Doctor Who: Dave Gibbons Collection
Written by Pat Mills, John Wagner, Steve Moore, Steve Parkhouse
Art by Dave Gibbons
Colors by Charlie Kirchoff
Cover by Dave Gibbons
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Cover Price: $29.99

I’m a recent convert to the Whovian Universe. For years I disregarded it as a viable source of entertainment. Not that I disliked it for any particular reason, I guess I just never gave it a chance. But now, having watched several episodes of different incarnations of the show, I can fully appreciate the fun factor you can find in the Time Lord’s stories. With that, I present to you Doctor Who: Dave Gibbons Collection.

Featuring an introduction by Dave Gibbons himself, this book collects all of his works from the very first issue of Doctor Who Weekly, which began featuring tales from the Fourth Doctor, to the tale he wrote about the Fifth Doctor in issue #69 of Doctor Who Monthly. I found myself really getting a feel for some of the earlier portrayals of the Doctor. Using his TARDIS to move (almost) flawlessly from one reality to the next, he finds himself in one pickle after the next but always manages to successfully extract himself and others from whatever problems might arise.

Featuring a total of sixteen stories (each still arranged in their multiple issue format) this is a mother lode of Whovian goodness. I will say that while I enjoyed getting to know K-9, whom I hear is very popular, my favorite tale was the second one in the book called City Of The Damned. Focused upon keeping the population from showing emotions, the tyrants running the government had strict ways of dealing with offenders. The Doctor had to befriend a group of rebels who each embodied but a single emotion (to keep that feeling from disappearing) who could gather the other groups together to assault the city and attempt to free the citizens therein. Of course, nothing ever goes according to plan and we get to see the Doctor’s quick thinking in action. This is not to say the other stories were rubbish, but this one I just wanted to highlight as my favorite.

These are some really fun, quick reads. You will find yourself anxiously moving on to the next story and before you know it, you’ll be done. Granted, it does take quite a while to get through 372 pages but I found myself reading it all in one sitting. Pat Mills, John Wagner, Steve Moore, and Steve Parkhouse really captured the adventurous aspect of this franchise. They allowed themselves to grow the character in such a way that television would not have allowed. And through them, Gibbons could create all new worlds thanks to the comics and on an epic scale that television budgets could never have realized.

I hope you will take the time to find this graphic novel and relive these adventures with the Doctor Who of yesteryear. I know, however, if you are a fan of all things Who then you will own this in the very near future. If there is one thing I have seen, it’s that true Doctor Who fans are dedicated in their fanaticism. With this having just come out in trade paperback, I am sure many of you are considering it. Well, trust me, it’s worth the price. I have also decided that I need a TARDIS. That said, I’m not sure that anyone will ever get me one. But if you feel the need, I won’t complain!