Da Vinci's Robots (comic story)

Da Vinci’s Robots
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Main enemy:	Robots
Main setting:	Earth, Italy, Milan, 15th century
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::GE Fabbri Ltd]]
Editor:	Claire Lister
Writer:	Simon Furman
Artist:	Lee Sullivan
Colourist:	Alan Craddock
Release details
Release number:	61
Format:	Comic - Part 1 of 2 (4 pages)

Opening narration box

The Doctor drops in on Leonardo Da Vinci and uncovers a mystery ...

Summary

Whilst leaving a many-tentacled, green creature to be blown up, the Doctor, having arrived in 15th Century Italy, decides to pop in and visit his friend Leonardo da Vinci. At the house, the Doctor is greeted by Leonardo's understudy Ludovico, who explains his master has locked himself away, leaving shopping lists out overnight. The list contains a number of items that the Doctor finds puzzling and together they climb a back wall to reach Leonardo. The wall has been electrified-200 years before its time! In a workshop they find Leonardo in sort sort of trance and building robots from suits of armour and various components. When the Doctor tries to intervene one of the robots grabs him by the throat...

Characters

• Tenth Doctor
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Ludovico

Original print details

• 1/2 DWBIT 61 (4 pages) TO BE CONTINUED…!
• No reprints to date.

Notes

• Supporting the series of collectable Doctor Who trading cards, the magazine carried a regular four-page comic strip series of the Tenth Doctor’s adventures.
• The limitation of only four pages meant that stories often lacked depth compared to other regular comic strips running at the same time.
• The artwork and colours were bold and bright, reflecting the tone of the magazine and, as did Doctor Who Adventures, reflected the appeal to readers younger than those catered to by Doctor Who Magazine.
• The title of this story contains a grammatical error. "Da Vinci" was not Leonardo da Vinci's surname, but in fact a term simply referring to where Leonardo was from, so it is incorrect to refer to the artist as simply "Da Vinci."

References

• The Battles in Time comic strip sought to reinforce the association of its Doctor with the one seen on screen with ‘props’ from the TV series: his blue/brown suit, sonic screwdriver, psychic paper and his intelligent glasses.

Continuity

to be added

Timeline

• This story takes place after NSA: Prisoner of the Daleks
• This story takes place before DWBIT: Metal Mania

External links

• Da Vinci's Robots / Metal Mania at the Doctor Who Reference Guide