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Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf #1-4
Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf
AN INCREDIBLE NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH DOCTORS IN A TIME-TWISTING TALE FEATURING TWO ROSE TYLERS!
When searching for his next adventure, the Eighth Doctor meets a strange young woman from another universe… Rose Tyler. He has no idea of the destiny they share, but makes it his mission to discover what brought her here, and how to get her home.
Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor is summoned by a mysterious empress plagued with visions of another life. It’s Rose Tyler, but not the one he knows! Hailing from an alternate timeline and trapped here alone, she has become a liberator, conqueror, and now empress. And when she finds out she’s not the only Rose in this universe, something must be done…All hail the Bad Wolf!
Bursting straight out of the long-running hit television series, this Doctor Who collection continues the time-travelling tales of the Doctor and friends.
Buy it, read it, then travel back in time to read it for the first time all over again…!
When searching for his next adventure, the Eighth Doctor meets a strange young woman from another universe… Rose Tyler. He has no idea of the destiny they share, but makes it his mission to discover what brought her here, and how to get her home.
Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor is summoned by a mysterious empress plagued with visions of another life. It’s Rose Tyler, but not the one he knows! Hailing from an alternate timeline and trapped here alone, she has become a liberator, conqueror, and now empress. And when she finds out she’s not the only Rose in this universe, something must be done…All hail the Bad Wolf!
Bursting straight out of the long-running hit television series, this Doctor Who collection continues the time-travelling tales of the Doctor and friends.
Buy it, read it, then travel back in time to read it for the first time all over again…!
112 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2022
14 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
February 10, 2022
2.5
I was so excited to really love this. I love Rose, I love 8, I loved the idea of seeing Rose and Tentoo happy and the whole premise of this series. I ended up enjoying several moments and lines from this, but found it to overall feel a little rushed or unexplained at times. I felt like whenever something was set up I was really excited for it ended up being resolved really quickly or brushed past. The third issue also felt very filler-y and I was overall let down by the ending.
My biggest problem though, and what ultimately made me give this such a low review, was the art and ESPECIALLY the colouring. Why does everyone seem to have blue eyes? Why is Rose kissing a doctor in a brown suit during the flashback to Journey’s end? Why is it 10 in different clothing (or maybe that was meant to be Pete? It looked like how 10 had been drawn) with Rose and Jackie in the flashback to Father’s Day? Why do both Roses have fluctuating hair cuts page to page? I was starting to hope it was all meant to be a *little* off because it was part of a problem the characters would need to face or a reveal of some sort, but it just seems to be a weird divergence from the show and other comics.
Overall I loved the idea but was disappointed by the execution. I really hope we get to see more of Rose in the future!
I was so excited to really love this. I love Rose, I love 8, I loved the idea of seeing Rose and Tentoo happy and the whole premise of this series. I ended up enjoying several moments and lines from this, but found it to overall feel a little rushed or unexplained at times. I felt like whenever something was set up I was really excited for it ended up being resolved really quickly or brushed past. The third issue also felt very filler-y and I was overall let down by the ending.
My biggest problem though, and what ultimately made me give this such a low review, was the art and ESPECIALLY the colouring. Why does everyone seem to have blue eyes? Why is Rose kissing a doctor in a brown suit during the flashback to Journey’s end? Why is it 10 in different clothing (or maybe that was meant to be Pete? It looked like how 10 had been drawn) with Rose and Jackie in the flashback to Father’s Day? Why do both Roses have fluctuating hair cuts page to page? I was starting to hope it was all meant to be a *little* off because it was part of a problem the characters would need to face or a reveal of some sort, but it just seems to be a weird divergence from the show and other comics.
Overall I loved the idea but was disappointed by the execution. I really hope we get to see more of Rose in the future!
June 9, 2022
This is a story of two Roses, Rose Tyler living together with David Tennant Doctor in another time line and Empress Rose Tyler who wants to speak to her Tennant Doctor.
One Rose gets displaced and meets the 8th Doctor and the Empress wanted to speak with her Doctor (also Tennant Doctor) and she ends up with the one that came after Tennant. So both Roses are confronted with a version of the Doctor they do not know.
The 8th Doctor is brilliant given far too little screentime for my taste. So in the new series please make space for him.
Matt Smiths Doctor is my favorite Doctor of the new series mad as a hatter and a crazy man in a blue box.
A very enjoyable episode of comic Doctor Who that does deliver a decent tale for the fans of the Doctor, not a good start for newbies.
One Rose gets displaced and meets the 8th Doctor and the Empress wanted to speak with her Doctor (also Tennant Doctor) and she ends up with the one that came after Tennant. So both Roses are confronted with a version of the Doctor they do not know.
The 8th Doctor is brilliant given far too little screentime for my taste. So in the new series please make space for him.
Matt Smiths Doctor is my favorite Doctor of the new series mad as a hatter and a crazy man in a blue box.
A very enjoyable episode of comic Doctor Who that does deliver a decent tale for the fans of the Doctor, not a good start for newbies.
December 25, 2022
Well, this pretty much felt like a mess of a story. I don't get where the second Rose came from, nor the time-shifting Sontarans, and does every Titan story now have to feature two Doctors? They used to be ... special.
But it was great to see a new Eighth Doctor story, and it was great to see Rose after. I just wish the story were more coherent.
But it was great to see a new Eighth Doctor story, and it was great to see Rose after. I just wish the story were more coherent.
June 26, 2022
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
This Doctor Who graphic novel featuring a story with Rose and the 8th and 11th Doctors seemed a bit odd choice at first, and those stories having taken place so long ago I was bit fuzzy on some of the details. But as the story progressed enough familiarity returned and it ultimately felt like it could have been pulled from TV episodes. Any Doctor Who fan should enjoy reading this book.
This Doctor Who graphic novel featuring a story with Rose and the 8th and 11th Doctors seemed a bit odd choice at first, and those stories having taken place so long ago I was bit fuzzy on some of the details. But as the story progressed enough familiarity returned and it ultimately felt like it could have been pulled from TV episodes. Any Doctor Who fan should enjoy reading this book.
March 22, 2023
4 stars purely for my love of rose tyler. Without that its like. 3 stars, not like the most gripping tale, i could do it better, but rose... Forever and ever best character... I wasnt the biggest fan of the artstyle but the story idea is augh... So good... I dont even care if it makes sense. Many silly moments which i appreciate good to know they dont lose that even in the comics. It would be more gut wrenching soul crushing and would hit harder if it was live action but i liked it frankly.
Main criticism is why does rose have blue eyes.. Strange.
Main criticism is why does rose have blue eyes.. Strange.
June 19, 2022
Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf is a fabulous graphic novel. A great joy to get a story with Rose Tyler and the eighth and eleventh doctors. And a cameo of the tenth doctor. I always love what-if stories and alternative worlds stories. so, this story was just right up my alley. A plus is that the characters were drawn so well that they looked like the characters from the TV show.
May 24, 2022
A fun adventure with the 8th and 11th Doctors and two versions of Rose Tyler.
December 29, 2024
We've reached the stage of dw brainrot where I'm now reading comics. Stay tuned to for more downfalls to come.
This was fun tho so yay.
This was fun tho so yay.
June 15, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the DRC of 'Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf'.
The Eighth and Eleventh Doctors collide with two different versions of Rose Tyler…Companion Rose stolen from her happy life with the Meta-Crisis Doctor (aka John Smith)…and the Empress Bad Wolf Rose who finds that her best intentions may have led her Empire to hell.
First, I have to say that I love Rose. She is my favorite companion and this felt like the best kind of fan service. I love that we got a peek into her life with the human version of the Doctor and that - for the most part - they seem happy (interesting that this doesn’t follow the deleted scene where Rose and 10.2 get a TARDIS of their own).
As with a lot of this show, I think this story has a lot to do with identity…The differences between Eight and Eleven (and even the Meta-Crisis Doctor)...Rose with her daughter and how that relationship parallels Rose and Jackie… and of course the different paths that Companion Rose and Empress Rose have taken.
I really liked that this adventure was with Eight and Eleven. If they had used Ten, I think that the Doctor/Companion relationship would have taken over the whole plot… and I’ve always wanted to see Eleven and Rose interact. I did think that Eight was underutilized so his part could have been expanded a bit.
Overall this was an enjoyable story that I would recommend for readers already entrenched in the Doctor Who Universe.
The Eighth and Eleventh Doctors collide with two different versions of Rose Tyler…Companion Rose stolen from her happy life with the Meta-Crisis Doctor (aka John Smith)…and the Empress Bad Wolf Rose who finds that her best intentions may have led her Empire to hell.
First, I have to say that I love Rose. She is my favorite companion and this felt like the best kind of fan service. I love that we got a peek into her life with the human version of the Doctor and that - for the most part - they seem happy (interesting that this doesn’t follow the deleted scene where Rose and 10.2 get a TARDIS of their own).
As with a lot of this show, I think this story has a lot to do with identity…The differences between Eight and Eleven (and even the Meta-Crisis Doctor)...Rose with her daughter and how that relationship parallels Rose and Jackie… and of course the different paths that Companion Rose and Empress Rose have taken.
I really liked that this adventure was with Eight and Eleven. If they had used Ten, I think that the Doctor/Companion relationship would have taken over the whole plot… and I’ve always wanted to see Eleven and Rose interact. I did think that Eight was underutilized so his part could have been expanded a bit.
Overall this was an enjoyable story that I would recommend for readers already entrenched in the Doctor Who Universe.
June 13, 2022
Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf had an interesting plot idea, which is what drew me to request a review copy. It was also an entertaining enough read that I finished in 30 minutes; however, there were some issues. I questioned aspects of the plot that were never fully explained, plus Rose's Bad Wolf persona felt a bit lacking in the way she was portrayed as the Empress, especially considering the title of the book focuses on that. On the positive side, I did enjoy seeing snippets of her life in the alternate universe with her version of the tenth doctor. When it comes to the illustration that, too, was a bit disappointing. The faces of the two doctors seemed to 'overlap' a lot, with only hair and clothing helping to differentiate them at times. The panels were nicely laid out, especially in some of the full-page spreads, but the lack of distinction between the main characters detracted from that. Overall, I am giving this 3.5 stars. It had a number of problems, but it still kept me entertained for half an hour, and if you are a Doctor Who fan you will doubtless find it enjoyable too.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2024
Eight! And Eleven! And two Roses!! <3 <3
(And for anything other than Doctor Who, that would make absolutely no sense XD)
But I love Jody's writing so much. I'm so excited about all the stories she's written so far, and I want more!! We're on the same wavelength when it comes to what we want to see with this franchise and it's awesome!
(And for anything other than Doctor Who, that would make absolutely no sense XD)
But I love Jody's writing so much. I'm so excited about all the stories she's written so far, and I want more!! We're on the same wavelength when it comes to what we want to see with this franchise and it's awesome!
March 11, 2024
This had so much potential - alternate universes, evil!Rose and two different Doctors?! Truly an inspired set-up . . . and yet it does not pan out. The story is coherent but bland.
The art is okay, though on the bland side. The characters aren't so off-model as to be unrecognizable, but they're not quite successfully captured. There's a stiffness about the art and perhaps the penciller wasn't confident in their ability to render action scenes because rather than show physical action, we mostly get talking heads and reactions.
There is also stuff like - there's a page where Rose comments on how the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS interior looks different from the version she knows, but it's not illustrated. To the reader, we just see Rose and the Doctor standing in a blank, featureless void. And I understand that interiors are hard, but when the dialogue is literally about that, it would be nice if the penciller put some effort in.
I'm not familiar with the Eighth Doctor, so I can't speak to how well or poorly Houser captured him. I felt like she didn't quite have the Eleventh Doctor down - I realize that this is set just after he lost Amy and Rory, so he's in a sulky mood, but he's so taciturn and withdrawn as to seem like an entirely different character. Just sticking a fez on him does not make him feel like Eleven to me . . .
Anyway, this was okay. But the premise could have yielded so much more.
The art is okay, though on the bland side. The characters aren't so off-model as to be unrecognizable, but they're not quite successfully captured. There's a stiffness about the art and perhaps the penciller wasn't confident in their ability to render action scenes because rather than show physical action, we mostly get talking heads and reactions.
There is also stuff like - there's a page where Rose comments on how the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS interior looks different from the version she knows, but it's not illustrated. To the reader, we just see Rose and the Doctor standing in a blank, featureless void. And I understand that interiors are hard, but when the dialogue is literally about that, it would be nice if the penciller put some effort in.
I'm not familiar with the Eighth Doctor, so I can't speak to how well or poorly Houser captured him. I felt like she didn't quite have the Eleventh Doctor down - I realize that this is set just after he lost Amy and Rory, so he's in a sulky mood, but he's so taciturn and withdrawn as to seem like an entirely different character. Just sticking a fez on him does not make him feel like Eleven to me . . .
Anyway, this was okay. But the premise could have yielded so much more.
July 8, 2022
trigger warning
Rose Tyler goes from the parallel universe where she build up her life to another one - but without meaning to. Thankfully, a Doctor comes along to help her puzzle things out.
We have two Rose Tyler, two Doctor and two T.A.R.D.I.S. in a short, fun adventure.
The scene that's on the cover does not occur in the story, but I can live with that.
I believe this was my first Doctor Who comic and now it appears I want to read them all. So I guess recommendations and a warning, because this will take a loooong time. Only read if you're open to a new reading project.
Oh, and this is an additional adventure that is not needed to understand the plot of the tv series. This is closed in itself. In theory, you can just read it and then walk away and ignore my dramatics.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Rose Tyler goes from the parallel universe where she build up her life to another one - but without meaning to. Thankfully, a Doctor comes along to help her puzzle things out.
We have two Rose Tyler, two Doctor and two T.A.R.D.I.S. in a short, fun adventure.
The scene that's on the cover does not occur in the story, but I can live with that.
I believe this was my first Doctor Who comic and now it appears I want to read them all. So I guess recommendations and a warning, because this will take a loooong time. Only read if you're open to a new reading project.
Oh, and this is an additional adventure that is not needed to understand the plot of the tv series. This is closed in itself. In theory, you can just read it and then walk away and ignore my dramatics.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
June 20, 2022
Thank you Titan Books & NetGalley. This Doctor who fan is thrilled to honestly review this comic!
*SPOILERS*
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Seeing our Rose Tyler in the other dimension with Johna and her DAUGHTER <3
I loved how I fully saw that she is happy and while the world of the doctor still affects her and others, I'm glad to close her chapter.
Seeing the interaction between my favourite Doctor 11 and the Eighth Doctor was funny and sad as they can't be in the same room as they bicker but once away they open up about themselves.
*SPOILERS*
*
*
*
*
Seeing our Rose Tyler in the other dimension with Johna and her DAUGHTER <3
I loved how I fully saw that she is happy and while the world of the doctor still affects her and others, I'm glad to close her chapter.
Seeing the interaction between my favourite Doctor 11 and the Eighth Doctor was funny and sad as they can't be in the same room as they bicker but once away they open up about themselves.
June 9, 2023
I wish they would hire Jody Houser for the actual show. She is so good at weaving together the lore of the show’s past and present, and I loved this story! And even though we only get a small glimpse of them together, it was amazing to see Rose and the Metacrisis Doctor.
July 8, 2023
A story with two Doctors (Eight and Eleven) plus two versions of Rose. The plot feels like a bait-and-switch, however; it seems like we're going to deal with the paradox of the two Roses, but the resolution is really about other matters. So a great, promising start is just sort of OK in the end. (B)
June 4, 2022
Ahhhh how I miss Rose Tyler and Tennant`s Doctor.
Read
June 11, 2023I loved seeing more of Rose after her send-off from the show. I love the eighth doctor and always wished he got more content so reading more of him was great, and seeing him interact with eleven was lovely.
December 21, 2023
It's a new adventure for Rose, years after she was trapped for good on Pete's world with her copy of the human doctor. I enjoyed it, and the Empress Rose as well, along with the two doctors she ran into
May 10, 2024
Great lil crossover book for fans of its own lore.
- A Doctor with almost no exposure
- One from the modern series that has got a lot
- A companion for the incarnations between them.
- AND A TYRANNICAL SPACE EMPRESS VERSION OF SAID COMPANION
Shows titular characters' ingenuity, cleverness, and of course, humanity (sentient being-anity?) as much as any sci-fi do-gooder can do.
- A Doctor with almost no exposure
- One from the modern series that has got a lot
- A companion for the incarnations between them.
- AND A TYRANNICAL SPACE EMPRESS VERSION OF SAID COMPANION
Shows titular characters' ingenuity, cleverness, and of course, humanity (sentient being-anity?) as much as any sci-fi do-gooder can do.
May 16, 2022
The Eighth and Eleventh Doctors team with a pair of Rose Tylers when a time paradox brings the four of them together. But one Rose is the Bad Wolf Empress, and she doesn't suffer fools, Doctors, or dopplegangers lightly...
I had a hard time really connecting to this, if I'm being honest. Telling a Rose story without the Ninth or Tenth Doctors feels like a misstep, because even though the Eleventh knows her, it's just not the same. And the Eighth Doctor has always been a bit of a blank slate, and he doesn't get much to define him here. The plot itself is fine, but its last issue 'twist' is fairly obvious from the get-go. Jody Houser's dialogue is usually pretty good though - she nails the Eleventh Doctor's voice really well.
The artwork's lovely though. Roberta Ingranata's Phil Noto-lite style has always been a good fit for the Doctors' adventures, and she manages to make her characters look familiar without being obviously traced or copied.
Not bad, but a bit of a puzzle as to why it exists in this form. Replace the Eighth and Eleventh with the Ninth and Tenth and this would have been a very different (and much more impactful) affair.
I had a hard time really connecting to this, if I'm being honest. Telling a Rose story without the Ninth or Tenth Doctors feels like a misstep, because even though the Eleventh knows her, it's just not the same. And the Eighth Doctor has always been a bit of a blank slate, and he doesn't get much to define him here. The plot itself is fine, but its last issue 'twist' is fairly obvious from the get-go. Jody Houser's dialogue is usually pretty good though - she nails the Eleventh Doctor's voice really well.
The artwork's lovely though. Roberta Ingranata's Phil Noto-lite style has always been a good fit for the Doctors' adventures, and she manages to make her characters look familiar without being obviously traced or copied.
Not bad, but a bit of a puzzle as to why it exists in this form. Replace the Eighth and Eleventh with the Ninth and Tenth and this would have been a very different (and much more impactful) affair.
June 10, 2025
Lovely to see parallel universe Rose thrive
June 14, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Titan Comics for an advanced copy of this graphic adventure featuring Two Doctors, Two Companions, and too much trouble.
People have their favorite Doctors, as in the Timelord not general practioner, and their favorite companion, as in adventuring partner and voice of common sense to the Timelord Doctor. However I think Rose Tyler is probably the companion that most people have the most fondness for. Rose's adventures with the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor were all big, all spectacular and all very memorable, as was here departure, something that not a lot of companions can say happened to them. In Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Roberta Ingranata, Rose returns, in two different forms, with two Doctors one before the one she knew, and the one after the one she knew, its timeywimey stuff, with the galaxy again at stake.
In the alternate dimension that Rose Tyler was exiled to with her husband who shares a lot of Timelord parts, Rose has a series of dreams of a different place and time with enemies falling and cities wailing. Suddenly she finds herself back in her old dimension with a TARDIS appearing. Excited she approaches to find not her Doctor, but an earlier Doctor who has no idea who she is, but being the Doctor promises to help her. At the same time (?) the Eleventh Doctor has come across a big bad leader looking a lot like Rose who is having problems of her own. And these problems could lead to troubles for the whole galaxy.
There is a lot going on in the plot and the characters are really written well, especially the interplay between the Eighth Doctor, who I am really starting to get soft on and would like to know more about and Rose. However the story is a bit of a mess, and just seems to have gotten out of control or something. At the end I wasn't sure what the plan was, why there needed to be a plan or why I should be caring. Plus there were Sontarans, but I have no idea why. The art was also a little off. The Doctors looked ok Rose was ok, but the backgrounds were murky, and the colors seemed muted and blended into each other. I understand that returning certain characters to the fold you need a big story, but this wasn't really it. I would have much preferred if Rose and the other Doctors just has a simple adventure with more talking.
For Rose fans this will be a big draw. Also using the Eighth Doctor is a good idea as he really has no huge baggage, just a bad television show, and really can be anything in a story, is a good idea. However this is not for casual fans, most will be like, who, what where. Which is a shame. I remember the rarity of having the Doctors meet, and how special that was. Not a bad story, but not an epic one that a crossover should be.
People have their favorite Doctors, as in the Timelord not general practioner, and their favorite companion, as in adventuring partner and voice of common sense to the Timelord Doctor. However I think Rose Tyler is probably the companion that most people have the most fondness for. Rose's adventures with the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor were all big, all spectacular and all very memorable, as was here departure, something that not a lot of companions can say happened to them. In Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Roberta Ingranata, Rose returns, in two different forms, with two Doctors one before the one she knew, and the one after the one she knew, its timeywimey stuff, with the galaxy again at stake.
In the alternate dimension that Rose Tyler was exiled to with her husband who shares a lot of Timelord parts, Rose has a series of dreams of a different place and time with enemies falling and cities wailing. Suddenly she finds herself back in her old dimension with a TARDIS appearing. Excited she approaches to find not her Doctor, but an earlier Doctor who has no idea who she is, but being the Doctor promises to help her. At the same time (?) the Eleventh Doctor has come across a big bad leader looking a lot like Rose who is having problems of her own. And these problems could lead to troubles for the whole galaxy.
There is a lot going on in the plot and the characters are really written well, especially the interplay between the Eighth Doctor, who I am really starting to get soft on and would like to know more about and Rose. However the story is a bit of a mess, and just seems to have gotten out of control or something. At the end I wasn't sure what the plan was, why there needed to be a plan or why I should be caring. Plus there were Sontarans, but I have no idea why. The art was also a little off. The Doctors looked ok Rose was ok, but the backgrounds were murky, and the colors seemed muted and blended into each other. I understand that returning certain characters to the fold you need a big story, but this wasn't really it. I would have much preferred if Rose and the other Doctors just has a simple adventure with more talking.
For Rose fans this will be a big draw. Also using the Eighth Doctor is a good idea as he really has no huge baggage, just a bad television show, and really can be anything in a story, is a good idea. However this is not for casual fans, most will be like, who, what where. Which is a shame. I remember the rarity of having the Doctors meet, and how special that was. Not a bad story, but not an epic one that a crossover should be.
June 14, 2022
Full review available on my blog, 5th August 2022: https://inkandplasma.com/2022/08/05/d...
Character - 7
Atmosphere - 10
Writing - 9
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 8
Rating: 8.14 / 4 stars
Thanks to Titan Comics for the eARC of this book. It has not affected my honest review.
Tal and I have been rewatching Doctor Who for a few weeks now, so when I saw EMPIRE OF THE WOLF pop up on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. As soon as I was approved, I curled up to read it and it’s totally rekindled my love for reading Doctor Who content. As I write this, I’m listening to an anthology of short stories (12 Doctors, 12 Stories) and I’ve added a dozen more to my tbr. Oops.
I’m very familiar with Nine onwards, but didn’t know much about Eight before reading this comic. I actually really liked the balance of Eight versus Eleven, especially in combination with the two Roses in this graphic novel. It worked very well, and I always enjoy Doctor and Doctor interactions. In this graphic novel, we also get to see an insight into TenToo and Rose’s life in the alternate universe, which I absolutely loved. We’d only recently rewatched Ten’s seasons, so it was nice to see this little scrap of her future.
I don’t know enough to say if Eight was in character, but Eleven definitely felt accurately portrayed – I could imagine Matt Smith saying his dialogue and all of his individual quirks were present. Rose was also well-written, and I liked that the two Roses were still very distinct characters. The art style was very pretty, though the character designs could have been a bit more distinct, and I liked the page design very much. It was dynamic and guided the eye very well, leading us through the story in a very readable way. I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting.
Bad Wolf Rose is super interesting to see and I’d love to see more about her. Her character arc is fascinating and I do wish that there was more depth to her character. We get to see an excellent storyline where she deals with the moral consequences of her own actions, but I’d have liked to see more about how she became the Empress in the first place. A story about her rise to power would be fascinating and I’d like that a lot as a graphic novel.
Character - 7
Atmosphere - 10
Writing - 9
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 8
Rating: 8.14 / 4 stars
Thanks to Titan Comics for the eARC of this book. It has not affected my honest review.
Tal and I have been rewatching Doctor Who for a few weeks now, so when I saw EMPIRE OF THE WOLF pop up on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. As soon as I was approved, I curled up to read it and it’s totally rekindled my love for reading Doctor Who content. As I write this, I’m listening to an anthology of short stories (12 Doctors, 12 Stories) and I’ve added a dozen more to my tbr. Oops.
I’m very familiar with Nine onwards, but didn’t know much about Eight before reading this comic. I actually really liked the balance of Eight versus Eleven, especially in combination with the two Roses in this graphic novel. It worked very well, and I always enjoy Doctor and Doctor interactions. In this graphic novel, we also get to see an insight into TenToo and Rose’s life in the alternate universe, which I absolutely loved. We’d only recently rewatched Ten’s seasons, so it was nice to see this little scrap of her future.
I don’t know enough to say if Eight was in character, but Eleven definitely felt accurately portrayed – I could imagine Matt Smith saying his dialogue and all of his individual quirks were present. Rose was also well-written, and I liked that the two Roses were still very distinct characters. The art style was very pretty, though the character designs could have been a bit more distinct, and I liked the page design very much. It was dynamic and guided the eye very well, leading us through the story in a very readable way. I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting.
Bad Wolf Rose is super interesting to see and I’d love to see more about her. Her character arc is fascinating and I do wish that there was more depth to her character. We get to see an excellent storyline where she deals with the moral consequences of her own actions, but I’d have liked to see more about how she became the Empress in the first place. A story about her rise to power would be fascinating and I’d like that a lot as a graphic novel.
October 5, 2022
Rose Tyler is pulled back from her life in a parallel universe into an encounter with the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann). Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) encounters another Rose Tyler, product of a paradox, who is Empress of a conquering empire. The two Doctors then have to figure out how to get one Rose back to her adopted universe and how to prevent the other from becoming a conquering tyrant.
What makes this book worthwhile are the interactions between three of the four main characters.
I love a multi-Doctor story and seeing the pre- and post- Time War Doctors interact always makes for interesting reading. It's also really interesting to see Rose interact with the Doctors, neither of whom is either of the incarnations she knows so well. It's particularly emotionally engaging to see the Eleventh Doctor meeting up with Rose, a woman whose loss devastated his previous incarnation, shortly after he has lost both Amy and Rory.
Unfortunately, the fourth main character, Empress Rose, is far less engaging and her backstory is never really explained. I assume it must've happened in some other comics story, but we definitely could've done with a more detailed recap here in order to actually get on board with such a radically different version of Rose.
However, this book's biggest problem is that its story is very rushed.
The plot skips ahead so fast that at times I thumbed back a couple of pages to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped some. There are complex scenes that are given almost no time to develop and establish themselves before things move on at a rapid pace. I felt like this book could've been infinitely better by being just a little bit longer, but instead comes across as rushed, incomplete and, ultimately, a bit unsatisfying.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
What makes this book worthwhile are the interactions between three of the four main characters.
I love a multi-Doctor story and seeing the pre- and post- Time War Doctors interact always makes for interesting reading. It's also really interesting to see Rose interact with the Doctors, neither of whom is either of the incarnations she knows so well. It's particularly emotionally engaging to see the Eleventh Doctor meeting up with Rose, a woman whose loss devastated his previous incarnation, shortly after he has lost both Amy and Rory.
Unfortunately, the fourth main character, Empress Rose, is far less engaging and her backstory is never really explained. I assume it must've happened in some other comics story, but we definitely could've done with a more detailed recap here in order to actually get on board with such a radically different version of Rose.
However, this book's biggest problem is that its story is very rushed.
The plot skips ahead so fast that at times I thumbed back a couple of pages to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped some. There are complex scenes that are given almost no time to develop and establish themselves before things move on at a rapid pace. I felt like this book could've been infinitely better by being just a little bit longer, but instead comes across as rushed, incomplete and, ultimately, a bit unsatisfying.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
July 10, 2022
One of the best things about the "Doctor Who" franchise is that even when the show's off the air, there's a constant wealth of new stories to explore. And oftentimes, these expanded universe stories go places the TV series can't - experimental format-breaking stories, stories with such an epic scale that a BBC TV budget could never pull it off, or, as is the case with Titan Comics' newest "Doctor Who" arc, "Empire of the Wolf", a multi-Doctor story that combines elements of Classic and New Who together in a way that defies actor availability (or age). And that right there is what makes "Empire of the Wolf" so fun. It's the kind of fast-paced multi-Doctor romp you've always wanted to see on TV but never thought you would. And that gimmick easily smoothes over some of the story's weaker elements.
Written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Roberta Ingranata, "Empire of the Wolf" finds Rose Tyler pulled out of the alternate reality she lives in with the Metacrisis Doctor and back into the main Whoniverse. Only this time, something is weird. There’s another Rose - and she’s an empress. The Bad Wolf Empress, to be exact, bent on conquering worlds to “save” their citizens. It’s a paradox so big that multiple TARDISes are hot on its trail, bringing the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors into a bombastic, multi-Doctor bonanza that’s every bit as thrilling as you’d hope it would be. Multiverses are all the rage right now, so it’s fun to see "Doctor Who", which has been flirting with its own multiverse for nearly two decades, joining in on the fun. And for fans of Rose, seeing her in such a new light is worth the price of entry alone.
For many, the idea of a multi-Doctor adventure with the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors will be the bigger draw here. The two have never met on screen, so this is the perfect opportunity to bring these Doctors together. And in some ways, "Empire of the Wolf" delivers brilliantly on that front, really playing up the differences between the pre-Time War Eighth Doctor and the post-Time War Eleventh. But surprisingly, the two Doctors actually spend a fair amount of the story separated. Without venturing too far into spoilers, the two Doctors get paired off with the two different Roses - which, to be fair, is also a lot of fun. Especially since Eight has never met Rose and Eleven is all too familiar with how her story ended. But if you’re expecting "Day of the Doctor"-style shenanigans here, you should temper those expectations.
What you can expect is a portrayal of the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors that avoids caricature - an impressive feat given how short "Empire of the Wolf" is. Both Doctors are traveling on their own as the arc begins. And Houser explores their shared loneliness, their longing for adventure, and their weariness at their respective heartaches brilliantly and quite movingly. It’s a characterization that feels true to both Doctors - but one that also ties in with Rose’s arc. A woman once again lost in time and space (and a woman born out of a paradox), the two Roses are every bit as lost as the Doctors. Houser uses all of these characters’ losses to explore the idea of how we cope with such situations - in an exceedingly bonkers sci-fi way.
Where "Empire of the Wolf" falters some is in its brevity. Like most of Titan Comics’ recent "Doctor Who" comics, "Empire of the Wolf" is only four issues long - meaning there’s not a lot of time to really delve deep into the story’s ideas. Now, there are some positives here. "Empire of the Wolf" is captivating from start to finish, immediately hitting the ground running and never taking its foot off the gas until the story ends. But that comes at the cost of both character development and world-building. Avoiding spoilers, a character basically makes a complete 180 within the span of only a few pages. And very little time is spent explaining how the Bad Wolf Empress exists or who she is (outside of basically being Rose). And these definitely knock the story’s effectiveness down a few notches.
It’s difficult not to think of all the ways a five or six-issue arc could’ve expanded upon these ideas. But Houser makes the most of these four issues and finds some time for quieter, character-driven moments. Unfortunately, the whole arc just moves so quickly that there’s not enough time for it to slow down enough and reflect on its characters or its world as much as you might like. Still, "Empire of the Wolf" works far more often than it doesn’t. As usual, Houser perfectly captures the voices of the TV series’ characters, bringing them to life with such accuracy that it genuinely feels like you’re reading an unmade "Doctor Who" episode. And the story, itself, is a perfectly fun romp that hits the vast majority of the notes you want it to. It’s just also easy to see the moments that could’ve been expanded.
As for the artwork, it’s just as excellent. Roberta Ingranata’s artwork and Warnia K. Sahadewa’s colors perfectly balance screen accuracy with the needs of a comic book. Ingranata captures the essence of Paul McGann, Matt Smith, and Billie Piper’s physicalities and facial expressions, beautifully translating them into comic form. There’s never a moment where you don’t feel like you’re looking at the Eighth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, or Rose Tyler. And the very retro sci-fi vibe she imbues the Bad Wolf Empress’s headquarters and spaceships with makes me even happier. Alongside Houser’s script, Ingranata’s artwork keeps the action moving at a brisk pace - but never so quickly that it’s hard to follow. And combined with Sahadewa’s eye-popping colors, every page of "Empire of the Wolf" is a delight to behold, filled with little pockets of sci-fi magic and boundless energy.
On the whole, "Empire of the Wolf" is a multi-Doctor story unlike many others. With the focus less on the multiple Doctors and more on the multiple Rose Tylers, it’s an exciting, character-driven, bombastic event. While the story’s shorter length prevents it from exploring its ideas as deeply as you might like, it’s still an endlessly captivating page-turner of a comic. As someone who’s never particularly thrilled for another Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler story, this one is the exception to that rule. Plus, Houser’s depiction of the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors is particularly impressive. Plus, Ingranata’s artwork is always a sight to behold. If you’re looking for a good, solid "Doctor Who" story to tide you over until the 13th Doctor’s final episode, "Empire of the Wolf" is a great place to start.
Written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Roberta Ingranata, "Empire of the Wolf" finds Rose Tyler pulled out of the alternate reality she lives in with the Metacrisis Doctor and back into the main Whoniverse. Only this time, something is weird. There’s another Rose - and she’s an empress. The Bad Wolf Empress, to be exact, bent on conquering worlds to “save” their citizens. It’s a paradox so big that multiple TARDISes are hot on its trail, bringing the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors into a bombastic, multi-Doctor bonanza that’s every bit as thrilling as you’d hope it would be. Multiverses are all the rage right now, so it’s fun to see "Doctor Who", which has been flirting with its own multiverse for nearly two decades, joining in on the fun. And for fans of Rose, seeing her in such a new light is worth the price of entry alone.
For many, the idea of a multi-Doctor adventure with the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors will be the bigger draw here. The two have never met on screen, so this is the perfect opportunity to bring these Doctors together. And in some ways, "Empire of the Wolf" delivers brilliantly on that front, really playing up the differences between the pre-Time War Eighth Doctor and the post-Time War Eleventh. But surprisingly, the two Doctors actually spend a fair amount of the story separated. Without venturing too far into spoilers, the two Doctors get paired off with the two different Roses - which, to be fair, is also a lot of fun. Especially since Eight has never met Rose and Eleven is all too familiar with how her story ended. But if you’re expecting "Day of the Doctor"-style shenanigans here, you should temper those expectations.
What you can expect is a portrayal of the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors that avoids caricature - an impressive feat given how short "Empire of the Wolf" is. Both Doctors are traveling on their own as the arc begins. And Houser explores their shared loneliness, their longing for adventure, and their weariness at their respective heartaches brilliantly and quite movingly. It’s a characterization that feels true to both Doctors - but one that also ties in with Rose’s arc. A woman once again lost in time and space (and a woman born out of a paradox), the two Roses are every bit as lost as the Doctors. Houser uses all of these characters’ losses to explore the idea of how we cope with such situations - in an exceedingly bonkers sci-fi way.
Where "Empire of the Wolf" falters some is in its brevity. Like most of Titan Comics’ recent "Doctor Who" comics, "Empire of the Wolf" is only four issues long - meaning there’s not a lot of time to really delve deep into the story’s ideas. Now, there are some positives here. "Empire of the Wolf" is captivating from start to finish, immediately hitting the ground running and never taking its foot off the gas until the story ends. But that comes at the cost of both character development and world-building. Avoiding spoilers, a character basically makes a complete 180 within the span of only a few pages. And very little time is spent explaining how the Bad Wolf Empress exists or who she is (outside of basically being Rose). And these definitely knock the story’s effectiveness down a few notches.
It’s difficult not to think of all the ways a five or six-issue arc could’ve expanded upon these ideas. But Houser makes the most of these four issues and finds some time for quieter, character-driven moments. Unfortunately, the whole arc just moves so quickly that there’s not enough time for it to slow down enough and reflect on its characters or its world as much as you might like. Still, "Empire of the Wolf" works far more often than it doesn’t. As usual, Houser perfectly captures the voices of the TV series’ characters, bringing them to life with such accuracy that it genuinely feels like you’re reading an unmade "Doctor Who" episode. And the story, itself, is a perfectly fun romp that hits the vast majority of the notes you want it to. It’s just also easy to see the moments that could’ve been expanded.
As for the artwork, it’s just as excellent. Roberta Ingranata’s artwork and Warnia K. Sahadewa’s colors perfectly balance screen accuracy with the needs of a comic book. Ingranata captures the essence of Paul McGann, Matt Smith, and Billie Piper’s physicalities and facial expressions, beautifully translating them into comic form. There’s never a moment where you don’t feel like you’re looking at the Eighth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, or Rose Tyler. And the very retro sci-fi vibe she imbues the Bad Wolf Empress’s headquarters and spaceships with makes me even happier. Alongside Houser’s script, Ingranata’s artwork keeps the action moving at a brisk pace - but never so quickly that it’s hard to follow. And combined with Sahadewa’s eye-popping colors, every page of "Empire of the Wolf" is a delight to behold, filled with little pockets of sci-fi magic and boundless energy.
On the whole, "Empire of the Wolf" is a multi-Doctor story unlike many others. With the focus less on the multiple Doctors and more on the multiple Rose Tylers, it’s an exciting, character-driven, bombastic event. While the story’s shorter length prevents it from exploring its ideas as deeply as you might like, it’s still an endlessly captivating page-turner of a comic. As someone who’s never particularly thrilled for another Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler story, this one is the exception to that rule. Plus, Houser’s depiction of the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors is particularly impressive. Plus, Ingranata’s artwork is always a sight to behold. If you’re looking for a good, solid "Doctor Who" story to tide you over until the 13th Doctor’s final episode, "Empire of the Wolf" is a great place to start.
June 11, 2022
Two doctors, two Rose Tyler’s and alternate timelines heck yeah sign me up!
I’m a HUGE doctor who fan so as soon as I saw this in NetGalley I immediately requested it! ( THANK YOU SO MUCH NetGalley and to the publisher for granting me access to read this in exchange for an honest review!)
Let’s talk about what I liked about this comic first!
• I really liked seeing what Rose’s life was like after splitting from the doctor in the tragic way that she did. (The fact that I had relive that moment made me want to jump off a cliff because I’m a baby and that scene will forever be burned into my brain).
• I LOVE when multiple doctors get together it’s always a good time, I personally don’t know much about the 8th doctor since I started my Doctor Who journey with 9.
Now let’s discuss what I didn’t like and unfortunately there’s more cons than pros for me on this one.
• I did not like the art style in this at all the characters looked odd to me.
• I personally don’t feel like they represented Rose’s “bad wolf” persona very well.
• The ending was a bit bland, it didn’t feel epic like how the show is. The doctors said this is what we’re going to do and boom it was done the end, not really exciting.
So to wrap this up I’m a bit disappointed in this comic, I was expecting more. I do recommend you read this if you’re a doctor who fan though!
I’m a HUGE doctor who fan so as soon as I saw this in NetGalley I immediately requested it! ( THANK YOU SO MUCH NetGalley and to the publisher for granting me access to read this in exchange for an honest review!)
Let’s talk about what I liked about this comic first!
• I really liked seeing what Rose’s life was like after splitting from the doctor in the tragic way that she did. (The fact that I had relive that moment made me want to jump off a cliff because I’m a baby and that scene will forever be burned into my brain).
• I LOVE when multiple doctors get together it’s always a good time, I personally don’t know much about the 8th doctor since I started my Doctor Who journey with 9.
Now let’s discuss what I didn’t like and unfortunately there’s more cons than pros for me on this one.
• I did not like the art style in this at all the characters looked odd to me.
• I personally don’t feel like they represented Rose’s “bad wolf” persona very well.
• The ending was a bit bland, it didn’t feel epic like how the show is. The doctors said this is what we’re going to do and boom it was done the end, not really exciting.
So to wrap this up I’m a bit disappointed in this comic, I was expecting more. I do recommend you read this if you’re a doctor who fan though!
Read
June 10, 2022A crossover between two of my favourite Doctors, the Eighth and Eleventh - except that Ingranata's likenesses feel like their faces are converging, so the former's handsomeness and the latter's face-like-a-foot charm are both compromised. Also featuring two Roses. One is the one we knew, left in the other world with a knock-off Tenth, and no, of course this account doesn't match up with the one in the Target Storybook; Who's lack of a strict continuity has always been part of the appeal, but especially when Rusty looks set to revisit this stuff next year, it's not easy to accept any of this as 'mattering'. The other Rose is an empress, though one who's got there by helping people. "Most of the revolutionaries I've met bring down palaces, they don't build them," says the Doctor, which is up there with "a man who never would" as one of the most obviously wrong things he's ever said, though I suppose part of the character is that he doesn't tend to stick around for that bit. Which would be OK if the story left it there, but no, instead he proceeds to take the other Rose on a tour of planets she's saved and show her they're still a mess, which just feels hypocritical. There are moments here and there which come off, but overall this is not a winner.
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
June 28, 2022
Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
This was a wonderful little adventure that brought back Rose Tyler and gave us an update on her life with John Smith (David Tennant in the alternate reality they live in together). While I was excited to see how those two were doing, the adventure within the pages kept me interested. A fun classic Doctor Who adventure that was funny and thrilling.
The explanation for why there were two Roses was a little weak and could have been made clearer. Though seeing the different iterations of the character was very entertaining and enjoyable. Rose is such a fan favorite that it was really nice to see her doing well as a (SPOILERS) mother and also being badass on an intergalactic mission.
The choice to have the doctor just before Rose and the doctor just after Rose was very well done, especially with how they interacted. Eleven still holds resentment for Eight which is apparent throughout their interactions. The callbacks to earlier episodes (when Rose meets her Dad with Nine and the Amy episodes with Eleven) were especially nice for fans who have missed and still love those dynamics.
Overall, a very entertaining story that I recommend to any Whovian/ Rose Tyler stan!
This was a wonderful little adventure that brought back Rose Tyler and gave us an update on her life with John Smith (David Tennant in the alternate reality they live in together). While I was excited to see how those two were doing, the adventure within the pages kept me interested. A fun classic Doctor Who adventure that was funny and thrilling.
The explanation for why there were two Roses was a little weak and could have been made clearer. Though seeing the different iterations of the character was very entertaining and enjoyable. Rose is such a fan favorite that it was really nice to see her doing well as a (SPOILERS) mother and also being badass on an intergalactic mission.
The choice to have the doctor just before Rose and the doctor just after Rose was very well done, especially with how they interacted. Eleven still holds resentment for Eight which is apparent throughout their interactions. The callbacks to earlier episodes (when Rose meets her Dad with Nine and the Amy episodes with Eleven) were especially nice for fans who have missed and still love those dynamics.
Overall, a very entertaining story that I recommend to any Whovian/ Rose Tyler stan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for the E-ARC to read and review.
“Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf” follows 2 different versions of Rose Tyler and 2 separate Doctors. The story was very well done and it felt a lot like an episode of the show. As a fan of Matt Smith’s version of the Doctor it was nice to see him again. The story while interesting did seem to carry a lot of holes in it or events that simply went unexplained which took me out of the story several times.
I loved the glimpses into Rose’s regular life and her daughter and everything. It pulled at my heartstrings and brought back a lot of emotions about how crushing that story.one n the show had been. This really added a nice continuation to that storyline and I enjoyed the look into the “after.”
The voices of both Doctors were really well done and it was easy to relate them back to their show counterparts because they sounded true to their characters which was a nice and welcome touch.
The art was beautifully done and tied in with the overall feel of the story as a whole. I think that fans of “Doctor Who” will enjoy this comic a great deal.
“Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf” follows 2 different versions of Rose Tyler and 2 separate Doctors. The story was very well done and it felt a lot like an episode of the show. As a fan of Matt Smith’s version of the Doctor it was nice to see him again. The story while interesting did seem to carry a lot of holes in it or events that simply went unexplained which took me out of the story several times.
I loved the glimpses into Rose’s regular life and her daughter and everything. It pulled at my heartstrings and brought back a lot of emotions about how crushing that story.one n the show had been. This really added a nice continuation to that storyline and I enjoyed the look into the “after.”
The voices of both Doctors were really well done and it was easy to relate them back to their show counterparts because they sounded true to their characters which was a nice and welcome touch.
The art was beautifully done and tied in with the overall feel of the story as a whole. I think that fans of “Doctor Who” will enjoy this comic a great deal.
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