Opening Tag
None
Summary
Down in the cellar the Doctor and Bob find Presence, a living world-ship who is Absence’s tutor, and guardian. Absence is compared to an errant child, behaving without boundaries. A collision damaged the world-ship and separated Absence from Presence. As Absence grows in strength, Presence grows weaker. Soon Absence will consume everything. The Doctor suggests using the TARDIS to boost Presence’s power so that Absence can be contained but the way to the TARDIS is blocked by the dragon creatures. When the Doctor unconscious by a dragons tail, Bob takes the TARDIS key from his hand and races to the Doctor’s ‘hut’.
As Bob opens the TARDIS door, Presence draws on the energy and is restored. Like a child Absence is returned to his guardian and everything is returned to normal, except Bob who died in the sacrifice he made. The Doctor visits the derelict house as the developers move in. Any buildings to this day built on this site carry a wall plaque of unknown origin stating simply “Bob Manning Lived Here. The man who saved the world”.
ArtistLee Sullivan
Characters
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.
Notes
- Supporting the series of collectable Doctor Who trading cards, the magazine title, carried a regular 4 page comic strip series of the Tenth Doctor’s adventures.
- The limitation of only 4 pages meant that stories often lacked some depth in comparison to other regular comic strips running at the same time.
- 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.
Original Print Details
(Instalment, publication with page count and closing captions)
- 2/2 Doctor Who: Battles in Time Issue 70 (4 pages)
- No reprints to date.
References
to be added
Continuity
to be added