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{{Infobox Story|
{{Infobox Story SMW
name= Ground Zero |
|range = DWM comic stories{{!}}DWM Comics
image= AceDeadGroundZero.jpg |
|number in range = 89
series=[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]|
|image= AceDeadGroundZero.jpg  
doctor= Seventh Doctor|
|series=[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
companions= [[Ace]]|
|adapted into= The Threshold (short story)
featuring = [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]], [[Peri Brown|Peri]]|
|doctor= Seventh Doctor
enemy= [[Threshold]]|
|companions= [[Ace]]
year= [[Notting Hill]], [[London]], [[2082]]|
|featuring = Susan Foreman
writer= [[Scott Gray]]|
|featuring2 = Sarah Jane Smith
editor=[[Gary Gillatt]]|
|featuring3 = Peri Brown
artist= [[Martin Geraghty]], [[Bambos Georgiou]]|
|enemy= [[Isaac (Ground Zero)|Isaac]]
colourist=None - Black & White|
|setting= [[Notting Hill]], [[London]], [[2082]]
letterer=[[Elitta Fell]]|
|writer= Scott Gray
publication= ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 238|238]]-[[DWM 242|242]]|
|editor = [[Gary Gillatt]]
release date= [[8 May]] - [[28 August]] [[1996]]|
|artist= [[Martin Geraghty]], [[Bambos Georgiou]]
publisher= [[Marvel UK|Marvel Magazines]]|
|colourist=
format= Comic - 5 parts |
|letterer = [[Elitta Fell]]
prev= Black Destiny (comic story)|
|publication= [[DWM 238]]-[[DWM 242|242]]
next= Doctor Who and the Fangs of Time (comic story)|
|release date= 11 April - 1 August 1996
}}
|cover date= 8 May - 28 August 1996
|publisher= Marvel UK
|format= Comic  
|prev= Black Destiny (comic story)
|next= Doctor Who and the Fangs of Time (comic story)
|epcount = 5|reprint = Ground Zero (graphic novel)
}}{{comic stub}}
'''''Ground Zero''''' was a comic story featuring the [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]. Notable for featuring a fate for the character [[Ace]] not supported by any other sources, it was one of the most controversial ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' strips.


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
The Threshold have kidnapped four of the Doctor's former (and one current) companions, using them for their employer's benefit; the [[Lobri]] - a creation of the human unconsciousness, feeding on fear. They intend to destroy the unconscious link between humans. They are stopped, but at what cost?
The [[Threshold]] have kidnapped three of the Doctor's former [[companion]]s, along with his current one, using them for their employer's benefit: the [[Lobri]] — a creation of the human unconsciousness, feeding on fear. They intend to destroy the unconscious link between humans. The Doctor must stop them, but at what cost?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
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* [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
* [[Peri Brown]]
* [[Peri Brown]]
* [[Threshold]]
* [[Isaac (Ground Zero)|Isaac]]
* [[Dixon (Ground Zero)|Dixon]]
* [[Zhanna]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Energy and radiation ===
=== Energy and radiation ===
* Ace, Sarah, and Peri are sent to a 'collective unconsciousness'; a place of pure [[psionic energy]], only humans can survive there.
* Ace, Sarah, and Peri are sent to a place of pure [[psionic energy]].


=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* The Threshold [[neuro-lock]] Susan.
* The Threshold [[neuro-lock]] Susan.
* Peri is tortured to get the most [[fear]] out of her.
* Peri is tortured in order to harvest the greatest amount of [[fear]] from her.
* [[Susan Foreman]] recognises the Doctor as her grandfather.
* Susan can't be sent to the Lobri's realm because she isn't human.
* [[Ace]] attacks the Lobri single-handedly with the Doctor's umbrella and a can of Nitro-9. She is blown up and apparently killed, destroying one of the Lobri.
* The Doctor places mental blocks on Peri and Sarah's minds of the events.
 
=== Timeline ===
* Peri was taken from [[Hollywood]], [[14 May]] [[1938]].
* Susan was taken from [[London]], [[22 October]] [[1963]].
* Sarah Jane Smith was taken from [[Takhail]], [[Russia]], [[25 April]] [[2086]].
 
=== Organisations ===
* The [[Threshold]]'s motto is 'Just around the corner'.
* The Threshold are surprised initially that the Doctor isn't human (they kidnapped Susan in 1963, knowing she was connected to the Doctor, but not that she was an alien).


=== Species ===
=== Species ===
* The Threshold's clients are called the [[Lobri]], they feed off of primal emotions; fear and hatred.
* The Threshold's clients are called the [[Lobri]].


=== TARDIS ===
=== TARDIS ===
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* As the TARDIS breaks through the collective unconsciousness, it starts to break apart, the [[cloister bell]] begins to ring, the Doctor tells Susan to refocus the [[force-field prisms]].
* As the TARDIS breaks through the collective unconsciousness, it starts to break apart, the [[cloister bell]] begins to ring, the Doctor tells Susan to refocus the [[force-field prisms]].
* After the TARDIS's journey into the collective unconsciousness, the Doctor tells Susan to re-establish the [[tertiary navi-links]].
* After the TARDIS's journey into the collective unconsciousness, the Doctor tells Susan to re-establish the [[tertiary navi-links]].
* The Doctor lands the TARDIS inside the Lobri, the [[safety interlocks]] would have prevented this, had they been functioning.
* The Doctor lands the TARDIS inside the Lobri, claiming that the [[safety interlocks]] would have prevented this had they been functioning.
 
=== Time Lords ===
* Susan says (in a monologue) that her people can see beyond the 'facades' (various regenerations).


=== Weapons ===
=== Weapons ===
* Ace uses her [[Nitro-9]] to dispatch several of the Lobri.
* [[Nitro-9]] is powerful enough to dispatch several of the Lobri.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The first part of this comic starts with three inset panel from the last part of this comic.
[[File:Ground Zero DWM 289.jpg|thumb|Colourized page ([[DWM 289]])]]
* It seems that Ace dies in this comic.
* The first part of this comic starts with three inset panels from the last part of this comic.
:* Which makes the DWM partially contradictory as they integrated elements of the [[Virgin New Adventures]] at various points, but ignored it on others.
* This marks the final appearance of the [[Seventh Doctor]] in regular comic strip format. His final lines in his comic book tenure are; ''"Isaac... Do you seriously believe there is anywhere in existence you people can hide from me now?"''
:* The death of Ace also causes continuity issues with regards to [[WC]]: ''[[Death Comes to Time]]'', as well as the reference to her (aka Dorothy) in [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor]]''.
* This comic features the apparent death of Ace in an account not supported by any other media. The story itself does not confirm her age, and she wears her teenage bomber jacket over an obviously more mature outfit, but her characterization is closer to that of her younger self from the TV series.
* This comic can be viewed as the first alteration to the timeline which is resolved in [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Glorious Dead (comic story)|The Glorious Dead]]''.
:* Then ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' Editor [[Gary Gillatt]] explained this choice in [[DWM 240]], citing the resurrections of [[Abslom Daak]] in ''[[Emperor of the Daleks! (comic story)|Emperor of the Daleks!]]'' not being known of by the Doctor in ''[[Deceit (novel)|Deceit]]'' and the similar and conflicting [[Silurian]] stories [[COMIC]]: ''[[Final Genesis (comic story)|Final Genesis]]'' and [[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat (novel)|Blood Heat]]'' as instances where the continuities had diverged in the past. He stated, ''"...as a result, we concluded things would be much simpler if the Marvel strip followed its own path"''. Following this, in [[DWM 242]], Gillatt stated, ''"The bottom line is that Marvel's ''Doctor Who'' comic strip has been going strong since 1979. With seventeen years of [[2-D universe|our own continuity]] to draw upon we see no need (or feel any obligation) to try and shoehorn another publishing company's characters and concepts into our own."''
* Part four was published in the same issue dedicated to the recent death of [[Third Doctor]] actor [[Jon Pertwee]].
* The Seventh Doctor is wearing the same outfit he is wearing in ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'', and the console room and the rest of the TARDIS, resembling the design last seen in ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'', is heavily damaged during this story, seemingly setting up for the changes seen in the TV movie.
* This story subtly references the [[Eighth Doctor]]'s claim to be half-human from the TV movie. The Doctor tells Isaac he might be "more human" than he looks. Later, both the Doctor and Susan, grandfather and granddaughter, are able to enter the collected human unconsciousness unharmed after multiple assertions that anything alien would be rejected or destroyed.
* A page from Part Five was colourised for the article "Life after Death" in [[DWM 289]].


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Sarah was taken by the Threshold in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Black Destiny (comic story)|Black Destiny]]''.
* The Doctor recalls that he used to [[Smoking|smoke]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
* Peri was taken by the Threshold in [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Curse of the Scarab (comic story)|The Curse of the Scarab]]''.
* Isaac took Peri from [[Hollywood]] on [[14 May]] [[1938]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Curse of the Scarab (comic story)|The Curse of the Scarab]]'') Susan from [[London]] on [[22 October]] [[1963]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Operation Proteus (comic story)|Operation Proteus]]'') and Sarah from [[Takhail]], [[Russia]] on [[25 April]] [[2086]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Black Destiny (comic story)|Black Destiny]]'')
* Susan was taken by the Threshold in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Operation Proteus (comic story)|Operation Proteus]]''.
* Ace remembers the Doctor criticising her [[Nitro-9]] for having poor timers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')
* Ace continued to live in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Set Piece]]''.
* As she dies, Ace once again asks the Doctor if they "did good". ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')
* The Seventh Doctor is wearing the same outfit he is wearing in [[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (1996)]]'', the console room and the rest of the TARDIS is heavily damaged during this story, seemingly setting up for the changes seen in the TV movie.


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{dwrefguide|comic7.htm#groundzero|Ground Zero}}
{{dwrefguide|comic7.htm#groundzero|Ground Zero}}
 
{{Seventh Doctor DWM comics}}
{{Seventh Doctor DWM comics}}
{{comic stub}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}


[[Category:Seventh Doctor DWM comic stories]]
[[Category:Seventh Doctor DWM comic stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 2080s]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2082]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:1996 comic stories]]
[[Category:1996 comic stories]]
[[Category:Five part comics]]

Latest revision as of 18:10, 22 May 2024

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Ground Zero was a comic story featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace. Notable for featuring a fate for the character Ace not supported by any other sources, it was one of the most controversial Doctor Who Magazine strips.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Threshold have kidnapped three of the Doctor's former companions, along with his current one, using them for their employer's benefit: the Lobri — a creation of the human unconsciousness, feeding on fear. They intend to destroy the unconscious link between humans. The Doctor must stop them, but at what cost?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Energy and radiation[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Threshold neuro-lock Susan.
  • Peri is tortured in order to harvest the greatest amount of fear from her.

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Threshold's clients are called the Lobri.

TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor links the Threshold's ring to the TARDIS's trans-reality navi-systems.
  • As the TARDIS breaks through the collective unconsciousness, it starts to break apart, the cloister bell begins to ring, the Doctor tells Susan to refocus the force-field prisms.
  • After the TARDIS's journey into the collective unconsciousness, the Doctor tells Susan to re-establish the tertiary navi-links.
  • The Doctor lands the TARDIS inside the Lobri, claiming that the safety interlocks would have prevented this had they been functioning.

Weapons[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Nitro-9 is powerful enough to dispatch several of the Lobri.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Colourized page (DWM 289)
  • The first part of this comic starts with three inset panels from the last part of this comic.
  • This marks the final appearance of the Seventh Doctor in regular comic strip format. His final lines in his comic book tenure are; "Isaac... Do you seriously believe there is anywhere in existence you people can hide from me now?"
  • This comic features the apparent death of Ace in an account not supported by any other media. The story itself does not confirm her age, and she wears her teenage bomber jacket over an obviously more mature outfit, but her characterization is closer to that of her younger self from the TV series.
  • Then Doctor Who Magazine Editor Gary Gillatt explained this choice in DWM 240, citing the resurrections of Abslom Daak in Emperor of the Daleks! not being known of by the Doctor in Deceit and the similar and conflicting Silurian stories COMIC: Final Genesis and PROSE: Blood Heat as instances where the continuities had diverged in the past. He stated, "...as a result, we concluded things would be much simpler if the Marvel strip followed its own path". Following this, in DWM 242, Gillatt stated, "The bottom line is that Marvel's Doctor Who comic strip has been going strong since 1979. With seventeen years of our own continuity to draw upon we see no need (or feel any obligation) to try and shoehorn another publishing company's characters and concepts into our own."
  • Part four was published in the same issue dedicated to the recent death of Third Doctor actor Jon Pertwee.
  • The Seventh Doctor is wearing the same outfit he is wearing in Doctor Who, and the console room and the rest of the TARDIS, resembling the design last seen in Battlefield, is heavily damaged during this story, seemingly setting up for the changes seen in the TV movie.
  • This story subtly references the Eighth Doctor's claim to be half-human from the TV movie. The Doctor tells Isaac he might be "more human" than he looks. Later, both the Doctor and Susan, grandfather and granddaughter, are able to enter the collected human unconsciousness unharmed after multiple assertions that anything alien would be rejected or destroyed.
  • A page from Part Five was colourised for the article "Life after Death" in DWM 289.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

v • e
DWM Seventh Doctor comic stories
Original run
Frobisher
Olla
Solo
Ace
Benny
Ace & Benny
Solo
Newspaper pilot
Ace
Later stories
Ace
Ace & Benny
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