DWM 478 out today!

The traditional format of the British comic being a publication comprised exclusively of comic strips only really gained traction in the last half of the 20th Century. Before then, comics were usually a mixture of text stories and comic strips. So perhaps it's not too surprising that the basic model would keep evolving. 

Today, that all-comics format that most of us grew up with has practically died out in the UK, save for a few titles such as The Beano, The Phoenix, Commando, and 2000AD. It's understandable that to the casual browser and various curmudgeons it may seem that "the UK comics industry is dead", - but that's not really the case is it? I fully agree of course that we don't produce anywhere near the comics output as we used to, but there are still strips being produced in the UK for British publications. 

One example, Doctor Who Magazine, which every month features 12 and a bit pages of comic strips originated here in the UK. Granted that's only a fraction of its 84 page format, and granted that most readers buy the mag for the features, but 12 pages is nothing to be sniffed at.

In this month's issue, out today, The Eye of Torment part two by Scott Gray, Martin Geraghty and David Roach continues the adventures of the new Doctor. It's good, solid, professional stuff. 

Oh, and the 'bit' part of "12 and a bit pages of comic strip"? That's the second of my Daft Dimension humour strips. Ok, vested interest declared, but I have promoted DWM here several times in the past before I was a contributor. It's a good mag, and if you're a fan of Doctor Who an essential purchase. 

By the way, when I plugged DWM last month apparently some of you bought Doctor Who Adventures by mistake. That's a good mag in itself, and features all-new comic strips by John Ross and Jamie Smart, but it is pitched at the very young, so if you want a mag for the older fan, Doctor Who Magazine (cover shown above) is the one you want. (But don't let me stop you from buying both of course.)

Doctor Who Magazine No.478. Out now. £4.99.