Ironicus

Ironicus
Species:	Robot
Place of origin:	Earth
First appearance:	Doctor Who and the Iron Legion
Appearances:	COMIC: A Life of Matter and Death, AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Iron Legion
Main voice actor:	Brian Protheroe

General Ironicus was the robot regent of an alternate Earth where Rome never fell, and the commander of its Iron Legion. Unlike his legionnairies, his head was shaped like an eagle's to honour the Imperial Eagle of Rome — as he indignantly pointed out to the Fourth Doctor when the Time Lord called him "Parrot-face". He had a light on his chestplate that glowed purple when others were permitted to speak to him.

After conquering the entire galaxy, Ironicus led his Iron Legion in attacks on other dimensions, starting with a small English village. The Doctor ended up on this alternate Earth when the Doctor's TARDIS was thrown out of dimension, where Ironicus captured him and threw him to the Ectoslime. When he avoided death, the General made him a slave in the Imperial air galley. The Doctor escaped and when he did not recapture him, Ironicus was destroyed by Magog for his failure. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Iron Legion)

Years later, when a Vortex parasite attacked the TARDIS, it summoned images of the Doctor's enemies, including Ironicus. This version of Ironicus testified against the Eighth Doctor with his own twisted version of their encounter. (COMIC: A Life of Matter and Death)

Behind the scenes

General Ironicus' appearance in the Big Finish Productions audio adaptation.

• General Ironicus was notable for being the first major antagonist in the Doctor Who Magazine comic stories, although he was serving the Malevilus.