Polystyle Holiday Special: Difference between revisions
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Published in the waning years of the [[Polystyle]] license, the [[Doctor Who Winter Special 1977|1977]] edition couldn't be more different. It's reprint-heavy, as reflects the state of the ''[[TV Comic]]'' strip of the late [[1970s]], and its [[The Living Wax|one original story]] confuses televised continuity entirely. | Published in the waning years of the [[Polystyle]] license, the [[Doctor Who Winter Special 1977|1977]] edition couldn't be more different. It's reprint-heavy, as reflects the state of the ''[[TV Comic]]'' strip of the late [[1970s]], and its [[The Living Wax|one original story]] confuses televised continuity entirely. | ||
=== 1973 === | === 1973 === | ||
[[ | [[File:DWH73.jpg|180px|right|link=Doctor Who Holiday Special 1973]] | ||
The [[Doctor Who Holiday Special 1973|1973]] volume is quite faithful to ''Doctor Who'' as it was then being televised. It makes thorough and in-character use of [[UNIT]], [[the Brigadier]] and [[The Master (UNIT years)|the Delgado Master]]. It contains both a [[Fogbound|comic story]] and a [[Smash Hit|short story]] using the Master. That alone is unusual — most non-televised stories with the Delgado Master being published in the [[1990s]] — but the fact that these came while [[Roger Delgado]] was still alive makes them quite extraordinary. | The [[Doctor Who Holiday Special 1973|1973]] volume is quite faithful to ''Doctor Who'' as it was then being televised. It makes thorough and in-character use of [[UNIT]], [[the Brigadier]] and [[The Master (UNIT years)|the Delgado Master]]. It contains both a [[Fogbound|comic story]] and a [[Smash Hit|short story]] using the Master. That alone is unusual — most non-televised stories with the Delgado Master being published in the [[1990s]] — but the fact that these came while [[Roger Delgado]] was still alive makes them quite extraordinary. | ||
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!style="width:50%"|Reprints | !style="width:50%"|Reprints | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Fogbound]]''|| [[TV21]]: ''[[Duel of the Daleks]]''<br>reprinted as "Dalek Duel" | | ''[[Fogbound]]''|| [[TV21]]: ''[[Duel of the Daleks]]''<br />reprinted as "Dalek Duel" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Smash Hit]]'' || | | ''[[Smash Hit]]'' || | ||
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=== 1974 === | === 1974 === | ||
The [[Doctor Who Holiday Special 1974|1974 special]] actually does earn the word ''special''. It's where [[Sarah Jane Smith]] — or as [[Polystyle]] preferred, Sarah-Jane Smith — makes her comics debut. But, {{lc:{{as of|2011}}}}, it's also the ''only'' place where she's seen alongside the [[Third Doctor]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' comic history. | The [[Doctor Who Holiday Special 1974|1974 special]] actually does earn the word ''special''. It's where [[Sarah Jane Smith]] — or as [[Polystyle]] preferred, Sarah-Jane Smith — makes her comics debut. But, {{lc:{{as of|2011}}}}, it's also the ''only'' place where she's seen alongside the [[Third Doctor]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' comic history. | ||
[[ | [[File:DWH74.jpg|180px|left|link=Doctor Who Holiday Special 1974]] | ||
As with the previous year's special, [[UNIT]] and [[the Brigadier]] are back, this time with [[Sergeant Benton]] appearing in [[Doomcloud|one story]]. Moreover, the notion of [[parallel universe]]s is explored in ''[[Who's Who?]]'', which — as an occasional theme of the [[Third Doctor]]'s televised era — further makes this volume feel like a more faithful representation of Pertwee's time in [[the TARDIS]] than is typical for the ongoing Polystyle comic strip. | As with the previous year's special, [[UNIT]] and [[the Brigadier]] are back, this time with [[Sergeant Benton]] appearing in [[Doomcloud|one story]]. Moreover, the notion of [[parallel universe]]s is explored in ''[[Who's Who?]]'', which — as an occasional theme of the [[Third Doctor]]'s televised era — further makes this volume feel like a more faithful representation of Pertwee's time in [[the TARDIS]] than is typical for the ongoing Polystyle comic strip. | ||
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!style="width:50%"|Reprints | !style="width:50%"|Reprints | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Doomcloud]]''|| [[TV21]]: ''[[Power Play]]''<br>reprinted as simply, "The Daleks" | | ''[[Doomcloud]]''|| [[TV21]]: ''[[Power Play]]''<br />reprinted as simply, "The Daleks" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''[[Perils of Paris]]'' || | | ''[[Perils of Paris]]'' || | ||
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=== 1977 === | === 1977 === | ||
[[ | [[File:DWH77.jpg|180px|right|link=Doctor Who Winter Special 1977]] | ||
The [[Doctor Who Winter Special 1977|1977]] edition stars the [[Fourth Doctor]] and is far poorer in terms of its original offerings. It has no original comics, instead preferring to reprint a number of stories that had originally starred the [[Third Doctor]]. As is common to the final years of the [[Polystyle]] comic license, a (usually poor) attempt at [[Tom Baker]]'s likeness is merely dropped into the part of the frames previously occupied by [[Jon Pertwee]]. Its one contribution to the body of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fiction is [[The Living Wax|a short story]] featuring the Fourth Doctor and [[Leela]] in [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[England]]. Its illustrations are merely photos from ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'', meaning that there aren't even original ''illustrations'' in the 1977 edition, much less comics. | The [[Doctor Who Winter Special 1977|1977]] edition stars the [[Fourth Doctor]] and is far poorer in terms of its original offerings. It has no original comics, instead preferring to reprint a number of stories that had originally starred the [[Third Doctor]]. As is common to the final years of the [[Polystyle]] comic license, a (usually poor) attempt at [[Tom Baker]]'s likeness is merely dropped into the part of the frames previously occupied by [[Jon Pertwee]]. Its one contribution to the body of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fiction is [[The Living Wax|a short story]] featuring the Fourth Doctor and [[Leela]] in [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[England]]. Its illustrations are merely photos from ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'', meaning that there aren't even original ''illustrations'' in the 1977 edition, much less comics. | ||
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== Why "Polystyle Holiday Special"? == | == Why "Polystyle Holiday Special"? == | ||
The somewhat artificial name is necessary because the three editions weren't really a part of ''any'' ongoing publication — despite the claim on the 1977 issue's cover that there was some sort of connection to ''(Mighty) [[TV Comic]]''. Thus, "Polystyle Holiday Special" serves to clearly distinguish between these publications and others that are called "Holiday Specials", such as the ''TV Action Holiday Specials'' of [[1970]] and [[1971]], and the [[DWMS Holiday 1992|1992 Holiday]] special edition of ''[[Doctor Who Magazine (special issues)|Doctor Who Magazine]]''. | The somewhat artificial name is necessary because the three editions weren't really a part of ''any'' ongoing publication — despite the claim on the 1977 issue's cover that there was some sort of connection to ''(Mighty) [[TV Comic]]''. Thus, "Polystyle Holiday Special" serves to clearly distinguish between these publications and others that are called "Holiday Specials", such as the ''TV Action Holiday Specials'' of [[1970]] and [[1971]], and the [[DWMS Holiday 1992|1992 Holiday]] special edition of ''[[Doctor Who Magazine (special issues)|Doctor Who Magazine]]''. | ||
In addition, these three volumes are sometimes mistaken for ''[[TV Comic]]'' or ''[[TV Action]]'' ''annuals'', but they aren't. | In addition, these three volumes are sometimes mistaken for ''[[TV Comic]]'' or ''[[TV Action]]'' ''annuals'', but they aren't. In the first place, their publication schedule didn't match that of a [[wikipedia:Annual publication#British annual|British annual]]. Not only were they not published for the [[Christmas]] market — "holiday" specials being published for summer — but they weren't all published at the same time of year. Moreover, both ''TV Comic'' and ''TV Action'' had their own, proper annuals — quite separate publications, which contained bits from the full range of properties for whom Polystyle then had a comic strip license. | ||
Thus, these specials were all standalone publications, and weren't actually part of ''any'' series. | Thus, these specials were all standalone publications, and weren't actually part of ''any'' series. | ||
Still, they are roughly similar publications, by the same publisher, and convenience demands that these effective "orphans" be somehow grouped. | Still, they are roughly similar publications, by the same publisher, and convenience demands that these effective "orphans" be somehow grouped. Thus, for clarity, they are placed under a name which doesn't ''quite'' appear on the cover or in the [[indicia]] of any of the three publications. | ||
[[Category:Polystyle Publications]] | [[Category:Polystyle Publications]] | ||
Revision as of 11:49, 29 January 2012
Polystyle Holiday Special is an invented name for a loose "series" of three 1970s releases by Polystyle — the Doctor Who Holiday Specials 1973 and 1974 and the Doctor Who Winter Special 1977.
Publication details
The 1973 and 1974 editions feature the Third Doctor. They contain a mixture of original short stories and comic strips. They have the feel of a Doctor Who annual, without the children's games and puzzles that are usually present in such books. These editions contain some interesting and rare Polystyle usage of televised characters.
Published in the waning years of the Polystyle license, the 1977 edition couldn't be more different. It's reprint-heavy, as reflects the state of the TV Comic strip of the late 1970s, and its one original story confuses televised continuity entirely.
1973
The 1973 volume is quite faithful to Doctor Who as it was then being televised. It makes thorough and in-character use of UNIT, the Brigadier and the Delgado Master. It contains both a comic story and a short story using the Master. That alone is unusual — most non-televised stories with the Delgado Master being published in the 1990s — but the fact that these came while Roger Delgado was still alive makes them quite extraordinary.
As an example of the effort this volume makes to be faithful to television, one story even mentions Mike Yates. He didn't actually appear, but it was the only time the the character ever got a namecheck in comics published contemporaneously with the Pertwee era.
| Stories original to this volume | Reprints |
|---|---|
| Fogbound | TV21: Duel of the Daleks reprinted as "Dalek Duel" |
| Smash Hit | |
| Secret of the Tower |
1974
The 1974 special actually does earn the word special. It's where Sarah Jane Smith — or as Polystyle preferred, Sarah-Jane Smith — makes her comics debut. But, as of 2011[update], it's also the only place where she's seen alongside the Third Doctor in Doctor Who comic history.
As with the previous year's special, UNIT and the Brigadier are back, this time with Sergeant Benton appearing in one story. Moreover, the notion of parallel universes is explored in Who's Who?, which — as an occasional theme of the Third Doctor's televised era — further makes this volume feel like a more faithful representation of Pertwee's time in the TARDIS than is typical for the ongoing Polystyle comic strip.
It is also interesting for having been released during the initial broadcast of Planet of the Spiders. It's thus a kind of "last hurrah" for the Third Doctor which would have been experienced by many contemporary readers after they knew a new Doctor was on his way. Still, just as with the Second Doctor, Polystyle would stretch out the Third Doctor's comic era for months after the televised regeneration. The Third Doctor still had more than six months of life in the pages of TV Comic after the publication of this volume.
| Stories original to this volume | Reprints |
|---|---|
| Doomcloud | TV21: Power Play reprinted as simply, "The Daleks" |
| Perils of Paris | |
| Who's Who? |
1977
The 1977 edition stars the Fourth Doctor and is far poorer in terms of its original offerings. It has no original comics, instead preferring to reprint a number of stories that had originally starred the Third Doctor. As is common to the final years of the Polystyle comic license, a (usually poor) attempt at Tom Baker's likeness is merely dropped into the part of the frames previously occupied by Jon Pertwee. Its one contribution to the body of Doctor Who fiction is a short story featuring the Fourth Doctor and Leela in Victorian England. Its illustrations are merely photos from The Talons of Weng-Chiang, meaning that there aren't even original illustrations in the 1977 edition, much less comics.
| Stories original to this volume | Reprints |
|---|---|
| The Living Wax | TVA: The Labyrinth |
| TVA: The Threat from Beneath | |
| TVA: The Spoilers | |
| TVA: Who is the Stranger |
Why "Polystyle Holiday Special"?
The somewhat artificial name is necessary because the three editions weren't really a part of any ongoing publication — despite the claim on the 1977 issue's cover that there was some sort of connection to (Mighty) TV Comic. Thus, "Polystyle Holiday Special" serves to clearly distinguish between these publications and others that are called "Holiday Specials", such as the TV Action Holiday Specials of 1970 and 1971, and the 1992 Holiday special edition of Doctor Who Magazine.
In addition, these three volumes are sometimes mistaken for TV Comic or TV Action annuals, but they aren't. In the first place, their publication schedule didn't match that of a British annual. Not only were they not published for the Christmas market — "holiday" specials being published for summer — but they weren't all published at the same time of year. Moreover, both TV Comic and TV Action had their own, proper annuals — quite separate publications, which contained bits from the full range of properties for whom Polystyle then had a comic strip license.
Thus, these specials were all standalone publications, and weren't actually part of any series.
Still, they are roughly similar publications, by the same publisher, and convenience demands that these effective "orphans" be somehow grouped. Thus, for clarity, they are placed under a name which doesn't quite appear on the cover or in the indicia of any of the three publications.
