On the Web Planet (comic story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Comic|
{{title dab away}}
comic name= On the Web Planet |
{{real world}}
image= |
{{ImageLinkComics}}
series= [[Doctor Who]] - [[TV Comic]]|
{{Infobox Story SMW
number=|
|image= Web planet.jpg
doctor= [[First Doctor]]|
|series=[[TV Comic|''TVC'' comic stories]]
companions= [[John (Comic Strips)|John]] and [[Gillian (Comic Strips)|Gillian]]|
|number=
enemy= [[Skirkon]]s|
|doctor= First Doctor
year= [[Vortis]]|
|companions= [[John Who|John]], [[Gillian Who|Gillian]]
writer= [[Neville Main]]|
|enemy = [[Zarka]]
artist= [[Neville Main]]|
|setting=[[Vortis]]
publication_title= [[TV Comic]] 693-698|
|writer= Neville Main
publication_dates= 27 March - 1 May [[1965]]|
|artist = [[Neville Main]]
publisher= [[TV Publications]]|
|editor=
format= [[Comic - 6 parts of 2 pages each]]|
|colourist=
previous story= [[The Hijackers of Thrax]]|
|letterer=
next story= [[The Gyros Injustice]]|
|publication=[[TVC 693]]-[[TVC 698|698]]
}}
|release date= 22 March - 26 April 1965
|publisher=
|reprint = DWCC 13
|format=Comic - 6 parts (12 pages)
|prev = The Hijackers of Thrax (comic story)
|next=The Gyros Injustice (comic story)
}}{{comic stub}}
'''''On the Web Planet''''', also known as '''''Doctor Who on the Web Planet''''' and '''''Doctor Who and the Zarbi on the Web Planet''''', was a ''[[TV Comic]]'' story featuring the [[First Doctor]], [[John Who|John]] and [[Gillian Who|Gillian]]. Notably, it was the only TVC First Doctor story to be given an official title, due to the previous story's preview, as all other titles were invented later by comic strip historians. ([[DWCC 1]])


==Summary==  
== Summary ==
The Doctor returns to Vortis to discover the Menoptra are once more under threat by Zarbi. This time the giant ants are being directed by the alien Skirkons. Disguised as flying Zarbi they have come to plunder Vortis of an energy giving mineral, Galvinium X.


On the lunar-like planet Vortis, the TARDIS lands beside a huge boulder and near an enormous crater. Dr Who announces to his grandchildren, John and Gillian, that he has visited this world before, when he helped to defeat the giant ants called Zarbi. No sooner have the three left the TARDIS than they see two of the creatures – and to the Doctor’s amazement they are flying! He has barely commented to John and Gillian about this when the Zarbi demonstrate another new feature: a sting weapon powerful enough to blast a rock to pieces.
== Characters ==
The butterfly-like Menoptera, the Doctor’s allies in his previous struggle, arrive on the scene. Generations have passed, but the Doctor’s name is still remembered. The Menoptera describe how the Zarbi, after their brain (a reference to the Animus of the television story) was killed, worked with them to till the soil and make Vortis habitable again. Then new problems arose: the Zarbi became rebellious once more and unaccountably developed the power of flight.
* [[First Doctor]]
* [[John Who]]
* [[Gillian Who]]
* [[Zarka]]
* [[Menoptera]]
* [[Zarbi]]
* [[Skirkon]]s


The Doctor accompanies the Menoptera to the hills, where Zarbi activity is centred. On the way they come across a deserted alien spacecraft and realise that there must be other beings on the planet. Moving on, they reach the Zarbi base: a mushroom-shaped metal tower encircled at some distance by a deep trench. John picks up a rock that is shot with veins of what Dr Who identifies as Galvinium X, a very rare and valuable mineral with powerful qualities. If the Zarbi made weapons with it the armaments could be terrifying.  
== Worldbuilding ==
* John says "[[Jupiter]]" as an indication of surprise.
* Zarka plans to use the explosive [[Gravinium X]] to take over the universe.


A non-flying Zarbi appears and menaces Gillian. They manage to overpower it, but a huge group of the creatures is approaching. The Doctor notices a pile of mined Galvinium X near the edge of the trench. While the Menoptera swoop into the air and distract the attention of the Zarbi, Dr Who edges nearer to the mineral and uses a Menoptera weapon to ignite it. There is a huge explosion that scatters the Zarbi. Triumph, however, is short-lived: the flying Zarbi now swoop down to attack. One is shot down, but another seizes the Doctor and flies off with him.  
== Notes ==
* This story began running in ''TV Comic'' one week after the conclusion of the television story ''[[The Web Planet (TV story)|The Web Planet]]'', which had introduced the setting and characters.
* According to ''[[The Terrestrial Index]]'', this story is alternately titled ''Return to the Web Planet''.


A Menoptera follows and watches as the old man is taken into the mushroom tower via a roof hatch, then returns to John and Gillian with the news. John’s attention is then caught by the flying Zarbi that was shot: a spindly hand is emerging from a hole in its underside. The flying Zarbi are fakes, flown by the alien Skirkons, one of whom now comes fully into view: a skinny creature with a face reminiscent of an owl’s.
=== Original print details ===


John and Gillian, upon whom everything now seems to depend, squeeze inside the abandoned Zarbi shell and succeed in piloting it to the mushroom tower and in through the roof hatch. Leaving their camouflage, they locate the Skirkon control room, where the Doctor is secured to a metal bench. A laser beam is moving inexorably towards him.
(Publication with page count and closing captions)


The children free their grandfather, but are spotted by the Skirkon leader, Zarka, who is forcing captured Menoptera to quarry Galvinium X. Dr Who has noticed a small machine topped with a transparent dome, and believes it to be a contrivance with which Zarka controls the real Zarbi. Before he can be prevented, the Doctor hurries to the machine and deactivates it, releasing the creatures from the device’s power. 
* TVC 693 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
* TVC 694 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
* TVC 695 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
* TVC 696 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
* TVC 697 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
* TVC 698 (2 pages) Starting next week a NEW Dr. Who story


The time travellers escape in two of the flying Zarbi outfits, but Zarka warns via a loudspeaker that he still has the whip hand and has given orders that the humans, and every one of the Menoptera, are to be ruthlessly mown down. The flying Zarbi begin to leave the tower to carry out the instructions, but the Doctor turns his own Zarbi disguise back towards the Skirkon base and operates its sting gun, aiming for piles of Galvinium X which are very close to the tower. They all explode more or less together, taking the mushroom tower and the Skirkons with them and creating a spectacular conflagration.  
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor recalls his previous visit to [[Vortis]], during which he "defeat[ed] the [[Zarbi]]" after "[[Animus|their brain]] was killed", which happened in [[TV]]: ''[[The Web Planet (TV story)|The Web Planet]]''. He first visited Vortis in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Lost Ones (short story)|The Lost Ones]]'' and then in ''[[The Lair of Zarbi Supremo (short story)|The Lair of Zarbi Supremo]]''.
** The [[Second Doctor]] returns to Vortis in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Twilight of the Gods (MA novel)|Twilight of the Gods]]''.
** The [[Fourth Doctor]] revisits Vortis in [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Naked Flame (comic story)|The Naked Flame]]''.
** The [[Fifth Doctor]] also re-visits Vortis in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Return to the Web Planet (audio story)|Return to the Web Planet]]''.


Later, the Menoptera bid farewell to Dr Who and his grandchildren beside the TARDIS. Soon afterwards there is a sudden rush of wind and the time and space machine disappears.
{{First Doctor TVC comics}}
{{Zarbi stories}}
{{TitleSort}}


==Characters==
[[Category:Comic stories set on Vortis]]
''to be added''
[[Category:First Doctor TVC comic stories]]
 
[[Category:1965 comic stories]]
==References==
[[Category:Zarbi comic stories]]
*The [[Menoptera]] welcome Dr Who back to Vortis - his name has been passed from generation to generation, he is told.
[[Category:Menoptera comic stories]]
 
[[Category:Six part comics]]
==Notes==
*The strip was reprinted in 'Doctor Who Classic Comics' issue 13. Colour was added, but very splashily in places. The black and white original is far superior.
 
==Continuity==
*The Doctor first went to Vortis in [[DW]]: ''[[The Web Planet]]'' and returns in [[MA]]: ''[[Twilight of the Gods (MA)|Twilight of the Gods]]'' and [[BFA]]: ''[[Return to the Web Planet]]''.
 
==External Links==
''to be added''
 
{{comic stub}}
 
[[Category:First Doctor comic stories]]

Latest revision as of 00:07, 18 November 2024

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On the Web Planet, also known as Doctor Who on the Web Planet and Doctor Who and the Zarbi on the Web Planet, was a TV Comic story featuring the First Doctor, John and Gillian. Notably, it was the only TVC First Doctor story to be given an official title, due to the previous story's preview, as all other titles were invented later by comic strip historians. (DWCC 1)

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor returns to Vortis to discover the Menoptra are once more under threat by Zarbi. This time the giant ants are being directed by the alien Skirkons. Disguised as flying Zarbi they have come to plunder Vortis of an energy giving mineral, Galvinium X.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • John says "Jupiter" as an indication of surprise.
  • Zarka plans to use the explosive Gravinium X to take over the universe.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This story began running in TV Comic one week after the conclusion of the television story The Web Planet, which had introduced the setting and characters.
  • According to The Terrestrial Index, this story is alternately titled Return to the Web Planet.

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

(Publication with page count and closing captions)

  • TVC 693 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
  • TVC 694 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
  • TVC 695 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
  • TVC 696 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
  • TVC 697 (2 pages) [No closing caption]
  • TVC 698 (2 pages) Starting next week a NEW Dr. Who story

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

v • e
First Doctor TVC comic stories
Neville Main era
(November 1964 -
September 1965)
Weekly strip
Holiday stories
Annual stories
Pick of the Jokes
TV Terrors
Bill Mevin era
(September 1965 -
April 1966)
Weekly strip
Pick of the Jokes
John Canning era
(April 1966 -
December 1966)
Weekly strip
Holiday special
Annual
Canning's run on TVC continues until 1971,
with a second run 1975-1979.
v • e
Zarbi stories
For the purposes of this list, a "Zarbi story" is one in which one living, authentic Zarbi plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story.
Television
Audio
Prose
Comics
Complete list of appearances
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