Doctor Who Comic #1: ‘We’ll Keep Fighting Back’

Doctor Who Comic #1 jumps right at the center of an apocalypse/Sea Devils dominated Earth and an alien invasion that feels as ruthless and threatening as possible, but always more than meets the eye. Ingranata and Eren Angiolini throw the unimaginable destruction and the galactical catastrophe at our eyes from the very first pages (which follow the story directly picking up from Doctor Who: The Thirteen Doctor Season 2 #4), putting out realistic penciling of tech constructions and demolished houses, sepia-toned coloring and purposely decadent surroundings to the serve of the haunting new setting. To see it in contrast with stars and galaxies background and the charm design of our characters is in itself an experience of the unique aesthetics this book is putting out.

And then, on top of that, Jody Houser’s always on point characterization of the 13th Doctor just makes this comic laughable and enjoyable, in the weird way that it interjects with real stakes and a very restless situation. It’s not only the apocalyptic destruction and the mysterious and visually fascinating echo that talks through all the issue’s scenarios that contrasts with 13th’s humor. It’s how the issue pushes towards the other side of the timely conflict, the survivors. Of course, at the central gravitas of the shock of the survivors is Rose Tyler. Both her revolutionary characterization, marvelous few lines and apocalypse suit (which is in itself a great work of character’s reinvention and design) are a great entry to the book, and an immediate attention catcher. Rose is beyond badass here and fits perfectly the tone and effect, like if she was made for this story.

On the downside of it, the plot itself (or what has come to light of it when the issue ends) is fairly simple and doesn’t give much more than the already impacting plot points it promises in the few preview pages (that have been going around for a while). Some characters (like Ryan or Yaz) are given seldom lines, making it focused especially on 13th’s eccentricity (sometimes undermining other characters in ways that make me wanna see them speak more than her). And, so far, there’s few things going on here that haven’t already been explored in Doctor Who’s canon, except this package is carefully crafted to bring out the feelings and recreate a certain sci-fi sensation perfectly.

Once you have seen Peach Momoko’s beautifully strange and underwater-like cover and have reached out Rose’s appearance, you already can feel the book’s gravitas and weight. It definitely drags you along, and it was a really short reading for me, waiting for more of it as I arrived to the last page. The potential this comic has is enormous, and I’m eager to see where it goes next.