Distractions (comic story): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|range = DWM comic stories{{!}}DWM Comics
|range = DWM comic stories{{!}}DWM Comics
|number in range = 61
|number in range = 61
|image= Distractions.jpg  
|image = Distractions.jpg  
|series=[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
|series=[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
|doctor= Seventh Doctor
|doctor = Seventh Doctor
|companions= [[Ace]]
|companions = [[Ace]]
|enemy= [[Mandragora Helix]]
|enemy = The [[Mandragora Helix]]
|setting= [[The Doctor's TARDIS]]
|setting = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]]
|writer= [[Dan Abnett]]
|writer = Dan Abnett
|artist= [[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Mark Farmer]]
|artist = [[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Mark Farmer]]
|editor= [[John Freeman]]
|editor = [[John Freeman]]
|colourist=
|colourist =  
|letterer=
|letterer =  
|publication= [[DWM 168]]
|publication = [[DWM 168]]
|release date= [[29 November (releases)|29 November]] [[1990 (releases)|1990]]
|release date= 29 November 1990
|cover date= [[26 December (releases)|26 December]] [[1990 (releases)|1990]]
|cover date= 26 December 1990
|publisher= Marvel Comics
|publisher = Marvel Comics
|format= Comic
|format = Comic
|prev= Darkness, Falling (comic story)
|prev = Darkness, Falling (comic story)
|next= The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)
|next = The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)
|reprint = The Mark of Mandragora (graphic novel)
|reprint = The Mark of Mandragora (graphic novel)
|reprint2 = The Good Soldier (graphic novel)|epcount = 1
|reprint2 = The Good Soldier (graphic novel)
|epcount = 1
}}{{comic stub}}
}}{{comic stub}}
'''''Distractions''''' was a [[Seventh Doctor]] comic strip published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''. It served as the second prequel to ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]''.
'''''Distractions''''' was a [[Seventh Doctor]] comic strip published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''. It served as the second prequel to ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]''.


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
[[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor]] is brooding when [[Ace]] asks him about his "old study", which they head for. He wonders why he hasn't been able to take [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] away from [[Earth]] recently, and why they've encountered creatures that should never have been there. When they arrive at the "study", it's actually the secondary control room, and he remembers when he [[The Masque of Mandragora (TV story)|previously used it]]. After all this time, a part of the [[Mandragora Helix]] is still aboard the TARDIS, and the Doctor fears it is now powerful enough to direct the path of the TARDIS as well as draw other forces to Earth. As, he and Ace leave the control room, [[helix energy]] crackles into life.
The [[Seventh Doctor]] is brooding when [[Ace]] asks him about his "old study", which they head for. He wonders why he hasn't been able to take [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] away from [[Earth]] recently, and why they've encountered creatures that should never have been there. When they arrive at the "study", it's actually the secondary control room, and he remembers when he previously used it. After all this time, a part of the [[Mandragora Helix]] is still aboard the TARDIS, and the Doctor fears it is now powerful enough to direct the path of the TARDIS as well as draw other forces to Earth. As, he and Ace leave the control room, [[helix energy]] crackles into life.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
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* [[Ace]]
* [[Ace]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Ace thinks that [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]'s wood-panelled secondary [[control room]] is the Doctor's old study.
* Ace thinks that [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]'s wood-panelled secondary [[control room]] is the Doctor's old study.
* She is wearing ''[[Star Trek (franchise)|Star Trek]]'' earrings.
* Ace is wearing ''[[Star Trek (franchise)|Star Trek]]'' earrings.
*The Doctor mentions that [[Wasp|wasps]] are often drawn towards [[Jam|jam jars]].
* The Doctor mentions that [[wasp]]s are often drawn towards [[Jam|jam jars]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* While it was originally printed as a separate story, ''Distractions'' was merged with ''[[Darkness, Falling (comic story)|Darkness, Falling]]'' and ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]'' into a single story when it was reprinted in the graphic novel ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (graphic novel)|The Mark of Mandragora]]''.
* While it was originally printed as a separate story, ''Distractions'' was merged with ''[[Darkness, Falling (comic story)|Darkness, Falling]]'' and ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)|The Mark of Mandragora]]'' into a single story when it was reprinted in the graphic novel ''[[The Mark of Mandragora (graphic novel)|The Mark of Mandragora]]''.
* From this story onwards, the Doctor's [[question mark]] pullover disappears from the comic strip, and is not seen again until ''[[Evening's Empire (comic story)|Evening's Empire]]'', and then only twice more afterwards. This notable change to the Doctor's regular outfit may have been inspired by existing studio rehearsal photographs from ''[[Ghost Light (TV story)|Ghost Light]]'', showing [[Sylvester McCoy]] in his Doctor's costume but without the pullover.
* From this story onwards, the Doctor's [[question mark]] pullover disappears from the comic strip, and is not seen again until ''[[Evening's Empire (comic story)|Evening's Empire]]'', and then only twice more afterwards. This notable change to the Doctor's regular outfit may have been inspired by existing studio rehearsal photographs from ''[[Ghost Light (TV story)|Ghost Light]]'', showing [[Sylvester McCoy]] in his Doctor's costume but without the pullover.
* The Doctor mentions that "recently" he's been unable to take the TARDIS away from Earth, in reference to recent comic strips and [[Season 26]]; ''[[Interweaving with the New Adventures]]'', however, places this story after ''[[Timewyrm: Apocalypse (novel)|Timewyrm: Apocalypse]]'' (published in [[1991]]), which is set on [[Kirith]], despite the fact that ''Distractions'' features the TARDIS console and console room design replaced from ''[[The Chameleon Factor (comic story)|The Chameleon Factor]]'' (also 1991) onwards.
* The Doctor mentions that "recently" he's been unable to take the TARDIS away from Earth, in reference to recent comic strips and [[Season 26 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 26]]; ''[[Interweaving with the New Adventures]]'', however, places this story after ''[[Timewyrm: Apocalypse (novel)|Timewyrm: Apocalypse]]'' (published in [[1991]]), which is set on [[Kirith]], despite the fact that ''Distractions'' features the TARDIS console and console room design replaced from ''[[The Chameleon Factor (comic story)|The Chameleon Factor]]'' (also 1991) onwards.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor mentions his "recent" encounters with the [[Kalik (race)|Kalik]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Train-Flight (comic story)|Train-Flight]]'') [[Morgaine]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'') and the [[Hitcher]]s. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Fellow Travellers (comic story)|Fellow Travellers]]'')
* The Doctor mentions his recent encounters with the [[Kalik (race)|Kalik]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Train-Flight (comic story)|Train-Flight]]'') [[Morgaine]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'') and the [[Hitcher]]s. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Fellow Travellers (comic story)|Fellow Travellers]]'')
* He previously encountered the Mandragora Helix in [[15th century]] [[Italy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Masque of Mandragora (TV story)|The Masque of Mandragora]]'')
* The Doctor previously encountered the Mandragora Helix during his [[fourth incarnation]] in [[15th century]] [[Italy]], shortly after he started using the secondary control room. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Masque of Mandragora (TV story)|The Masque of Mandragora]]'')
* Ace previously wore a [[Batman]] earring, another piece of popular culture. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')


== External links ==
== External links ==

Latest revision as of 20:18, 22 April 2024

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Distractions was a Seventh Doctor comic strip published in Doctor Who Magazine. It served as the second prequel to The Mark of Mandragora.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Seventh Doctor is brooding when Ace asks him about his "old study", which they head for. He wonders why he hasn't been able to take his TARDIS away from Earth recently, and why they've encountered creatures that should never have been there. When they arrive at the "study", it's actually the secondary control room, and he remembers when he previously used it. After all this time, a part of the Mandragora Helix is still aboard the TARDIS, and the Doctor fears it is now powerful enough to direct the path of the TARDIS as well as draw other forces to Earth. As, he and Ace leave the control room, helix energy crackles into life.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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