The Creative Spark (comic story)

The Creative Spark
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	none
Main enemy:	Zzazik
Main setting:	Lake Geneva, Switzerland, Earth,1816
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::GE Fabbri Ltd]]
Editor:	Claire Lister
Writer:	Simon Furman
Artist:	Lee Sullivan
Colourist:	Alan Craddock
Release details
Release number:	42
Format:	Comic - Part 1 of 1 (4 pages)

Opening Tag

The Doctor unwittingly provides the inspiration for a classic Gothic horror …

Summary

Near a lodge beside Lake Geneva in Switzerland, 1816, the TARDIS is brought to land during a night storm whose cause is no natural phenomenon. In the woods the Doctor finds a towering piece of alien apparatus that is agitating the storm. Beside it a giant humanoid creature is caught in the field of energy emitting from the apparatus. A female writer from the lodge has come out into the night to see what is going on, she sees a giant creature trapped by the sparks of electricity, appearing to be wrapped in bandages, in pain and unable to say his name properly (Frr..ntknst). A monster! …the young woman faints. The Doctor dodges the sparks to modify the apparatus with his sonic screwdriver, calming the machine down. The creature is apologetic about his behaviour. His name is Zzazik and, tired from his cross-dimensional journey, was recharging himself using an elemental intensifier, but in his urgency set it too high and overdosed. Now all is calm again the Doctor sees to the young lady, she will be fine but she seems familiar. As she later returns to her writing she titles her work ‘Frankenstein’ or ‘The Modern Prometheus’ signing it Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly

ArtistLee Sullivan

Characters

• Tenth Doctor
• Zzazik – cross-dimensional traveller who used an elemental intensifier to recharge his body between journeys.
• Mary Shelley – Nineteenth century female author. Best known for her Gothic horror story ‘Frankenstein’.

Original Print Details

Installment, publication title with page count and closing caption.

• 1/1 Doctor Who: Battles in Time Issue 42 (4 pages) THE END
• 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.

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, sonic screwdriver, psychic paper and his intelligent glasses.

Continuity

to be added

External Links

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