Lock, Stocks and Barrel (comic story)

In the woods of a nearby village, Jebelex believes himself safe. He has gone into hiding before trying to sell the Treed Crystal to another buyer. When the TARDIS arrives in pursuit, the Doctor soon finds himself captured by the local natives and put into a set of stocks by a nearby pond in their village. Having left Martha in the TARDIS (the natives don't like visitors), the pond, a living entity, rears up. Inside the liquid the Doctor can make out the half digested body of Jebelex still holding the Treed Crystal.

On the Doctor's instruction Martha emerges from TARDIS and uses Jebelex's matter transmuter to turn the liquid into a solid. The Doctor breaks free of the stocks, smashes the now solid creature and retrieves the Crystal. The Zaan arrive to reclaim the Crystal and the Doctor uses the matter transmuter to return the pond creature to its "hungry" liquid state.

Although the Doctor still holds the crystal he hasn't won. The Zaan have captured Martha. Unless the Doctor takes the crystal directly to the Zaan homeworld, Martha will die. The Doctor decides it's time to end this once and for all.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Supporting the series of collectible Doctor Who trading cards, the magazine carried a regular four page, individually titled comic strip of the Tenth Doctor's adventures.
The artwork and colours were bold and bright, reflecting the tone of the magazine and, as did Doctor Who Adventures, reflected the appeal to readers younger than those catered to by Doctor Who Magazine.
The Battles in Time comic strip sought to reinforce the association of its Doctor with the one seen on screen with "props" from the TV series: blue/brown suit, sonic screwdriver, psychic paper and his intelligent glasses.

Original print details[[edit] | [edit source]]

3/4 DWBIT 24 (4 pages) TO BE CONTINUED!!!
No reprints to date.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added