" A gilded tomb is still a tomb."
Soooo much happens in this splendid little instalment, and I certainly have no intention of trying to describe the plot in any way. Suffice to say that there are an awful lot of plot threads and the stakes are very high. But more important than any of that is the wonderful way that Mel's screaming is treated.
Because, yes, the cast gets even bigger at this point. Mel, Sabalom Glitz, Nyssa and the Garm for good measure. Sarah Jane, with her K-9, on the blower to a delightfully realised Harry Sullivan in late middle age, a rather meta yet very touching glimpse of a world in which Ian Marter hadn't died so young. The Rani. Alpha Centauri. And Eight meeting a Keeper of the Matrix who looks "familiar"- the Valeyard, perhaps?
There's so much superior fan service to enjoy here, right from the very beginning, as a Sontaran and a Draconian discuss Dalek continuity and how, by sending the Doctor to meddle with the Daleks' origins in Genesis of the Daleks, the Time Lords ensured that Davros would survive, meaning the Daleks would in turn survive the Movellan virus.
The fact that the Chameleon Circuit never really gets fixed is rather interestingly lampshaded. it's established that the TARDIS's own internal time is always relative to Gallifrey's present. This story is full of such inspired ideas.
And yet the charm, the characterisation, the winsome quirkiness of the art, are what really keeps the reader hooked. I'm recovering nicely from my op, and I'm going to plough right on with this...
I am enjoying you glowing reviews of this story so far.
ReplyDelete10's glare when 1 suggests he should get a hair comb is amusing, and Ace and Rose bickering with the other is downright hilarious. 7 and 3 being correctly ID as "the Doctor" while 5 and 2 are instead being seen as a "companion" or a "brother" are interesting character moments. The Prydonian glee-club song is such a great moment between 2 and 7. It is strange considering they are meant to be the same person, technically but it is remarkable. I remember gasping with shock when 2 is shot by the Dalek at point blank range before it is stated that the Daleks simply just paralyzed him and not actually killed him.
Also, the Rani clearly knows her episodes from the classic series are bad, as shown she calls them a "embarrassing travesty"
And I'm enjoying reading it!
ReplyDeleteI'm still going to be off work recovering from my op, but I'm sufficiently recovered to be able to blog a chapter most days- that sweet spot of being off work for a bit yet well enough at least to sit on my sofa, consume media and write!
I know I repeat myself and you are in the early stages of the story so you can’t judge it all yet but this comic is *fantastic*. It’s amazing how Rich not only weaves together the stories of dozens of characters and slots them neatly into the overall plot, but also manages to nail the personalities of every memorable character (Doctors, companions, Sabalom Glitz) and cartoonify them so well that most of the characters are instantly recognizable.
ReplyDeleteDidn't fully realize the significance of the Harry Sullivan cameo until I read your thoughts on it.
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