Holiday Special (comic story): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image            = Holiday Special (comic story) image.jpg
|image            = Holiday Special (comic story) image.jpg
|doctor            = Thirteenth Doctor
|doctor            = Thirteenth Doctor
Line 8: Line 8:
|enemy            = [[Krampus (mythology)|Krampus]]
|enemy            = [[Krampus (mythology)|Krampus]]
|setting          = [[Planet (Holiday Special)|Unnamed planet]], [[Christmas Eve]]
|setting          = [[Planet (Holiday Special)|Unnamed planet]], [[Christmas Eve]]
|writer            = [[Jody Houser]]
|writer            = Jody Houser
|editor            = [[Jake Devine]]
|editor            = [[Jake Devine]]
|penciller        =  
|penciller        =  
Line 23: Line 23:
|reprint          =  
|reprint          =  
|traded            = ''[[Time Out of Mind (graphic novel)|Time Out of Mind]]''
|traded            = ''[[Time Out of Mind (graphic novel)|Time Out of Mind]]''
|release date      = [[13 November (releases)|13 November]]-[[18 December (releases)|18 December]] [[2019 (releases)|2019]]
|release date      = 13 November-18 December 2019
|cover date        =  
|cover date        =  
|publisher        = Titan Comics
|publisher        = Titan Comics
|format            = Comic
|format            = Comic
|series            = ''[[Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor]]''
|prev              = Old Friends (comic story)
|next              = A Little Help from My Friends (comic story)
}}'''''Holiday Special''''' was the story published in the ''[[Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special]]'' comic series.
}}'''''Holiday Special''''' was the story published in the ''[[Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special]]'' comic series.


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== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
There’s no BBC Christmas Special this year – so we’re bringing it to you in comic form! Can the Doctor save Christmas? Is Santa a myth, a man, or a Time Lord? Are chimneys bigger on the inside?
There’s no BBC Christmas Special this year – so we’re bringing it to you in comic form! Can the Doctor save Christmas? Is Santa a myth, a man, or a Time Lord? Are chimneys bigger on the inside?
Line 42: Line 44:


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
With the holidays around the corner, the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] proposes going somewhere special to celebrate. While she is quick to agree to [[Team TARDIS]]' idea of an [[amusement park]], the quartet are flummoxed to find that they all have different memories of the last park they visited and are unable to recall the name of the planet it was on. Flustered, the Doctor simply checks the logs only to find that the TARDIS has no recordings from that day. Suspecting that their memories have not been removed outright, rather that they've been altered, the Doctor follows [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]]'s suggestion to retrace their steps.
With the holidays around the corner, the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] proposes going somewhere special to celebrate. While she is quick to agree to [[Team TARDIS]]'s idea of an [[amusement park]], the quartet are flummoxed to find that they all have different memories of the last park they visited and are unable to recall the name of the planet it was on. Flustered, the Doctor simply checks the logs only to find that the TARDIS has no recordings from that day. Suspecting that their memories have not been removed outright, rather that they've been altered, the Doctor follows [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]]'s suggestion to retrace their steps.


[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] materialises on a festive-themed planet populated by knee-high beings. Introducing themselves to one named [[Friffle]], the group learns that they've been here before and that their memories were most likely erased by "Mr. Henderson" before telling them that the first time they came, the populace assumed that Henderson had sent them. Those of [[Friffle's people]] who go to Henderson's world never return, prompting another outraged reaction from Team TARDIS. After confirming that this is only the second time she's made the promise, the Doctor swears to get to the bottom of this.
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] materialises on a festive-themed planet populated by knee-high beings. Introducing themselves to one named [[Friffle]], the group learns that they've been here before and that their memories were most likely erased by "Mr. Henderson" before telling them that the first time they came, the populace assumed that Henderson had sent them. Those of [[Friffle's people]] who go to Henderson's world never return, prompting another outraged reaction from Team TARDIS. After confirming that this is only the second time she's made the promise, the Doctor swears to get to the bottom of this.
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After the guard confirms that the group is who they seem to be, he steps forward and introduces himself as [[Baxter (Holiday Special)|Baxter]], having been sent by "Jeff." Using his [[candy cane]], the [[elf]] frees the group and guides them to Friffle's people, now reduced to forced labour making toys. As the group watches, [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]]'s lights flash, indicating a memory rewrite but the Doctor doesn't think the glow is bright enough. Realising that the workers' memories are being affected, the group suspects that they tried to free the workers last time and had their own memories rewritten as a result. After the group overhears a mention of "cold fusion", Baxter leads the group to the main control room.
After the guard confirms that the group is who they seem to be, he steps forward and introduces himself as [[Baxter (Holiday Special)|Baxter]], having been sent by "Jeff." Using his [[candy cane]], the [[elf]] frees the group and guides them to Friffle's people, now reduced to forced labour making toys. As the group watches, [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]]'s lights flash, indicating a memory rewrite but the Doctor doesn't think the glow is bright enough. Realising that the workers' memories are being affected, the group suspects that they tried to free the workers last time and had their own memories rewritten as a result. After the group overhears a mention of "cold fusion", Baxter leads the group to the main control room.


Arriving in a rather Christmas style office, the group finds Santa suits and the Naughty or Nice list but Baxter assures them that this isn't Santa. As someone enters, the group hides in a closet. When Henderson enters, they sheds their disguise to reveal that she's [[Krampus (Holiday Special)|Krampus]], an "anti-Santa" that feeds on the primal fears of children.
Arriving in a rather Christmas style office, the group finds Santa suits and the Naughty or Nice list but Baxter assures them that this isn't Santa. As someone enters, the group hides in a closet. When Henderson enters, they sheds their disguise to reveal that she's [[Krampus (mythology)|Krampus]], an "anti-Santa" that feeds on the primal fears of children.


Following, the Doctor recongises Krampus' "cold fusion" device as a hybrid teleporter and psychic energy collector through which her minions will harvest fear. Unable to approach directly, lest their memories be written, the Doctor dons her fez as a psychic safeguard while having her companions adjust the machine.
Following, the Doctor recongises Krampus' "cold fusion" device as a hybrid teleporter and psychic energy collector through which her minions will harvest fear. Unable to approach directly, lest their memories be written, the Doctor dons her fez as a psychic safeguard while having her companions adjust the machine.
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* [[Ryan Sinclair]]
* [[Ryan Sinclair]]
* [[Yasmin Khan]]
* [[Yasmin Khan]]
* [[Krampus (Holiday Special)|Krampus]]
* [[Krampus (mythology)|Krampus]]
* [[Friffle]]
* [[Friffle]]
* [[Friffle's people]]
* [[Friffle's people]]
Line 118: Line 119:
: ''Having been plagued by false memories of an alien amusement park, the Doctor and the gang went on the hunt to discover the truth. On a curiously colourful planet, perturbed alien named Friffle reveals his people are being taken by the mysterious the mysterious Mr Henderson - a man who bears a striking resemblance to Santa Claus! Taken as prisoners in his grotto-like lair, the Doctor resolves to find out exactly what he's plotting…''
: ''Having been plagued by false memories of an alien amusement park, the Doctor and the gang went on the hunt to discover the truth. On a curiously colourful planet, perturbed alien named Friffle reveals his people are being taken by the mysterious the mysterious Mr Henderson - a man who bears a striking resemblance to Santa Claus! Taken as prisoners in his grotto-like lair, the Doctor resolves to find out exactly what he's plotting…''
* Next time!
* Next time!
: ''The threat of two deadly enemies - the Weeping Angels and Autons - forces the Doctor to bend the rules and get help from none other than... the Tenth Doctor!''
: ''The threat of two deadly enemies - the Weeping Angels and Autons - forces the Doctor to bend the rules and get help from none other than… the Tenth Doctor!''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor recalls the events of [[COMIC]]: ''[[Meet the Fam! (comic story)|Meet the Fam!]]'', which are revealed to have not actually happened, but were in fact a false memory implanted by [[Krampus (Holiday Special)|Krampus]].
* The [[Thirteenth Doctor]] recalls the events of [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Meet the Fam! (comic story)}}, which are revealed to have not actually happened, actually being a false memory implanted by [[Krampus]]. [[Ryan Sinclair]] suggests going to [[Disneyland]]; in the Doctor's version of the false memory as seen in ''Meet the Fam!'', Ryan had already asked her if her [[psychic paper]] could get them into the park.  
* Graham wonders if the culprit may be that "[[The Hoarder|hoarder fellow]] [they] keep running into". ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A New Beginning (comic story)|A New Beginning]]'', ''[[Old Friends (comic story)|Old Friends]]'')
* [[Graham O'Brien]] wonders if the culprit may be that "[[The Hoarder|hoarder fellow]] [they] keep running into", as seen in [[COMIC]]: {{cs|A New Beginning (comic story)}} and [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Old Friends (comic story)}}.
* Ryan suggests going to [[Disneyland]]. In the Doctor's version of the false memory, he asked her if her [[psychic paper]] could get them into the park. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Meet the Fam! (comic story)|Meet the Fam!]]'')
* [[Yasmin Khan]]'s [[Islam|Muslim faith]], established in [[TV]]: {{cs|Rosa (TV story)}} and [[TV]]: {{cs|Demons of the Punjab (TV story)}}, is mentioned.
* Yasmin's [[Islam|Muslim faith]] is brought up. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rosa (TV story)|Rosa]]'', ''[[Demons of the Punjab (TV story)|Demons of the Punjab]]'')
* The Doctor wears her [[rainbow]]-coloured [[scarf]] as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Resolution (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor wears her [[rainbow]]-coloured [[scarf]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'')
* The Doctor and [[Baxter (Holiday Special)|Baxter]] refer to [[Santa Claus]] as "Jeff", with the Doctor calling him an "old friend". The Doctor first encountered Santa Claus in the comic story [[COMIC]]: {{cs|A Christmas Story (comic story)}}, starring the [[First Doctor]]; in [[TV]]: {{cs|A Christmas Carol (TV story)}}, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] alluded to a long-standing acquaintance with Santa Claus and stated that he had "always known him" as "Jeff". The [[Thirteenth Doctor]]
* The Doctor and Baxter refer to Santa as "Jeff". ([[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'')
* Ryan mentions [[the Corsair]], encountered by [[Team TARDIS]] in [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Old Friends (comic story)}}.
* Ryan mentions [[the Corsair]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Old Friends (comic story)|Old Friends]]'')
* Krampus previously appeared as a real being within [[the Doctor's universe]] in [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Imaginary Enemies (comic story)}}, where they were similarly depicted as a villainous, powerful being with the ability to shift between a monstrous goat-like form and a human disguise based on Santa Claus's appearance.
* The Doctor uses her [[fez]] to protect herself from the mind traps. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kerblam! (TV story)|Kerblam!]]'')
* The Doctor uses her [[fez]] to protect herself from the mind traps. She was shown receiving it by mail order in [[TV]]: {{cs|Kerblam! (TV story)}}.


{{Thirteenth Doctor Titan comics}}
{{Thirteenth Doctor Titan comics}}

Latest revision as of 18:12, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Holiday Special was the story published in the Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special comic series.

It is the first full Christmas-themed story to star both the Thirteenth Doctor and her companions (although she had previously appeared alone in the shorter Christmas story 'Twas the Night Before Christmas). Notably, it established that the events of the Free Comic Book Day 2019 story, Meet the Fam!, were in fact a false memory implanted by the story's main villain, Krampus.

It also tied into the brief mention in A Christmas Carol of the Doctor's being friends with Santa Claus and knowing him as "Jeff".

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

There’s no BBC Christmas Special this year – so we’re bringing it to you in comic form! Can the Doctor save Christmas? Is Santa a myth, a man, or a Time Lord? Are chimneys bigger on the inside?

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and her companions save Christmas from a contemptible coup by the cantankerous Krampus! But is everyone’s favorite Time Lord listed under ‘Naughty’… or ‘Nice’? The second half of a fun, festive sci-fi story from Jody Houser.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

With the holidays around the corner, the Thirteenth Doctor proposes going somewhere special to celebrate. While she is quick to agree to Team TARDIS's idea of an amusement park, the quartet are flummoxed to find that they all have different memories of the last park they visited and are unable to recall the name of the planet it was on. Flustered, the Doctor simply checks the logs only to find that the TARDIS has no recordings from that day. Suspecting that their memories have not been removed outright, rather that they've been altered, the Doctor follows Graham's suggestion to retrace their steps.

The TARDIS materialises on a festive-themed planet populated by knee-high beings. Introducing themselves to one named Friffle, the group learns that they've been here before and that their memories were most likely erased by "Mr. Henderson" before telling them that the first time they came, the populace assumed that Henderson had sent them. Those of Friffle's people who go to Henderson's world never return, prompting another outraged reaction from Team TARDIS. After confirming that this is only the second time she's made the promise, the Doctor swears to get to the bottom of this.

Out of Christmas lights, the Doctor makes some neurological trackers that will detect any memory alterations before the TARDIS lands on a snowy planet decorated with Earth style architecture. Exploring, the group is surrounded by toy guards before what appears to be Santa Claus arrives. Recognising that this alleged Santa is the Henderson that Friffle mentioned, the group is taken to a holding cell. When Ryan taunts the guard by comparing Henderson to Santa, the guard insists that Santa is a monster.

Sniffing the cell, the Doctor confirms that they've been here before a guard greets them.

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

After the guard confirms that the group is who they seem to be, he steps forward and introduces himself as Baxter, having been sent by "Jeff." Using his candy cane, the elf frees the group and guides them to Friffle's people, now reduced to forced labour making toys. As the group watches, Yaz's lights flash, indicating a memory rewrite but the Doctor doesn't think the glow is bright enough. Realising that the workers' memories are being affected, the group suspects that they tried to free the workers last time and had their own memories rewritten as a result. After the group overhears a mention of "cold fusion", Baxter leads the group to the main control room.

Arriving in a rather Christmas style office, the group finds Santa suits and the Naughty or Nice list but Baxter assures them that this isn't Santa. As someone enters, the group hides in a closet. When Henderson enters, they sheds their disguise to reveal that she's Krampus, an "anti-Santa" that feeds on the primal fears of children.

Following, the Doctor recongises Krampus' "cold fusion" device as a hybrid teleporter and psychic energy collector through which her minions will harvest fear. Unable to approach directly, lest their memories be written, the Doctor dons her fez as a psychic safeguard while having her companions adjust the machine.

Using the sonic screwdriver, the companions free the slaves while the Doctor sabotages the machine, trapping Krampus and her minions in a wormhole. As both species of slaves pick themselves up, the Doctor promises to explain everything over Christmas dinner.

As they dine, Yaz questions, if Krampus exists, then does Santa? Coyly, the Doctor denies to answer but does place an offering in the snow for an old friend.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

References[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor believes in children's dreams, laughter, general jolliness, and bringing joy to others through space and time despite impossible odds.
  • The Doctor uses a fez to protect herself from the mind traps.

Christmas[[edit] | [edit source]]

Leisure[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Ryan suggests the Doctor take them to Disneyland, or "cool, future, other planet Disneyland".
  • The Doctor recalls how Graham lost a Bevivian game of chance at the amusement park they'd previously visited.

Popular culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Ryan calls the use of the mind trap on the workers "very Dark Crystal of 'em".
  • Ryan calls Krampus a "regular Grinch".

Miscellaneous[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor acted as a gladiator at some point, but "decades" before the scenario that Yaz remembered.
  • Ryan wonders if Yaz would be okay with wearing the festive-looking neurological tracker because of her Muslim faith.
  • Ryan previously had a maths teacher called Ms. Henderson.
  • A human's sense of smell is linked to their memory, as are a Time Lord's.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In the first panel of page 34 of Part One, Ryan's dialogue is drawn coming from Graham.

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

13DHS 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Previously…
Whirling through time and space, the Doctor and her friends - Yaz, Ryan and Graham - took some time off from thwarting nefarious alien plots to enjoy some well-earned leisure time. But theme parks on distant planets aren't always what they seem, and the gang were soon saving victims of a crooked carnival con. Everything is right in the universe again - or so they think…
  • Next time!
The Doctor and friends gain an unexpected ally. Together they must stop Mr. Henderson - but who exactly is he? And what is he really up to?

13DHS 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Previously…
Having been plagued by false memories of an alien amusement park, the Doctor and the gang went on the hunt to discover the truth. On a curiously colourful planet, perturbed alien named Friffle reveals his people are being taken by the mysterious the mysterious Mr Henderson - a man who bears a striking resemblance to Santa Claus! Taken as prisoners in his grotto-like lair, the Doctor resolves to find out exactly what he's plotting…
  • Next time!
The threat of two deadly enemies - the Weeping Angels and Autons - forces the Doctor to bend the rules and get help from none other than… the Tenth Doctor!

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Thirteenth Doctor recalls the events of COMIC: Meet the Fam! [+]Loading...["Meet the Fam! (comic story)"], which are revealed to have not actually happened, actually being a false memory implanted by Krampus. Ryan Sinclair suggests going to Disneyland; in the Doctor's version of the false memory as seen in Meet the Fam!, Ryan had already asked her if her psychic paper could get them into the park.
  • Graham O'Brien wonders if the culprit may be that "hoarder fellow [they] keep running into", as seen in COMIC: A New Beginning [+]Loading...["A New Beginning (comic story)"] and COMIC: Old Friends [+]Loading...["Old Friends (comic story)"].
  • Yasmin Khan's Muslim faith, established in TV: Rosa [+]Loading...["Rosa (TV story)"] and TV: Demons of the Punjab [+]Loading...["Demons of the Punjab (TV story)"], is mentioned.
  • The Doctor wears her rainbow-coloured scarf as seen in TV: Resolution [+]Loading...["Resolution (TV story)"].
  • The Doctor and Baxter refer to Santa Claus as "Jeff", with the Doctor calling him an "old friend". The Doctor first encountered Santa Claus in the comic story COMIC: A Christmas Story [+]Loading...["A Christmas Story (comic story)"], starring the First Doctor; in TV: A Christmas Carol [+]Loading...["A Christmas Carol (TV story)"], the Eleventh Doctor alluded to a long-standing acquaintance with Santa Claus and stated that he had "always known him" as "Jeff". The Thirteenth Doctor
  • Ryan mentions the Corsair, encountered by Team TARDIS in COMIC: Old Friends [+]Loading...["Old Friends (comic story)"].
  • Krampus previously appeared as a real being within the Doctor's universe in COMIC: Imaginary Enemies [+]Loading...["Imaginary Enemies (comic story)"], where they were similarly depicted as a villainous, powerful being with the ability to shift between a monstrous goat-like form and a human disguise based on Santa Claus's appearance.
  • The Doctor uses her fez to protect herself from the mind traps. She was shown receiving it by mail order in TV: Kerblam! [+]Loading...["Kerblam! (TV story)"].
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