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Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor (Titan Comics) #1-5
Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor - A Matter of Life and Death
Five amazing, interconnected new stories take the Doctor on a rollercoaster of threat and misadventure, as he investigates the mysteries surrounding his new companion Josie. Victorian magic shows, murderous trees, lost books, crystalline life-forms, barges in space crammed with the undead... and the grand journey all begins in a sleepy Welsh town... besieged by living paintings!
Buckle up for a wild ride that embraces all the Gothic Romance and interstellar terror of the Doctor's eighth incarnation!
Collects Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor #1-5
Buckle up for a wild ride that embraces all the Gothic Romance and interstellar terror of the Doctor's eighth incarnation!
Collects Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor #1-5
128 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
17 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
George Mann
370 books675 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
February 13, 2023
I've always had a soft spot for th Eighth Doctor. Partly because there's only the movie (aside from all the wonderful audio-dramas from Big Finish), partly beacuse of the actor and partly beacuse that was the first time I watched Doctor Who when it aired. So I was very pleased when it was announced he would get his own mini-series. But I was also worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. I'm not sure it does, but it is good. This starts out ordinarily enough. Rather typical of the Doctor Who comics from Titan. But these's a bit of a twist which weaves something deeper into the texture of the narrative. I was enjoying it for the first 3-4 issues (it would have gotten a 3 star rating) then there's a kind of perspective shift that makes you reevaluate the issues you've already read. It's not exactly a twist ending, nor surprising, but it adds a layer to what is otherwise a collection of 5 loosely related short adventures. I'm sure I won't be the only Whovian hoping for more comics featuring the Eighth Doctor.
June 5, 2018
This has amazing art and a great story line, but there were a few confusing parts here and there. I’m still trying to understand the copies of people. Hmm. 🤔
April 9, 2023
This collection spans a series of loosely connected adventures with the 8th Doctor and new companion Josie.
Each story feels like a classic Who plot, with fun alien designs and cool artwork, but also is rather rushed, which could be a symptom of the adaptation to comics rather than TV - but it felt like each story wrapped up far too quickly with a neat bow.
Though I found it funny the amount of times the Doctor intentionally got captured and told Josie that “she knew what to do.”
All in all, it’s a fun short read, that just reminded me how much I want an entire television season of Paul McGann as the Doctor.
Each story feels like a classic Who plot, with fun alien designs and cool artwork, but also is rather rushed, which could be a symptom of the adaptation to comics rather than TV - but it felt like each story wrapped up far too quickly with a neat bow.
Though I found it funny the amount of times the Doctor intentionally got captured and told Josie that “she knew what to do.”
All in all, it’s a fun short read, that just reminded me how much I want an entire television season of Paul McGann as the Doctor.
July 9, 2021
8th doctor my beloved
May 1, 2023
3.5 ⭐
Everyone knows I absolutely adore Paul McGann, (including Paul McGann) so naturally I was super excited for this. I love Eight to bits and his personality and kindness always amaze me.
This collection was fun to read, albeit a bit too rushed. I would've loved to see more nuanced stories rather than short stories without much depth. But I like the character of Josie and the beautiful art and cool monster designs. The Doctor himself had moments that showed a darker self behind his nice demeanour, which is refreshing to see.
The 3rd story has to be my favourite, reminding me a little of Camera Obscura perhaps. Very atmospheric and a brilliant idea I would love to see on screen some day.
Everyone knows I absolutely adore Paul McGann, (including Paul McGann) so naturally I was super excited for this. I love Eight to bits and his personality and kindness always amaze me.
This collection was fun to read, albeit a bit too rushed. I would've loved to see more nuanced stories rather than short stories without much depth. But I like the character of Josie and the beautiful art and cool monster designs. The Doctor himself had moments that showed a darker self behind his nice demeanour, which is refreshing to see.
The 3rd story has to be my favourite, reminding me a little of Camera Obscura perhaps. Very atmospheric and a brilliant idea I would love to see on screen some day.
September 15, 2016
This book collects the five issue Eighth Doctor mini-series for Titan Comics. The story includes several nods to the Big Finish Audio productions. It begins with an a list of many of the Doctor's Big Finish companions (don't why Liv Chenka didn't make the cut but whatever) and we find him visiting his house on Baker Street (which was something the Doctor acquired in the Fifth Doctor Audio Adventure, "The Haunting of Thomas Brewster.")
From there, the story takes on an arc format that's been typical of the Moffat era where a Companion is introduced and there is a mystery that ultimately centers around her and this holds all five issues together even though they're different stories. What makes this work well is that writer George Mann has created a delightful and thoroughly likable companion in Josie, the Cyan haired painter. That plus, Mann has really captured Paul McGann's Doctor. I can hear him reading every single line.
The weakness of this book is its length. Of the five inter-locked issues, a couple stories really cry for more development. Still, it's a good arc and it has a nice twist cameo at the end. Overall, I love this book and would truly enjoy an ongoing series for the Eighth Doctor and Josie.
From there, the story takes on an arc format that's been typical of the Moffat era where a Companion is introduced and there is a mystery that ultimately centers around her and this holds all five issues together even though they're different stories. What makes this work well is that writer George Mann has created a delightful and thoroughly likable companion in Josie, the Cyan haired painter. That plus, Mann has really captured Paul McGann's Doctor. I can hear him reading every single line.
The weakness of this book is its length. Of the five inter-locked issues, a couple stories really cry for more development. Still, it's a good arc and it has a nice twist cameo at the end. Overall, I love this book and would truly enjoy an ongoing series for the Eighth Doctor and Josie.
November 29, 2016
It's pretty shocking to have a new 8th Doctor comic, over a decade after Nine appeared. But here we have it, thanks to Titans' totally out of control publishing program.
It's an Eight whose appearance suggests that he's late in his lifespan, something that we only know about now having seen the "Night of the Doctor" minisode. But somewhat disappointingly, there's no mention of the Time War or any of the trauma that clearly made up his later life. He's just another happy-go-lucky guy who likes [i]Jane Eyre[/i] and who pops around to have adventures.
So no Eighth Doctor continuity, check. But how's the characterization? It's not awful. This is clearly a Doctor who cares about people, something that's very nicely presented in the comic. On the other hand, his frenetic running and dashing about comes across as a nuWho Doctor. So, the storytelling may not be quite right.
And as for the story itself: it's a little boring. We get five one-offs, of which only the last is notable, and that's only because it contains some nice twists that build on the first adventure.
So, yeah there's a new 8th Doctor comic, but it's kinda meh.
It's an Eight whose appearance suggests that he's late in his lifespan, something that we only know about now having seen the "Night of the Doctor" minisode. But somewhat disappointingly, there's no mention of the Time War or any of the trauma that clearly made up his later life. He's just another happy-go-lucky guy who likes [i]Jane Eyre[/i] and who pops around to have adventures.
So no Eighth Doctor continuity, check. But how's the characterization? It's not awful. This is clearly a Doctor who cares about people, something that's very nicely presented in the comic. On the other hand, his frenetic running and dashing about comes across as a nuWho Doctor. So, the storytelling may not be quite right.
And as for the story itself: it's a little boring. We get five one-offs, of which only the last is notable, and that's only because it contains some nice twists that build on the first adventure.
So, yeah there's a new 8th Doctor comic, but it's kinda meh.
January 8, 2018
Although I like the artwork, The Doctor doesn't really look like Paul McGann. It's not a major drawback, because I still hear McGann's voice in my head when I read it, but it's a shame he couldn't look just a little bit more like the actor.
I've been a fan of the Eighth Doctor since the questionable TV Movie back in the early nineties. I've listened to several of the Big Finish audio adventures so I was curious about where this sits in comparison, but I assumed that like the TV show often does, it'd mostly ignore that 'lesser canon' stuff and do its own thing.
So I was pleasantly surprised to see the sonic screwdriver the Doctor uses is one never seen onscreen, one created specifically for the artwork of the Big Finish adventures. There's also a note in the beginning to tell the reader this takes place after those adventures and name drops his companions from Big Finish.
The Doctor once again takes a female companion in their mid twenties from 21st Century Britain, but it's clearly his type looking at the rebooted series (and possibly the classic) so I guess I can't complain too much about that. Although much like the rebooted series, there's more to this companion than is immediately obvious.
Although I'm still holding out for more on-screen adventures of the Eighth Doctor, the Big Finish audio adventures and this comic will do nicely while I wait.
I've been a fan of the Eighth Doctor since the questionable TV Movie back in the early nineties. I've listened to several of the Big Finish audio adventures so I was curious about where this sits in comparison, but I assumed that like the TV show often does, it'd mostly ignore that 'lesser canon' stuff and do its own thing.
So I was pleasantly surprised to see the sonic screwdriver the Doctor uses is one never seen onscreen, one created specifically for the artwork of the Big Finish adventures. There's also a note in the beginning to tell the reader this takes place after those adventures and name drops his companions from Big Finish.
The Doctor once again takes a female companion in their mid twenties from 21st Century Britain, but it's clearly his type looking at the rebooted series (and possibly the classic) so I guess I can't complain too much about that. Although much like the rebooted series, there's more to this companion than is immediately obvious.
Although I'm still holding out for more on-screen adventures of the Eighth Doctor, the Big Finish audio adventures and this comic will do nicely while I wait.
May 17, 2021
I found this comic to be very engaging and enjoyable, and I hope they make more volumes with the Eighth Doctor, who is among my top favourites (alongside Twelve, Two, Thirteen, Three and Ten).
+1 Lots of Whovian ethics around in the story - anti-war and pacifism, criticizing the good/evil binarism with greys and nuances, against slavery and classism, and denouncing the discrimination and oppression of synthetic humanoids by (organic) humans.
+1 The new comic companion, artist Josie Day, is a great addition. Empathetic, capable, creative, proactive and likeable, she has a great friendship dynamic with Eight and shares his ethical values and adventurous wanderlust.
+-1 Lovely drawing style overall, with practically negligible sexualization of the female characters, which is refreshing. The Doctor doesn't look much like Paul McGann at times, though.
+1 Josie passes the Bechdel test with other female characters during the story - a couple of them are proactive leaders and warriors -, and there are moments of female bonding.
+1 Lots of Whovian ethics around in the story - anti-war and pacifism, criticizing the good/evil binarism with greys and nuances, against slavery and classism, and denouncing the discrimination and oppression of synthetic humanoids by (organic) humans.
+1 The new comic companion, artist Josie Day, is a great addition. Empathetic, capable, creative, proactive and likeable, she has a great friendship dynamic with Eight and shares his ethical values and adventurous wanderlust.
+-1 Lovely drawing style overall, with practically negligible sexualization of the female characters, which is refreshing. The Doctor doesn't look much like Paul McGann at times, though.
+1 Josie passes the Bechdel test with other female characters during the story - a couple of them are proactive leaders and warriors -, and there are moments of female bonding.
December 18, 2017
This wasn't Bad as much as it was Not Good. I am all about 8th Doctor stories as it is such a missing part of the overall Doctor Who narrative so this was such a massive disappointment. The plot is clunky but not terrible and the art does it no favors.
The artist can draw but it isn't consistent and right now they don't know how to layout a comic book story. Weird panel decision and a story flow that is choppy, they are a decent artist but not a good comic book artist. Serious advice here: go study some Eisner to understand layout, some Kubert to find a style and some Kirby to figure out how to draw something Big and Cosmic.
I miss IDW having the U.S. Doctor Who license, those were always at least decent, good comic book stories and never bad. I generally avoid Titan Doctor Who stories and will continue to do so. Though the 4th Doctor mini series was excellent. Unfortunately this is not that.
The artist can draw but it isn't consistent and right now they don't know how to layout a comic book story. Weird panel decision and a story flow that is choppy, they are a decent artist but not a good comic book artist. Serious advice here: go study some Eisner to understand layout, some Kubert to find a style and some Kirby to figure out how to draw something Big and Cosmic.
I miss IDW having the U.S. Doctor Who license, those were always at least decent, good comic book stories and never bad. I generally avoid Titan Doctor Who stories and will continue to do so. Though the 4th Doctor mini series was excellent. Unfortunately this is not that.
August 15, 2016
A series of short stories, linked by a common thread.
I've always thought the Eighth Doctor got a poor deal on the TV, but I do enjoy his other adventures... I wish I had more cash to be able to spend on the Big Finish audio plays - there are so many! In any case, this adventure with Josie was fun and the artwork beautiful.
I've always thought the Eighth Doctor got a poor deal on the TV, but I do enjoy his other adventures... I wish I had more cash to be able to spend on the Big Finish audio plays - there are so many! In any case, this adventure with Josie was fun and the artwork beautiful.
June 13, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was a five issue series, but it was really five one shot stories rather than one long story. They were loosely connected, but only loosely. Paintings come to life, crystalline aliens are at war with organic aliens, a Victorian magic show with a sinister mirror trick, a plant based group of fairy creatures, and robots who develop personalities. There's also a major revelation concerning the doctor's assistant.
This was pretty standard Dr. Who fare. Decent art, and stories aren't bad. If you're a Dr. Who fan, particularly of the eighth doctor, this is worth a read.
This was a five issue series, but it was really five one shot stories rather than one long story. They were loosely connected, but only loosely. Paintings come to life, crystalline aliens are at war with organic aliens, a Victorian magic show with a sinister mirror trick, a plant based group of fairy creatures, and robots who develop personalities. There's also a major revelation concerning the doctor's assistant.
This was pretty standard Dr. Who fare. Decent art, and stories aren't bad. If you're a Dr. Who fan, particularly of the eighth doctor, this is worth a read.
November 14, 2023
4.5 stars
Really quiet a delightful read. The color work in this one was especially notable. There was an surprise Doctor crossover at the end that I loved to see (why ignore the chance for timey wimey shenanigans when they arise, huh? That's what I always say). It's risky, I think, to introduce a new short-term companion in a collection like this, but I ended up really liking her and her whole story. Great read.
Really quiet a delightful read. The color work in this one was especially notable. There was an surprise Doctor crossover at the end that I loved to see (why ignore the chance for timey wimey shenanigans when they arise, huh? That's what I always say). It's risky, I think, to introduce a new short-term companion in a collection like this, but I ended up really liking her and her whole story. Great read.
September 29, 2021
Lots of fun! Only wish there was more of it!
October 8, 2025
Not great, but not bad either. A fun series of adventures!
June 18, 2016
A Matter of Life and Death introduces a new collection of Doctor Who adventures to Titan Comics line of Doctor Who graphic novels, this time featuring the Eighth Doctor as played by Paul McGann in the TV Movie, the audio adventures by Big Finish, the BBC Eighth Doctor original novel series, and the televised short, "The Night of the Doctor". This novel consists of related short stories.
The Doctor arrives at his "house" in Wales to retrieve a book. But he finds the house is occupied by an artist, Josephine "Josie" Day. He and Josie find the book he was looking for, along with a slip of paper in the handwriting of one of the Doctor's other incarnations with a list of times and places. However, before he can do much about it, Josie's paintings start to come to life and the figures - which resemble some of the Doctor's foes - attack the local village. The Doctor and Josie stop the attack, with Josie using her art to create a painting of the Doctor and to rescue the village.
Next it's off to outer space where the TARDIS brings the Doctor and Josie to a planetoid occupied by cat people - who are under attack by sentient crystals. Not only is the crystal bombardment causing damage and killing the cat people outright, but even a slight wound turns deadly as a cat person is turned into a crystal Spherion and Josie is wounded by a crystal almost immediately. The Doctor, however, brokers a peace between the two intelligent species - discovering that the Spherions didn't realize that the Cat People were intelligent. The Spherions had also been attacked by a different species and their breeding planet destroyed - and they found the Cat People and their planet (and the series of escape planets the Cat People colonize) as perfect hosts for their seedlings. The Doctor gets the Spherions to realize what they are doing, then finds both species their own planets.
Next, it's off to Victorian England in 1866, and a creepy Victorian magic show. There, the magician, Silversmith, astounds audiences by entering a mirror on one side of the stage, and emerging from it on the other. He also has audience members do the same thing. The Doctor and Josie notice there's something strange about this, and the audience members do not seem the same after their experience. Silversmith is literally a mirror image and he sends partial images out to attack. The Doctor, with help from Josie, frees the originals and traps the mirror images back inside the mirror.
In 1932, the Doctor and Josie arrive at a Manor House for a party - but the party is attacked by branches and trees, and even the TARDIS is attacked by small imp-like beings called Nix. Josie and the Doctor guard the family's young son - who tells him a family legend. The Doctor uses the legend to discover what is really going on and again nearly everyone is rescued.
In the last story, the Doctor and Josie head to a futuristic spa where the ultra-rich not only relax and rejuvenate - but acquire new, synthetic bodies. But when the bodies rise up, claiming their right to freedom - it looks like trouble. Again, the Doctor is able to avert disaster. Josie's origins are explained, and although they return to the Doctor's cottage in a Welsh village where he found Josie, the Doctor decides he will travel with Josie for awhile.
I enjoyed A Matter of Life and Death very much. It's a happy, enjoyable story. The Doctor is able to rescue pretty much everyone. Josie is a fun companion - I love her bright blue hair, it's striking on the page. I do think it's odd that Titan is using the name "Josephine" as that's been used for a companion before on Doctor Who (the Third Doctor's companion, Josephine "Jo" Grant) but at least her nickname's different. But the effect of the Doctor's successes make the book very happy. It's a light-hearted adventure story which makes a change from the darker-themed other books (that is, the 1oth, 11th, and 12th Doctor series of graphic novels). I hope this line continues, as McGann's Doctor is one of my favorites, and he's perfectly suited to alternative media than TV. McGann's Eighth Doctor has been successful in audio plays (voiced by McGann) for Big Finish and in books for BBC Books.
The art in this graphic novel is gorgeous, simply gorgeous. Again, I love Josie's bright blue hair. The art has a very real look to it. There are also several full-page cover spreads in the issue that are simply gorgeous. I loved the art, it's some of the best so far from Titan Comics in the Doctor Who line. There is also a miniature cover gallery at the end.
The Doctor arrives at his "house" in Wales to retrieve a book. But he finds the house is occupied by an artist, Josephine "Josie" Day. He and Josie find the book he was looking for, along with a slip of paper in the handwriting of one of the Doctor's other incarnations with a list of times and places. However, before he can do much about it, Josie's paintings start to come to life and the figures - which resemble some of the Doctor's foes - attack the local village. The Doctor and Josie stop the attack, with Josie using her art to create a painting of the Doctor and to rescue the village.
Next it's off to outer space where the TARDIS brings the Doctor and Josie to a planetoid occupied by cat people - who are under attack by sentient crystals. Not only is the crystal bombardment causing damage and killing the cat people outright, but even a slight wound turns deadly as a cat person is turned into a crystal Spherion and Josie is wounded by a crystal almost immediately. The Doctor, however, brokers a peace between the two intelligent species - discovering that the Spherions didn't realize that the Cat People were intelligent. The Spherions had also been attacked by a different species and their breeding planet destroyed - and they found the Cat People and their planet (and the series of escape planets the Cat People colonize) as perfect hosts for their seedlings. The Doctor gets the Spherions to realize what they are doing, then finds both species their own planets.
Next, it's off to Victorian England in 1866, and a creepy Victorian magic show. There, the magician, Silversmith, astounds audiences by entering a mirror on one side of the stage, and emerging from it on the other. He also has audience members do the same thing. The Doctor and Josie notice there's something strange about this, and the audience members do not seem the same after their experience. Silversmith is literally a mirror image and he sends partial images out to attack. The Doctor, with help from Josie, frees the originals and traps the mirror images back inside the mirror.
In 1932, the Doctor and Josie arrive at a Manor House for a party - but the party is attacked by branches and trees, and even the TARDIS is attacked by small imp-like beings called Nix. Josie and the Doctor guard the family's young son - who tells him a family legend. The Doctor uses the legend to discover what is really going on and again nearly everyone is rescued.
In the last story, the Doctor and Josie head to a futuristic spa where the ultra-rich not only relax and rejuvenate - but acquire new, synthetic bodies. But when the bodies rise up, claiming their right to freedom - it looks like trouble. Again, the Doctor is able to avert disaster. Josie's origins are explained, and although they return to the Doctor's cottage in a Welsh village where he found Josie, the Doctor decides he will travel with Josie for awhile.
I enjoyed A Matter of Life and Death very much. It's a happy, enjoyable story. The Doctor is able to rescue pretty much everyone. Josie is a fun companion - I love her bright blue hair, it's striking on the page. I do think it's odd that Titan is using the name "Josephine" as that's been used for a companion before on Doctor Who (the Third Doctor's companion, Josephine "Jo" Grant) but at least her nickname's different. But the effect of the Doctor's successes make the book very happy. It's a light-hearted adventure story which makes a change from the darker-themed other books (that is, the 1oth, 11th, and 12th Doctor series of graphic novels). I hope this line continues, as McGann's Doctor is one of my favorites, and he's perfectly suited to alternative media than TV. McGann's Eighth Doctor has been successful in audio plays (voiced by McGann) for Big Finish and in books for BBC Books.
The art in this graphic novel is gorgeous, simply gorgeous. Again, I love Josie's bright blue hair. The art has a very real look to it. There are also several full-page cover spreads in the issue that are simply gorgeous. I loved the art, it's some of the best so far from Titan Comics in the Doctor Who line. There is also a miniature cover gallery at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2023
*I am not an avid reader of DW comics*
The only story that is the least bit memorable is the last one witch is a copycat of the 10th doctor story 'New Earth'. The second story echo's a lot of 'The Zygon Invasion' with two race's fighting it out over a planet. The second seemed to have a bit of originality so I shalt spoil it. The doctor is very well written and is mostly well drawn. His face is mostly consistent but suffers from inconstant sunburn by the end. His companion is rather lack lustier but has a unique design. I would of loved to have seen her in the show. The Tardis for the most part is consistent to doctor minus the tardis being a little brighter inside due to it being a comic.
Not recommended for those looking to get into 8th media as a starting place
The only story that is the least bit memorable is the last one witch is a copycat of the 10th doctor story 'New Earth'. The second story echo's a lot of 'The Zygon Invasion' with two race's fighting it out over a planet. The second seemed to have a bit of originality so I shalt spoil it. The doctor is very well written and is mostly well drawn. His face is mostly consistent but suffers from inconstant sunburn by the end. His companion is rather lack lustier but has a unique design. I would of loved to have seen her in the show. The Tardis for the most part is consistent to doctor minus the tardis being a little brighter inside due to it being a comic.
Not recommended for those looking to get into 8th media as a starting place
July 27, 2016
About 20 years ago, a friend of mine talked me into watching the American, made-for-TV movie of "Dr. Who". Needless to say, at the time, it was a little lost on me. Fast forward to about two years ago and I finally relented and watched "Dr. Who" on Netflix, starting with the 9th Doctor. Now I'm hooked on the BBC series.
When I saw this volume at the library, I snatched it up eager to add to my 8th Doctor experience (I had watched "The Night of the Doctor" prior to this). The Doctor rather abruptly meets who becomes his new companion, Josie. Of course, they soon must work together to save the citizens of a small Welsh village. Soon after, the Doctor discovers a list of times, dates, and coordinates and he and Josie embark on an adventure to see what version of the Doctor left this "to do list" to be found.
While this premise sounds pretty good and you would think it would provide some great opportunities for story telling, but the biggest flaw with the is that they crammed so much into the five issues bound in this volume. The plots were rocket fast and while some concepts were pretty good, not a lot of character development takes place.
Still a lot of fun with humor and creativity you would expect from Dr. Who, but probably a 2.75. Still a must for Whovians and worth a look for comic & sci-fi fans.
When I saw this volume at the library, I snatched it up eager to add to my 8th Doctor experience (I had watched "The Night of the Doctor" prior to this). The Doctor rather abruptly meets who becomes his new companion, Josie. Of course, they soon must work together to save the citizens of a small Welsh village. Soon after, the Doctor discovers a list of times, dates, and coordinates and he and Josie embark on an adventure to see what version of the Doctor left this "to do list" to be found.
While this premise sounds pretty good and you would think it would provide some great opportunities for story telling, but the biggest flaw with the is that they crammed so much into the five issues bound in this volume. The plots were rocket fast and while some concepts were pretty good, not a lot of character development takes place.
Still a lot of fun with humor and creativity you would expect from Dr. Who, but probably a 2.75. Still a must for Whovians and worth a look for comic & sci-fi fans.
June 12, 2017
Well, that was fun! I wasn't sure what to expect from Titan's 8th Doctor premier but what I got was a whimsical, fast paced mystery of sorts that I very much enjoyed. I LOVED the art - pencils, inks and colors combined for a book that looked and felt very different and very refreshing compared to the other titles Titan has released. This was particularly important because the 8th doctors voice is going to be lacking and unfamiliar for most readers compared to the other doctors. The art though and focus on a mystery manages to establish a distinct voice and flavor for 8th doctors graphic adventures.
One other note, the character of Josie was a surprise and delight. The author makes her come alive as a true companion. I hope we get another volume of the 8th doctors adventures with the same creative team soon. Well done!
One other note, the character of Josie was a surprise and delight. The author makes her come alive as a true companion. I hope we get another volume of the 8th doctors adventures with the same creative team soon. Well done!
November 21, 2016
I loved this story arc. Out of all that I have read I think this is my favorite. Paul McGann doctor only had the one movie and the short made for the web clip of how he regenerates into the War Doctor. But he has many novels and Big Finish audio stories that have fleshed out his character.
Of all the doctors he seems the most human, the kindest and gentleness and that comes across in this graphic novel.
I loved meeting his new companion artist Josie Day and finding out the mystery behind her. The dialogue was great and each adventure a fun read. The little surprise at the end made this fangirl quite happy.
Of all the doctors he seems the most human, the kindest and gentleness and that comes across in this graphic novel.
I loved meeting his new companion artist Josie Day and finding out the mystery behind her. The dialogue was great and each adventure a fun read. The little surprise at the end made this fangirl quite happy.
Read
January 1, 2021This is a wonderful collection!
I love the eighth Doctor, I fancy him quite a lot and this does his character justice while also giving him another good companion in Josie.
Each story I will admit should have another issue to fit more with the Doctor Who model of storytelling,those cliff hangers are key after all. But each premise is done very well in the 23 pages or so they are given.
Each idea is also done very well. The ending is very good with how it ties things up between the characters.
I’d love to read more by this team with these characters but even still I enjoyed the hell out of this and it’s all very well put together, there aren’t any loose ends.
I love the eighth Doctor, I fancy him quite a lot and this does his character justice while also giving him another good companion in Josie.
Each story I will admit should have another issue to fit more with the Doctor Who model of storytelling,those cliff hangers are key after all. But each premise is done very well in the 23 pages or so they are given.
Each idea is also done very well. The ending is very good with how it ties things up between the characters.
I’d love to read more by this team with these characters but even still I enjoyed the hell out of this and it’s all very well put together, there aren’t any loose ends.
January 14, 2022
The eighth Doctor era in Doctor Who Magazine was a high point for its comic strip, but this much more recent book comes nowhere near to matching it. The stories are simple and silly, and the art sometimes has so little detail that you wouldn't be surprised to hear it was an ashcan comic blown up to full size. If it weren't for the hair I'd have struggled to know which Doctor this was, the storytelling is often unclear, and the placement of the speech balloons is sometimes quite amateurish. I wouldn't recommend it except to completists.
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July 25, 2016
The Eighth Doctor remains one of my all-time favorites. I just love his excitement when it comes to... well, pretty much anything. Also, I just love Paul McGann, so there's that too. My goal in life is to listen to all of the Eighth Doctor's audio adventures.
Anyways! I greatly enjoyed this graphic novel. The stories were fun, and I liked the surprise appearance at the end. I definitely want to continue reading this series.
Anyways! I greatly enjoyed this graphic novel. The stories were fun, and I liked the surprise appearance at the end. I definitely want to continue reading this series.
July 3, 2016
The collection starts of seemingly like five separate, but interesting tales, and each stands on it's own. But, the conclusion really pulls them all together nicely. It's also nice to have more Eighth Doctor stories. Looking forward to the continuing adventures.
August 27, 2017
An entertaining set of stories featuring the Eighth Doctor and a new companion, Josie. The stories are only loosely connected, and represent good-but-not-great plots for the most part, but it's carried by the charm of the Eighth Doctor's portrayal. (B+)
September 12, 2018
Five separate tales, with a connection in the finale. The tales are enjoyable enough but being single parters are rather brief and rushed, there's little depth to them and most of the resolutions are too quick.
August 4, 2016
2 1/2 stars.
December 19, 2023
Nothing about him really stood out, but the adventures were classic Whovian fare.
October 31, 2023
Here the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) visits a house he owns in Wales, only to discover a young woman living there who seemingly can bring paintings to life. He and this Josie are then whisked off on a series of adventures which will ultimately reveal just how their paths came to cross in the first place.
I love Paul McGann's incarnation of the Doctor and he absolutely delivered a compelling version of the character with surprisingly little screen time.
It's therefore pretty disappointing that this graphic novel adventure fails to do that incarnation justice. McGann's easy charm just totally fails to manifest in this book and I couldn't honestly say that the Eighth Doctor here felt particularly distinct.
On top of that, instead of having a single coherent narrative, we get five separate mini-adventures, none of which really has enough time to develop any depth before we're on to the next one. There is a connecting theme of recognising sentience in beings who are very different, but it's not very convincingly strung together and doesn't cover any ground that hasn't been done a million times before in various science fiction stories (including some Who ones).
Overall this was a very disappointing book for me, even if it was slightly elevated by a surprising role for the Twelfth Doctor (my favourite).
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
I love Paul McGann's incarnation of the Doctor and he absolutely delivered a compelling version of the character with surprisingly little screen time.
It's therefore pretty disappointing that this graphic novel adventure fails to do that incarnation justice. McGann's easy charm just totally fails to manifest in this book and I couldn't honestly say that the Eighth Doctor here felt particularly distinct.
On top of that, instead of having a single coherent narrative, we get five separate mini-adventures, none of which really has enough time to develop any depth before we're on to the next one. There is a connecting theme of recognising sentience in beings who are very different, but it's not very convincingly strung together and doesn't cover any ground that hasn't been done a million times before in various science fiction stories (including some Who ones).
Overall this was a very disappointing book for me, even if it was slightly elevated by a surprising role for the Twelfth Doctor (my favourite).
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
June 5, 2020
Since my introduction to Doctor Who a few years ago, I've moved beyond liking only the 11th Doctor and explored some of the Classic Doctors through books, comics and short stories. One that is quickly becoming one of my favorites is the 8th Doctor, played by Paul McGann. He's quiet, eccentric, caring, effortlessly intelligent and charming. He's depicted here with his shorter haircut (not my favorite but I'm certainly not going to nit-pick). There are four comics in this collection connected by a common thread- the companion herself, Josie. She's an interesting match for Doctor 8, and I think I've seen enough of her to know that I do indeed like her. She's bubbly, but smart, and spontaneous yet brave. The five stories here are (and I'm naming them myself because they don't have names) The Portrait People, The Spherions, The Silversmith, The Nixi and The Resurrection Problem. They all take place in different times and locations. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think The Silversmith might just be it if I had to whittle it down. The comics are beautifully drawn and brightly colored. The only downside is this is the only collection of the 8th Doctor, which makes me very sad. More of this, George Mann!!
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