War of the Worlds (comic story)
- You may be looking for the in-universe novel.
War of the Worlds was the first comic story in the Tales from the TARDIS series. Narrated by the Fourth Doctor, it was an adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel of the same name.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Fourth Doctor shares a time tale told to him by George. It begins with George and the astronomer Ogilvy observing a strange hydrogen explosion on Mars, which matches previous observations by Lavalle in Java. Ogilvy dismisses the possibility of intelligent Martian life, but eight more similar observations follow until a dust cloud obscures the view. A fortnight later, an artificial cylinder from space lands in Horsell Common.
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George wanders deliriously in St John's Wood before he is recovered by an elderly couple, who nurse him back to health over the next few days. In search of his wife, George turns home but finds it abandoned; however, at that moment, two people arrive in the house, one telling the other that it's no use because no one else survived. George and his wife happily reunite, and the Doctor reveals that George's full name was Herbert George Wells.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Ogilvy compares speculation regarding intelligent Martian life as a "Jules Verne fantasy."
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This comic was originally published in Marvel Classics Comics #14. For its rerelease in Doctor Who Weekly, new opening and closing narration from the Fourth Doctor was added, including the substantial plot twist that George was in fact H. G. Wells.
- The astronomer from Java who first observed the launches was called "Lavalle", whereas in the original novel his name was "Lavelle".
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Other groups involved in the Martian invasion of Earth included the Torchwood Institute, (AUDIO: Goodbye Piccadilly) Iris Wildthyme and Panda (PROSE: Enter Wildthyme) and Edward Travers. (PROSE: Other Wars, Other Worlds)
- After the war, the Martians opened an embassy in Stepney. (PROSE: The Book of the Enemy)
- The story of the invasion was later recorded in H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. (AUDIO: Goodbye Piccadilly, PROSE: The Book of the Enemy)
