First Doctor comic stories: Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
== Overview ==
==Overview==
As with the television series, the [[William Hartnell]] version of the Doctor was the original comic strip Doctor. However, the actor's portrayal of the character was often lost in ''[[TV Comic]]'', the dominant publication to feature [[First Doctor]] stories. At a superficial level, the character wasn't called "the Doctor", but "Dr. Who". But at a deeper level, the comics were hampered by the inclusion of two children as his companions. Though they may well have made it easier for kids — the primary target audience for the comic strips — to relate to the Doctor, they made it almost impossible for a well-rounded portrayal of the First Doctor's many qualities. Especially profound was the loss of the Doctor's inherent "grumpiness"; with no adults around, the Doctor had no targets for his anger. Thus, the comic First Doctor was reduced to being just a grandfather with a time-space ship.
As with the television series, the [[William Hartnell]] version of the Doctor was the original comic strip Doctor. However, the actor's portrayal of the character was often lost in ''[[TV Comic]]'', the dominant publication to feature [[First Doctor]] stories. At a superficial level, the character wasn't called "the Doctor", but "Dr. Who". But at a deeper level, the comics were hampered by the inclusion of two children as his companions. Though they may well have made it easier for kids — the primary target audience for the comic strips — to relate to the Doctor, they made it almost impossible for a well-rounded portrayal of the First Doctor's many qualities. Especially profound was the loss of the Doctor's inherent "grumpiness"; with no adults around, the Doctor had no targets for his anger. Thus, the comic First Doctor was reduced to being just a grandfather with a time-space ship.


But even these two points were somewhat in doubt.
But even these two points were somewhat in doubt.


The comic [[TARDIS]] wasn't actually much of a time-travel device. As almost every story was set in the far future, it was really more of a simple space ship. So that threw the First Doctor's inclination towards historical adventures out the window. And his status as "grandfather" was a point of some incredulity, as well. How could he be the grandfather to [[John (Comic Strips)|John]] and [[Gillian (Comic Strips)|Gillian]]? What was their relationship to the never-referenced [[Susan]]? How did the stories told in the comic strips relate to the television series? These were all questions left completely unanswered.
The comic [[TARDIS]] wasn't actually much of a time-travel device. As almost every story was set in the far future, it was really more of a simple space ship. So that threw the First Doctor's inclination towards historical adventures out the window. And his status as "grandfather" was a point of some incredulity, as well. How could he be the grandfather to [[John (comic strips)|John]] and [[Gillian (comic strips)|Gillian]]? What was their relationship to the never-referenced [[Susan]]? How did the stories told in the comic strips relate to the television series? These were all questions left completely unanswered.


Worse, still, the comic First Doctor was deprived even of the [[Dalek]]s. Since [[Terry Nation]] had licensed the comic Daleks to appear only by themselves from [[1965]] to [[1967]], the comic First Doctor never encountered them. He was forced instead to repeatedly face the ''TV Comic'' "substitute", the [[Trod]]s.
Worse, still, the comic First Doctor was deprived even of the [[Dalek]]s. Since [[Terry Nation]] had licensed the comic Daleks to appear only by themselves from [[1965]] to [[1967]], the comic First Doctor never encountered them. He was forced instead to repeatedly face the ''TV Comic'' "substitute", the [[Trod]]s.


The best the ''TV Comic'' First Doctor could muster by way of resembling himself was a lone story that tied in with an atypical television adventure: "[[On the Web Planet|Dr. Who and the Zarbi on the Web Planet]]".
The best the ''TV Comic'' First Doctor could muster by way of resembling himself was a lone story that tied in with an atypical television adventure: ''[[On the Web Planet|Dr. Who and the Zarbi on the Web Planet]]''.


It really wasn't until ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' began publishing a handful of original First Doctor stories that the William Hartnell portrayal was really seen in comics. Consequently, most of the First Doctor's companions didn't have their comic debuts until the early 1990s. But by then, thirty years after the fact, it was really a case of "too little, too late". Ironically, comic readers are ''still'' waiting for the First Doctor to encounter the Daleks.
It really wasn't until ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' began publishing a handful of original First Doctor stories that the William Hartnell portrayal was really seen in comics. Consequently, most of the First Doctor's companions didn't have their comic debuts until the early 1990s. But by then, thirty years after the fact, it was really a case of "too little, too late". Ironically, comic readers are ''still'' waiting for the First Doctor to encounter the Daleks.


Given these facts, It is perhaps not surprising that, as a matter of ''Doctor Who Magazine'' continuity, the entirety of the First Doctor's ''TV Comic'' run was retconned out of existence as a dream of the [[Eighth Doctor]]. ([[DWM]]: "[[The Land of Happy Endings]]")
Given these facts, It is perhaps not surprising that, as a matter of ''Doctor Who Magazine'' continuity, the entirety of the First Doctor's ''TV Comic'' run was retconned out of existence as a dream of the [[Eighth Doctor]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings]]'')


==Comic Strip Companions of the First Doctor==
==Comic Strip Companions of the First Doctor==
===Major===
===Major===
* [[John (Comic Strips)|John]]
* [[John (comic strips)|John]]
* [[Gillian (Comic Strips)|Gillian]]
* [[Gillian (comic strips)|Gillian]]
===Minor===
===Minor===
* [[Susan]]
* [[Susan]]
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* '''[[Food for Thought]]''' (DWM issues 218-220 features [[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly]])
* '''[[Food for Thought]]''' (DWM issues 218-220 features [[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly]])
==Seventh/First crossovers==
==Seventh/First crossovers==
No doubt inspired by [[DW]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', the Seventh/First "non-crossover" comic story deserves special mention. The basic setup of this type of story follows the pattern established in ''Remembrance'': the [[First Doctor]] does something in the past that the [[Seventh Doctor]] later revisits. The Doctors don't cross paths. The Seventh Doctor doesn't "de-age" into the First. It's just a simple look into the past. There have been three examples of this kind of story.  
No doubt inspired by [[DW]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', the Seventh/First "non-crossover" comic story deserves special mention. The basic setup of this type of story follows the pattern established in ''Remembrance'': the [[First Doctor]] does something in the past that the [[Seventh Doctor]] later revisits. The Doctors don't cross paths. The Seventh Doctor doesn't "de-age" into the First. It's just a simple look into the past. There have been three examples of this kind of story.
===Doctor Who Magazine Special ([[DWMS]])===
===Doctor Who Magazine Special ([[DWMS]])===
* "[[Flashback]]" (Winter 1992, features [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] and the Seventh Doctor viewing a holographic recording of the First Doctor before he left [[Gallifrey]])
* ''[[Flashback]]'' (Winter 1992, features [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] and the Seventh Doctor viewing a holographic recording of the First Doctor before he left [[Gallifrey]])
* "[[Are You Listening?]]" (Summer 1993, features [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] and [[Vicki]], resolved in the Seventh Doctor story, "[[Younger and Wiser]]")
* ''[[Are You Listening?]]'' (Summer 1993, features [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] and [[Vicki]], resolved in the Seventh Doctor story ''[[Younger and Wiser]]'')


===Doctor Who Yearbook===
===Doctor Who Yearbook===
* "[[A Religious Experience]]" ([[Doctor Who Yearbook 1994|1994]], principally features a story with the First Doctor, [[Ian]] and [[Barbara]], but ends with a latter-day visit to the setting of the First Doctor story by the companionless Seventh Doctor.)
* ''[[A Religious Experience]]'' ([[Doctor Who Yearbook 1994|1994]], principally features a story with the First Doctor, [[Ian]] and [[Barbara]], but ends with a latter-day visit to the setting of the First Doctor story by the companionless Seventh Doctor.)


==Multi-Doctor appearances==
==Multi-Doctor appearances==
Since [[William Hartnell|Hartnell]] relinquished the role, the [[First Doctor]] has generally appeared in multi-Doctor comic stories, in which other versions of himself have appeared alongside him.  They have taken one of three approaches.  Either they've featured serious attempts at justifying the reappearance of the First Doctor, they've been flat parodies. or they've been a little bit of both.   
Since [[William Hartnell|Hartnell]] relinquished the role, the [[First Doctor]] has generally appeared in multi-Doctor comic stories, in which other versions of himself have appeared alongside him.  They have taken one of three approaches.  Either they've featured serious attempts at justifying the reappearance of the First Doctor, they've been flat parodies. or they've been a little bit of both.   
===Non-parodic===
===Non-parodic===
*"[[Timeslip]]"
*''[[Timeslip]]''
* (the ''DWM'' version of) "[[Funhouse (comic strip)|Fun House]]"
* (the ''DWM'' version of) ''[[Funhouse (comic strip)|Fun House]]''
* "[[Time & Time Again]]"
* ''[[Time & Time Again]]''
===Parodic===
===Parodic===
* "[[Doctor Ooh]]"
* "[[Doctor Ooh]]"
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* numerous editions of the three-panel cartoon, ''[[Doctor Who?]]''
* numerous editions of the three-panel cartoon, ''[[Doctor Who?]]''
===Mixture===
===Mixture===
* "[[Happy Deathday]]" (the story does fit into [[Eighth Doctor]]/[[Izzy]] continuity, but it takes place inside a video game Izzy's playing on the [[Time-Space Visualiser]]
* ''[[Happy Deathday]]'' (the story does fit into [[Eighth Doctor]]/[[Izzy]] continuity, but it takes place inside a video game Izzy's playing on the [[Time-Space Visualiser]]
*"[[Death to the Doctor!]]"
*''[[Death to the Doctor!]]''
==First Doctor-only parody==
==First Doctor-only parody==
*"[[An Unearthly Child (The Unscreened Edition)]]" featured only the original TARDIS crew.
*"[[An Unearthly Child (The Unscreened Edition)]]" featured only the original TARDIS crew.
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==External Links==
==External Links==
''to be added''
''to be added''
[[Category:First Doctor comic stories|*]]
[[Category:First Doctor comic stories|*]]

Revision as of 20:18, 31 July 2009

RealWorld.png

Overview

As with the television series, the William Hartnell version of the Doctor was the original comic strip Doctor. However, the actor's portrayal of the character was often lost in TV Comic, the dominant publication to feature First Doctor stories. At a superficial level, the character wasn't called "the Doctor", but "Dr. Who". But at a deeper level, the comics were hampered by the inclusion of two children as his companions. Though they may well have made it easier for kids — the primary target audience for the comic strips — to relate to the Doctor, they made it almost impossible for a well-rounded portrayal of the First Doctor's many qualities. Especially profound was the loss of the Doctor's inherent "grumpiness"; with no adults around, the Doctor had no targets for his anger. Thus, the comic First Doctor was reduced to being just a grandfather with a time-space ship.

But even these two points were somewhat in doubt.

The comic TARDIS wasn't actually much of a time-travel device. As almost every story was set in the far future, it was really more of a simple space ship. So that threw the First Doctor's inclination towards historical adventures out the window. And his status as "grandfather" was a point of some incredulity, as well. How could he be the grandfather to John and Gillian? What was their relationship to the never-referenced Susan? How did the stories told in the comic strips relate to the television series? These were all questions left completely unanswered.

Worse, still, the comic First Doctor was deprived even of the Daleks. Since Terry Nation had licensed the comic Daleks to appear only by themselves from 1965 to 1967, the comic First Doctor never encountered them. He was forced instead to repeatedly face the TV Comic "substitute", the Trods.

The best the TV Comic First Doctor could muster by way of resembling himself was a lone story that tied in with an atypical television adventure: Dr. Who and the Zarbi on the Web Planet.

It really wasn't until Doctor Who Magazine began publishing a handful of original First Doctor stories that the William Hartnell portrayal was really seen in comics. Consequently, most of the First Doctor's companions didn't have their comic debuts until the early 1990s. But by then, thirty years after the fact, it was really a case of "too little, too late". Ironically, comic readers are still waiting for the First Doctor to encounter the Daleks.

Given these facts, It is perhaps not surprising that, as a matter of Doctor Who Magazine continuity, the entirety of the First Doctor's TV Comic run was retconned out of existence as a dream of the Eighth Doctor. (DWM: The Land of Happy Endings)

Comic Strip Companions of the First Doctor

Major

Minor

First Doctor Comic Strip Stories

Title Notes:
  • Many of the early comic strip stories did not have individual story titles so there is no 'correct' title for many of the strips. Commentary and listings from older sources may use variant titles.
  • The titles given below conform to widely accepted titles (as referenced by Jean-Marc Lofficier and revised by John Ainsworth (comic historian)). The titles below were also adopted and used by Doctor Who Magazine and throughout Doctor Who Classic Comics (to which John Ainsworth) was a major contributer.
  • The titles used below are firstly taken from the strip itself or, from titles given by the preceding issue. In some cases the writer/artist has been able to provide a title for a given piece of work.
  • The listing below shows first publication details only. Reprint details can be found by following the story links.

Doctor Who Annuals (DWA)

TV Comic (TVC)

TV Comic Annuals (TVC)

TV Comic Holiday Specials (TVC)

Doctor Who Magazine (DWM)

Seventh/First crossovers

No doubt inspired by DW: Remembrance of the Daleks, the Seventh/First "non-crossover" comic story deserves special mention. The basic setup of this type of story follows the pattern established in Remembrance: the First Doctor does something in the past that the Seventh Doctor later revisits. The Doctors don't cross paths. The Seventh Doctor doesn't "de-age" into the First. It's just a simple look into the past. There have been three examples of this kind of story.

Doctor Who Magazine Special (DWMS)

Doctor Who Yearbook

  • A Religious Experience (1994, principally features a story with the First Doctor, Ian and Barbara, but ends with a latter-day visit to the setting of the First Doctor story by the companionless Seventh Doctor.)

Multi-Doctor appearances

Since Hartnell relinquished the role, the First Doctor has generally appeared in multi-Doctor comic stories, in which other versions of himself have appeared alongside him. They have taken one of three approaches. Either they've featured serious attempts at justifying the reappearance of the First Doctor, they've been flat parodies. or they've been a little bit of both.

Non-parodic

Parodic

Mixture

First Doctor-only parody

External Links

to be added

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