The Ugrakks (comic story)

The Ugrakks
Doctor:	Third Doctor
Main enemy:	Demur
Key crew
Publisher:	Polystyle
Writer:	Dennis Hooper
Artist:	Gerry Haylock
Release details
Number of parts:	10
Printed in:	TV Action 79-88
Release date:	19 August - 21 October 1972
Reprinted in:	DWCC 13, DWCC 14
Format:	Comic
TVA comic stories
← Previous	The Enemy from Nowhere
Next →	Steelfist

The Ugrakks was a Third Doctor comic story published in TV Action.

Summary

The TARDIS is forced to land on an alien world infested by plants and fungi. The Ugrakks have learnt of the Doctor and his TARDIS from an Earth space traveller, Professor Lammers. Under constant attack from the giant Zama flies, the Ugrakks are desperate to escape their world to find a new planet. Unable to travel in space by conventional means, the Ugrakks are eager to make use of the Doctor and his TARDIS which will be able to transport them without ill effect. Unwilling to submit to the demands of the Ugrakks, the Doctor takes advantage of a Zama fly attack and escapes with Professor Lammers. When the Doctor discovers the Zama fly grubs beneath the organic city of the Ugrakks, he hatches a plan that will put an end to the evil plant creatures once and for all.

Characters

• Third Doctor
• Professor Lammers
• Demur
• Fabus

Worldbuilding

• The Doctor thinks the TARDIS is affected by a time tornado.

Notes

• The Ugrakks were created by Ian Fairnington, the winner of a TV Action competition to design an original comic strip foe for the Doctor.
• The appearance of Professor Lammers appears to have been inspired by Frederick Percival Blunden, the title character played by Laurence Naismith in the 1972 feature film The Amazing Mr. Blunden, which was being screened in cinemas at the time.
• The ninth part of this story is mistakenly called "Part Ten".

Original print details

(Publication with page count and closing captions)

• TVA 79 (3 pages) Next week, the Doctor sees the strange Ugraak plan!
• TVA 80 (3 pages) Next week, the Ugraak planet reveals its secrets!
• TVA 81 (3 pages) Deadful death for the Doctor? See next week!
• TVA 82 (3 pages) Next week, the Doctor is witness to a foul battle!
• TVA 83 (3 pages) Next week, a desperate bid to escape the spores!
• TVA 84 (3 pages) Next week, an old enemy for the Ugraaks!
• TVA 85 (3 pages) Next week—a struggle to escape an underground tomb!
• TVA 86 (3 pages) Next week the Doctor fights the Ugraaks—hand to hand!
• TVA 87 (3 pages) Destruction for the Ugraaks — or the Doctor? See next week!
• TVA 88 (3 pages) Great New Dr. Who Story Next Week!

Continuity

• The Doctor's TARDIS was hijacked right after the defeat of the Zeron. (COMIC: The Enemy from Nowhere)

External links

• The Ugrakks at the Doctor Who Reference Guide