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{{Infobox Comic|
{{title dab away}}
comic name= Martha the Mechanical Housemaid|
{{real world}}
image= |
{{ImageLinkComics}}
series= [[Doctor Who]] - [[TV Comic]]|
{{Infobox Story SMW
number=|
|image= TwoFinishesMartha.jpg
doctor= [[Second Doctor]]|
|series=[[TV Comic|''TVC'' comic stories]]
companions= [[Jamie McCrimmon]]|
|number=
enemy= [[Quark]]s|
|doctor= Second Doctor
year= [[New York]]|
|companions= [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]]
writer= |
|enemy= [[Quark]]s
artist= |
|setting= [[New York City]], [[1971]]
publication_title= [[TV Comic]] 894-898|
|writer=
publication_dates= 1 February - 1 March [[1969]]|
|artist=  
publisher= |
|editor=
format= Comic - 5 parts (? pages)|
|colourist=
previous story= [[Father Time (comic strip)|Father Time]]|
|letterer=
next story= [[The Duellists]]|
|publication= ''[[TV Comic]]'' 894-898
|release date= 1 February - 1 March 1969
|publisher=  
|format= Comic
|epcount = 5
|prev= Father Time (comic story)
|next= The Duellists (comic story)
}}
}}
'''''Martha the Mechanical Housemaid''''' is a ''[[TV Comic]]'' story featuring the [[Second Doctor]] and [[Jamie McCrimmon]].


==Summary==
As was true of other stories in the ''TV Comic'' run of Second Doctor stories, it depicts the Doctor as a person quite willing to enjoy fame and fortune, with the Doctor appearing twice on American national [[television]] to make a profit out of [[Martha (robot)|a new robot that he has invented]]. By the conclusion, the Doctor is portrayed as a globally famous individual who is being drafted as a possible candidate for the office of [[President of the United States]].
The Doctor invents a mechanical housemaid called [[Martha (robot)|Martha]] and, landing in Central Park in [[New York City]], [[1971]], goes along to a company called Inventions International who are interested in modern inventions. There Doctor Who and Jamie meet American tycoon Mr C. G. Slattery who promises them that a million homes will have Martha’s installed within a few weeks. The pair have hit the big time.


The Doctor appears on television to promote Martha and, within a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Marthas have been sold. But the [[Quark]]s are watching and plan to override the frequency on which the robots operate, so gaining control. Once the robots have wreaked havoc, the Quarks will move in and take over. The signal is sent and the Marthas go berserk, turning on their human masters.
Though seemingly inconsistent with later depictions of the Doctor as a more private individual uninterested in making money, it can be viewed as a partial explanation of why the [[Time Lord]]s' sentence of the Second Doctor in ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'' includes a [[forced regeneration]]. In that televised story, the Doctor objects to an [[exile on Earth]] by saying, ''"Besides, I'm known on the Earth. It might be very awkward for me."'' However, as seen in television serials ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'' and ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'', the Doctor really only seems to know a handful of people on 20th century Earth, and most of them work for [[UNIT]]. Usefully, ''Martha the Mechanical Housemaid'' advances the notion that he is an actual celebrity on Earth.


Impervious to bullets, the robot reign of terror continues. The Doctor guesses what has happened to his invention and also guesses that the Quarks are behind it. Returning to Central Park, he plans to boost his own signal and thus regain control of the Marthas, but already the Quark fleet is moving in towards America.
== Summary ==
The Doctor invents a mechanical housemaid called [[Martha (robot)|Martha]] and, landing in [[Central Park]] in [[New York City]], [[1971]], goes to a company called [[Inventions International Company|Inventions International]], who are interested in modern inventions. There, Jamie and he meet [[American]] tycoon Mr [[C. G. Slattery]] who promises them that a million homes will have Marthas installed within a few weeks. They have hit the big time.


The Doctor boosts his signal and reclaims control of the Marthas. Meanwhile, a Quark ship touches down on a farm close to New York. Other ships land close to all major cities. The Quark invasion begins, but the Doctor has a plan and sends a special command to the Marthas ordering them to attack Quarks on sight.
The Doctor appears on television to promote Martha and, within a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Marthas have been sold. However, the [[Quark]]s are watching and plan to override the frequency on which the robots operate, gaining control. Once the robots have wreaked havoc, the Quarks will move in and take over. The signal is sent and the Marthas go berserk, turning on their human masters.


The battle between Marthas and Quarks rages all across the United States, assisted by the armed forces wherever they can help. Badly beaten, the surviving Quarks are forced to retreat to their saucer and return to their home planet, once again swearing revenge against the Doctor. Doctor Who, meanwhile, is hailed as a national hero and once again appears on television, though this time they want to elect him as president.
Impervious to bullets, the robotic reign of terror continues. The Doctor guesses what has happened to his invention and that the Quarks are behind it. Returning to Central Park, he plans to boost his own signal and regain control of the Marthas, but already the Quark fleet is moving in towards America.


==Characters==
The Doctor boosts his signal and reclaims control of the Marthas. Meanwhile, a Quark ship touches down on a farm close to New York. Other ships land close to all major cities. The Quark invasion begins, but the Doctor has a plan and sends a special command to the Marthas, ordering them to attack Quarks on sight.
*[[Second Doctor]]
*[[Jamie McCrimmon]]
*[[Quark]]s


==References==
[[File:WhoForPresident.jpg|thumb|left|Now that the battle is over, it's time to run for [[President of the United States|president]]!]]
The battle between Marthas and Quarks rages all across the [[United States]], assisted by the armed forces wherever they can help. Badly beaten, the surviving Quarks retreat to their saucer and return to their home planet, yet again swearing revenge against the Doctor. The Doctor, meanwhile, is hailed as a national hero and again appears on television. This time they want to elect him [[President of the United States|president]].
 
== Characters ==
* [[Second Doctor]]
* [[Jamie McCrimmon]]
* [[C. G. Slattery]]
* [[Martha (robot)|Martha]]
* [[Quark]]s
* [[Bill (Martha the Mechanical Housemaid)|Bil]]
* [[Carol (Martha the Mechanical Housemaid)|Carol]]
 
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
''to be added''


==Notes==
== Notes ==
* It's slightly out of character for the Doctor and Jamie to be trying to profit.  
* This is the last appearance of Jamie in ''TV Comic''.
* This is the second Quark invasion attempt in the (then) present or near future.
* The narration box nearly makes a reference to ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'' when it claims that "the [TARDIS] year meter reads 1971".<br />


==Continuity==
=== Original print details ===
* The Quarks still have a presence around Earth, watching for chances to strike, as in ''[[Jungle of Doom]]''.
* This is the last appearance by Jamie in TV Comic. Where (and why) he went is never said.


==External Links==
(Publication with page count and closing captions)
''to be added''
 
* TVC 894 (2 pages) Next week millions of Americans instal Marthas! What will happen when the Quarks intervene?
* TVC 895 (2 pages) Next week the robot reign of terror sweeps America from coast to coast!
* TVC 896 (2 pages) Next week: The Quark Invasion of the United States!
* TVC 897 (2 pages) Don't miss the thrills when the Quarks and the Marthas clash next week!
* TVC 898 (2 pages) Dr. Who starts a new all-action adventure next week...
 
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor previously created [[Barnabus|another robotic servant]] who also proved effective against attackers. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Barnabus (comic story)|Barnabus]]'')


{{comic stub}}
{{Second Doctor TVC comics}}
{{Quark stories}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Second Doctor comic stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in New York City]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1971]]
[[Category:Quark comic stories]]
[[Category:Second Doctor TVC comic stories]]
[[Category:1969 comic stories]]
[[Category:Five part comics]]

Latest revision as of 21:26, 31 January 2024

RealWorld.png

Martha the Mechanical Housemaid is a TV Comic story featuring the Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon.

As was true of other stories in the TV Comic run of Second Doctor stories, it depicts the Doctor as a person quite willing to enjoy fame and fortune, with the Doctor appearing twice on American national television to make a profit out of a new robot that he has invented. By the conclusion, the Doctor is portrayed as a globally famous individual who is being drafted as a possible candidate for the office of President of the United States.

Though seemingly inconsistent with later depictions of the Doctor as a more private individual uninterested in making money, it can be viewed as a partial explanation of why the Time Lords' sentence of the Second Doctor in The War Games includes a forced regeneration. In that televised story, the Doctor objects to an exile on Earth by saying, "Besides, I'm known on the Earth. It might be very awkward for me." However, as seen in television serials The Web of Fear and The Invasion, the Doctor really only seems to know a handful of people on 20th century Earth, and most of them work for UNIT. Usefully, Martha the Mechanical Housemaid advances the notion that he is an actual celebrity on Earth.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor invents a mechanical housemaid called Martha and, landing in Central Park in New York City, 1971, goes to a company called Inventions International, who are interested in modern inventions. There, Jamie and he meet American tycoon Mr C. G. Slattery who promises them that a million homes will have Marthas installed within a few weeks. They have hit the big time.

The Doctor appears on television to promote Martha and, within a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Marthas have been sold. However, the Quarks are watching and plan to override the frequency on which the robots operate, gaining control. Once the robots have wreaked havoc, the Quarks will move in and take over. The signal is sent and the Marthas go berserk, turning on their human masters.

Impervious to bullets, the robotic reign of terror continues. The Doctor guesses what has happened to his invention and that the Quarks are behind it. Returning to Central Park, he plans to boost his own signal and regain control of the Marthas, but already the Quark fleet is moving in towards America.

The Doctor boosts his signal and reclaims control of the Marthas. Meanwhile, a Quark ship touches down on a farm close to New York. Other ships land close to all major cities. The Quark invasion begins, but the Doctor has a plan and sends a special command to the Marthas, ordering them to attack Quarks on sight.

Now that the battle is over, it's time to run for president!

The battle between Marthas and Quarks rages all across the United States, assisted by the armed forces wherever they can help. Badly beaten, the surviving Quarks retreat to their saucer and return to their home planet, yet again swearing revenge against the Doctor. The Doctor, meanwhile, is hailed as a national hero and again appears on television. This time they want to elect him president.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This is the last appearance of Jamie in TV Comic.
  • The narration box nearly makes a reference to An Unearthly Child when it claims that "the [TARDIS] year meter reads 1971".

Original print details[[edit] | [edit source]]

(Publication with page count and closing captions)

  • TVC 894 (2 pages) Next week millions of Americans instal Marthas! What will happen when the Quarks intervene?
  • TVC 895 (2 pages) Next week the robot reign of terror sweeps America from coast to coast!
  • TVC 896 (2 pages) Next week: The Quark Invasion of the United States!
  • TVC 897 (2 pages) Don't miss the thrills when the Quarks and the Marthas clash next week!
  • TVC 898 (2 pages) Dr. Who starts a new all-action adventure next week...

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

v • e
Second Doctor TVC comic stories
1966
Weekly strip
1967
Weekly strip
Holiday Special
Annual stories
All stories feature John and Gillian.
1968
Weekly strip
Holiday Special
Annual stories
John and Gillian feature until Invasion of the Quarks, when they are replaced by Jamie.
1969
Weekly strip
Holiday Special
Annual stories
Jamie disappears after Martha the Mechanical Housemaid, leaving the Doctor alone. The Doctor's exile begins in Action in Exile.
All weekly stories drawn by John Canning, continuing his creative run from the First Doctor in 1966 to the Third Doctor in 1971.
v • e
Quark stories
For the purposes of this list, a "Quark story" is one in which one living, authentic Quark plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story.
Television
Audio
Prose
Comics
Video games
Complete list of appearances
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