Although thoroughly enjoying
Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor, I can’t help but feel myself experiencing Matt
Smith withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, the new comics featuring the Eleventh
Doctor are by far some of the best Doctor Who comics in recent memory and this
one, much like the first issue, does not disappoint. Like the first issue, in addition
to the main story, there’s also a gag strip that is perfectly suitable and
entertaining.
Without delving too deeply into
the plot of the main story, it is set at a Theme Park in Space that harbours a
deadly secret. Joining the Doctor for these adventures is new companion Alice
who we were introduced to in Issue 1. Already it is clear that Alice is very
much a 21st Century Companion. Gone are the days of the ‘damsel in distresses,’
she’s more Donna Noble than Susan Foreman. Particularly up against the whacky
and intense Eleventh Doctor, I already enjoy their chemistry and I’m sure this
will be developed further in the issues ahead.
The advantage of telling
stories in a different format, particularly comics, is that they can be more
ambitious when compared to the strict restraints of a TV budget and Issue 2 is
no exception. The fact that it is set at a Theme Park would have been a
categorical ‘no’ if the suggestion had come in a TV writer’s discussion.
When you have a TV series
adapted into comics, it’s so easy for them to lose sight of the world and
characters. Thankfully the writer of this issue, Al Ewing, has demonstrated his
clear understanding of not only the world of the Whoniverse, but also the
characterisation of the Eleventh Doctor. When I read the dialogue and gazed at
Alex X Zhangd and Simon Fraser’s incredible art, it was clear that the combined
talents of the behind the scenes team demonstrated their awareness of the
character and knew exactly how to portray him in another format.
As a dedicated Whovian, I truly believe the Eleventh
Doctor’s TV adventures were let down by inconsistent writing. Thankfully with
these new comics and if later editions meet the same standards as the first
two, I’m sure this could easily become one of the higher praised Doctor Who
comic series in the history of the Whoniverse.
9/10
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