The Macrobe Menace (comic story)

The Macrobe Menace
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Rose Tyler
Main enemy:	Macrobes
Main setting:	University of Rago Rago Five Six Rago, 5,000,000,000
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::GE Fabbri Ltd]]
Editor:	Ben Robinson
Writer:	Steve Cole
Artist:	John Ross
Colourist:	Alan Craddock
Release details
Format:	Comic - Part 4 of 6 (4 pages)

Opening Tag

The Doctor and Rose try to track down more of their old friends before they disapear …

Summary

The Doctor and Rose arrive at the Reading Dome of the University of Rago Rago Five Six Rago (home to some ten trillion books), to catch up with the Chosen Scholars of Class 55. The books are are stored digitally and can be downloaded directly to the brain via small mindlink devices which attach themselves to your forehead. Rose takes the virtual tour , but the software has been affected by Macrobe virus which has been lying quietly waiting for the chance to infect the living brains and spread their infection. Sensing the Doctor is a Time Lord and now wanting to use the TARDIS and the Doctor to spread the virus throughout Time and Space, the Macrobes emerge from the system and using the brainlinks takes over the wearers, including Rose. With Head Librarian, Krizz’s help, the Doctor hides in a room full of books to be junked. The Books deemed to be too boring to be stored (include; ‘Toenail Clippings of the Ug-Raptor’, ‘A History of Peas’ and ‘How to Speak Zarbi in 10,000 Steps’).
The Doctor manages to download the boring books which send the Library Zombies to sleep and the Macrobes retreating back to the net, which the Doctor disconnects. With the Macrobes trapped in the storage, a clean-up team is sent in to remove the infection. The Chosen Scholars have also disappeared and the Doctor prepares to read through all the information looking for answers to the mysterious disappearances of Platform One surviving guests.

ArtistJohn Ross

Characters

• Tenth Doctor
• Rose Tyler
• Kriz – Head Librarian of the University of Rago Rago Five Six Rago’s Reading Dome.
• Macrobes – a viral life-form, gaseous, green with big red eyes and a large mouth they managed a physical manifestation by infiltrating the digital library and infecting living brains through the mindlink devices used to directly send information to its wearer.

Original Print Details

Installment, publication title with page count and closing caption.

• 4/6 Doctor Who: Battles in Time Issue 4 (4 pages) TO BE CONTINUED!!!
• No reprints to date.

Notes

• Supporting the series of collectable Doctor Who trading cards, the magazine title, carried a regular 4 page, individually titled comic strip series of the Tenth Doctor’s adventures.
• Style wise, the artwork and colours were bold and bright reflecting the tone of the magazine and, as with Doctor Who Adventures (Magazine), it reflected the appeal to younger readers than that catered for by Doctor Who Magazine.
• The Macrobes are reminiscent of the manifestation in the 'Ghostbusters' movies.

References

• The Battles in Time comic strip often sought to reinforce the Doctor character with that as seen on screen by utilising various ‘props’ used in the TV series. Namely; blue/brown suit, intelligent-looking glasses, sonic screwdriver and psychic paper. Apart from the brown suit and coat only the Doctor's glasses appeared in this strip.

Continuity

to be added

External Links

• Doctor Who: Battles in Time official website, with magazine and trading cards details