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{{Infobox Comic
{{Infobox Story SMW
|comic name        = The Age of Ice
|range          = DWM comic stories{{!}}DWM Comics
|image             = [[File:Aoi.jpg|250px]]
|number in range = 146
|series           =[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
|image           = TenLooksAtUNITOz.jpg
|doctor           = [[Tenth Doctor]]
|series         = [[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
|companions       = [[Majenta Pryce]]
|doctor         = Tenth Doctor
|enemy            = [[Skith Leader]] <br /> [[Skith General]] <br /> [[Skith]]
|companions     = [[Majenta Pryce|Majenta]]
|year              = [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] ([[2010]])
|featuring      = [[Fanson]]
|writer           = [[Dan McDaid]]
|enemy          = The [[Mindcore]]
|editor           = [[Tom Spilsbury]] & [[Scott Gray]]
|setting        = [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], [[2010]]
|artist           = [[Martin Geraghty]]
|writer         = Dan McDaid
|colourist         = [[James Offredi]]
|editor         = [[Tom Spilsbury]] & [[Scott Gray]]
|lettering        = [[Roger Langridge]]
|artist         = [[Martin Geraghty]]
|publication title = [[DWM 408]] - [[DWM 411]]
|colourist       = [[James Offredi]]
|publication dates =  
|letterer        = [[Roger Langridge]]
|publisher         = [[Panini Comics]]
|publication     = [[DWM 408]] - [[DWM 411]]
|format           = Comic -
|release date    = 30 April - 23 July 2009
|previous story    = [[Mortal Beloved]]
|publisher       = Panini Comics
|next story        = [[The Deep Hereafter]]
|format         = Comic
|epcount        = 4
|reprint        = The Crimson Hand (graphic novel)
|prev            = Mortal Beloved (comic story)
|next           = The Deep Hereafter (comic story)
}}
}}
 
'''''The Age of Ice''''' was a ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strip that featured the [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Majenta Pryce]].


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Returning to Earth, the Doctor is shocked to discover his old enemies the Skith are planning there second invasion of Earth. Can even the Doctor defeat the powerful Skith leader
Returning to Earth, the [[Tenth Doctor]] is reunited with [[UNIT]] and his old enemies, the [[Skith]]. As a master plan to crack the codes of time travel gets underway, the Doctor, Majenta and UNIT must race against time to stop the [[Skith leader]] from avenging the destruction of his home world by wreaking havoc across the Earth...


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 (The Age of Ice) ===
=== Part 1 ===
As a passenger aircraft approaches [[Sydney]] airport, it suddenly hits a patch of bright blue lightning. The plane is ripped apart and oxygen masks deploy as it attacks the plane.
As a passenger aircraft approaches [[Sydney Airport]], it hits a patch of bright blue lightning. The plane is ripped apart and oxygen masks deploy as the lightning strikes the plane.


Later, the [[TARDIS]] lands in Sydney, near the Opera House. [[Majenta Pryce|Majenta]] heckles the Doctor about the fact that they're not on [[Panacea (planet)|Panacea]], but the Doctor's gaze shifts towards a landing helicopter. [[UNIT]] soldiers emerge from the helicopter, and one of them introduces herself as Captain [[Kath Braxton]]. The Doctor is taken to UNIT's underwater base.
Later, [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] lands in Sydney, near the Opera House. [[Majenta Pryce|Majenta]] heckles the [[Tenth Doctor]] about the fact that they're not on [[Panacea]], but the Doctor's looks at a landing helicopter. [[UNIT]] soldiers emerge. One of them introduces herself as Captain [[Kath Braxton]]. The Doctor is taken to UNIT's underwater base.


As the Doctor and Majenta are taken down UNIT's corridors by armed soldiers, a takes them into a UNIT soldier named Colonel [[Tom McCay]] takes them into a [[hospital]] ward in their base. They are greeted by Corporal [[Manning]], who is taken aback when he sees Majenta. The Doctor investigates the patients there, and is surprised to see that they are hundreds of years old. Tom reveals that they have aged while travelling in the passenger aircraft after it was hit by a [[Chronal Wave]]. He then reveals that prehistoric creatures have been rampaging across the city.
As the Doctor and Majenta are taken down UNIT's corridors by armed soldiers, one, named Colonel [[Tom McCay]] takes them into the base's [[hospital]] ward. They are greeted by Corporal [[Manning]], who is taken aback when he sees Majenta. The Doctor investigates the patients there. He is surprised that they are hundreds of years old. McCay says they have aged in the passenger aircraft after it was hit by a [[chronal wave]]. He says prehistoric creatures have been rampaging across the city.


The Doctor then sees a small column of ice in display. Tom explains that the ice was found in the wreckage of the plane. He tells the Doctor that it doesn't melt, and is giving off electrochemical signals. Tom organises a helicopter for the Doctor so that he can see the Chronal Wave himself. They then realise that Majenta has gone.
The Doctor sees a small column of ice. McCay says the ice was found in the plane's wreckage. It doesn't melt, and is giving off electrochemical signals. McCay organises a helicopter for the Doctor so he can see the chronal wave himself. They realise Majenta is not with them.


Meanwhile, Corporal Manning has escaped, and is entering the bestiary. Majenta follows him down, and finds a room full of (mostly alien) tech - [[Cybermen]] carcasses, [[Auton]]s, [[War Machine]]s and others. Corporal Manning is communicating with a sentient life form, when Majenta apears in front of him. Corporal Manning holds Majenta at gunpoint, only for Majenta to explain that she can tell that he is using a cloaking device. Corporal Manning turns off the device...
Corporal Manning had also left the group and is entering the bestiary in the basement. Majenta follows him and finds a room full of alien tech — [[Cybermen]] carcasses, [[Auton]]s, [[War Machine]]s and more. Manning is communicating with a sentient life form when Majenta appears in front of him. Manning holds Majenta at gunpoint. She says she can tell he is using a cloaking device. Corporal Manning turns off the device...


As the helicopter approaches the origin of the Chronal Wave, the piece of ice begins talking to the Doctor, a message from a life form who have met the Doctor before. UNIT soldier Sergeant Talbot notes that another Chronal Wave is approaching, as hundreds of prehistoric creatures appear near the bridge.
As the helicopter approaches the source of the chronal wave, the piece of ice begins talking to the Doctor. It is a message from a life form who has met the Doctor before. UNIT Sergeant Talbot notes that another chronal wave is approaching. Hundreds of prehistoric creatures appear near the bridge.


Back in the bestiary, Corporal Manning is revealed to be an alien, of the same species as Majenta, an old friend of Majenta called [[Fanson]]. He tells Majenta how much he's missed her, but Majenta pushes him away, and asks him to explain everything. Fanson reveals he can't, as suddenly Majenta is blasted away by a pulse of energy, as a sentient chrystalline life form called the '[[Skith Leader]]' appears...
In the bestiary, Corporal Manning turns out to be an alien of the same species as Majenta: an old friend of hers called [[Fanson]]. He tells Majenta how much he's missed her, but Majenta pushes him away and asks him to explain everything. Fanson says he can't. Majenta is blasted away by a pulse of energy as a crystalline life form called the "[[Skith Leader]]" appears...


=== Part 2 (Secrets and Lies) ===
=== Part 2 ===
UNIT's helicopter flies past the bridge as the Doctor communicates with an "old friend" via the strip of ice. The helicopter is ruptured by a flash of bright blue lightning — an energy spike. It destroys the engines and kills Sergeant Talbot. The Doctor hits the eject button on his seat. McCay and he are ejected from their seats just as the chopper explodes in flames behind them. Their parachutes deploy and they land safely near the city.


UNIT's helicopter flies past the bridge, as the Doctor begins to communicate with an 'old friend' via the strip of ice. Suddenly, the helicopter interior is ruptured by a flash of bright blue lightning - an energy spike - which destroys the chopper's engines and kills Sergeant Talbot. In an attempt to get Colonel McCay and the Doctor to safety, The Doctor hits the eject button on his seat, and he and McCay are ejected from their seats, just as the chopper explodes in flames behind them. Their parachutes deploy, and they land safely near the city.
Back in the UNIT Underbase, Majenta begins to recover. Fanson begs the Skith Leader to save her life. He agrees, but warns Majenta not to interfere with their plans. Fanson says that after the incident with the [[Hotel Historia]], they were both teleported to [[Thinktwice (comic story)|Thinktwice]]. Fanson, however, was intercepted, and brought down to a butcher's shop in Australia, where he found the remains of the Skith leader. They made a deal so both of their lives would be saved. He disguised himself as Corporal Manning to carry out the tasks of the Skith. As Fanson finishes his explanation, two UNIT soldiers burst in. Fanson orders the Skith leader to attack the soldiers. The soldiers are transformed into Skith and commanded to spread the Skith transformation through the Underbase.


Back in the UNIT Underbase, Majenta begins to recover. Fanson begs the Skith Leader to save her live, and the Skith leader agrees, but warns Majenta not to interfere with their plans.
The Doctor and Colonel McCay enter a gift shop. After speaking the keyword, they enter a UNIT safehouse behind the shop. Using the computers and technology, the Doctor reveals the "invisible object" — a huge crystal ship hanging over Sydney. The Doctor explains that the Skith's motivation is to "rebuild the world in their own image". Colonel McCay sends a command to the Underbase control room to attack the bridge. Suddenly, the two UNIT soldiers converted by the Skith enter the control room...
Fanson explains that after the incidents with the [[Hotel Historia]], they were both teleported, presumably to [[Thinktwice]]. Fanson, however, was intercepted, and brought down to a butcher's shop in Australia, where he found the remains of the Skith leader. Fanson made a deal with the leader, so that both of their lives would be saved. He then masked himself under the body of Corporal Manning, in order to carry out the tasks of the Skith.
Suddenly, two UNIT soldiers burst in, and Fanson commands the Skith leader to attack the soldiers. The two soldiers are transformed into Skith, and commanded to spread through the underbase.


The Doctor and Colonel McCay enter a gift shop. After speaking the keyword, he and the Doctor enter a secret UNIT safehouse behind the shop. Using the computers and technology available, the Doctor reveals the 'invisible object' - a huge crystal ship hanging over Sydney. The Doctor explains that the Skith's motivation is to 'rebuild the world in their own image'. Colonel McCay sends a command to the underbase control room to attack the bridge. Suddenly, the two UNIT soldiers converted by the Skith enter the control room...
McCay and the Doctor return to the Underbase, where the Doctor complains of an [[ice cream headache]]. Thinking nothing of it, he spots Majenta, who stops, reaches for a taser and electrocutes the Doctor. McCay orders Manning to stop her but Manning refuses, pointing out that McCay is no longer in charge as newly converted Skith soldiers take UNIT captive. The Doctor is dragged away by the converted soldiers...


McCay and the Doctor head back to the Underbase, where the Doctor complains of an ice cream headache. Thinking nothing of it, he spots Majenta, who stops, and reaches for a taser, and electrocutes the Doctor with it. Colonel McCay commands Corporal Manning to stop her, but Manning refuses, pointing out that he is no longer in charge, as numerous newly converted Skith soldiers take UNIT captive. The Doctor is dragged away by the converted soldiers...
The Doctor wakes up with the Skith leader, Majenta and Fanson, whom he fails to recognise. The Skith leader tells the Doctor that the Skith need him to access their crystal ship, which is phased out of time. The Doctor, Fanson and Majenta are taken to "the [[Starling (carrier ship)|Starling]]", a UNIT flying base. In the control room, the Doctor asks the leader about their plan. The leader says the Doctor is time sensitive, He will open the door and throw him at the ship. Another Skith approaches the leader and warns him not to take such drastic action. He tells the Doctor that "everything is going according to plan" as hundreds of Skith fighters swarm out of the ship towards the UNIT flier...


As the Doctor begins to wake up, he notices that he is with the Skith leader, Majenta, and Fanson, whom he fails to recognise. The Skith leader tells the Doctor that he is needed by the Skith to access the Skith's crystal ship, as it is phased out of time. The Doctor, Fanson and Majenta are taken to '[[Starling|The Starling]]', a flying base used by UNIT. In the control room, the Doctor asks the leader what plan the Skith have. The leader explains that, as the Doctor is time sensitive, the Skith leader plans to open the door and throw him at the ship. Suddenly, another Skith approaches the leader, and warns the leader not to take such drastic action. He then informs the Doctor that 'everthing is going according to plan', as hundreds of Skith fighters swarm out of the ship towards the UNIT base...
=== Part 3 ===
In Sydney [[dinosaur]]s still roam the streets and chase humans. The Doctor, Majenta, Fanson and McCay are being marched down an ice corridor by the Skith. The Doctor notes the Skith have a huge army. As the is separated from the group by the Skith, he tells Majenta to take care of herself.


=== Part 3 (The Master of the Skith) ===
The [[Skith General]] and the Skith leader meet. The Skith leader is annoyed at the Skith General for the breach of authority. As the Skith [[Mindcore]] watches in tacit approval, the General turns on leader and throws him into the ship's fusion core.
In Sydney [[dinosaur]]s still ravage the streets and chase humans. The Doctor, Majenta, Fanson and Tom are being marched down an [[Ice Corridor]] by the Skith. The Doctor says that they have a huge army. The Doctor is taken away by the Skith, he tells Majenta to take care of herself.


The [[Skith General]] and the Skith Leader meet. The Skith leader is annoyed at The Skith General. They quarrel the General betrays them and pushes him down a passage way to the ground.
At the Underbase the Skith soldiers sense the leader's demise and hesitate. Captain Braxton sees an opportunity and calls out the keyword, "Leviathan".


Meanwhile at the UNIT base Captasin Branxton and Lowrie and UNIT soldiers are being trapped.
Majenta, Fanson and McCay are bound on examination tables. The Skith scan them and find they can't get anything from Majenta, except that she's a time traveller like the Doctor. While the Skith discuss what to do next, McCay melts through his bindings, grabs a Skith weapon (with Skith attached) and shoots down his captors.


Majenta, Fanson and Tom are on operationg tables. The Skith scan Majenta and find out who she is. When they go to do other business she and Fanson talk, he is in pain, he can't reveal much about her past. Tom escapes from the Skith he shoots them down.
The Doctor confronts the Skith General, who says that the Skith home world was destroyed by a large [[Manus Maleficus|crimson hand]]. The Mindcore can't figure out who or what caused this, but has put the Skith on a war footing to stop it from happening... and are working on time travel as a solution. McCay has freed Majenta and Fanson, with a plan to storm the ship's nerve centre.


The Doctor is confronts the Skith General, the general explains that the [[Mindcore]] needs the Skith Homeworld but it has been destroyed. It has information on the Hand but cannot figure it out. He finds out that they are working on Time Travel.
At the Underbase the Leviathan protocol activates. The base computer projects a psychic wave that incapacitates all of the Skith in the base, then takes the Underbase up to the surface of Sydney Harbour.


Tom has freed Majenta and Fanson, they come up with a way to defeat the Skith.
The Skith General takes the Doctor to the Skith time machine, which he calls the [[SKARDIS]]. The Skith learned of the TARDIS when they [[The First (comic story)|probed the Doctor's mind in 1915]] and built their own version, but found it needed a living time brain to work. The Doctor seems eager to cooperate, but the Mindcore warns this is the Doctor's way of "getting inside the system, destroying it from within."


At the UNIT base the Skith want to know what the [[Leaviathan]] is. It emits a psychic wave. This knocks out all of the Skith in the base. Branxton then heads the ship up to the surface.
At that moment McCay, Fanson and Majenta race in. The Skith General easily subdues McCay, then turns toward Majenta as a more suitable subject. Over the Doctor's protests she is transformed into the new Queen of the Skith.


The Skith General takes the doctor to there homemade [[SKARDIS]]. They gained knowledge of the TARDIS when they probed the Doctor's mind in 1915. They want control over Time and Space not revenge. The Mindcore tells the Doctor that this is a trap. Tom, Fanson and Majenta race in, but the Skith General shots ice shards at Tom, hitting him. He then turns Majenta into a Skith into the Queen of the Skith. The Skith then chant "Obey her".
=== Part 4 ===
Majenta, now the Skith Queen, orders the Skith General to throw the Doctor, Fanson and McCay into the fusion core. She's elated to be part of something big again, but thinking about it brings up a fleeting image of [[Crimson Hand|four darkened figures]]. As the others are led away to the core, the Skith Queen tries out her new SKARDIS.


=== Part 4 (Ruins and Snow) ===
In the newly surfaced Underbase Braxton and [[Lowrie]] observe as a chronal wave freezes the Sydney Bridge, killing all the dinosaurs.
The Doctor pleads with Majenta now known as Queen Skith. She orders the Skith General to throw the Doctor, Fanson and Tom into the Fusion Core just like what the general did with the Skith Leader. The Skith Queen has a blip of Majenta's mind before it got wiped she sees [[Crimson Hand|four darkened figures]].


The Skith soldiers take The Doctor, Fanson and Tom to the core. Suddenly there is a big boom. The Doctor says its Majenta trying her new Time Tech.
The Doctor and others arrive at the central core. The Mindcore gloats it will watch as the Doctor falls and burns. The execution is interrupted, however, when the Skith Leader claws his way up from the fusion core and shoots the Skith guards. With his dying breath, the Leader tells Fanson he must save the Skith. Fanson reaches for him as he dies and breaks into shards.


In the Underbase Branxton and [[Lowrie]] observe as the Skith freeze all of Sydney, this freezes the dinosaurs though.
Braxton reports to McCay that the Skith ship is making a new Ice Age envelop Sydney.


The Doctor confronts the Mindcore, the Mindcore says it is going to watch as the Doctor falls and burns. It is interupted when the Skith are hit by beams of energy shattering them. The Skith Leader rises out of the Mindcore, the reason why he survived was he held on he tells Fanson he must save the Skith. He then falls into shards dying. Tom contacts Branxton she tells them the Skith have frozen Sydney.
At the SKARDIS the Skith General suggests they strike "the Hand". The Skith Queen has other ideas, and suggests they go to Panacea to restore her memory first. The Doctor returns. He appeals to the vestiges of Majenta still in her. He tells her that every time they use the SKARDI,S a chronal wave moves across the city, leaving devastation. Unmoved, Majenta turns a dial and the SKARDIS materialises above Sydney.


At the SKARDIS the Skith General asks if the machine is ready, which it is. He suggests they go and strike "[[The Hand]]". The Skith Queen has other ideas she suggests they go to Panacea to restore her memory. The Doctor stops the Skith Queen from going to Panacea. The Doctor says every time they use the SKARDIS a [[Chronal Wave]] moves across the city leaving Devistation. After the doctor stops Majenta turns a dial on the SKARDIS.
Braxton, seeing the opportunity, turns the Underbase's main guns on the Skith ship.


Branxton fires at the Skith base destroying it.
The Doctor advises the Skith General to take his ship (the'' Oppressor Two'') and leave Earth. The Mindcore agrees. The General, furious at the Queen's betrayal, shoots ice spikes at her, but Fanson dives in front and takes the blow instead. Fanson, dying, tells Majenta it was he who had wiped her mind. She had gotten herself mixed up in a terrible secret that was driving her mad. Fanson dies as the Doctor pulls an angry Majenta away to the ''Starling''. The flier escapes as the Skith ship is destroyed.


The Skith base begins to fall down around everyone in the SKARDIS. The Doctor says the only way the Skith are to survive as if they leave the Mindcore. The General gets angry he shots an ice spike at Majenta, Fanson dives in front of her and is hit. Fanson in his dying words tells Majenta he had to wipe parts of her mind so she never knew a thing. She had gotten herself mixed up in a terrible secret. Fanson dies, the Doctor pulls an angry Majenta away from him and they head to a helicopter.
Inside, the Doctor says the effects of the chronal wave should clear up in a few days. Majenta asks if the Doctor still wants to help her. He admits he can't pass up a good mystery, and they agree to stay together.
 
On the helicopter the doctor says the effects of the Chronal Wave should clear up in a few days. They agree to stay together as the helicopter flies them to the TARDIS.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Tenth Doctor]]
* [[Tenth Doctor]]
:* The Doctor reminces when UNIT used to operate 'out of a draughty old house in the Home Counties' (in the [[1970s]])
* [[Majenta Pryce]]
* [[Majenta Pryce]]
* Colonel [[Tom McKay]]
* [[Tom McCay]]
* [[Fanson]]
* [[Fanson]]
* Captain [[Kath Braxton]]
* [[Skith Leader]]
* [[Skith Leader]]
:* survived from his previous encounter with the Doctor, but was wounded
* [[Skith Mindcore]]
* [[Skith General]]
* [[Skith General]]
* [[Sergeant Talbot]]
* Skith [[Mindcore]]
* [[Kath Braxton]]
* [[Lowrie]]
* [[Talbot (The Age of Ice)|Sergeant Talbot]]
* [[Plant (The Age of Ice)|Plant]]
* [[Candice (The Age of Ice)|Candice]]
* [[Chief Scientist (The Age of Ice)|Chief Scientist]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The previous year Corporal Manning dealt with an advance party of [[Ice Warrior]]s.
* McCay and "Manning" dealt with an advance party of [[Ice Warrior]]s in [[2009]].
* Inside the UNIT [[Underbase 1]] there is a section call 'The Bestiary' which contains: a [[Sontaran]] [[Sontaran Scout Ship|scout ship]], a [[War Machine]], a [[Robot Yeti]], a [[Cyberman]], half of a [[Dalek]], an [[Osirian service robot]], thirteen copies of the [[Mona Lisa]], a [[Sea Devil]] oufit, an [[Auton]] and a [[Dæmon]]'s skull.
* The Doctor mentions [[Benidorm]] and [[Skyhammer]]s.
* The [[Multiverse]] is mentioned for the second time in this arc.
* In UNIT's bet on which Doctor would turn up, McCay betted against the "[[Third Doctor|the grey-haired fella]]" and the "[[Second Doctor|the bloke with the recorder]]".


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* There is a brown sofa that appears in 'The Bestiary' in Part One of this comic, the sign appears to say 'No Sitting', it could be a reference to the Nestene chair that appears in [[DW]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'', however the sofa that appeared in that story was black.
* This was voted in the ''Doctor Who Magazine'' 2009 survey as the most popular comic strip of 2009.
* This was voted in the Dr Who Magazine 2009 survey as the most popular comic strip of that year.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Fanson]], who was last seen in [[DWM]]: ''[[Hotel Historia (comic story)|Hotel Historia]]''.
* [[UNIT-UK]] still wants to question Majenta about the incident at [[Hotel Historia]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Hotel Historia (comic story)|Hotel Historia]]'')
* The [[Skith]], who were last seen in [[DWM]]: ''[[The First]]''.
* "The Bestiary" contains relics from past invasions and attacks on Earth, such as a [[Sontaran]] [[Sontaran Scout Ship|scout ship]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'') a Sontaran [[Mezon Rifle]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'') a [[War Machine]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'') a [[Robot Yeti]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Web of Fear (TV story)|The Web of Fear]]'') a [[CyberNeomorph]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]'') half of a [[Grey Dalek]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Daleks (TV story)|Day of the Daleks]]'') an [[Osiran service robot]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Pyramids of Mars (TV story)|Pyramids of Mars]]'') thirteen copies of the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'', ([[TV]]: ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]'') an [[Ogri]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood (TV story)|The Stones of Blood]] '') a [[Sea Devil]] outfit, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sea Devils (TV story)|The Sea Devils]]'') an [[Auton]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') a [[Dæmon]]'s skull, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Dæmons (TV story)|The Dæmons]]'') the head of a Cyberman, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'') and a large, transparent cylinder with what appears to be a [[weed creature]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
* The 'grey haired fella' and the 'bloke with the recorder' are references to the [[Second Doctor]] and either the [[First Doctor]] or the [[Third Doctor]].
* The [[Skith]] want revenge on the Doctor. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The First (comic story)|The First]]'')
* The Sontaran scout ship is of the same design as those that appeared in [[DW]]: ''[[The Time Warrior]]'', [[DW]]: ''[[The Sontaran Experiment]] and [[DW]]: ''[[The Two Doctors]]''. One of their Mezon guns from [[DW]]: ''[[The Two Doctors]]
* After the Doctor closed Hotel Historia, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Hotel Historia (comic story)|Hotel Historia]]'') [[Fanson]] was expecting to join Majenta at [[Thinktwice]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Thinktwice (comic story)|Thinktwice]]'')
* The War Machine from [[DW]]: ''[[The War Machines]]''.
* [[Ernest Shackleton]] wrote about his encounter with the Skith. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The First (comic story)|The First]]'')
* The multiple copies of the Mona Lisa were last seen in [[DW]]: ''[[City of Death]]''.
* McCay tells Madge about the Doctor and the [[Children of Time]] saving the [[multiverse]] from the [[Dalek]]s' [[reality bomb]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'')
* The Cyberman is a 1980s era Cyberman and could be from either [[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'' or [[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]''.
* The [[Mindcore]] acquired the information needed to build the [[SKARDIS]] when the Doctor assimilated into the Skith during their last encounter. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The First (comic story)|The First]]'')
* The Dalek casing (given it is the lower half and black) could be the Renegade Dalek [[DW]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks]]''.
* An Ogri makes an apearance, they debuted in [[DW]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood]]''.
* The Osiran service robot first appeared in [[DW]]: ''[[Pyramids of Mars]]'' and [[MA]]: ''[[The Sands of Time]]''.
* UNIT first encountered the Robot Yeti in [[DW]]: ''[[The Web of Fear]]'' and [[RP]]: ''[[Downtime]]''.
* UNIT has encountered the Autons on several occasions (and the Auton could be from any of these): [[DW]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'', [[BBV]]: ''[[Auton (video)|Auton]]'', ''[[Auton 2: Sentinel]]'', ''[[Auton 3: Awakening]]''.
* There is a black plastic armchair with a "NO SITTING" sign on it, possibly the Auton armchair from [[DW]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons]].''
* The Sea Devil is from the Royal Navy's encounter with th in [[DW]]: ''[[The Sea Devils]]''.
* A box with a picture of a cat is seen, a reference to the [[Kitling]]s who appeared in [[DW]]: ''[[Survival]]''.
* A jar contains what appears to be the weed creature from [[DW]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep]]''
* The head of a Cyberman from [[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]''
* A UNIT officer refers to the Doctor saving everyone from the [[Dalek]]s in [[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]''
* The Skith have created their own version of the TARDIS, termed a SKARDIS.
 
== Timeline ==
* ''The Age of Ice ''occurs after: [[DWM]]: ''[[Mortal Beloved]]''
* T''he Age of Ice'' occurs before: [[DWM]]: ''[[The Deep Hereafter]]''


== External links ==
{{dwrefguide|comic10.htm#dwm408|The Age of Ice}}


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Latest revision as of 19:47, 9 November 2023

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The Age of Ice was a Doctor Who Magazine comic strip that featured the Tenth Doctor and Majenta Pryce.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Returning to Earth, the Tenth Doctor is reunited with UNIT and his old enemies, the Skith. As a master plan to crack the codes of time travel gets underway, the Doctor, Majenta and UNIT must race against time to stop the Skith leader from avenging the destruction of his home world by wreaking havoc across the Earth...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

As a passenger aircraft approaches Sydney Airport, it hits a patch of bright blue lightning. The plane is ripped apart and oxygen masks deploy as the lightning strikes the plane.

Later, the Doctor's TARDIS lands in Sydney, near the Opera House. Majenta heckles the Tenth Doctor about the fact that they're not on Panacea, but the Doctor's looks at a landing helicopter. UNIT soldiers emerge. One of them introduces herself as Captain Kath Braxton. The Doctor is taken to UNIT's underwater base.

As the Doctor and Majenta are taken down UNIT's corridors by armed soldiers, one, named Colonel Tom McCay takes them into the base's hospital ward. They are greeted by Corporal Manning, who is taken aback when he sees Majenta. The Doctor investigates the patients there. He is surprised that they are hundreds of years old. McCay says they have aged in the passenger aircraft after it was hit by a chronal wave. He says prehistoric creatures have been rampaging across the city.

The Doctor sees a small column of ice. McCay says the ice was found in the plane's wreckage. It doesn't melt, and is giving off electrochemical signals. McCay organises a helicopter for the Doctor so he can see the chronal wave himself. They realise Majenta is not with them.

Corporal Manning had also left the group and is entering the bestiary in the basement. Majenta follows him and finds a room full of alien tech — Cybermen carcasses, Autons, War Machines and more. Manning is communicating with a sentient life form when Majenta appears in front of him. Manning holds Majenta at gunpoint. She says she can tell he is using a cloaking device. Corporal Manning turns off the device...

As the helicopter approaches the source of the chronal wave, the piece of ice begins talking to the Doctor. It is a message from a life form who has met the Doctor before. UNIT Sergeant Talbot notes that another chronal wave is approaching. Hundreds of prehistoric creatures appear near the bridge.

In the bestiary, Corporal Manning turns out to be an alien of the same species as Majenta: an old friend of hers called Fanson. He tells Majenta how much he's missed her, but Majenta pushes him away and asks him to explain everything. Fanson says he can't. Majenta is blasted away by a pulse of energy as a crystalline life form called the "Skith Leader" appears...

Part 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

UNIT's helicopter flies past the bridge as the Doctor communicates with an "old friend" via the strip of ice. The helicopter is ruptured by a flash of bright blue lightning — an energy spike. It destroys the engines and kills Sergeant Talbot. The Doctor hits the eject button on his seat. McCay and he are ejected from their seats just as the chopper explodes in flames behind them. Their parachutes deploy and they land safely near the city.

Back in the UNIT Underbase, Majenta begins to recover. Fanson begs the Skith Leader to save her life. He agrees, but warns Majenta not to interfere with their plans. Fanson says that after the incident with the Hotel Historia, they were both teleported to Thinktwice. Fanson, however, was intercepted, and brought down to a butcher's shop in Australia, where he found the remains of the Skith leader. They made a deal so both of their lives would be saved. He disguised himself as Corporal Manning to carry out the tasks of the Skith. As Fanson finishes his explanation, two UNIT soldiers burst in. Fanson orders the Skith leader to attack the soldiers. The soldiers are transformed into Skith and commanded to spread the Skith transformation through the Underbase.

The Doctor and Colonel McCay enter a gift shop. After speaking the keyword, they enter a UNIT safehouse behind the shop. Using the computers and technology, the Doctor reveals the "invisible object" — a huge crystal ship hanging over Sydney. The Doctor explains that the Skith's motivation is to "rebuild the world in their own image". Colonel McCay sends a command to the Underbase control room to attack the bridge. Suddenly, the two UNIT soldiers converted by the Skith enter the control room...

McCay and the Doctor return to the Underbase, where the Doctor complains of an ice cream headache. Thinking nothing of it, he spots Majenta, who stops, reaches for a taser and electrocutes the Doctor. McCay orders Manning to stop her but Manning refuses, pointing out that McCay is no longer in charge as newly converted Skith soldiers take UNIT captive. The Doctor is dragged away by the converted soldiers...

The Doctor wakes up with the Skith leader, Majenta and Fanson, whom he fails to recognise. The Skith leader tells the Doctor that the Skith need him to access their crystal ship, which is phased out of time. The Doctor, Fanson and Majenta are taken to "the Starling", a UNIT flying base. In the control room, the Doctor asks the leader about their plan. The leader says the Doctor is time sensitive, He will open the door and throw him at the ship. Another Skith approaches the leader and warns him not to take such drastic action. He tells the Doctor that "everything is going according to plan" as hundreds of Skith fighters swarm out of the ship towards the UNIT flier...

Part 3[[edit] | [edit source]]

In Sydney dinosaurs still roam the streets and chase humans. The Doctor, Majenta, Fanson and McCay are being marched down an ice corridor by the Skith. The Doctor notes the Skith have a huge army. As the is separated from the group by the Skith, he tells Majenta to take care of herself.

The Skith General and the Skith leader meet. The Skith leader is annoyed at the Skith General for the breach of authority. As the Skith Mindcore watches in tacit approval, the General turns on leader and throws him into the ship's fusion core.

At the Underbase the Skith soldiers sense the leader's demise and hesitate. Captain Braxton sees an opportunity and calls out the keyword, "Leviathan".

Majenta, Fanson and McCay are bound on examination tables. The Skith scan them and find they can't get anything from Majenta, except that she's a time traveller like the Doctor. While the Skith discuss what to do next, McCay melts through his bindings, grabs a Skith weapon (with Skith attached) and shoots down his captors.

The Doctor confronts the Skith General, who says that the Skith home world was destroyed by a large crimson hand. The Mindcore can't figure out who or what caused this, but has put the Skith on a war footing to stop it from happening... and are working on time travel as a solution. McCay has freed Majenta and Fanson, with a plan to storm the ship's nerve centre.

At the Underbase the Leviathan protocol activates. The base computer projects a psychic wave that incapacitates all of the Skith in the base, then takes the Underbase up to the surface of Sydney Harbour.

The Skith General takes the Doctor to the Skith time machine, which he calls the SKARDIS. The Skith learned of the TARDIS when they probed the Doctor's mind in 1915 and built their own version, but found it needed a living time brain to work. The Doctor seems eager to cooperate, but the Mindcore warns this is the Doctor's way of "getting inside the system, destroying it from within."

At that moment McCay, Fanson and Majenta race in. The Skith General easily subdues McCay, then turns toward Majenta as a more suitable subject. Over the Doctor's protests she is transformed into the new Queen of the Skith.

Part 4[[edit] | [edit source]]

Majenta, now the Skith Queen, orders the Skith General to throw the Doctor, Fanson and McCay into the fusion core. She's elated to be part of something big again, but thinking about it brings up a fleeting image of four darkened figures. As the others are led away to the core, the Skith Queen tries out her new SKARDIS.

In the newly surfaced Underbase Braxton and Lowrie observe as a chronal wave freezes the Sydney Bridge, killing all the dinosaurs.

The Doctor and others arrive at the central core. The Mindcore gloats it will watch as the Doctor falls and burns. The execution is interrupted, however, when the Skith Leader claws his way up from the fusion core and shoots the Skith guards. With his dying breath, the Leader tells Fanson he must save the Skith. Fanson reaches for him as he dies and breaks into shards.

Braxton reports to McCay that the Skith ship is making a new Ice Age envelop Sydney.

At the SKARDIS the Skith General suggests they strike "the Hand". The Skith Queen has other ideas, and suggests they go to Panacea to restore her memory first. The Doctor returns. He appeals to the vestiges of Majenta still in her. He tells her that every time they use the SKARDI,S a chronal wave moves across the city, leaving devastation. Unmoved, Majenta turns a dial and the SKARDIS materialises above Sydney.

Braxton, seeing the opportunity, turns the Underbase's main guns on the Skith ship.

The Doctor advises the Skith General to take his ship (the Oppressor Two) and leave Earth. The Mindcore agrees. The General, furious at the Queen's betrayal, shoots ice spikes at her, but Fanson dives in front and takes the blow instead. Fanson, dying, tells Majenta it was he who had wiped her mind. She had gotten herself mixed up in a terrible secret that was driving her mad. Fanson dies as the Doctor pulls an angry Majenta away to the Starling. The flier escapes as the Skith ship is destroyed.

Inside, the Doctor says the effects of the chronal wave should clear up in a few days. Majenta asks if the Doctor still wants to help her. He admits he can't pass up a good mystery, and they agree to stay together.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This was voted in the Doctor Who Magazine 2009 survey as the most popular comic strip of 2009.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

v • e
DWM Tenth Doctor comic stories
Rose
Solo
Martha
Solo
Donna
Majenta
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