There are plenty of various Doctors and companions throughout the history of “Doctor Who,” each with their own unique feel and personality. So as Titan Comics begins to create more comics based off the various classic Doctors, it’s time for number three (once played by John Pertwee) to take to the pages.
There will be spoilers ahead.
Written by Paul Cornell
Illustrated by Christopher JonesPaul Cornell returns to Doctor Who comics with THE HERALDS OF DESTRUCTION! When something enormous crashes into Bedfordshire, the Doctor, Jo Grant, and the forces of UNIT under Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart mobilise immediately – and find themselves in the middle of a pitched battle against a terrifying invader… But the shocking face that awaits their return to base may tip the whole world off its axis! It’s classic Third Doctor action as you’ve never seen it before!
Out of the Doctor’s many regenerations, the Third Doctor is one of the most interesting, even if he’s not one of the most famous. He may not have the Fourth Doctor’s lengthy scarf and jelly babies, or the Eleventh Doctor’s bow tie and fez, but he brought a penchant for action, car chases, and alien invasions. This is the first Doctor to be shown in color on TV, the first Doctor to face off against the Master, and the Doctor who could scold UNIT for trying to fight an alien with handguns before going off and fighting an alien with Venusian Aikido.
In short, the Third Doctor was awesome.
These attributes also made him a great choice for a comic adaptation, and this first issue manages to hit nearly every note.
It begins, as many a Doctor Who story does, with the companion. In this case, we’re starting with the Doctor’s UNIT-assigned companion, Jo Grant. The comic builds up the tension and mystery properly as she and Captain Mike Yates are called in to UNIT, and rushed to see some new threat.
UNIT itself was a great addition to the show, used primarily in the Third Doctor’s run, with brief appearances throughout the show’s history. It’s a sign that Earth is learning from the constant alien attacks and time travel shenanigans, and is working to defend itself. But as with all things, the Doctor still gets to be the hero, so he’s called in.
The Doctor’s introduction is perfectly suited for his character, casually reminiscing about interactions with historical figures as he mingles with high society and plays a game of chess. But this Doctor is no stuffy old man, as he proves by taking to the streets in his classic car, Bessie (or the “Whomobile,” as fans have taken to calling it).
The introduction takes just enough time to introduce the characters and build up the threat before starting the action, and there’s plenty of it. Explosions, robots, and lasers abound as the Doctor meets with UNIT on the field. Christopher Jones does a fantastic job illustrating the intensity of each scene, utilizing bright shades and beautiful backgrounds that get illuminated by the blasts and smoke. The invading threats look suitably menacing, and manage to look unique while still being, well, killer robots.
Speaking of the artwork, it also does a fine job at translating the television characters into comic book form. Everyone is distinctly recognizable as their TV counterparts, without falling into the common pitfalls of trying to look so photorealistic that they clash with the rest of the art.
Not only does the artwork match each character properly, the dialogue does as well. Every line I could read in the voice of the original actors, with every word choice and inflection matching their TV counterpart’s dialogue perfectly. The Brigadier continues to rely on conventional weaponry, while the Doctor uses his wits, science, and of course his trusty sonic screwdriver, and Jo stands by his side to assist even in the midst of battle.
Throughout all the action and mystery (that is to say, the mystery of “who are these killer robots and why are they randomly attacking?”), there’s plenty of shout-outs to both old and new Doctor Whocharacters. Classic fans will be thrilled to see that the Master is still up to his old tricks, and putting plans into motion. Those more familiar with the latest series will still smile as they hear a familiar name, when the comic introduces a young UNIT technician by the name of Osgood. (Like his descendant, who first appeared during the 11th Doctor’s run, we see him using an inhaler at one point; a nice nod to the Osgood viewers of the show have come to love.)
Continued belowAnd of course, there’s a particularly familiar face appearing at the end, when the comic sets up another multi-Doctor adventure.
While previous “Doctor Who” comics have left me amused but not entirely invested, this one managed to pull me in quickly, and kept me engaged the entire way. I may have a soft spot for the Third Doctor, but the comic managed to capture everything that made his run great in just a single issue, so I’m already looking forward to the next.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – a very solid and entertaining start to a promising run. The Third Doctor’s greatness is not overlooked or underplayed here.
