The Pictures of Josephine Day was the first story of the Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor comic book mini-series, published in 2015. It introduced Josie Day, a new companion for the Eighth Doctor.
Summary
The Eighth Doctor has come a long way since he regenerated in the morgue of Grace Holloway's hospital. He has known many friends and fast companions in his life — Charley Pollard, C'rizz, Lucie Miller, Tamsin Drew, Molly O'Sullivan, and many more.
Now travelling alone after an intense period in his long life, the Doctor has returned to his most regular haunt... Earth.
Plot
The Doctor's TARDIS materialises outside his old cottage in Wales. Entering, the Eighth Doctor discovers that an aspiring painter, Josie Day, has moved in during his long absence. After quick introductions and assuring Josie that he bears her no ill will, he gets to work looking for his copy of Jane Eyre, left here by his third incarnation, only to find that Josie has rearranged the bookshelf. As the Doctor admires Josie's paintings, a knock at the door draws her away.
Opening, Josie greets Mrs Fellowes who claims to have been attacked by a monster, quickly gaining the Doctor's attention. Dragging Josie along, the Doctor is led to the deserted local pub where Josie recognises one of her paintings above the fireplace, only with the figures missing. Sighting a trail of green footprints. Following the trail to the town square, the three are greeted by the sight of Josie's art holding the town hostage.
Ducking down, the Doctor explains that the paintings are "following the narrative" that Josie has painted, mimicking the actions of the alien species out of instinct. When one of them bears down on them however, the three run back to the pub.
Scanning Josie, the Doctor finds her to be dripping in Animae particles. As he explains them to Josie, he realises that, when he thumbed an old telepathic circuit, it reacted with the particles and animated the paintings. As the horde enters, the Doctor and Mrs Fellowes surrender, the former instructing Josie to run, saying that she knows what to do.
Racing back to the cottage, Josie paints a picture of the Doctor himself, the copy stepping out of the painting and promptly shattering the old circuit, ending the threat and returning the figures to their artwork.
Meeting up, the Doctor assures Josie that the town will forget about this in a few days before they return their attention to the bookshelves. Revealing that she alphabetised them by title instead of the author's last name, Josie hands the Doctor his book, out from which falls a list of space/time coordinates. Recognising that the list is from a future incarnation, the Doctor makes for the TARDIS, inviting Josie along, and sets course for Lumin's World.
Characters
Worldbuilding
- The Doctor looks through the house for a copy of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
- Josie's paintings that come to life include Ice Warriors, a Cyberman, Krotons and Witherkins.
- The Artificers of Wrall created Animae particles to animate the illuminations in the holy texts.
- The Doctor was once invited to a party on Lumin's World.
Notes
- This is the first Titan Comics series to feature a classic series Doctor as the protagonist.
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- The exterior appearance of the Doctor's cottage is almost perfectly recreated from a frame in the 1972 comic Zeron Invasion.
- The title is a play on that of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
- It is Titan's second mini-series to focus on a particular incarnation of the Doctor, following Weapons of Past Destruction.
- The summary page lists many of this incarnation's previous companions, including Charley Pollard, C'rizz, Lucie Miller, Tamsin Drew and Molly O'Sullivan, referencing the Big Finish audio series. It states he has travelled alone after an intense period in his life.
- The Doctor is wearing the same clothes as he is in The Night of the Doctor, apart from the different colours on the ascot tie and waistcoat.
Continuity
- The Doctor's cottage first appeared in COMIC: The Celluloid Midas.
- The Doctor uses his wooden sonic screwdriver. (AUDIO: The Light at the End, Fugitives)
- The Doctor intends to meet Charlotte Brontë at some point. He eventually encountered her in his twelfth incarnation. (COMIC: Unearthly Things)
- The Doctor says that humans "amaze" him. (TV: Doctor Who)
- The Doctor asks the alien, "Take me to your leader." (PROSE: Engines of War, TV: Voyage of the Damned)