Firelight

Writer: Dan Slott

Artists: Christopher Jones & Matthew Dow Smith

Rhyme or Reason

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist: Mike Collins

Martha Jones is kidnapped by the insatiable Pyromeths, and her only hope of survival is to keep them distracted.

Eisner award winner Dan Slott makes his Doctor Who comics debut with this feature-length story, released in the run-up to the show’s 60th anniversary. Slott describes his approach to this opportunity as being ‘geeky, silly and with a healthy amount of schmaltz.’ I wouldn’t disagree.

In its opening pages, we’re treated to single frames of the Doctor talking to their companions, explaining what to do if abducted by the Pyromeths, who will typically trick you into telling them stories. The story then begins properly with the 10th Doctor taking Martha to a fair on the planet Bobalabinko. Unfortunately, Martha is trapped, leading her to tell a tall tale about the Doctor, taking in the Sycorax, Osirans and more. It’s a fun tale, with lots of Doctor Who references, the writer having fun with the story.

The second story, Rhyme or Reason, is a continuation of the first, the Doctor this time is the storyteller, and we meet his ninth incarnation and Rose. The artwork by DWM regular Mike Collins is excellent, though some of the comedy dialogue, presented for a specific effect, is not as funny as it thinks it is.

Verdict: The best Doctor Who comic from Titan in some time, that really does feel like a celebration of the show. 7/10

Nick Joy