and brighter things” and the somewhat subservient ethics of her immigrant parents, genuinely creates a character who surely would have been a joy to watch on the ‘small screen’; “I’ve an invested interest in making that place work too, y’know. It’s as much of an investment for me as it is for any other member of this family.”

Sadly, such a painstakingly well documented background to the Timelord’s assistant, resplendent with repeated family arguments amongst numerous opposing relatives, doesn’t however make for the most entertaining of reads; even if this twenty-two page periodical was advertised by “Titan Comics” as only being the first of a “five-issue arc with the Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant!”. In fact, by the time Gonzalez has had a second fight with her sister’s fiancée over her needing to show Hector more respect, the persistent bickering and whining must have already proved too much for many of this book’s 39,707 readers. Little wonder perhaps then that the sales figures for the title’s follow-up edition dramatically fell to just 10,410 copies?

Equally as disappointing as the plot’s lack-lustre pacing, is the Eisner Award-winner’s handling of the titular character, and the fact that, apart from a brief scene where he supposedly cures a six month old baby from a hideous case of festering boils and “expanding periphery”, the Gallifreyan barely makes his presence known throughout the entire magazine. True, the “alien who walks like a man” does sporadically crop up within a panel every now and then to spout some ‘timey wimey’ nonsense. But in general, the series’ lead protagonist is no-where to be found until the comic’s cliff-hanger conclusion when he appears to rescue Gabby from some shape-shifting underground tube train demon.

Quite possibly the biggest failing of “Revolutions Of Terror” though, is the book’s uninspiring breakdowns by Elena Casagrande. Supposedly a “fan favourite” artist for her work on “Angel” and “Star Trek”, the Italian seemingly crams each and every page with as many pictures as her pencil can muster, and resultantly makes each scene a real headache for the eye to navigate.

The regular cover art of "DOCTOR WHO: THE TENTH DOCTOR" No. 1 by Alice X. Zhang