Doctor Who: the Seventh Doctor

released OUT NOW! Publisher Titan Comics Writer andrew Cartmel Artist Christopher Jones

issues 1-3 The final two seasons of classic Doctor Who have a distinct flavour that marked a gear change from Sylvester McCoy’s first year in the role. Inspired by the likes of Watchmen, as well as the politics of the late ’80s, script editor Andrew Cartmel nudged the show in darker, stranger directions. He returns to pen this sprightly three-issue comic arc, “Operation Volcano”, with help from “Remembrance Of The Daleks” writer (and bestselling novelist) Ben Aaronovitch, here credited as Executive Producer.

It immediately captures the tone and preoccupations of the era. Nuclear paranoia, race issues and the Doctor pushing Ace into an uncomfortable situation to force her to grow are all season 26 hallmarks touched upon here. It helps that, in some respects, it’s a sequel to “Remembrance”, reviving the proto-UNIT team of Group Captain Gilmore, Alison and Professor Rachel Jensen, as they investigate a downed alien spacecraft in South Australia.

Christopher Jones’s art is both inventive and pleasingly screen-accurate. Together with colourist Marco Lesko, he does a fine job of evoking the Australian desert. Both an impressive reprise of classic Who’s last golden age and a fine comic, its failing is that it’s so short. An ongoing series from this team would be very welcome indeed.