Prisoners of Gritog (comic story)

Prisoners of Gritog
Doctor:	First Doctor
Companion(s):	John and Gillian
Main enemy:	Gritog
Main setting:	Spekra
Key crew
Artist:	Neville Main
Release details
Printed in:	TV Comic Holiday Special 1965
Release date:	1 July 1965
Format:	Comic - 1 part (4 pages)
TV Comic Holiday Special stories
Next →	Guests of King Neptune

Prisoners of Gritog was a First Doctor comic story printed in the TV Comic special issue TV Comic Holiday Special 1965.

Plot

A spaceship is forced down on the planet Spekra and the crew is captured by King Gritog. He charges them with being spies. The TARDIS also lands on the planet and the Doctor plans to find and free the captives. Firstly, he has to avoid some large dinosaurs which he manages by playing music on a pipe that is only audible to the dinosaurs. This also makes them attack the guards.

Gritog tells the guards to shoot the dinosaurs but they have armour plated hides. The captives escape to their space ship. Gritog is furious and tries to destroy the TARDIS with missiles but the Doctor uses a magnetic beam to fend off the attack and allow him to continue on his way.

Characters

• First Doctor
• John Who
• Gillian Who
• Gritog

References

to be added

Notes

• The main inhabitants of the planet Spekra, are fierce looking bipedal, ape faced creatures, who are scientifically advanced enough to have developed at least three space fighters, with built in armaments and video link technology.
• Their leader is King Gritog Of Spekra, a cruel, purple robed monarch who also wears, a presumably metallic, inverted headband with central diamond. He sits on a high backed throne, that in itself is at the top of at least three steps. Gritog is prepared to shoot down a vessel for violating the space around the planet, therefore killing everyone on board, he imprisons space travellers with no chance of release or escape, and later orders the guard to open fire on The Doctor, his grandchildren, and the escaped prisoners.
• The King's guards carry what would best be described as laser rods by way of weaponry.
• The prison is an area enclosed by a barbed wire fence that is at least twenty foot tall, if the height of the guard and other occupants is anything to go by. Within its parameters is a tall dome shaped dwelling.
• Spekra itself appears to be relatively baron planet, with its only interesting geographical feature being the uniformally similar pointed rock formations.
• From an evolutionary point of view, the planet was home to both the Spekrans, and that of at least two Brontosaurus type dinosaurs. Using a flute like instrument that can only be heard by animals with keen hearing, The Doctor is able to place the dinosaurs under his control, to the point they can be ridden, and turn on the guard. The Doctor also states that the creatures have skin like armour plating.  

Continuity

to be added