The Shape Shifter (comic story): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
No edit summary
m (Upholding T:APOS)
 
(139 intermediate revisions by 37 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{ImageLinkComics}}
{{Infobox Comic
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image = [[File:ShapeShifter.jpg|250px]]
|range          = DWM comic stories{{!}}DWM Comics
|comic name = The Shape Shifter
|number in range = 24
|series =[[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]|
|image          = The Shape Shifter colour.jpg
|doctor = [[Sixth Doctor]]
|series         = [[DWM comic stories|''DWM'' comic stories]]
|companions = [[Frobisher]] (introduction; joins)
|doctor         = Sixth Doctor
|enemy = [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]]
|companions     = [[Frobisher|Tarklu]]
|year = [[Venus]]
|enemy           = [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]]
|writer = [[Adam Parkhouse]]
|setting        = [[Venus]], [[82nd century]]
|editor = [[Alan McKenzie]]
|writer         = Steve Parkhouse
|artist = [[John Ridgway]]
|editor         = [[Alan McKenzie]]
|colourist =  
|artist         = [[John Ridgway]]
|lettering = [[Annie Halfacree]]
|colourist       =  
|publication title = [[Doctor Who Monthly|The Official Doctor Who Magazine]] [[DWM 88|88]]-[[DWM 89|89]]
|letterer        = [[Annie Halfacree]]
|publication dates = [[May]] - [[June]] [[1984]]
|publication     = [[DWM 88]]-[[DWM 89|89]]
|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
|release date    = 12 April - 10 May 1984
|format = Comic - 2 parts (16 pages)
|publisher       = Marvel Comics
|previous story = [[The Moderator (comic story)|The Moderator]]
|reprint        = Doctor Who Collected Comics
|next story = [[Voyager (comic story)|Voyager]]
|reprint2        = DWMAC 5
|reprint3        = Voyager (1989 graphic novel)
|reprint4        = Voyager (2007 graphic novel)
|reprint5        = DWCS3 1
|reprint6        = Doctor Who Classics Volume 6
|reprint7        = Doctor Who Classics Omnibus Volume 2
|format         = Comic
|epcount        = 2
|prev            = The Moderator (comic story)
|next           = Voyager (comic story)
}}
}}
'''''The Shape Shifter''''' was the first [[Sixth Doctor]] comic strip published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''. It introduced [[Frobisher]], a new [[companion]], and saw the return of [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]].
'''''The Shape Shifter''''' was the first [[Sixth Doctor]] comic strip published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''. It introduced the shapeshifting [[Frobisher]] as a new [[companion]], though he would not take on that name until the following story, and also featured the return of [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]].


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
[[Frobisher]], detective extraordinaire, finds himself on his biggest case yet, pursuing the [[bounty]] on a man known as [[the Doctor]]...
[[Frobisher|Avan Tarklu]], [[detective]] extraordinaire, finds himself on his biggest case yet, pursuing the [[bounty]] on a man known as [[the Doctor]]...


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
Late at night, a clerk is working in his office. He does not know his [[Telephone|phone]] is a [[Whifferdill]] spying on him. He calls his wife to tell her he'll be working late at the office. In truth he's going out with another woman. The Whifferdill transforms into a [[pigeon]] to go to his office and inform his client. He flies over the city but is attacked by an [[owl]] and makes a crash landing in a garbage can. The Whifferdill becomes a [[burger|hamburger]] and is picked up by a homeless man, who takes a bite out of him. The Whifferdill, as a hamburger with eyes, legs and arms flees.
Late at night, a clerk is working in his [[office]]. He does not know his [[Telephone|phone]] is a [[Whifferdill]] spying on him. He calls his wife to tell her he'll be working late at the office. In truth, he's going out with another woman. The Whifferdill transforms into a [[pigeon]] to go to his office and inform his client. He flies over the city but is attacked by an [[owl]] and makes a crash landing in a [[dustbin]]. The Whifferdill becomes a [[burger]] and is picked up by [[tramp (The Shape Shifter)|a tramp]], who takes a bite out of him. The Whifferdill, now a burger with [[eye]]s, [[leg]]s and [[arm]]s, flees.


The Whifferdill, [[Frobisher|Avan Tarklu]], a private investigator and now back to his original state, arrives at his office to check his messages. He sees a [[Bounty|wanted message]] for the [[Sixth Doctor]] for 250,000 [[Mazuma]]s. He disguises himself as a barfly, flying through bars. After four nights he finds the Doctor and flies in his glass of chocolate soda to slip him a mickey. The waiter notices Avan Tarklu as a fly and takes the glass while the Doctor is leaving. The waiter empties the glass into the sink, while the Whifferdill transforms himself into a [[fish]] and manages to get outside, into an alley, back in his original shape. The Doctor goes to his TARDIS while he's being attacked by two men with vibroknives. The Doctor handles one attacker, but the second one pulls out his gun. The Whifferdill attacks. His right hand transforms into a boxing glove, and knocks the second attacker unconscious. The Doctor, unaware of the Whifferdill, goes into his TARDIS and sets the co-ordinates to Greenback Bay, [[Venus]]. Avan Tarklu sneaks on board, transforms himself over the TARDIS's [[time rotor]] and hijacks the ship.
The Whifferdill is [[Frobisher|Avan Tarklu]], a [[private investigator]] and now back to his original state. He arrives at his office to check his messages. He sees a [[Bounty|wanted message]] for the [[Sixth Doctor]] for [[250000 (number)|250,000]] [[mazuma]]s. He disguises himself as a [[fly]], flying through [[bar]]s. After four nights he finds the Doctor and flies in his glass of [[chocolate]] [[soda]] to slip him a [[Chloroform|mickey]]. The waiter notices Avan Tarklu as a fly and takes the [[glass]] while the Doctor leaves. The waiter empties the glass into the sink, while the Whifferdill transforms himself into a [[fish]] and gets outside, into an alley, back in his original shape. The Doctor goes to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]], where he's attacked by two men with [[vibroknife|vibroknives]]. The Doctor handles one attacker, but the second pulls out a [[firearm|gun]]. The Whifferdill attacks. His right hand becomes a [[boxing glove]] and knocks the second attacker unconscious. The Doctor, unaware of the Whifferdill, goes into his TARDIS and sets the co-ordinates to [[Greenback Bay]], [[Venus]]. Avan Tarklu sneaks on board, transforms himself over the TARDIS's [[time rotor]] and hijacks the ship.


=== Part two ===
=== Part two ===
The TARDIS has been hijacked by Avan Tarklu, a Whifferdill private investigator. He demands the Doctor fly the TARDIS to [[Venus]]. Otherwise, he will suffer "[[sandwich]]es that bite back, terror at bath-time, shoes that fly away with you". The Doctor, miffed, says he was planning to go to Venus. If the Whifferdill wanted a lift, he just has to ask. The Whifferdill says he will turn the Doctor in for 250,000 [[Mazuma]]s.
The TARDIS has been hijacked by Avan Tarklu, who demands the Doctor fly the TARDIS to Venus, less he suffer "[[sandwich]]es that bite back, terror at [[bath]]-time, [[shoe]]s that fly away with you". The Doctor, miffed, says he was planning to go to Venus. If the Whifferdill wanted a lift, he just has to ask. The Whifferdill, however, says that rather than wanting a lift, he wishes to turn the Doctor in for 250,000 mazumas.


On the planet Venus, near the building of [[Intra-Venus, Inc.|Intra-Venus, Inc]], the TARDIS materialises and security goes into action, surrounding it. Dogbolter, thinking of a trap, gives the order to "knock it off, but evacuate the building first". A space ship, flying to the building, shoots it with rockets, leaving the building in ruins, but without a scratch on the TARDIS. A white flag pops out of the TARDIS with a paper plane. The plane, a list of demands, is brought to Dogbolter and read by his [[robot]]. The Whifferdill will exchange the Doctor for 250,000 mazumas and the TARDIS for 500,000. Dogbolter agrees with the first, and so the Doctor is being exchanged by a bearded old man armed with a bazooka and wearing an Australian hat (with corks hanging from the brim) that covers his eyes. The old man takes the money, goes back in the TARDIS and dematerialises. Meanwhile, the Doctor is brought to a cell with two security guards. One opens the cell, but when he turns around, he sees that the Doctor is gone and that there is another guard. The guards conclude that one of them is a fake. One of the guards shoots at another one, to be sure it's not the Doctor. The other flees in terror. The guard who shot turns out to be the Whifferdill, who was the Doctor and a guard. The TARDIS materialises and the old man steps out. He is the real Doctor. The Whifferdill hops on board and the money will be split 50/50. As the TARDIS dematerialises, the Whifferdill decides to stick around, leaving the Doctor with no choice.
On Venus, near the building of [[Intra-Venus, Inc.]], the TARDIS materialises and security goes into action, surrounding it. [[Josiah W. Dogbolter|Dogbolter]], thinking it a trap, gives the order to "knock it off, but evacuate the building first". A [[spaceship]] flies to the building, shoots it with rockets, leaving the building in ruins, but without a scratch on the TARDIS. A [[white flag]] appears from within the TARDIS with a [[paper aeroplane]]. The plane, a list of demands, is brought to Dogbolter and read by his [[robot]]. The Whifferdill will exchange the Doctor for 250,000 mazumas and the TARDIS for 500,000. Dogbolter agrees to the first, so the Doctor is exchanged by a bearded old man, armed with a [[bazooka]] and wearing an [[Australia]]n [[hat]] (with [[cork]]s hanging from the brim) that covers his eyes. The old man takes the [[money]], goes back in the TARDIS and dematerialises.
 
[[File:DWM 89 The Doctor and Frobbisher.jpg|thumb|The Whifferdill (left) goes out instead of the Doctor (right).]]
Meanwhile, the Doctor is brought to a cell with two security guards. One opens the cell, but when he turns around, he sees that the Doctor is gone and that there is another guard. The guards conclude that one of them is a fake. One of the guards shoots at another one, to be sure it's not the Doctor. The other flees in terror. The guard who shot turns out to be the Whifferdill, who was the Doctor and a guard. The TARDIS materialises and the old man steps out. He is the real Doctor. The Whifferdill hops on board. The money will be split 50/50. As the TARDIS dematerialises, the Whifferdill decides to stick around, leaving the Doctor with no choice but to let him stay.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]]
* [[Sixth Doctor]]
* [[Frobisher]]
* [[Frobisher|Avan Tarklu]]
* [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]]
* [[Josiah W. Dogbolter]]
* [[Hob]]
* [[Clerk (The Shape Shifter)|Clerk]]
* [[Clerk's mistress (The Shape Shifter)|Clerk's mistress]]
* [[Tramp (The Shape Shifter)|Tramp]]
* [[Marty Mouse]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
[[File:DWM 88 The Shape Shifter Frobisher's First Form.jpg|thumb|The first appearance of Tarklu within the comic continuum.]]
* Tarklu takes on the forms of a [[telephone]], a [[pigeon]], a [[burger]], a [[fly]], a [[goldfish]], and the [[TARDIS control console]] [[time rotor]].
* The Doctor drinks [[chocolate soda]].
* Two men threaten the Doctor with [[vibroknife]]s.
* The Doctor has been threatened by [[Cybermen]], [[Ice Warrior]]s, [[Dalek]]s and [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]] producers.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
=== Reprints ===
[[File:ShapeShifter.jpg|thumb|The original monochrome version.]]
* This comic was released as part of the Voyage graphic novel 1985 and [[Voyager (2007 graphic novel)|Voyager graphic novel 2007]].
* The first words spoken by the [[Sixth Doctor]] in his comic book tenure are; ''"What..?"''
* It was also reprinted in DWMAC 5.
* ''The Shape Shifter'' was reprinted as part of the [[Voyager (1989 graphic novel)|Voyager graphic novel 1989]] and [[Voyager (2007 graphic novel)|Voyager graphic novel 2007]]. It was also reprinted in [[Doctor Who Marvel Adventure Comic|DWMAC]] 5 and Doctor Who Classics Series 3 1 and [[Doctor Who Classics Volume 6]].
* It was reprinted in Doctor Who Classics Series 3 1 and [[Doctor Who Classics Volume 6]].


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Frobisher mentions [[mazuma]]s as the unit of currency employed for the bounty on the Doctor's head. This unit was also used during the [[Festival of Five Planets]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Freefall Warriors]]'')
* Remedying a loose thread from [[Fifth Doctor|his previous incarnation]], the Doctor is on the trail of the Moderator's client. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Moderator (comic story)}})
 
* The Doctor claims to have been threatened by experts, a statement he had previously made to [[Mestor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Twin Dilemma (TV story)}})
== Timeline ==
* This story occurs after: [[ST]]: ''[[CHAOS]]''
* This story occurs before: [[DWM]]: ''[[Voyager (comic story)|Voyager]]''


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Dwrefguide|comic6.htm#shapeshifter|The Shape Shifter}}
{{dwrefguide|comic6.htm#shapeshifter|The Shape Shifter}}
* [http://alteredvistas.co.uk/html/sixth_doctor.html#THE SHAPE SHIFTER Altered Vistas The comics - The Sixth Doctor, '''The Shape Shifter''']
{{Sixth Doctor DWM comics}}
{{Dogbolter stories}}
{{TitleSort}}


{{comic stub}}
[[Category:Sixth Doctor DWM comic stories]]
{{Early Sixth doctor DWM comics}}
[[Category:Comic stories set on Venus]]
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:1984 comic stories]]
[[Category:Sixth Doctor DWM comic stories|Shape Shifter]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 82nd century]]
[[Category:Stories set on Venus]]
[[Category:Two part comics]]
[[Category:Stories released in 1984]]

Latest revision as of 17:46, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

The Shape Shifter was the first Sixth Doctor comic strip published in Doctor Who Magazine. It introduced the shapeshifting Frobisher as a new companion, though he would not take on that name until the following story, and also featured the return of Josiah W. Dogbolter.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Avan Tarklu, detective extraordinaire, finds himself on his biggest case yet, pursuing the bounty on a man known as the Doctor...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Late at night, a clerk is working in his office. He does not know his phone is a Whifferdill spying on him. He calls his wife to tell her he'll be working late at the office. In truth, he's going out with another woman. The Whifferdill transforms into a pigeon to go to his office and inform his client. He flies over the city but is attacked by an owl and makes a crash landing in a dustbin. The Whifferdill becomes a burger and is picked up by a tramp, who takes a bite out of him. The Whifferdill, now a burger with eyes, legs and arms, flees.

The Whifferdill is Avan Tarklu, a private investigator and now back to his original state. He arrives at his office to check his messages. He sees a wanted message for the Sixth Doctor for 250,000 mazumas. He disguises himself as a fly, flying through bars. After four nights he finds the Doctor and flies in his glass of chocolate soda to slip him a mickey. The waiter notices Avan Tarklu as a fly and takes the glass while the Doctor leaves. The waiter empties the glass into the sink, while the Whifferdill transforms himself into a fish and gets outside, into an alley, back in his original shape. The Doctor goes to his TARDIS, where he's attacked by two men with vibroknives. The Doctor handles one attacker, but the second pulls out a gun. The Whifferdill attacks. His right hand becomes a boxing glove and knocks the second attacker unconscious. The Doctor, unaware of the Whifferdill, goes into his TARDIS and sets the co-ordinates to Greenback Bay, Venus. Avan Tarklu sneaks on board, transforms himself over the TARDIS's time rotor and hijacks the ship.

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

The TARDIS has been hijacked by Avan Tarklu, who demands the Doctor fly the TARDIS to Venus, less he suffer "sandwiches that bite back, terror at bath-time, shoes that fly away with you". The Doctor, miffed, says he was planning to go to Venus. If the Whifferdill wanted a lift, he just has to ask. The Whifferdill, however, says that rather than wanting a lift, he wishes to turn the Doctor in for 250,000 mazumas.

On Venus, near the building of Intra-Venus, Inc., the TARDIS materialises and security goes into action, surrounding it. Dogbolter, thinking it a trap, gives the order to "knock it off, but evacuate the building first". A spaceship flies to the building, shoots it with rockets, leaving the building in ruins, but without a scratch on the TARDIS. A white flag appears from within the TARDIS with a paper aeroplane. The plane, a list of demands, is brought to Dogbolter and read by his robot. The Whifferdill will exchange the Doctor for 250,000 mazumas and the TARDIS for 500,000. Dogbolter agrees to the first, so the Doctor is exchanged by a bearded old man, armed with a bazooka and wearing an Australian hat (with corks hanging from the brim) that covers his eyes. The old man takes the money, goes back in the TARDIS and dematerialises.

The Whifferdill (left) goes out instead of the Doctor (right).

Meanwhile, the Doctor is brought to a cell with two security guards. One opens the cell, but when he turns around, he sees that the Doctor is gone and that there is another guard. The guards conclude that one of them is a fake. One of the guards shoots at another one, to be sure it's not the Doctor. The other flees in terror. The guard who shot turns out to be the Whifferdill, who was the Doctor and a guard. The TARDIS materialises and the old man steps out. He is the real Doctor. The Whifferdill hops on board. The money will be split 50/50. As the TARDIS dematerialises, the Whifferdill decides to stick around, leaving the Doctor with no choice but to let him stay.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The first appearance of Tarklu within the comic continuum.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

The original monochrome version.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Remedying a loose thread from his previous incarnation, the Doctor is on the trail of the Moderator's client. (COMIC: The Moderator [+]Loading...["The Moderator (comic story)"])
  • The Doctor claims to have been threatened by experts, a statement he had previously made to Mestor. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"])

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

v • e
DWM Sixth Doctor comic stories
Original run
Frobisher
Frobisher & Peri
Later stories
Peri & Davros
Frobisher
Doom
v • e
Dogbolter family stories
Josiah W. Dogbolter
Comics
Audio
Complete list of appearances
Berakka Dogbolter
Comics
Complete list of appearances
Retrieved from "https://tardis.wiki/w/index.php?title=The_Shape_Shifter_(comic_story)&oldid=3886370"