DR. WHO #1, DR. WHO CLASSICS #3

**MattBrady** · 12-19-2007, 06:59 AM

Continuing our looks at IDW titles to come, the publisher has provided Newsarama with a peek at the good Doctor in two versions: January’s Doctor Who #1 and February’s Dr. Who Classics #3.

The solicitations for the issues read:

Doctor Who #1
Gary Russell (w); Nick Roche (a); Nick Roche (c)

The legendary Doctor Who is back, with the first-ever stories created exclusively for the US market. The Doctor is the last of the Time Lords, survivors of a Great Time War and, along with his loyal friend and companion Martha Jones from London, they stop oppression, darkness and evil spreading throughout the galaxies. They're also on the hunt for the best chocolate milkshakes in the cosmos… and while they track that down, someone else has the Doctor in their sights. As the very last Time Lord out there, he's highly collectable, to the right people... this debut miniseries comes to you courtesy of Doctor Who TV show story editor Gary Russell and artist Nick Roche (The Transformers). Roche and variant artist Joe Corroney provide covers for each issue.

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • $3.99 • 32 pages

Dr. Who Classics #3
Pat Mills & John Wagner (w); Dave Gibbons (a); Joe Corroney (c)

IDW Publishing continues its re-presentation of classic Doctor Who comics from across time and space, each one featuring all-new coloring. In issue three, “The Iron Legion” concludes, and then the good Doctor enters “The City of the Damned,” courtesy of writers Pat Mills & John Wagner, and featuring stunning art by Watchmen’s Dave Gibbons. Artist Joe Corroney (Star Trek: Klingons) provides an all-new cover recreating a scene from this classic tale.

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for a special incentive
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Layters · 12-19-2007, 07:59 AM

That looks so bad. And here was me thinking nothing could be worse that RTD's 2 part finale to last season. In all fairness is so badly wrong for a Dr Who series. IN fact its made worse by comparison to the classics series preview.

victor_cardi · 12-19-2007, 09:15 AM

I agree, that art doesn't look so good. Page 3 looks especially bad. The TARDIS exterior looks...wrong. On page 2 the Doctor looks like the Joker, sans green hair and white make up.

That Doctor Who Classic cover is very cool.

Oh, and I agree that the finale to season 3 was terrible.

Chris · 12-19-2007, 09:41 AM

Now see, I can't wait for this book. I love Nick's art...

Then again, I also loved the 3rd season finale...

Different strokes, I guess...

Chris

olly-mac · 12-19-2007, 09:47 AM

After many, many years of very little Dr. Who comic strip content, please, please, please, let's give it a chance. There was a lot about series three that was excellent - including the finale and the re-introduction of The Master. C'mon, be glad there is a comic book out rather than nothing, and give it a chance.

pop monkey · 12-19-2007, 10:24 AM

Erg. I've already preordered this, so I kind of have to give it a shot, but these preview pages don't inspire anticipation, excitement or reassurance at all. I don't like the fact that the writer has chosen to depict Gallifrey's involvement in the Time War as some sudden split-second catastrophe that exploded the planet like the death star. I don't like the fact that the writer is branding the Doctor as "reckless and irresponsible". The character has always been a bit reckless, but he's usually very careful when it comes to mucking about with time, and is certainly not irresponsible, and that's a very important facet to his character. The art seems a bit too unpolished and goofy, as well, with character faces that don't quite gel and some awkward poses.

I dunno. I hoped for the best, but... what can I say -- I'm disappointed thus far. The comics that appear monthly in the UK's official DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE are quite good -- maybe IDW should just reprint those.

7thunders · 12-19-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Now see, I can't wait for this book. I love Nick's art...

Then again, I also loved the 3rd season finale...

Different strokes, I guess...

Chris

I loved all of season 3 including the finale and I look forward to the comic book!!!

ljacone · 12-19-2007, 10:48 AM

I like the Classics concept, somewhat similar to what they did where they'd reprint the old Marvel Transformers. Looks like fun, and now is the right time to bring this material out in the states, it would seem.

Mezzrow · 12-19-2007, 11:20 AM

First off, I have to agree with the majority here, on the IDW version. If the writer is truly connected with the new series, he has indeed mis-characterized the Doctor. I have more tolerance for differing artistic styles, so I won't bitch TOO much about the art... hopefully the artist will refine his interpritation on-the-job.

I didn't hate the 3rd season finale. And really, it was a three-parter, not a two-parter. Utopia led directly to The Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords. (And it was nice to see Derek Jacobi, if even briefly.)

However, here is the BIG question. Why can't we get the British Dr. Who comics here in the US? My friend was visiting London this past fall and he brought me a present. A magazine-sized, thick-as-hell, soft cover black and white Dr. Who Adventures. THESE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO WRITE A WHO STORY!!! The 3 main tales featured the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann) whom I detested until read these stories, a great stand-alone featuring Doctors 1-8 ("After this last regereration, I'm allergic to codfish." "But I LOVE codfish." "I KNOW!!!")

And a cool-as-hell companion... Frobush, a sentient alien penguin.

Why do we have to get crappy reprints of the 80's U.S. Marvel series??? Why can't we get the real deal from the country of origin? Anybody???

SpyGuy · 12-19-2007, 11:33 AM

It's DOCTOR WHO, so this is an automatic given for me, but Nick Roche's art is just horrible and extremely disappointing. The exaggerated cartooniness, especially in the facial expressions, is a major turn-off and I wish the editor would have selected an artist with a style similar to the "Infinite Quest" animated serial from the BBC's TOTALLY DOCTOR WHO series.

CodeGuy · 12-19-2007, 11:34 AM

I really like the new Doctor comic. They're on a mad quest for the perfect milkshake. That's funny. And of course it will lead to something horrible, everything always does.

Reliant · 12-19-2007, 11:45 AM

I like what I see with IDW's take on Doctor Who. Doing licensed books can be a real bitch literally, and you rarely can please 'em all. You either have spot-on likenesses that are basically traced photo stills, or you have art that's either "too cartoony" or "too whatever style we don't like this month." But that's normal and a natural part of any fandom of a licensed property. Personally, I'd rather the comics version of any live-action series (regardless of it being Doctor Who, Star Trek, etc.,), take advantage of its medium and do things that can't or won't be done onscreen for whatever reason. It's not like they're one and the same, IMO. As long as the comics don't contradict anything from the live-action production, I say run wild with it...just not too wild, though.

Avon Lazelle · 12-19-2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pop monkey

I dunno. I hoped for the best, but... what can I say -- I'm disappointed thus far. The comics that appear monthly in the UK's official DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE are quite good -- maybe IDW should just reprint those.

You can't have seen this month's (the Kylie cover!). It's worse....

CodeGuy · 12-19-2007, 12:00 PM

I actually really dislike the artowork in BBC's TOTALLY DOCTOR WHO. It looks really robotic and lifeless to me.

delltechdude · 12-19-2007, 12:05 PM

Just a few quick pointers to those complaining about Gary Russell's writing, the man used to be the editor and a writer for Doctor Who Magazine, he has written Doctor Who novels, he was a director and writer for Big Finish, the company that makes new cd stories using Doctors 5-8 with the original actors in their roles. So how about reading the story first before getting angry over the first few pages here.

And as far as the reprint series shown, those stories were reprinted by Marvel ages ago, but they are also from Doctor Who Magazine, the earliest stories of the Magazine to be precise.

I personally have had 2 copies of each issue for the 10th Doctor series for my pull list and getting the reprint series so I can sit down and read them with my daughter.

Be glad there is a Doctor Who renaissance here and now. In the 80s here in the States you were considered worse than a Star Trek or Star Wars nerd. This new series has done plenty to bring proper recognition for the original series.

_____
www.timegatecon.org

SpyGuy · 12-19-2007, 12:05 PM

Oh, and why is the color palette so light for both DOCTOR WHO and DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS? IMHO, a darker palette would give both books a much richer atmosphere.

Stuart · 12-19-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mezzrow

Why do we have to get crappy reprints of the 80's U.S. Marvel series??? Why can't we get the real deal from the country of origin? Anybody???

Ah...the reprints ARE the real deal from the country of origin. They got reprinted in the States in the 80s, but they were originally printed in the British Doctor Who Weekly (which became Doctor Who Monthly, and then Doctor Who Magazine) in the late 70s.

CodeGuy · 12-19-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

Oh, and why is the color palette so light for both DOCTOR WHO and DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS? IMHO, a darker palette would give both books a much richer atmosphere.

Because light and colorful is a completely reasonable way for Doctor Who to be presented.

Doctor Who has always been a fun show. It has it's darker elements, but everybody who's ever worked on it has said that it was always primarily aimed at kids. I have DVDs with commentaries from the writers who worked on the show in the 70s. I've read interviews with the current guys. And I've read interviews with the original creators. Most of them have said they like to make something that the parents would enjoy, but all of them have said the show was primarily made for kids.

And the show has often been bright and colorful, too. The spaceships from the Jon Pertwee era, the monsters from the Tom Baker years, you can sample any era you like and find that some of the stories were dark and some were bright and colorful.

So there's lots of history of light color palettes in Doctor Who. It looks good.

Mezzrow · 12-19-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Ah...the reprints ARE the real deal from the country of origin. They got reprinted in the States in the 80s, but they were originally printed in the British Doctor Who Weekly (which became Doctor Who Monthly, and then Doctor Who Magazine) in the late 70s.

I kinda goofed there, huh? My old memory is kinda foggy, but I honestly wasn't referring to the classic shown here. Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons are of course British talent and the story here was pretty good. Unless I am greatly mistaken, this story arc was the first one reprinted by Marvel. I remember the first cover quite vivdly, Tom Baker floating on a colored background in front of the TARDIS, doffing his hat jauntly.

But didn't Marvel stop publishing the British reprints and start writing their own stories? It seems like they did. There must have been some reason I stopped buying it. (Or else my mom cut off my allowence and I had to tighten my belt. Who can remember after decades?) I DO remember becoming disenchanted with the series as it went on.

But you are correct... the story in question here was an original British reprint.

Tony Lee · 12-19-2007, 01:21 PM

Well, speaking as a massive fan and also as a writer of the Doctor Who comic strip for the UK magazine, I can't wait to see some more tenth Doctor content out there.

I read how people don't like the story, the art etc - "I mean, hunting for a milkshake?" etc. But what you need to remember that Doctor Who is a Children's show. Granted, many of it's fans are in their thirties, forties, fifties even - but nevertheless we're not the target audience. The audience of Doctor Who is what it's always been - children. In the UK we have a weekly comic called 'Doctor Who Adventures' aimed at the 8-12 market, and these stories are even more simplistic!

The second thing everyone should remember is that IDW have to put all ideas past the BBC, which means of course that they go all the way to Russell T. This story and art style will have been agreed upon or even suggested by them.

Personally? I think Gary is the best choice to launch this, and I look forwards to seeing more of Nick's art. And I look forwards to seeing more Who!

delawarejoel · 12-19-2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thunders

I loved all of season 3 including the finale and I look forward to the comic book!!!

Season three was a bit lame but picked up steam - the main problem with it was the character of Martha Jones was useless and badly created until the end episodes, which I thought were terrific.

GraemeBurk · 12-19-2007, 01:29 PM

I loved all the concept sketches Nick Roche did, and I like his style and his layout, but I have to say the rendering of the Doctor and Martha, while disappointing, don't bother me so much as the terrible version of the TARDIS on page 3... that's just plain amateurish: the sort of basic mistake that I would have thought any editor would have sent back for corrections.

The Police Box is so iconic, it's like drawing Superman's "S" wrong. (And it's a piece of architecture, it's not that hard to draw correctly!)

I don't know why that bugs me but it does: I'm prepared to live with any amount of fudging the likenesses so long as they draw the TARDIS right...

greenman · 12-19-2007, 01:47 PM

This looks very good. The Doctor's character is spot on, I can practically hear David Tennant's voice as I read it. As for the art style: Sure it isn't photorealistic, it's a broader, simpler look, but from the small sample given here it looks like it could work. It seems like it would fit the kind of fast-paced, freewheeling style of adventure that Doctor Who is often known for quite well. I'll definitely be checking out this comic when it comes out.

CodeGuy · 12-19-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraemeBurk

The Police Box is so iconic, it's like drawing Superman's "S" wrong. (And it's a piece of architecture, it's not that hard to draw correctly!)

What are you seeing wrong with the TARDIS on page 3? I looked up a picture on the internet and I can only see a couple minor details that are different from the actual prop on the show.

monkey x · 12-19-2007, 02:17 PM

this is just plain bad...i had high hopes for this series, something akin to the better novels and they bring in this kiddie crap....gah... not ever who fan is a new who fan. some peole actually like to read good, intelligent sci-fi..oh and series 3 finale. total cop out. hit the rewind button too many times now just to escape awkward questions later down the road. and the Doctor saves the earth thru a old fasioned sing-along..shudder...