Issue 21 (June 1986)
The Front Cover
“The Thing in the TARDIS!” A very red cover, depicting the end of “The Stockbridge Horror” Part Three from the opposite angle (facing the Doctor). It’s not bad, but Davison’s features are still rather off. “The Stockbridge Horror Continues!” That it does, mate.
The Strips
“The Stockbridge Horror” (“The Stockbridge Horror” Parts Three and Four)
Again, no indication is given as to the part numbers, although this time the second instalment at least retains its title caption and author/artist credits. It must have been very disorienting for American readers to suddenly jump from Parkhouse’s relatively clean art to Austin’s sketchy drawings. On the sixth page of part three, although the star remains next to the caption, the footnote referencing “Stars Fell on Stockbridge” has been cut.
“Skywatch-7” (“Skywatch-7” Part One)
Like “Stockbridge,” no part number is given.
“The Gods Walk Among Us”
Continuing the lame Sontaran back-up strip trend!
The Columns
“The Editor’s Space” (by Jim Salicrup)
The first hint that the Doctor Who comic might not always be around – Salicrup suggests readers pick up back issues from their local comics shop, instead of waiting for “ten years when the price may have sky-rocketed.” Which is, doubtless, why you can now find $1.50 issues for as little as 80 cents.
“Who Knows” (by Patrick Daniel O’Neill)
Details on NJN’s new one-hour documentary special Doctor Who’s Who’s Who, as well as the six game books featuring Colin Baker’s Doctor, and Jacqueline Lichtenberg’s Dushau Trilogy (two of which have Who-related dedications). The rest of the column is spent with O’Neill answering a reader question about finding jelly babies in the USA, and reader comments regarding typos in issue #14 and disagreement over O’Neill’s Dalek and Cybermen chronologies. Accompanied by two stylized illustrations: one in the style of the RKO Pictures’ openings (with WHO instead of RKO), and another showing a letter-in-progress that begins “Dear Dr Who”. The final page of the column is excessively hard to read, printed, as it is, over a rather brightly-coloured watermark pattern of Daleks and Cybermen.
“Who Cares”
Doug Whitney of Brooklyn, New York, loves the comic but hated “Junk Yard Demon” and Dr. Ivan Asimoff; what he would like to see include strips featuring the first three Doctors. Nick Seidler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wants to see the fifth Doctor’s coat piping coloured red in the art, and gives the address for his fan club, the Earthbound Timelords. Robert Rausch of Albany, New York, really likes the redesign of the comic that started in issue #17, but doesn’t like all the articles geared towards new fans. Hewitt Pratt of San Mateo, California, has enjoyed “Ship of Fools” and “Throwback,” but Josh Seat (no address) absolutely despises the Davison Doctor being in the comic. Roman White Sr., of Elizabethton, Tennessee, wants to know if there will be any non-Marvel reprints, and M.A. Kistler chips in with his positive comments about the redesign, the location of the colour “Tides of Time” spread, and Joe Mason’s suggestion (in issue #17) to use Dicky Howett’s “Unearthly Child” parody. Finally, some more simple compliments come from Patrick Wollard, of San Carlos, California.
The Adverts
Epic Comics (advertising titles such as “Elektra: Assassin,” “Groo the Wanderer,” and “ElfQuest”);
“The Doctor Who Collection” (merchandise);
“1961 / 1986” (the new Marvel Universe);
“Doctor Who Conventions”;
“Doctor Who Giftshop”.
The Back Cover
“10 Reasons to Pick Up Marvel Age Every Month”.
Cool Colours
The Marvel TARDIS is almost exactly the same as last month, although it now has white windows and a central circle of white light. For the first time, Peter Davison’s coat piping has been coloured in red (perhaps in response to Nick Seidler’s request?). The Zygon in “Skywatch-7” is brown and orange.
Fun Mistakes
The “Who Knows” article refers to the six Doctor Who game books as “Doctor Who Solve it Yourself Mysteries”, but they were in fact marketed as “Make Your Own Adventure with Doctor Who” in Great Britain and “Find Your Fate: Doctor Who” in the United States.
Conclusion
More good stuff. The back-up strips aren’t so fantastic this month, but at least the editorial team continues to dish out a consistent 24 pages of pure comics. Unfortunately, after Parkhouse’s drawings – which were at least reasonable on the eye – the quality of “The Stockbridge Horror” falls heavily with the introduction of Mick Austin’s art. Sketchy and dense, the man seems to have a very odd sense of proportion regarding humanoid characters, which is especially noticeable with the Doctor.
Issue 22 (July 1986)
The Front Cover
Easily our favourite of the post-Gibbons covers, and the first since issue #13 (which was a last-minute save, anyway) not drawn by the artist of the main strip (Parkhouse did much of the art in issues #20 and #21, but his only credit here is as a writer). The Doctor stands, back to the viewer, at the console, watching (on an absolutely huge scanner screen) as the military TARDIS fires its time torpedoes. “Time torpedoes! Heading right for me!” cries the Doctor. “This is most distressing!” So it is. Never fear, though, boys and girls, because this is merely a sign that “The Stockbridge Horror Continues!” (Sorry, couldn’t resist the segue.)
The Strips
“The Stockbridge Horror” (“The Stockbridge Horror” Parts Five and Six)
One panel in Part Six, referring back to “Stars Fell on Stockbridge,” has a footnote caption amended to “see issue no. 19 – ed.”
“Skywatch-7” Part Two
Why not present this whole in the previous issue? Who knows.
“The Fires Down Below”
Another weird choice, since it features the Quarks and a Dominator. How many American fans will know who they are?
“Doctor Who?”
This isn’t so much a separate feature as two three-panel editions of Dicky Howett and Tim Quinn’s strip, illustrating the “Who Knows” column. The first is about the trials of being a Cyberman (also printed in David Banks’ book Cybermen); the second, a “what-if?” scenario of the Doctor played by Oliver Reed, Sylvester Stallone, or Ronald Reagan.
The Columns”The Editor’s Space” (by Jim Salicrup)
The editor beats on his drum from issue #21 a while longer, emphatically insisting that we should collect each and every issue while we can – and, at the same time, feeding us a veiled plea for more readers. Times are sounding desperate, Jim!
“Who Knows” (by Patrick Daniel O’Neill)
The 23rd season has begun production! And that’s all they know. There are brief snippets regarding the new Doctor Who play, The Inheritors of Time (which was ultimately never produced); the next North American Time Festival in St. Louis; and the Target fan guide Travel Without the TARDIS. The rest of the article is given over to an interview with Terrance Dicks, who discusses his new role as producer of the BBC’s Classic Serials, his thoughts on the eighteen-month hiatus, the persona of Colin Baker’s Doctor, whether or not he’d like to produce Who, and his various children’s book series.
“Doctor Who Fan Clubs” / “Pen Pals”
Take a guess what’s listed here!
“Who Cares”
Jonathan Murphy of Orrington, Maine, loves the comic; so does Rich Farrell, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but he wishes the fourth Doctor’s regeneration had been shown. Steve Morrison of British Columbia, Canada, doesn’t like the new comic design (as introduced in issue #17). Ralph Maness of Cahokia, Illinois, would like to see pre-Marvel fourth Doctor strips run when the back-up strips run out, and adaptations done of missing stories. Matt Vincent of Hudson, New Hampshire, responds to Anthony Padilla’s letter in issue #13. Chris Heaney of Belleville, New Jersey, writes to say that NADWAS has reached its membership limit, and that the Doctor’s American comics debut was the Doctor Who and the Daleks Dell Movie Classic. Trin of Gallifrey in Peru, Indiana, doesn’t want any meetings between the Doctor and other famous comic characters, but would like to see stories and art by fans, or really any new material at all (she even includes a list of six TV stories worth adapting. Oy!).
The Adverts
“Sergio Aragone’s Groo the Wanderer”;
“The Alien Legion Poster”;
“Doctor Who Conventions”;
“Doctor Who Giftshop”.
The Back Cover
“10 Reasons to Pick Up Marvel Age Every Month”.
Cool Colours
The Marvel TARDIS is dematerializing: white, with blue details, on a red background. Hmm – what could it mean? For the first time, in the main strip story, the Doctor’s coat piping and sweater stripe are – in some panels – colored red. The gigantic thing that “eats” Shayde is red, with purple lips and yellow eyes. The color scheme is retained later when it appears in humanoid form, with red cloak and hood, purple leggings, and yellow eyes. The Gallifreyan foot soldiers have orange uniforms, with green gloves and boots (socks?).
Fun Mistakes
Ralph Maness’ letter on page 31 says, “I do now want to see the Doctor meet other Marvel characters, be revealed to be a mutant, and join the Avengers.” Going by the context of his letter, he meant “I do not want!”. Meanwhile, reader Matt Vincent refers to issue #14 when he meant #13. Silly fans!
Conclusion
This month’s issue is on roughly the same level as the previous one – reasonably good main strip, reasonably bad back-ups. No articles to speak of, although the “Fan Clubs” and “Pen Pals” listings are new (and, in 1986, were probably quite useful indeed). Only a particularly perceptive fan, though, would’ve realized at the time that this would be the next-to-last issue!
Issue 23 (August 1986)
The Front Cover
“Is This the End of the Doctor?!” Well, yes, because it’s the last issue. But more immediately, the Doctor can be seen on the cover running from an impending bombing of the TARDIS, in a nice piece of art by Steve Parkhouse. “Plus: The Story You Demanded: ‘An Unearthly Child!'” Yes, it is. But it isn’t what you think.
The Strips
“Lunar Lagoon” Parts One and Two
The first instalment carries no part one caption, but the second has its title and caption intact. Naturally, as with the British printing, it is never explained why the story is called “Lunar Lagoon”!
“Voyage to the End of the Universe”
An odd choice for the final back-up strip, focusing on the Dæmons.
“An Unearthly Child”
And yet, somehow, this is still odder. Dickey Howett and Tim Quinn’s parody of the first TV serial – requested back in issue #17 by reader Joe Mason – is officially the last strip reprinted by the American comic, but, by its very nature, bears little resemblance to anything that came before.
The Columns
“The Editor’s Space” (by Jim Salicrup)
Salicrup explains why the comic is ending, and takes a final opportunity to thank his staff, as well as “Terry Nation and everyone who ever contributed to the creation of Doctor Who.”
“Who Knows” (by Patrick Daniel O’Neill)
More details on season 23, including that “a planned Celestial Toymaker script is on hold”. The full results of DWM‘s annual survey are printed, followed by a listing of upcoming books. Accompanied by illustrations of the Doctor Who neon logo on a TV, tumbling figures of Daleks and Cybermen (first used as a watermark pattern in issue #21), and some Doctor Who books.
“Doctor Who Fan Clubs” / “Pen Pals”
More of the same from last month.
“Who Cares”
Richard Thomas, of Cheshire, England, writes a really long letter – he very much enjoys the redesign of the comic, and is looking forward to seeing the Colin Baker comics in colour (too bad he’ll not get the chance right away!); he also takes time to disagree with the idea of the Doctor crossing over into other Marvel titles, and to give his stats for a potential pen pal. Terry Gwardowsky of Windsor, Maine, enjoyed “The Touchdown on Deneb-7” (issue #19), and gives a recommendation for FASA’s Doctor Who roleplaying game. Jon Malamy of New York, New York, likes that there’s so few ads in the comic, and would like to see more art from Dave Gibbons. Jonathan Walker of Old Fort, North Carolina, very much liked “Stars Fell on Stockbridge,” while M. P. Festick, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wants a list of back issues. Shannon O’Connor of Tiburon, California, has found an interesting link between “Timeslip” (issue #18) and another comic illustrated by Paul Neary, hates Remington Steele, and provides the address for the Friends of Tom Baker club. Finally, Bob Paulson of Sharon, Pennsylvania, gets the final word in the comics, with compliments for the redesign and Davison’s Doctor, info on the 23rd season, and an address for a Doctor Who merchandise store.
The Adverts
“The Doctor Who Collection” (merchandise);
“Doctor Who Convention Calendar”;
“Doctor Who Merchandise Sale”.
The Back Cover
“1961 / 1986” (the new Marvel Universe).
Cool Colours
The neon logo is red with a black outline. The “Editor’s Space” background is, once more, a sea green colour. There is no Marvel TARDIS at all – merely a black starscape beneath the Marvel 25th Anniversary logo. The Doctor’s fish in “Lunar Lagoon” is purple. In “An Unearthly Child,” Susan’s hair is green.
Fun Mistakes
On the front cover, the TARDIS is missing its roof lamp. Despite the editor’s claim that he “made sure that all the story lines ended nicely and neatly”, they don’t – neither the events of “The Stockbridge Horror”, nor the anachronistic 1983 setting of “Lunar Lagoon”, are ever explained. The “Who Knows” column says that the 1986 season will be “a season without the Master”, and that “there will be no 2-part stories”. The companion Target novels are listed as Turlough and the Earth-line Dilemma (instead of the correct Earthlink) and Harry Sullivan – War of Nerves (a working title for Harry Sullivan’s War).
Conclusion
Just like that – it’s gone. The final issue of the American comic is solid, if not outstanding. “Lunar Lagoon” is a pleasant little story that makes a better finale than the strange “Stockbridge Horror.” Mick Austin’s art is noticeably better this time around, although still not perfect. The other two strips, though, are stranger choices. Sadly, with about four more issues, the American comic could’ve finished the Davison strips, thus providing fans with an unbroken body of colour material from “The Iron Legion” to “The Moderator” (actually a bit farther, if you include the Voyager graphic novel that featured the first several Colin Baker strips). In lieu of that, though, we still have a fine series of Doctor Who comics guaranteed to make any fan happy, at their best a showcase for the finest of DWM‘s output, at their worst a whimsical and, in hindsight, rather naive approach to the world of Who. If nothing else, we got twenty-seven brand new, full-page pieces of art, most by the masterful Dave Gibbons – and surely that alone is worth recognizing and celebrating.
