Script: Paul Cornell
Art: Christopher Jones
Published by Titan Comics, London.
32 pages, full colour.
Available now from: Comics speciality shops.
Digital version also available on iBooks, Nook, Amazon Kindle, ComicsPlus, Comixlogy.
Although I was watching Doctor Who on TV pretty much from the start (at least as early as episode 5 and the arrival of the Daleks), it was the adventures of the Third Doctor that seemed to resonate with me more. Perhaps it was because I was older then (around 12) and the Earth-based stories had a more realistic edge than previous seasons, but I think it was mainly because of the superb chemistry between the cast. Jon Pertwee's confident Doctor had a great screen presence, and when teamed with the spirited, warm natured Jo Grant (played by Katy Manning, probably my first crush) and the UNIT officers (along with Roger Delgado's superbly menacing Master) it made for a very likeable show indeed.
This was also the time when the Doctor Who comic strip became more sophisticated too of course, moving from TV Comic to the new Countdown weekly. The ideal Saturday back in 1971/72 was reading the latest Doctor Who strip, then tuning into the BBC for the current TV episode. Two different adventures to delight us every week.
I was very pleased therefore to see that Titan Comics have brought the Third Doctor back to comics with the release of a new monthly title. Paul Cornell is a great choice as writer, knowing the series inside out and having contributed scripts for the TV show. He's picked up on the Third Doctor's style of dialogue perfectly and I could well imagine Jon Pertwee speaking the lines in the comic. The other cast members are here too; Jo Grant, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Captain Yates, and Sergeant Benton. The story (which takes place after The Three Doctors TV story) feels right for the era, and is nicely paced. And that cliffhanger! Wow!
The artwork is by Christopher Jones, whose visuals tell the story fluently and engage the reader. The artists who drew the strip in the 1970s, Gerry Haylock and Frank Langford, are hard acts to follow and while Jones doesn't always quite capture the exact likenesses of the actors in every panel (never an easy task) the quality of his work can't be faulted.
Titan are producing a tremendous number of titles these days, proving that there's still life in the UK comics industry. It's good to see another comic added to their roster and I hope Doctor Who: The Third Doctor receives the success it deserves.
Visit the Titan Comics website to see their full range of comics:
http://titan-comics.com
As well as the standard cover by Josh Burns shown at the top of this review, there are also five variant covers, including these superb ones by Boo Cook and Andy Walker...
