The Tides of Time (comic story)

The Tides of Time
Doctor:	Fifth Doctor
Companion(s):	Justin, Shayde
Featuring:	Rassilon, ‎Merlin
Main enemy:	Melanicus
Main setting:	Stockbridge, 1982 Panopticon and the Matrix Melanicus' realm
Key crew
Publisher:	Marvel Comics
Editor:	Alan McKenzie
Writer:	Steve Parkhouse
Artist:	Dave Gibbons
Release details
Number of parts:	7
Printed in:	DWM 61-67
Release date:	14 January - 8 July 1982
Reprinted in:	DW84 15, DW84 16, DW84 17, DW84 18, DWCC 10, DWCC 11, DWCS2 5, DWCS2 6
Traded in:	The Tides of Time
Format:	Comic
DWM comic stories
← Previous	The Neutron Knights
Next →	Stars Fell on Stockbridge

The Tides of Time was the first Fifth Doctor comic story published in Doctor Who Monthly.

Summary

The universe is falling apart. A demon from another universe has left a hole in time and space.

The Doctor teams up with Sir Justin to prevent the demon from destroying the entire universe. But first, they must battle creatures of nightmares to find the lost matrix....

Plot

to be added

Characters

• Fifth Doctor
• Sir Justin
• Shayde
• Melanicus
• Rassilon
• Merlin the Wise
• Dakon Theka
• Thane of Kordar
• Morvane
• Bedevere
• Prime Mover
• Jack Partridge
• Jim Marshall
• Skipper
• Tom
• Bill
• George
• Atkins
• Mysterious woman
• Catavolcus

Worldbuilding

Fashion and clothing

• The Doctor wears cricket pads when playing cricket.

Organisations

• Rassilon refers to the Matrix as the "home of the Celestial Intervention Agency."

Individuals

• A young woman with dark hair appears as an illusion in the Maelstrom generated by Melanicus. The Doctor notes that he "knows her from somewhere", but can't quite recall who she is.

Notes

The mysterious woman, drawn in the image of Wendy Padbury.

• The first words spoken by the Fifth Doctor in his comic book tenure are; "Hard luck, Skipper! Shouldn't have put yourself in so soon!"
• The Tides of Time afforded the first splash of interior colour in the history of DWM comics; Part six opened with a double-page full-colour spread, though the colourist wasn't credited.
• The name "Stockbridge" does not actually appear in the story. Readers only retroactively knew the village name because of Wells Wood, which is identified as being on the outskirts of a village named Stockbridge in the next story.
• Actor Peter Davison was somewhat displeased with artist Dave Gibbons' likeness of him in the earliest parts of the story. Consequently, he submitted to a vigorous and highly detailed photoshoot for the artist. These photos allowed Gibbons to draw the Fifth Doctor more accurately and to avoid duplicating poses seen in widely-circulated publicity shots. Careful examination of the parts of this story show a steady improvement in Gibbons' ability to evoke Davison, while placing the Fifth Doctor in completely original panel compositions. (DOC: Stripped for Action)
• The Doctor sees an illusion of a girl he seems to know, but it is not revealed who she is. Although she is often interpreted to be Zoe Heriot, a companion of the Second Doctor, author Lance Parkin stated in the reference book AHistory that he based the physical description of Patience's first incarnation from the novel Cold Fusion's flashback on her.

 Original print details

(Publication with page count and closing captions)

1. DWM 61 (8 pages) Next Issue: The Maelstrom!
2. DWM 62 (8 pages) Next: Journey to the Edge of Forever!
3. DWM 63 (8 pages) Next Issue: Dream Wars!
4. DWM 64 (8 pages) No closing caption
5. DWM 65 (8 pages) No closing caption
6. DWM 66 (8 pages) Next: To Slay a Demon!
7. DWM 67 (9 pages) The End.

Reprints

1. DW84 15-18 (Doctor Who (1984) colourised reprint)
2. DWCC 10-11 (Doctor Who Classic Comics colourised reprint)
3. The Tides of Time
4. DWCS2 5-7 (IDW colourised reprint)
5. Doctor Who Classics Volume 4 (IDW colourised reprint)
6. Doctor Who Classics Omnibus Volume 2 (IDW colourised reprint)

Continuity

• Thanks to the privileges of his presidency, the Fourth Doctor expressed knowledge of Rassilon's mind existing within the Matrix during the Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
• The Doctor is still recognised as the President of the High Council. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
• The Fourth Doctor, although unaware at the time, was involved in a battle in the Millennium Wars. (COMIC: The Deal)
• Catavolcus's continuing battle against Arthur and the Neutron Knights in Earth's far future comes as a result of Melanicus's escape from the Althrace system, though the intervention of the Fourth Doctor and Merlin the Wise will halt Catavolcus's advance at a later date. (COMIC: The Neutron Knights)
• Merlin briefly projects himself as a ghostly figure again to secretly see the Doctor off, as he did more directly in their last meeting. (COMIC: The Neutron Knights)