By Jessica Martin

Unbound, available now

An illustrated autobiography of the actor best known to Doctor Who fans as the (recently returned) Mags in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy…

The character of the werewolf Vulpanan in Stephen Wyatt’s 1988 Doctor Who story may not be the highest profile role that Jessica Martin has played over the years, but it’s one that she’s returned to in two different ways over the past few months – illustrating a story featuring Mags for Titan’s 7th Doctor, and reprising the role for a trilogy on audio that’s just completed release. It’s ideal time to delve a little more deeply into her own backstory.

Life Drawing is a fascinating and ambitious work. It’s not Martin’s first foray into graphic novels – Elsie Harris’ Picture Palace and her life of The It Girl precede it, as well as the comic strip – and she’s got a very clear idea of narrative flow and how to make a clear point in just a few words and an image. She doesn’t spare her own blushes –there are a few wry asides within the narration panels that had me laughing out loud – and you never get the idea that she’s tried to sugarcoat the ups and downs of the business… including those moments when something “got away” through no fault of anybody’s.

Her life, both as a writer and performer, has brought her in contact with a lot of very familiar names, and she’s captured them all very well. But it’s not just the Julie Andrews, Rory Bremners and Phil Jupituses (Jupiti?): there’s an incredibly well observed picture of Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner and his partner Gary Downie that took me back instantly twenty years to spending time with them at conventions. (And I didn’t know at the time that Martin was also at JNT’s funeral – the picture of his coffin departing and what was going on is spot on!)

The Doctor Who element of the book isn’t overwhelming (although it had ramifications that echo throughout Martin’s career) but there’s a few things here many fans may well not know about that – let alone everything else she has done.

Verdict: Cleverly titled, this is a beautifully drawn (in both senses) portrait of a creative life. Highly recommended. 10/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Amazon.co.uk