Preview: 40th Anniversary DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

As covered in my previous post, Doctor Who Magazine is now 40 years old! The latest issue, out this week, will celebrate four decades of continuous publication with a bumper package of exclusive items. Above is the polybag artwork that you'll see in the shops...

...and here is the cover of the magazine that's inside...

A collectors' item issue full of celebratory stuff, and there's a full page Daft Dimension by me in this one too! Here's an exclusive glimpse of part of it...

Doctor Who Magazine No.544, on sale Thursday 17th October. £9.99

40 Years of DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE!

At the 1979 British comic convention in Birmingham's Metropole Hotel there was a buzz going around that Marvel UK were about to launch a brand new comic exclusively for the British market. Expectations were high, and on a panel that weekend Dez Skinn, then editor at Marvel UK, announced that the title was to feature... Doctor Who.

Personally my initial reaction was disappointment. As a (then) 20 year old I was going through my "Doctor Who is for kids" phase, - although I was still buying about 25 Marvel comics every month which kind of deflated that air of maturity. However, the news was that Dave Gibbons would be drawing the strip and I liked his work from 2000AD so when Doctor Who Weekly No.1 hit the stands on October 11th 1979 I gave it a go...

...and thought it was brilliant. From the outset Dave's artwork on part one of The Iron Legion was powerful and fantastically drawn, and the fact it was written by Pat Mills and John Wagner, my two favourite 2000AD scriptwriters, was equally pleasing. Doctor Who had previously suffered a roller coaster life in comics. Between the strips in TV Comic (mostly so-so, some dire) to Countdown/TV Action (all excellent) and back to TV Comic again (nosediving to comic strip hell) Marvel UK needed to raise the bar, which they certainly achieved. Forty years on I still think the splash page is one of the most dynamic openings I've seen for a first issue of a British comic...

The lead strip only took up five pages in the 32 page weekly but the pace was fast and, it has to be said, more dramatically satisfying than the tv show was at the time.

The first issue had a fairly modest free gift; a small assortment of rub-down transfers that could be applied to the full-colour "panoramas" on the inside covers. (Interior colour! This was Marvel UK pushing the boat out, - but just for this launch issue.) The artwork on the transfers and the panoramas was also by Dave Gibbons...

The weekly included two other comic strips. One was the start of a reprint of a War of the Worlds adaptation from Marvel Classic Comics No.14. For the weekly, the Fourth Doctor's head was pasted onto page one as a narrator and the heading Tales from the Tardis added.

The final strip in the comic was another all-new British production; The Return of The Daleks, a four pager written by Steve Moore and drawn by David Lloyd...

The rest of the comic was taken up with short articles on the tv show. Mainly introductory for this first issue, the features explained the background story of The Doctor and the Daleks. There was also the first of a "Photo-File" series of pages with data on the actors from the show. William Hartnell was this issue's subject, and the first issue was dedicated to his memory.

All in all, a very solid publication and a great start to the comic. One thing that stands out today is that although these early issues were aimed at children, Doctor Who Weekly didn't dumb down to its readers. 

The publication has survived the years of course, maturing with its readership. It became Doctor Who Monthly less than a year into its run and still thrives today as the 84 page all-colour Doctor Who Magazine. The latest issue will be published this Thursday and will be a celebratory special. More on that in another post soon!  

Today it's a sophisticated magazine with in-depth features and interviews and it still features a comics strip starring the contemporary Doctor. In essence it's still the same mag that Dez Skinn edited 40 years ago. I may have been skeptical about it when I heard the news in 1979 but Marvel's decision to publish was right, - four decades later it's still with us and, along with 2000AD and Viz, is the only other comic launched in the 1970s to have survived the years. I'm very proud these days to be one of its regular contributors!

(The above is a revised article of the one I wrote for the magazine's 30th anniversary.) 

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I was in London the other night for a party celebrating DWM's 40th anniversary. Here's a photo of original editor Dez Skinn and current editor Marcus Hearn with the tasty cake! 

Preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.543

A new issue of Doctor Who Magazine hits the shelves this Thursday! 84 packed pages of news, interviews, reviews and features, plus all new comic strip featuring the 13th Doctor and another Daft Dimension strip from me. 

This issue looks back at the years when John Nathan-Turner was the producer so I thought I'd revisit the 4th Doctor's regeneration and put my own Daft Dimension twist on it. See it in full when Doctor Who Magazine No.543 goes on sale on Thursday 19th September! Available from WH Smiths, supermarkets, comic shops, and all good newsagents! 

Preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.542

Here's the cover to Doctor Who Magazine No.542, which arrives in shops on Thursday 22nd August. 

Contents include...

Exclusive interviews with Billie Piper and Camille Coduri ahead of Big Finish‘s new audio series Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon!

Bonnie Langford answers questions from the TARDIS tin.

The mag investigates Robert Holmes’ final mystery - The Robots of Ravolox.

PLUS comic strip action with the 13th Doctor by Scott Grey, and another Daft Dimension from me where the Daleks go to Blackpool! 

Doctor Who Magazine No.542. 84 pages for £5.99, available from WH Smith, supermarkets, selected newsagents and comic shops. Don't miss it! 
https://www.facebook.com/doctorwhomagazine

Cover Preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.539

On sale this Thursday, 30th May, is Doctor Who Magazine No.539 featuring an exclusive interview with Jodie Whittaker, part five of The Heralds of Doom comic strip, plus a new Daft Dimension humour strip by me starring the Zarbi, and loads of features and reviews. Don't miss it! 

Cover preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.536

On sale this Thursday, Doctor Who Magazine No.536 is another 84 packed pages of news, reviews, interviews, features and strips about the long-running TV show. 

There's the second part of Herald of Madness, the new comic strip serial by Scott Gray, Mike Collins, David Roach and James Offredi featuring the 13th Doctor...

...and a new Daft Dimension strip from me featuring the Macra!

Doctor Who Magazine No.536, published by Panini UK, £5.99, available from WH Smith, supermarkets, selected newsagents, and comic shops from Thursday 7th March. 

Preview: Doctor Who Magazine No.531

In the shops this Thursday 18th October, Doctor Who Magazine No.531 will be a collectable edition for all Whovians and comic fans. It features the debut of the 13th Doctor in comic strip form in the start of a new story, The Warmonger, written by Scott Gray and drawn by John Ross. 

Here's a taste of it, from John Ross' pencils before the strip was inked, coloured, and lettered...

The issue also features another Daft Dimension strip by me, once again featuring the Daleks. Here's one panel...

Articles this issue include exclusive previews of the next four episodes of Doctor Who, an interview with Bradley Walsh (who plays Graham in the new series), an interview with John Levine, a feature on the 50th anniversary of UNIT, and much more! 

Doctor Who Magazine No.531, 84 pages for £5.99, available from newsagents, comic shops, and supermarkets across the UK from Thursday 18th October.

Follow the magazine's Twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/DWMtweets

A choice of two Who

As revealed on The Times Ladies Twitter page (https://twitter.com/thetimeladies_) the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine gives the buyer a choice. You can have the Deluxe Edition, exclusive to WH Smith which comes in a card envelope (above) with a Souvenir Guide, Audio Adventures CD, poster, and art cards for £9.99 or the regular edition (below) with no extras (but still a great mag) for £5.99. The content of the magazine is identical in both options.

The magazine is packed with features including interviews with the stars of the new series and previews of the first few episodes. Oh, and there's another Daft Dimension strip by me featuring those Daft Daleks...

Doctor Who Magazine No.530 goes on sale on Thursday 20th September. This is a good jumping on point for new readers as the brand new series of Doctor Who starring Jodie Whittaker begins on Sunday 7th October. 

Cover preview: Doctor Who Magazine No.528

Panini UK have just released the cover to the official Doctor Who Magazine No.528, which goes on sale on Thursday 26th July. With an exclusive cover image of Jodie Whittaker the 13th Doctor, the 84 page mag is packed with features, interviews, news and reviews.

Plus there's a topical new Daft Dimension strip from me. Here's a sneak preview...

Interest in the new season of Doctor Who is building up as it prepares to arrive on our screens in October. Don't miss out on this issue!

Preview: Doctor Who Magazine No.526

There's a new issue of the official Doctor Who Magazine out this Thursday, 31st May, and it includes an exclusive interview with Tom Baker as he revisits his first series as the Fourth Doctor. Plus interviews with Roger Murray-Leach, Georgia Tennant and actor/singer/comic creator Jessica Martin.

There are comic strips too of course, with part 3 of The Clockwise War by Scott Gray, John Ross, and James Offredi which has a very unexpected and pleasing cliffhanger...

...plus a new Daft Dimension strip by me. Here's a preview of one panel...

All in Doctor Who Magazine No.526, available from newsagents, supermarkets, and comic shops this Thursday!

Coming up in DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE this week

Here's the cover to the official Doctor Who Magazine (issue No.525) that will arrive in shops this Thursday, 3rd May. The editors posted the image on Twitter this morning along with this description:

"There's a new issue of Doctor Who Magazine out this week! From cut scenes to edited-out characters, DWM 525 reveals the best bits of Doctor Who you never got to see. Plus there's an interview with Michelle Ryan, the Time Team regenerates and Out of the TARDIS with Janet Fielding!" 

The 12th Doctor comic strip continues too, and there'll be another Daft Dimension strip from me featuring the Daleks! 

Grab your copy this Thursday! Available from newsagents, supermarkets, and comic shops. 

Cover preview: Doctor Who Magazine No.524

Here's the cover to Doctor Who Magazine No.524, which will be in the shops from Thursday 5th April. It includes interviews with the authors of the new Target books, special features, a 12th Doctor comic strip, and a new Daft Dimension strip by me. Don't miss it!

Cover preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.523

The official Doctor Who Magazine gets a new look this month to reflect the logo that the new series will be using when it comes to our screens later this year. It's quite a departure from the previous logo but I quite like it myself. It has a nice SF feel to it, especially the 'O' looking like a ringed planet.

The magazine will be as packed as ever with exclusive interviews and features, plus the latest 12th Doctor comic strip by Scott Gray, Martin Geraghty, and David Roach, and a new Daft Dimension strip by me! This time, the Sontarans feature in my strip. Here's a small preview...

Doctor Who Magazine No.523 goes on sale on Thursday 8th March. 84 pages for £5.99, available from newsagents, supermarkets, and comic shops.

Cover preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.522

Panini UK have released the cover to the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine, which will be in the shops this Thursday, 8th February. Who can resist a mag with Daleks on the cover?

Daleks also feature in my Daft Dimension strip in this issue, - in their mutant form! Here's an enlargement of part of a panel...

On sale Thursday! Don't miss it! 


 

Cover preview: DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE No.521

"Jodie Whittaker IS The Doctor" declares the cover to the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, out this coming Thursday, with a brand new photograph of the actress in her costume for the role. It's long been a tradition of the mag to use an "...IS the Doctor" headline for the debut of a new actor in the part so it's good to see that still being the case for the first woman Doctor.

Reaction to this cover has been mixed on Facebook today, with some still unwilling to accept a woman in the role. I really do not see the problem at all. A shape-shifting alien changes from a man into a woman. So what? Each incarnation of the Doctor is different anyway; blonde, dark haired, grey-haired, tall, short, different personalities, different accents... if viewers can accept all that, why not a change of gender? Let's repeat; the character is an alien who changes form. Anything is possible. Also, after more than 50 years of male leads it gives a fresh angle to the show. It all depends on the quality of the scripts of course, but let's wait and see how it turns out. I think Jodie will win people over pretty quickly.

To be fair, the reaction has been mainly positive from what I've seen. Look at the videos on You Tube. Many fans are really enthused over this new direction, and I think it'll bring in a lot of new female viewers too. 

Back to the magazine, my Daft Dimension strip isn't in this issue unfortunately; squeezed out by other features, but it'll be back next time. However, there is Part 3 of the 12th Doctor strip The Phantom Piper by Scott Gray, Martin Geraghty and David Roach, plus tons of exclusive interviews, previews, and features! 

Doctor Who Magazine No.521, on sale 11th January, £5.99. 

Cover preview: DOCTOR WHO YEARBOOK

Not a comic, but a magazine that I know will interest some of you, the latest Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition, the Doctor Who 2018 Yearbook will be in the shops this Thursday, 5th January published by Panini UK. Under a brilliant cover, the magazine will be packed with features on the 12th Doctor's final series (and the recent Christmas special) with exclusive interviews and articles. 

The Christmas DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE (2017)

Here's a cover preview of Doctor Who Magazine No.520, the Christmas issue, which goes on sale this week from Thursday 13th December at the usual price of £5.99.

This is the image of the polybag, so I don't know what the actual cover will be yet. The Christmas one always comes bagged, because it contains a free giant poster; this year featuring the 13th Doctor, who makes her brief debut on Christmas Day as Peter Capaldi bows out as the 12th Doctor (accompanied with David Bradley as the 1st Doctor). There won't be a new series of Doctor Who until Autumn next year, so tune in BBC One on 25th December at 5.30pm for this unmissable episode! 

I haven't seen this issue yet, so I can't reveal the contents (apart from what's described on the polybag cover) but I do know there's a festive Daft Dimension, 'cos I did it! Here's an exclusive preview of the first panel...

New DWM out this Thursday

Here's the cover to Doctor Who Magazine No.517, which will arrive in shops on Thursday 21st September. It features another 84 packed pages of interviews, news, reviews, and features, plus the regular 12th Doctor comic strip, and another Daft Dimension strip from me. 

Here's a preview of one panel. It's always a thrill to draw the Daleks for the official magazine! 

You'll find Doctor Who Magazine in WH Smith, Asda, Tesco, and various other stores. 

Preview: Doctor Who Magazine No.516

Here's the cover of the next issue of the official Doctor Who Magazine, which will be in the shops on Thursday 24th August. As you can see, it features Jodie Whittaker, who steps into the role during the Christmas episode this year (which sadly bids farewell to Peter Capaldi) and whose full series begins in Autumn 2018.

Casting a woman as the Doctor has been a controversial point, but most comments I've read have been positive and welcoming. Personally I think it's a brilliant move, and I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what Jodie Whittaker brings to the part. After all, the Doctor is a shape-changing alien from a fictional planet. At the end of the 9th Doctor's life he mused he might even regenerate with two heads. Fans didn't seem to object to that notion, but put a woman in the role and some have gone ballistic! 

This issue of Doctor Who Magazine will of course be packed with features, interviews, news and reviews, plus the regular 12th Doctor comic strip. It'll also include another Daft Dimension by me, and I've made it topical. I think this will be the first time the 13th Doctor has appeared in a strip in an official Doctor Who publication, and she's not likely to appear in another strip until her series starts, so grab your collector's item copy this Thursday!

DWM website: https://doctorwhomagazine.com