Doctor Who: Prisoners Of Time #8
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Roger Langridge, Charlie Kirchoff
Covers by Francesco Francavilla, Charlie Kirchoff, Dave Sim
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

I’ve always likened the Paul McGann era of Doctor Who to be the transitional stage between Classic Who and Nu Who. Despite having only been in one television adventure, the McGann incarnation of the Doctor is interesting in that this 8th version of the Time Lord has had possibly more explorations in print than most of the other Doctors.

Despite my praising, I also often feel that McGann got the raw end of the stick in the Whoniverse – having only had one televised adventure and never since been given a chance to make an appearance in the modern series. (Come on, Steven Moffat; let him show up in a Multi Doctor story!!!)

So it was with great anticipation that I received the eighth issue of Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time, focusing on the McGann Doctor. Although it’s never specified how far along in his incarnation he is within the confines of this issue, the comic finds him arriving back in San Francisco in February 2000, to meet up with his companion from the TV movie, Grace.

Unseen, but heard of for years… since the Classic Doctor Who episode The Invasion of Time, and last season’s The Doctor’s Wife, fans now finally get to Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS. In a moment of lowered security, the TARDIS is magnetically hauled in by a group of salvagers, hoping to profit from the find.

But the TARDIS is damaged in the haul, and the Doctor (Matt Smith) separated from Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) as he is found inexplicably outside of the TARDIS. Slyly enlisting the assistance of the salvagers, the Doctor begins a search for Clara; which will lead to a perilous situation in which they will all need to find their way to the centre of the TARDIS…

During TARDISblend 63, we bring up the onslaught of continuity tips thrown in to the episode, from The Eye of Harmony to The Doctor’s Crib, and much more. We also go into the newer elements shown in the TARDIS within this chapter, including some that may play a part, or at least hold clues, to the season finale and the 50th Anniversary Special.

Doctor Who: Shada
By Gareth Roberts
Original Script by Douglas Adams
Ace Publishing
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Cover Price: $12.99 (Kindle Edition)

In a rather captivating, though curious manner, you might find it astonishing that Gareth Roberts‘ adaptation of the Doctor Who adventure by Douglas Adams called Shada caused music to play in my head.

That sounds a little weird, of course. But when it comes to both Doctor Who and Douglas Adams, the strangeness should not only be expected by now, but mandatory par for the course.

Allow me to explain.

I have found, in my years of being an overly obsessive geek that the best adaptations of already established franchises inspire your mind to create the ambience of the universe you’re investing in. In all types of writing, a good author will not only be able to explain the scene to you, but totally immerse you in it: you can see the brightness (or gloominess) of the sky, you can almost feel the floors or walls of the setting, and you can smell the odors described, such as the scent of rain on a hot day”¦ or petrichor, for example…

Series 7 of Doctor Who is only days away, but as the fame of the show increases here in the United States (and elsewhere in the world, too!), I’m increasingly coming across new fans who have either just discovered the show, or are curious in checking it out.

Doctor Who might have originated in 1963, but for a while it was absent from the television screen. In 2005, Russell T. Davies spearheaded the return of Doctor Who, with Christopher Eccleston playing the Ninth Doctor.

Although there is some continuity, the coolest thing about Doctor Who is that you don’t necessarily have to cling to it and follow it from first episode to last. I’m paraphrasing Neil Gaiman here, but you can pretty much take a seat to watch any episode and enjoy it as a standalone adventure – essentially, it’s the story of a time traveler, who spins through space and time in a big blue box.

He materializes in places where something is screwy and wicked, but manages to fix everything and save the universe in the most eccentric and/or ridiculous, yet clever, manner imaginable.

So, are you new to Who? If so, check out a few of our recommended episodes below.

The Cast Of Doctor Who
Written by Paul J. Slamoff
Art by Jaime Martinez Rodriguez
Colors by Dario Reyes
Cover Art by Joe Phillips
Bluewater Comics
Release Date: March 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Bluewater’s unauthorized The Cast Of Doctor Who takes a glance into the backgrounds of a few of the actors who have taken on the role of The Doctor through the years. Without a standard comic storyline, the book serves more as an introduction to the series, specifically designed for newer fans that are interested about the Classic Doctor Who series.

The comic book oddly only looks at four official Doctors (plus a fifth outside canon which we will get to later). I’m guessing this limited examination was restricted based on space available for the publication of the comic. Overall, the comic examines William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, and Matt Smith as the current Eleventh Doctor.