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{{ImageLink}}
{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|image           = [[file:John and Gillian.JPG|250px]]
|image       = John Who.jpg
|individual name = John and Gillian
|species    = The Doctor's species
|alias          =
|grandparent = The Doctor
|race            = [[Time Lord]] and [[Time Lord|Lady]] ([[Gallifreyan]])
|sibling     = Gillian Who{{!}}Gillian
|home planet     = [[Gallifrey]]
|first      = The Klepton Parasites (comic story)
|home era        =
|appearances = [[John Who/Appearances|'''''see list''''']]
|appearances     = [[John and Gillian - List of Appearances|Full List of Appearances]]
|actor          =
}}
}}
'''John''' and '''Gillian''' were a young brother and sister and the grandchildren of the [[First Doctor]], with whom they travelled as his [[companion]]s.
[[Professor]] '''John Who''' ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beware the Trods! (short story)|Beware the Trods!]]'') sometimes called '''Johnny''', ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Gyros Injustice (comic story)|The Gyros Injustice]]'') was a former [[companion]] and grandson of the [[First Doctor]] and his [[Second Doctor|subsequent regeneration]].


==Biography==
John and his sister [[Gillian Who|Gillian]] were originally natives of [[20th century]] [[Earth]]. However, after visiting their grandfather in [[the Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]], they were whisked away into adventure. The Doctor attempted to get them home for some time after this, but faced trouble because of the damaged controls of the TARDIS. The two spent much time in his care, and grew from children into teenagers. They eventually gave up on their ambitions of returning to [[1964]], and enjoyed their adventures across the universe.
In [[1960s]] [[England]], John and Gillian were looking for their grandfather, aware that he was some kind of inventor, when they found [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] in an empty yard. When they entered, he acknowledged them as John and Gillian. During their visit, John playfully touched a button on the console, and the TARDIS took them to the [[30th century]], where they helped the [[Thain]]s defeat the invading [[Klepton]]s. ([[TVC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites]]'')


John and Gillian travelled with the Doctor on many adventures, fighting enemies such as Captain [[Anastas Thrax]], the [[Zarbi]], the [[Gyros]] robots, the [[Pied Piper]], and the [[Trod]]s. At some point, the Doctor parted company with them, but reunited with them while in his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]] (although, from their perspective, little time had actually passed). They resumed their adventures and fought other enemies (including the [[Dalek]]s and the [[Cybermen]]) until they reached their teen years, at which point the Doctor enrolled them in a university on [[Zebadee]] to keep them safe from the [[Quark]]s. ([[TVC]]: ''[[Invasion of the Quarks]]'')[[File:Land_of_happy_endings.jpg|thumb]]
At some point, the pair stopped travelling with the grey-haired Dr Who and began travelling with his next incarnation instead. The trio fought [[Klepton]]s, [[Dalek]]s, [[Cyberman|Cybermen]], [[Witch]]es, and [[Trod]]s, but when faced with the threat of the [[Quark]]s, the Doctor chose to enrol them at [[Zebadee University]] so they could be safe without him.


John eventually became a professor and wrote a memo on the dangers of the Trods to [[Colonel Marc Forest]] of [[Special Space Security]]. ([[DWCC]]: ''[[DWCC 8|Beware the Trods!]]'')
A few accounts claimed that John and Gillian never really existed, and that they were fictional beings or dreams. However, the vast majority of sources treated them as totally real. Additionally, the accounts which claimed they were fictitious seemed to disregard the pair ageing and leaving for university.


During a visit to the [[Land of Fiction]], the [[Seventh Doctor]] encountered fictional duplicates of John and Gillian, which had been created by the new [[Master of the Land]], [[Jason (Master of the Land of Fiction)|Jason]]. ([[NA]]: ''[[Conundrum]]'')
== Biography ==
=== Nature and origins ===
Although most accounts held that John was a real, corporeal being, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]'', ''[[Guests of King Neptune (comic story)|Guests of King Neptune]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas (short story)|The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas]]'', et al.) some accounts suggested that he and Gillian never actually travelled with the real [[First Doctor]]. One suggested that the "[[Dr. Who (Land of Fiction)|Dr Who]]" who travelled with his grandchildren existed in the [[Land of Fiction]]. While visiting, the [[Seventh Doctor]] encountered a "John" and "Gillian" who claimed he was their grandfather in whose company they had fought the Kleptons and the Trods. They tried to make him remember that his name was Dr Who, to which he flatly replied with denial. When they pressed further and asked if he remembered them, he said that he didn't. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Conundrum (novel)|Conundrum]]'')


The [[Eighth Doctor]] later had a [[dream]] in which he had an adventure with John and Gillian. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings]]'')
[[File:Land of happy endings.jpg|thumb|left|[[Eighth Doctor|"Dr Who"]] dreams of another life in [[the TARDIS]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings (comic story)|The Land of Happy Endings]]'')]]
Another, unrelated account stated that the [[Eighth Doctor]] had [[dream]]s in which he had adventures with a version of John and Gillian. These dreams helped the Time Lord unwind by suggesting a less complicated reality where "villains are naughty, not evil", "people never die" and "promises are never broken". ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings (comic story)|The Land of Happy Endings]]'') The [[Second Doctor]] once made reference to how he avoided thinking of his family, thereby letting them "sleep in [his] mind", unless he "really [wanted] to bring them back" into the forefront of his conscious. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')


==Behind the scenes==
In yet another account, John and Gillian did indeed physically exist and travel with the Doctor, but they were mathematically-computed simulacra given reality by [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] based on the Doctor's wishes. They were only two of "thousands" of [[companion]]s whom [[The Doctor (The Five O'Clock Shadow)|the Doctor]] had created out of thin air, perfect and unchanging, to travel at his side without fear of death, in an effort to avoid responsibilities and [[anxiety]]. These evading techniques led to the creation of a psychic entity known as the [[Five O'Clock Shadow]], whom the Doctor would later escape by using the same TARDIS functionality to give life to perfectly angst-free versions of [[Dr. Who (Dr. Who and the Daleks)|himself]] and [[Susan (The Five O'Clock Shadow)|Susan]]. ([[POEM]]: ''[[The Five O'Clock Shadow (poem)|The Five O'Clock Shadow]]'')
*It does not appear that John and Gillian had met the Doctor before ''[[The Klepton Parasites]]'', although they were aware of his existence, and the Doctor's comment upon their arrival implies that he was expecting them. Nothing was ever revealed about their lives prior to meeting the Doctor. [[MA]]: ''[[Cold Fusion]]'' revealed that the Doctor's children were culled but that [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] was rescued, so his other grandchildren may have likewise been saved. It is also unknown if they are brother and sister to Susan, or, if they are her cousins. If so, then the Doctor had at least two children, and, since [[DWCC]]: ''[[DWCC 8|Beware the Trods!]]'' confirms that John's surname is Who, their father is likely to be the Doctor's son.
 
*The characters of John and Gillian were created for the ''Doctor Who'' comic strip in lieu of using (and paying license fees for) any of the companions from the TV series. Comic strips, particularly those produced before [[Marvel Comics]] obtained the license to ''Doctor Who'' and began publishing stories with closer ties to the TV series, exist in a "grey area" of [[canon]], neither officially canonical, nor non-canonical. In other words, to date there has never been anything broadcast that either confirms nor denies that John and Gillian weren't additional grandchildren of the Doctor, or that they didn't travel with his first two incarnations at some point in his history. Exactly when is a matter of some debate, as John and Gillian have accompanied the Doctor in adventures in which he meets creatures he'd previously met in the TV series, yet particularly in the case of the First Doctor, it's difficult to rationalize a point in his post-''[[An Unearthly Child]]'' timeline in which he would have travelled without any of his TV companions, however, he is alone in ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' until he is reunited with Susan, so, it is possible that he did have a bit of a gap. As for the Second Doctor, it's possible his reunion with John and Gillian occurred during the [[Season 6B]] continuity.
=== Entering the TARDIS ===
*Although [[NA]]: ''[[Conundrum]]'' and [[DWM]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings]]'' imply that John and Gillian only existed in fiction or in dreams, other interpretations are possible, such as that Jason copied existing individuals, or that the Doctor was remembering a simpler time.
[[File:First Doctor and John fight the Kleptons.jpg|thumb|The Doctor and John fight the [[Klepton]]s. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]'')]]
*At the conclusion of [[TVC]]: ''[[The Monsters from the Past]]'', Gillian shoots the villain to death, making her one of the only non-[[UNIT]] recurring characters to be shown killing. Interestingly, another female [[Time Lord]], [[Romana I|Romana]], would later be shown using a firearm in similar fashion in [[DW]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]''.
According to most sources, John and Gillian once lived in [[England]] in the [[20th century]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]'', ''[[The Therovian Quest (comic story)|The Therovian Quest]]'', et al.) specifically in [[1964]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Nostalgia Corner (comic story)|Nostalgia Corner]]'') On one occasion, they were sent to meet [[First Doctor|their grandfather]] at a specific address, which they found to be an empty [[Yard (The Klepton Parasites)|yard]] with a [[The TARDIS|Police Box]] inside. Inside the box, they met their grandfather, who explained to them that they were inside a [[time machine]]. John, fascinated by the [[TARDIS control console|controls]], pressed a button and sent the ship into the [[30th century]].
*The fates of John and Gillian during and after the [[Last Great Time War]] are unknown, but the Doctor believed that all Time Lords died in the conflict, ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'', ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'', ''[[Father's Day]]'', et al.) and specifically alluded to the loss of his grandchildren when he sympathised with the loss of [[Constantine|Dr. Constantine's]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'')
 
{{Companions of the First Doctor}}{{Companions of the Second Doctor}}{{Companions of the Eighth Doctor}}
The time ship landed on [[Planet (The Klepton Parasites)|a planet]], where the alien [[Klepton]]s had recently invaded and enslaved the native, peaceful [[Thain]]s. John, Gillian, and the Doctor helped defeat the Kleptons and free the Thain's world. Afterwards, they took off in the time-ship again, with the Doctor promising to take them back to the 20th century but neither child minding what century the next adventure took them to. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]'')
[[es:John y Gillian]]
 
[[category:companions of the Doctor]]
=== Travels with the First Doctor ===
[[File:Lizardworld John Gilliand and First Doctor.jpg|thumb|left|Dr Who and his grandchildren on a world populated by massive lizards. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Lizardworld (comic story)|Lizardworld]]'')]]
John travelled subsequently with the First Doctor and Gillian on many adventures, fighting [[Ixa]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Therovian Quest (comic story)|The Therovian Quest]]'') [[Anastas Thrax]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Hijackers of Thrax (comic story)|The Hijackers of Thrax]]'') [[Zarka]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[On the Web Planet (comic story)|On the Web Planet]]'') the [[Gyro]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Gyros Injustice (comic story)|The Gyros Injustice]]'') [[Gritog]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of Gritog (comic story)|Prisoners of Gritog]]'') the [[Pied Piper]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Challenge of the Piper (comic story)|Challenge of the Piper]]'') more Kleptons, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of the Kleptons (comic story)|Prisoners of the Kleptons]]'') the [[Caterpillar Man|Caterpillar Men]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Caterpillar Men (comic story)|The Caterpillar Men]]'') several giant lizards, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Lizardworld (comic story)|Lizardworld]]'') the [[robot]]s of [[Bellus]] , ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Ordeals of Demeter (comic story)|The Ordeals of Demeter]]'') a giant [[shark]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Shark Bait (TVC comic story)|Shark Bait]]'') the [[Demon Magician]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Christmas Story (comic story)|A Christmas Story]]'') a group of [[Space Rebels]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space Station Z-7 (comic story)|Space Station Z-7]]'') the [[black scorpi]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Plague of the Black Scorpi (comic story)|Plague of the Black Scorpi]]'') the [[Trod]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Trodos Tyranny (comic story)|The Trodos Tyranny]]'', ''[[Return of the Trods (comic story)|Return of the Trods]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Beware the Trods! (short story)|Beware the Trods!]]'') and their leaders [[MacTaggart]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Trodos Tyranny (comic story)|The Trodos Tyranny]]'') and the [[Master of the Trods]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Return of the Trods (comic story)|Return of the Trods]]'') the automated defences of [[Gemino City]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Secret of Gemino (comic story)|The Secret of Gemino]]'') the [[Gorgon (mythology)|Gorgon]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Gaze of the Gorgon (comic story)|The Gaze of the Gorgon]]'') [[Zentor]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Haunted Planet (comic story)|The Haunted Planet]]'') the emperor of [[Zerox]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Hunters of Zerox (comic story)|The Hunters of Zerox]]'') [[the Professor]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Underwater Robot (comic story)|The Underwater Robot]]'') the [[Ulk (Deadly Vessel)|Ulk]]s of [[Int]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Deadly Vessel (comic story)|Deadly Vessel]]'') a group of giant birds, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Kingdom of the Animals (comic story)|Kingdom of the Animals]]'') a [[Klondite]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Galaxy Games (comic story)|The Galaxy Games]]'') and the [[Master Race (The Experimenters)|Master Race]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Experimenters (comic story)|The Experimenters]]'') as well as meeting Colonel Roberts and Major Simms, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Moon Landing (comic story)|Moon Landing]]'') the [[Go-Ray]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Enter: The Go-Ray (comic story)|Enter: The Go-Ray]]'') a [[dodo]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Didus Expedition (comic story)|The Didus Expedition]]'') [[Neptune (Guests of King Neptune)|Neptune]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Guests of King Neptune (comic story)|Guests of King Neptune]]'') and [[William Tell]].
 
All in all, Dr Who spent at least [[25 (number)|25]] [[year]]s trying to get John, as well as Gillian, back home, during which time the two youngsters barely aged — though by the 25th year of his travels with the Doctor, John was starting to [[shaving|shave]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Nostalgia Corner (comic story)|Nostalgia Corner]]'')
 
=== Travels with the rejuvenated Doctor ===
{{section stub}}
[[File:The Extortioner John and Doctor over Dalek.jpg|thumb|John and the Doctor stand over a destroyed [[Dalek]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Extortioner (comic story)|The Extortioner]]'')]]
At one point, the Doctor parted company from the two, but reunited with them in his [[Second Doctor|younger incarnation]]. From their perspective, little time had passed. They resumed their adventures and fought [[The Extortioner]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Extortioner (comic story)|The Extortioner]]'') the [[Dalek]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Trodos Ambush (comic story)|The Trodos Ambush]]'', ''[[The Doctor Strikes Back (comic story)|The Doctor Strikes Back]]'', ''[[The Exterminator (comic story)|The Exterminator]]'', ''[[Jungle Adventure (comic story)|Jungle Adventure]]'', ''[[Attack of the Daleks (comic story)|Attack of the Daleks]]'') the [[Zagbor]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Zombies (comic story)|The Zombies]]'') the [[Master of Spiders]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Master of Spiders (comic story)|Master of Spiders]]'') a renegade gun crew, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Barnabus (comic story)|Barnabus]]'') the witches ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Return of the Witches (comic story)|Return of the Witches]]'', ''[[The Witches (comic story)|The Witches]]'') and their leader the [[Grand Witch]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Witches (comic story)|The Witches]]'')
 
They then faced the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Masquerade (comic story)|Masquerade]]'', ''[[The Time Museum (comic story)|The Time Museum]]'', ''[[The Coming of the Cybermen (comic story)|The Coming of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Flower Power (comic story)|Flower Power]]'', ''[[Cyber-Mole (comic story)|Cyber-Mole]]'', ''[[The Cyber Empire (comic story)|The Cyber Empire]]'') more Trods, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Pursued by the Trods (comic story)|Pursued by the Trods]]'', ''[[PROSE]]: [[Beware the Trods! (short story)|Beware the Trods!]]'') the band manager of [[the Electrodes]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Electrodes (comic story)|The Electrodes]]'') a mad scientist, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Monsters from the Past (comic story)|The Monsters from the Past]]'') an unnamed tribe, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The TARDIS Worshippers (comic story)|The TARDIS Worshippers]]'') [[Arborge Quince]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space War Two (comic story)|Space War Two]]'') the Mahadi, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Egyptian Escapade (comic story)|Egyptian Escapade]]'') the enemy power, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Faithful Rocket Pack (comic story)|The Faithful Rocket Pack]]'') the [[sabre-toothed gorilla]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Sabre-Toothed Gorillas (comic story)|The Sabre-Toothed Gorillas]]'') the [[Dyron]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Dyrons (comic story)|The Dyrons]]'') a group of [[space pirate]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Dr. Who and the Space Pirates (comic story)|Dr. Who and the Space Pirates]]'') [[the Criminal]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Car of the Century (comic story)|Car of the Century]]'') and the [[Comedian]] until they reached their teen years, when the Doctor enrolled them in university on [[Zebadee]] to keep them safe from the [[Quark]]s. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Invasion of the Quarks (comic story)|Invasion of the Quarks]]'')
 
=== Later life ===
[[File:John and Gillian Zebadee University.jpg|thumb|The Doctor, fearing for their wellbeing if they stay to fight the [[Quark]]s, leaves John and Gillian to attend [[Zebadee University]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Invasion of the Quarks (comic story)|Invasion of the Quarks]]'')]]
John eventually became a professor and wrote a memo on the dangers of the Trods to [[Colonel]] [[Marc Forest]] of [[Special Space Security]]. At this time, John styled himself "Professor John Who". ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Beware the Trods! (short story)|Beware the Trods!]]'')
 
=== Legacy ===
John and Gillian were among the companions of the Doctor noted in [[Hob]]'s [[Death's Head Interactive Archive]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Incomplete Death's Head (comic story)|The Incomplete Death's Head]]'')
 
When the [[Second Doctor]] met [[Santa Claus]] yet again, he reminded him that he had once visited [[Santa's workshop]] with John and Gillian. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas (short story)|The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas]]'') The Second Doctor at one point told [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]] and [[Victoria Waterfield]] that he had "family" in 20th Century London. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Heart of TARDIS (novel)|Heart of TARDIS]]'')
 
== Personality ==
{{Section stub}}
John could be known to be rather protective of Gillian, growing upset when she was accidentally left behind when he and the Doctor returned to [[the TARDIS]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Ordeals of Demeter (comic story)|The Ordeals of Demeter]]'')
 
John and Gillian both consistently identified the First Doctor as their grandfather. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]''-''[[The Experimenters (comic story)|The Experimenters]]'') However, after meeting and travelling with the younger Second Doctor, they called him just "the Doctor" on most occasions. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Extortioner (comic story)|The Extortioner]]''-''[[Invasion of the Quarks (comic story)|Invasion of the Quarks]]'')
 
== Appearance ==
[[File:The Secrets of Gemino John Gillian and Doctor 2.jpg|thumb|John, later in his travels, now blond. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Secret of Gemino (comic story)|The Secret of Gemino]]'')]]
When he was young, John had red hair. At one point in his life, he had freckles. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Ordeals of Demeter (comic story)|The Ordeals of Demeter]]'')
 
Later in his travels in the TARDIS, his hair was bright [[blonde|blond]]. ([[COMIC]]: [[The Trodos Tyranny (comic story)|''The Trodos Tyranny'']])
 
== Behind the scenes ==
[[File:Prelude Conundrum 1.jpg|thumb|Versions of John and Gillian within the [[Land of Fiction]], depicted in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Prelude Conundrum (short story)|Prelude Conundrum]]''.]]
* It does not appear that John and Gillian had met the Doctor before the comic story ''[[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|The Klepton Parasites]]'', although they were aware of his existence and the Doctor's comment upon their arrival implies that he was expecting them. Nothing was ever revealed about their lives before meeting him, aside from ''[[The Five O'Clock Shadow (poem)|The Five O'Clock Shadow]]''{{'}}s retcon that they ''had'' had no prior life, instead being brought into existence via some sort of [[Block Transfer Computation]] by the Doctor to stave off his anxiety and loneliness.
* The characters of John and Gillian were created for the ''Doctor Who'' comic strip in lieu of using (and paying license fees for) any of the companions from the television series. From the start, [[Polystyle Publications, Ltd.|Polystyle Publications]]' rights to use ''Doctor Who'' in comic strip form allowed them to use only the title of the television series, the TARDIS and a likeness of [[William Hartnell]].
* In the novella ''[[Time and Relative (novel)|Time and Relative]]'' by [[Kim Newman]], [[Susan Foreman]] has friends at [[Coal Hill School]] named [[John Brent]] and [[Gillian Roberts]], named after John and Gillian from ''TV Comic''.
* John and Gillian, in their [[The Klepton Parasites (comic story)|first appearance]], lived in then-present-day [[England]], and knew of their grandfather as an [[inventor]]. This suggests that the story was placing itself in the framework where [[the Doctor's species|the Doctor was a human being]], and thus John and Gillian were implicitly humans as well. Notably, unlike [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] on television, they never displayed any alien knowledge or characteristics. This is somewhat understandable for the time, as the 1960's stories had only made it clear that the pair were from another world, not that they weren't human beings at all. In light of it later becoming established continuity that the Doctor was [[The Doctor's species|nonhuman]], John and Gillian are thus recasts as, at the very least, part-Gallifreyan [[hybrid]]s; their reappearance in [[1988 (releases)|1988]]'s ''[[Nostalgia Corner (comic story)|Nostalgia Corner]]'' depicted them as ageing at a slowed rate, much like the Doctor and Susan, but stopped shy of calling them Time Tots outright.
* Due to the many changing artists through the run of early TV Comic, John was illustrated in several different ways, slowly appearing older with each new iteration. Mysteriously, he changes from a red-headed child with freckles into a tall teenager with blond hair in [[The Trodos Tyranny (comic story)|''The Trodos Tyranny'']]. Logically speaking, if the pair are taken to be [[Time Lord]]s (or at the very least to have [[Time Lord]] ancestry through the Doctor), then John and Gillian [[regeneration|changing appearances]] is hardly a plot hole.
* During production of the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' story ''[[Death to the Doctor! (comic story)|Death to the Doctor!]]'' (which featured numerous villains discussing defeats caused by different incarnations of the Doctor) one idea suggested by [[Tom Spilsbury]] was that they only use comic-exclusive companions in the flashbacks. This would have included [[Sharon Davies]] with the [[Fourth Doctor]] and John and Gillian with the [[Dr. Who (An Unearthly Child)|First]]. However, this was ultimately decided against and the First Doctor was shown with [[Steven Taylor]] and [[Dodo]]. (''[[The Widow's Curse (graphic novel)|The Widow's Curse]]'')
 
{{Companions of the First Doctor}}
{{Companions of the Second Doctor}}
{{The Doctor's family}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Companions of the Doctor]]
[[Category:First Doctor companions]]
[[Category:First Doctor companions]]
[[Category:Second Doctor companions]]
[[Category:Second Doctor companions]]
[[Category:Comic strip companions]]
[[Category:Land of Fiction characters]]
[[Category:Land of Fiction characters]]
[[Category:Relatives of the Doctor]]
[[Category:Grandchildren of the Doctor]]
[[Category:Eighth Doctor companions]]
[[Category:Individual time travellers]]
[[Category:Individual Time Lords]]
[[Category:Students]]
[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Individuals who have been inside the Doctor's TARDIS]]
[[Category:Murderers]]
[[Category:Individuals who have been kidnapped]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]

Latest revision as of 00:34, 22 September 2024

Professor John Who (PROSE: Beware the Trods!) sometimes called Johnny, (COMIC: The Gyros Injustice) was a former companion and grandson of the First Doctor and his subsequent regeneration.

John and his sister Gillian were originally natives of 20th century Earth. However, after visiting their grandfather in his TARDIS, they were whisked away into adventure. The Doctor attempted to get them home for some time after this, but faced trouble because of the damaged controls of the TARDIS. The two spent much time in his care, and grew from children into teenagers. They eventually gave up on their ambitions of returning to 1964, and enjoyed their adventures across the universe.

At some point, the pair stopped travelling with the grey-haired Dr Who and began travelling with his next incarnation instead. The trio fought Kleptons, Daleks, Cybermen, Witches, and Trods, but when faced with the threat of the Quarks, the Doctor chose to enrol them at Zebadee University so they could be safe without him.

A few accounts claimed that John and Gillian never really existed, and that they were fictional beings or dreams. However, the vast majority of sources treated them as totally real. Additionally, the accounts which claimed they were fictitious seemed to disregard the pair ageing and leaving for university.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Nature and origins[[edit] | [edit source]]

Although most accounts held that John was a real, corporeal being, (COMIC: The Klepton Parasites, Guests of King Neptune, PROSE: The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas, et al.) some accounts suggested that he and Gillian never actually travelled with the real First Doctor. One suggested that the "Dr Who" who travelled with his grandchildren existed in the Land of Fiction. While visiting, the Seventh Doctor encountered a "John" and "Gillian" who claimed he was their grandfather in whose company they had fought the Kleptons and the Trods. They tried to make him remember that his name was Dr Who, to which he flatly replied with denial. When they pressed further and asked if he remembered them, he said that he didn't. (PROSE: Conundrum)

"Dr Who" dreams of another life in the TARDIS. (COMIC: The Land of Happy Endings)

Another, unrelated account stated that the Eighth Doctor had dreams in which he had adventures with a version of John and Gillian. These dreams helped the Time Lord unwind by suggesting a less complicated reality where "villains are naughty, not evil", "people never die" and "promises are never broken". (COMIC: The Land of Happy Endings) The Second Doctor once made reference to how he avoided thinking of his family, thereby letting them "sleep in [his] mind", unless he "really [wanted] to bring them back" into the forefront of his conscious. (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

In yet another account, John and Gillian did indeed physically exist and travel with the Doctor, but they were mathematically-computed simulacra given reality by the TARDIS based on the Doctor's wishes. They were only two of "thousands" of companions whom the Doctor had created out of thin air, perfect and unchanging, to travel at his side without fear of death, in an effort to avoid responsibilities and anxiety. These evading techniques led to the creation of a psychic entity known as the Five O'Clock Shadow, whom the Doctor would later escape by using the same TARDIS functionality to give life to perfectly angst-free versions of himself and Susan. (POEM: The Five O'Clock Shadow)

Entering the TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and John fight the Kleptons. (COMIC: The Klepton Parasites)

According to most sources, John and Gillian once lived in England in the 20th century, (COMIC: The Klepton Parasites, The Therovian Quest, et al.) specifically in 1964. (COMIC: Nostalgia Corner) On one occasion, they were sent to meet their grandfather at a specific address, which they found to be an empty yard with a Police Box inside. Inside the box, they met their grandfather, who explained to them that they were inside a time machine. John, fascinated by the controls, pressed a button and sent the ship into the 30th century.

The time ship landed on a planet, where the alien Kleptons had recently invaded and enslaved the native, peaceful Thains. John, Gillian, and the Doctor helped defeat the Kleptons and free the Thain's world. Afterwards, they took off in the time-ship again, with the Doctor promising to take them back to the 20th century but neither child minding what century the next adventure took them to. (COMIC: The Klepton Parasites)

Travels with the First Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

Dr Who and his grandchildren on a world populated by massive lizards. (COMIC: Lizardworld)

John travelled subsequently with the First Doctor and Gillian on many adventures, fighting Ixa, (COMIC: The Therovian Quest) Anastas Thrax, (COMIC: The Hijackers of Thrax) Zarka, (COMIC: On the Web Planet) the Gyros, (COMIC: The Gyros Injustice) Gritog, (COMIC: Prisoners of Gritog) the Pied Piper, (COMIC: Challenge of the Piper) more Kleptons, (COMIC: Prisoners of the Kleptons) the Caterpillar Men, (COMIC: The Caterpillar Men) several giant lizards, (COMIC: Lizardworld) the robots of Bellus , (COMIC: The Ordeals of Demeter) a giant shark, (COMIC: Shark Bait) the Demon Magician, (COMIC: A Christmas Story) a group of Space Rebels, (COMIC: Space Station Z-7) the black scorpi, (COMIC: Plague of the Black Scorpi) the Trods, (COMIC: The Trodos Tyranny, Return of the Trods, PROSE: Beware the Trods!) and their leaders MacTaggart (COMIC: The Trodos Tyranny) and the Master of the Trods, (COMIC: Return of the Trods) the automated defences of Gemino City, (COMIC: The Secret of Gemino) the Gorgon, (COMIC: The Gaze of the Gorgon) Zentor, (COMIC: The Haunted Planet) the emperor of Zerox, (COMIC: The Hunters of Zerox) the Professor, (COMIC: The Underwater Robot) the Ulks of Int, (COMIC: Deadly Vessel) a group of giant birds, (COMIC: Kingdom of the Animals) a Klondite (COMIC: The Galaxy Games) and the Master Race, (COMIC: The Experimenters) as well as meeting Colonel Roberts and Major Simms, (COMIC: Moon Landing) the Go-Rays, (COMIC: Enter: The Go-Ray) a dodo, (COMIC: The Didus Expedition) Neptune, (COMIC: Guests of King Neptune) and William Tell.

All in all, Dr Who spent at least 25 years trying to get John, as well as Gillian, back home, during which time the two youngsters barely aged — though by the 25th year of his travels with the Doctor, John was starting to shave. (PROSE: Nostalgia Corner)

Travels with the rejuvenated Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

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John and the Doctor stand over a destroyed Dalek. (COMIC: The Extortioner)

At one point, the Doctor parted company from the two, but reunited with them in his younger incarnation. From their perspective, little time had passed. They resumed their adventures and fought The Extortioner, (COMIC: The Extortioner) the Daleks, (COMIC: The Trodos Ambush, The Doctor Strikes Back, The Exterminator, Jungle Adventure, Attack of the Daleks) the Zagbors, (COMIC: The Zombies) the Master of Spiders, (COMIC: Master of Spiders) a renegade gun crew, (COMIC: Barnabus) the witches (COMIC: Return of the Witches, The Witches) and their leader the Grand Witch. (COMIC: The Witches)

They then faced the Cybermen, (COMIC: Masquerade, The Time Museum, The Coming of the Cybermen, Flower Power, Cyber-Mole, The Cyber Empire) more Trods, (COMIC: Pursued by the Trods, PROSE: Beware the Trods!) the band manager of the Electrodes, (COMIC: The Electrodes) a mad scientist, (COMIC: The Monsters from the Past) an unnamed tribe, (COMIC: The TARDIS Worshippers) Arborge Quince, (COMIC: Space War Two) the Mahadi, (COMIC: Egyptian Escapade) the enemy power, (COMIC: The Faithful Rocket Pack) the sabre-toothed gorillas, (COMIC: The Sabre-Toothed Gorillas) the Dyrons, (COMIC: The Dyrons) a group of space pirates, (COMIC: Dr. Who and the Space Pirates) the Criminal (COMIC: Car of the Century) and the Comedian until they reached their teen years, when the Doctor enrolled them in university on Zebadee to keep them safe from the Quarks. (COMIC: Invasion of the Quarks)

Later life[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor, fearing for their wellbeing if they stay to fight the Quarks, leaves John and Gillian to attend Zebadee University. (COMIC: Invasion of the Quarks)

John eventually became a professor and wrote a memo on the dangers of the Trods to Colonel Marc Forest of Special Space Security. At this time, John styled himself "Professor John Who". (COMIC: Beware the Trods!)

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

John and Gillian were among the companions of the Doctor noted in Hob's Death's Head Interactive Archive. (COMIC: The Incomplete Death's Head)

When the Second Doctor met Santa Claus yet again, he reminded him that he had once visited Santa's workshop with John and Gillian. (PROSE: The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas) The Second Doctor at one point told Jamie and Victoria Waterfield that he had "family" in 20th Century London. (PROSE: Heart of TARDIS)

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

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John could be known to be rather protective of Gillian, growing upset when she was accidentally left behind when he and the Doctor returned to the TARDIS. (COMIC: The Ordeals of Demeter)

John and Gillian both consistently identified the First Doctor as their grandfather. (COMIC: The Klepton Parasites-The Experimenters) However, after meeting and travelling with the younger Second Doctor, they called him just "the Doctor" on most occasions. (COMIC: The Extortioner-Invasion of the Quarks)

Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]

John, later in his travels, now blond. (COMIC: The Secret of Gemino)

When he was young, John had red hair. At one point in his life, he had freckles. (COMIC: The Ordeals of Demeter)

Later in his travels in the TARDIS, his hair was bright blond. (COMIC: The Trodos Tyranny)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Versions of John and Gillian within the Land of Fiction, depicted in PROSE: Prelude Conundrum.
  • It does not appear that John and Gillian had met the Doctor before the comic story The Klepton Parasites, although they were aware of his existence and the Doctor's comment upon their arrival implies that he was expecting them. Nothing was ever revealed about their lives before meeting him, aside from The Five O'Clock Shadow's retcon that they had had no prior life, instead being brought into existence via some sort of Block Transfer Computation by the Doctor to stave off his anxiety and loneliness.
  • The characters of John and Gillian were created for the Doctor Who comic strip in lieu of using (and paying license fees for) any of the companions from the television series. From the start, Polystyle Publications' rights to use Doctor Who in comic strip form allowed them to use only the title of the television series, the TARDIS and a likeness of William Hartnell.
  • In the novella Time and Relative by Kim Newman, Susan Foreman has friends at Coal Hill School named John Brent and Gillian Roberts, named after John and Gillian from TV Comic.
  • John and Gillian, in their first appearance, lived in then-present-day England, and knew of their grandfather as an inventor. This suggests that the story was placing itself in the framework where the Doctor was a human being, and thus John and Gillian were implicitly humans as well. Notably, unlike Susan on television, they never displayed any alien knowledge or characteristics. This is somewhat understandable for the time, as the 1960's stories had only made it clear that the pair were from another world, not that they weren't human beings at all. In light of it later becoming established continuity that the Doctor was nonhuman, John and Gillian are thus recasts as, at the very least, part-Gallifreyan hybrids; their reappearance in 1988's Nostalgia Corner depicted them as ageing at a slowed rate, much like the Doctor and Susan, but stopped shy of calling them Time Tots outright.
  • Due to the many changing artists through the run of early TV Comic, John was illustrated in several different ways, slowly appearing older with each new iteration. Mysteriously, he changes from a red-headed child with freckles into a tall teenager with blond hair in The Trodos Tyranny. Logically speaking, if the pair are taken to be Time Lords (or at the very least to have Time Lord ancestry through the Doctor), then John and Gillian changing appearances is hardly a plot hole.
  • During production of the Doctor Who Magazine story Death to the Doctor! (which featured numerous villains discussing defeats caused by different incarnations of the Doctor) one idea suggested by Tom Spilsbury was that they only use comic-exclusive companions in the flashbacks. This would have included Sharon Davies with the Fourth Doctor and John and Gillian with the First. However, this was ultimately decided against and the First Doctor was shown with Steven Taylor and Dodo. (The Widow's Curse)