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Monthly Archives: August 2013

Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, BOOM! Studios

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BOOM Studios, Brandon Seifert, Cenobites, Clive Barker, Hellraiser, Hellraiser The Dark Watch, Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7, Tom Garcia, Valadimir Popov

Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7

Review by Paul Bowler

Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7 continues this new era of Hellraiser by Clive Barker and co-writer Brandon Seifert, as the Cenobites are confronted by a new enemy; Tiffany continues her search for Kirsty Cotton. Ex private investigator Henry D’Amour has become the new High Priest of Hell, but the Cenobites only follow him grudgingly and Leviathan’s realm has come under attack by a rival faction of demons. While the female Cenobite watches the conflict unfold, Tiffany and her allies begin to wonder if D’Amour has become corrupted by his new role.

As the battle rages in Hell, new alliances are formed, and Tiffany is faced with a startling revelation about Kirsty.  After a demonic entity known as the Raparee appears, D’Amour begs them to release him from the binding circle as the hulking demon turns on him. His talisman protects him long enough for Theo to use the enchanted blade against the creature, allowing the others time to get rid of The Glyph of the Solutent and burn the monstrosity. D’Amour tells them how the demon is one of the many now attacking the Labyrinth, but the Cenobites are unable to harm them, as they are also protected by talismans like the one they just used. Harry asks for their help and Tiffany agrees to go along with his plan, but she has one condition of her own…

In the Labyrinth the Cenobites are forced to retreat as the Heretics defile their domain, unable to attack them while they are protected, they await word from their Pontifex for a solution. The female Cenobite watches as the demons arrange the bodies of the fallen Cenobites on the ground, and she slowly begins to realize that they are using the corpses to construct a massive Glyph of the Solutent on the surface of the Labyrinth to encircle Leviathan.

Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7 (Cover)

Tiffany and the others arrive through the portal and witness the Glyph taking shape below. Harry guesses that the demons are planning to assassinate Leviathan. Using the protection talisman and the demon killing knife, Norton leads the attack, hoping that their combined skills – and a little help from the Cenobite army – will be enough to see them through. The battle goes well, but Tiffany is shocked to discover that D’amour has been lying to her. On retuning to their own reality Tiffany waits until the other are safely through the portal before making a momentous decision…

This new ongoing series from BOOM Studios continues to expand the mythology of the Hellraiser universe, as Clive Barker and Brandon Seifert set the stage for the next chapter in power struggle between the Cenobites and a new breed of demons. Since his return to the Hellraiser universe, Clive Barker has completely re-imagined the Hellraiser saga, together with co-writer Brandon Seifert (Witch Doctor, Hellraiser: The Raod Below) and art by Tom Garcia, to bring a new direction to one of the horror genres greatest franchises.

Brandon Seifert does an excellent job of bringing Clive Barker’s vision to life as Hellraiser The Dark Watch#7 sees the action between dimensions escalating, weaving numerous plot threads together, as the series reaches a turning point – the effects of which are sure to have significant implications over the next few issues.

Tom Garcia’s art is perfectly suited to the Hellraiser series, every detail of the Cenobites shadowy realm oozes with menace, and the big reveal of The Glyph of the Solutent on the surface of the Labyrinth is stunning. The colors by Valadimir Popov’s are also exceptionally good, especially during the battles, as the muted tones of the Labyrinth give way to the blood splattered carnage.

Hellraiser The Dark Watch #7 continues this bold new era for Hellraiser, with its intricate storylines, compelling characters, and great art, this series is a must for fans of Clive Barker and the Hellraiser films.

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The Walking Dead #113 Review

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, The Walking Dead

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Andrea, Carl Grimes, Charlie Adlard, Image Comics, Lucile, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #113

The Walking Dead #113

Review by Paul Bowler

The Walking Dead #113

Furious after discovering that Negan has killed Spencer, Rick orders a lockdown at Alexandra, while Andrea takes up a sniping position in the bell tower to cover their attack. Negan is left scrabbling in the dirt as Andrea takes out his guards, leaving Rick free to close in for the kill. But before Rick can take out the Saviors leader, Negan‘s snipers open fire, quickly turning the tide of the battle as Rick and his fellow survivors find themselves outgunned and at Negan’s mercy.

It would seem that Rick has made a critical mistake as The Walking Dead #113 opens after his plan to kill Negan backfires. Andrea watches from the bell tower as Rick and his people are surrounded outside the gates of Alexandria. Before Andrea can help, one of Negan’s men sneaks into the bell tower and attacks her. In an attempt to help his father, Carl shoots at Negan, but misses and takes a chunk out of Lucile instead.

The Walking Dead #113 preview 1

Enraged that his beloved baseball bat has been damaged, Negan demands that Carl is handed over to him, or he will pound in the skulls of all four of the hostages with his barb wire encrusted weapon, in exactly the same way he killed Glen. When they refuse to give Carl up, Negan prepares to carry out his threat and kill the hostages. Rick looks up at the bell tower as Negan stands poised to strike and watches in horror as a body tumbles from the tower…

The Walking Dead #113 has Rick being beaten down yet again by Negan, as his attempt to kill the Saviors leader goes disastrously wrong. Now that Negan wants Carl to pay for what he’s done to Lucile, we see Rick at his most desperate as Negan resolves to break him by taking his revenge on his son. In fact Negan seems more incensed by Carl shooting Lucile than Rick’s attempt on his life. The sight of Negan cradling the weapon in his arms, ranting about the unforgivable act Carl has inflicted to his “lady”, is almost as perverse as it is pathetic.

Robert Kirkman continues to make Negan one hell of a compelling character, sick, twisted, and lewdly psychotic, he has become a fearsome nemesis for Rick and the survivors. This issue also sheds some light on the barbed wired love of Negan’s life, Lucile. Although he may have an entire hareem of women broken to his will back at his camp, it is Lucile who Negan truly loves. This inanimate object has become something to be cherished, having saved his life many times over, and the leader of the Saviors is only too happy to share the intimate details of exactly how much pleasure she brings him.

Jesus also makes an important discovery this issue, when he investigates the outpost that Dwight told Ezekiel about. Apparently it was still in use, however it is completely deserted. Now would certainly be a good time for Jesus to bring in some much needed reinforcements from Ezekiel and the other Hilltop communities to help Rick. The deserted outpost also raises some doubts about Dwight, he is still a relatively unknown quantity, and it’s entirely possible that he could have been lying about wanting to help them just so he could uncover the full extent of their plans.

The Walking Dead #113 preview 4

The Walking Dead #113 also features some great artwork by Charlie Adlard, with the tension building on the ground as Negan confronts Rick; it is Andrea’s brutal fight with one of Negan’s men in the bell tower that really makes this issue. Every moment of this savage attack is conveyed over a series of intensely structured pages by Adlard, Her spirit remains unbroken, despite the terrible beating she suffers, if anything it seems to strengthen her resolve, and she dishes out just as much punishment to her attacker n return.

The final moments, with Andrea and her assailant struggling precariously on the edge of the window is absolutely nail biting stuff. Back on the ground Rick glances upwards and sees a body fall from the bell tower. Believing that Andrea is dead Rick crumples to his knees, overwhelmed with grief and shock, seemingly resigned to his fate as Negan closes in to enact his revenge. “You and me, that’s the rule, we don’t die…” Andrea’s words from earlier resonate over this issues closing moments. This mindset has served them well in the past, keeping them both alive when all has seemed lost, and it must surely become one that the remaining survivors will have to adopt if they are to stand any chance against Negan and the Saviors.

This is another great issue by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, with events clearly building towards the All Out War storyline, it looks as if our patience is about to be rewarded. It has been just over a year since Negan and the Saviours were introduced, ever since Negan killed Glenn in issue #100 the plot has dragged a little at times, but now things are set to really kick into overdrive. It has taken a long time to get to this point, lets just hope that All Out War can live up to all the hype, and that Kirkman has something really special in store for us.

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Batman #23 Review

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, DC Comics

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Batman, Batman #23, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comcs, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, James Tynion IV, Rafael Albuquerque, Scott Snyder, The New 52, The Red Hood, The Red Hood Gang, Zero Year

Batman #23

Review by Paul Bowler

Batman #23 (Cover1)

Batman #23 sees Bruce cornered by the Red Hood Gang in the flaming ruins of his home, battered senseless, and defiant to the bitter end. When Bruce manages to escape, he is left with no choice but to return to Wayne Manor. It is here, within the shadowy halls of the ancestral home he abandoned so long ago, that Zero Year makes history as we witness the moment where Bruce Wayne decided to become the Batman…

Scott Snyder takes us right to the core of the Batman mythos as Bruce Wayne’s life is reborn from the ashes of defeat. Having only just managed to escape with his life after the explosive attack by the Red Hood Gang, we watch as Bruce returns to Wayne Manor, his war on crime now a smouldering ruin as he tumbles into unconsciousness. He wakes to find Alfred has returned to help aid his recovery. It is here that Alfred recalls what happened directly after Bruce’s parents were shot, in a heart warming scene, Alfred pledges his loyalty to Bruce – no matter how much they ever fight or disagree.

Batman #23 (1)

Events at Wayne Industries also take a sinister turn, as the Philip Kane confronts Edward Nygma. So far the Riddler seems to have been content to watch events unfold, now his intricate web of riddles is about to close in on Philip Kane, and it appears that Edward Nygma has decided its time for him to step out of the shadow of his anonymity.

We also get some insight into the origin of the Red Hood Gang, including revelations about their connections to Gotham City, and how the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents was instrumental in leading the Red Hood to form the gang. Although the Red Hood has targeted Bruce, he still takes the time to enjoy his moment of triumph. It seems that their lives have been inexorably drawn together, like moths to a flame, each consigned to a path that had already been written by fate to make them the complete antithesis of the other. This fearful symmetry is relayed through the dialogue, which is then punctuated by two deliberately placed gunshots, which slam home the Red Hood’s connection to Bruce Wayne and the night Bruce left the theatre with his parents. If over the course of Zero Year, the Red Hood is indeed revealed to be the Clown Prince of Crime, the events of Batman #23 will mark a significant milestone in the characters origin.

Batman #23 (5)

Scott Snyder takes the familiar origin story of Batman and enhances it with a decidedly high-tech twist, delivering something that is eternally faithful to Bill Finger’s origin story from the classic Detective Comics #33 (1939), whilst enabling Zero Year to offer an entirely new perspective on the iconic scene where the bat flies into the manor and changes Bruce’s life forever. Snyder and Capullo bring this moment to life in the most spectacular way imaginable; epic in scope and scale, these pages will leave you breathless as the grand visuals magically unfold.

The art for Batman #23 by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki charts every exquisite moment leading up to the scene where Bruce Wayne is inspired to become the Batman, together with the intricate colors by FCO Plascencia, this third instalment of Zero Year captures the epic nature of Snyder’s new take on the Dark Knights origin perfectly. Told through a series of intermingling flashbacks – signified by FCO’s sublime color palette that alters for each period of time the story jumps between – the chains that bind the gates of Wayne Manor shatter symbolically as Batman #23 shows Bruce at his lowest point since his parent’s brutal murder.

Batman #23 (2)

For all his training and dedication to his cause, Bruce has been unable to stop the Red Hood. Now as Bruce recovers from the near fatal attack by the Red Hood Gang, he finds Alfred has returned to tend his wounds, and after Alfred recalls the aftermath of the Wayne’s murder on that fateful night, he later walks the darkened halls of Wayne Manor a deeply troubled man. This voyage through what Bruce perceives to be his own failings is beautifully offset by his discovery of the cave as a child, and the moment when his father rescued him. In essence, it is Bruce’s fathers words that now call out to him from the past, in a moment of quiet reflection where Bruce searches the house for a way to banish his despair; it is the father who guides his son back from the brink of the abyss once more before the bat appears and becomes emblazoned on his soul forever.

Rafael Albuquerque provides the art for the back up story by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, where the young Bruce Wayne ends up fighting for his life in a death match in Norway. The Pit shows how Bruce endured a trial by combat, which lasted for over twenty eight hours, where his training and skills as a fighter were pushed to the limit by a relentless number of opponents. Even against these insurmountable odds, the young Bruce Wayne refuses to back down, and in the end his inner strength ensures that no man will dare stand against him.

Batman #23 (Var Cover)

The cover of Batman #23 by Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia shows one of Batman’s gauntlets as it is being pulled on, his other hand clasped tightly around the wrist, locking it into place as the full moon rises in the sky overhead. Batman #23 marks the momentous events leading up to the moment where Bruce will soon choose to don the cape and cowl of the Dark Knight, and Capullo’s cover beautifully captures the majesty  of this event and frames it against the gleaming orb of the moon. The variant cover for Batman #23 by Gary Frank (Shazam) and Brad Anderson is equally as atmospheric, and shows Bruce standing inside Wayne Manor – the building now fused symbiotically with the cave itself – silhouetted against the moonlit sky as the bats that inspired him fly in through the window while Bruce prepares to embrace his destiny swathed in a cloak of shadows.

Batman #23 is the most enthralling instalment of Zero Year so far. The narrative is rich and complex, Snyder draws together many elements – past and present – as the multiple storylines converge for the thrilling climax. This incredible final scene rounds off another excellent issue by Snyder and Capullo as Zero Year begins to spread its wings and the legend of the Dark Knight is born anew…

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Dr Who: The Era of Monsters

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Dr Who (Classic Series)

≈ 8 Comments

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2nd Doctor, Anneke Wills, Ben, Cybermen, Daleks, Deborah Whatling, Doctor Who, Evil of the Daleks, Frazer Hines, Fury From The Deep, Ice Warriors, Jamie, Michael Craze, Patrick Troughton, Polly, Power of the Dalek, The Abominable Snowmen, The Dominators, The Enemy of the World, The Faceless Ones, The Highlanders, The Ice Warriors, The Invasion, The Krotons, The Macra Terror, The Mind Robber, The Moonbase, The Seeds of Death, The Space Pirates, The Underwater Menace, The War Games, The Web of Fear, The Wheel In Space, Tomb of the Cybermen, Victoria, Yeti, Zoe

Dr Who: The Era of Monsters

By Paul Bowler

 2nd Doctor Polly Ben (Moonbase)

When William Hartnell transformed into Patrick Troughton during the final episode of The Tenth Planet (1966), a nation held its breath as a new Doctor emerged from a gleaming halo of light to whisk his companions Ben (Michael Craze) and Polly (Anneke Wills) away to the planet Vulcan, and their first encounter with the Doctor’s ach enemies – the Daleks! If any had doubted that the popular character actor, who was a master at utilising costumes and make up to great effect (gaining him many staring roles during the 50’s & 60’s), would be able to make the transition of Doctor Who’s leading actor a success; their doubts must have been quickly dispelled as they became enthralled by the new Doctor who emerged from the TARDIS in Power of the Daleks.

As Doctor Who’s fourth season continued apace, Patrick Troughton’s impish “cosmic hobo” would become imprinted on the minds of children and adults for generations to come, battling evil and tyranny from every dark corner of the universe. This “renewed” Doctor was strikingly different to Hartnell’s grandfatherly wanderer of the fourth dimension; Troughton was more like a chaotic Charlie Chaplin. He may have acted like a bumbling fool who happily played his recorder, with his crumpled frock coat, baggy trousers, and a penchant for outrageous hats, but the fearsome intellect within was never far from the surface and nearly always one step ahead of his enemies.

During the next story, The Highlanders (1966/67), Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) joined the TARDIS crew after the battle of Culloden, and together with the Doctor, Ben, and Polly the young Scott would soon visit Atlantis in The Underwater Menace (1967), face the Cybermen in The Moonbase (1967), and battle giant crabs in The Macra Terror (1967) before returning to Earth to confront the shape-shifting menace of the Chameleons in The Faceless Ones (1967).

Evil of the Daleks

After Polly and Ben decide to remain on Earth the Doctor and Jamie discover that the TARDIS has been stolen. They trace the TARDIS to Edward Satterfield’s (John Bailey) old antique shop, where they are transported back to 1867 where the Daleks are holding Waterfield’s daughter, Victoria (Deborah Watling), hostage to ensure his compliance as they manipulate Theodore Maxtible‘s (Marius Goring) experiments for their own ends. The Daleks force the Doctor to implant the human factor into three Dalek test subjects, but he ultimately turns the Daleks master plan against them by unleashing a Dalek Civil War on Skaro that destroys the Daleks and their Emperor.

Season Four had seen Doctor Who reborn with the glorious concept of regeneration. As Evil of the Daleks (1967) left the Daleks utterly defeated, the masterstroke of recasting Patrick Troughton as the Doctor had proved to be an unqualified success. Behind the scenes though big changes were afoot, as producer Innes Lloyd paved the way for his successor, Peter Bryant, while story editor Victor Pemberton (a position also held by Bryant for part of Season Five) left to be replaced by freelance writer Derrick Sherwin – who also brought his assistant, the young freelancer Terrance Dicks. The Doctor and Jamie also had a new travelling companion on board the TARDIS, Victoria Waterfield, who had decided to join them on their adventures after her father was killed in Evil of the Daleks. Victoria is brilliantly played by Deborah Whatling, who together with Frazer Hinez and Patrick Troughton’s Doctor, go on to make one of the most iconic TARDIS crews of all time as they prepare to face The  Era of Monsters…

Patrick Troughton (2nd Doctor)

Doctor Who’s fifth season is often cited as one of the best in the shows long running history.  The term classic is often bandied around with great aplomb when it comes to Doctor Who. It is perhaps a fitting moniker for Season Five then, as it not only oversees some of the biggest changes in the programs production team, it also features some of the highest levels of quality and design ever seen in Doctor Who during the sixties. It is this, along with the endearing trinity of Troughton, Hines, and Watling that made Season Five so memorable.

With the new Doctor and his companions now firmly established, Season Five began in fine style with Tomb of the Cybermen (1967). The TARDIS materialises on the planet Telos, where an archaeological expedition from Earth led by Professor Parry (Aubrey Richards) is trying to find the legendary tombs of the Cybermen. As the Doctor surreptitiously helps the Professor gain access to the tombs, Parry’s business partner Kaftan (Shirley Cooklin) and the treacherous Klieg (George Pastell) have their own agenda. But Klieg’s plan to form an alliance between the Cybermen and his Brotherhood of Logicians turns into horrible nightmare when, upon reactivating the tombs, the revived Cybermen turn on him. To his horror Klieg realizes that the tombs are in fact an elaborate trap, one designed to lure suitable subjects below ground for Cyber-Conversion.

Tomb Of Cybermen

Tomb of the Cybermen is a fantastic story by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis. The early scenes as the Doctor helps the archaeologist’s beak into the tombs and begin exploring are well staged by director Morris Barry, perfectly building the tension, until the team descends into the frozen tombs. Martin Johnson’s set designs are excellent for this story, the chillingly basic Cyber-Symbols are almost like high-tech hieroglyphics, depicting cold logic and function, giving you real a sense of just how inhuman and alien these monsters really are. The tombs themselves are outstanding, they really convey the relentless power and strength of the Cybermen as they emerge from their tombs, still retaining the impressive redesign they had for The Moonbase, but this time they are also joined by their leader – the gargantuan Cyber Controller (Michael Kilgarriff).

There are also some wonderful moments in this story between the Doctor and Victoria, where the Doctor helps her deal with the death of her father by telling her about his own family, and how he can always remember them in his mind. Later the party have to face a deadly swarm of Cybermats, before the Doctor finds a way to defeat the Cybermen and refreeze their tombs, but not before the Kaftan’s partially Cyber-Converted body guard, Toberman (Roy Stewart), sacrifices himself to stop the Cyber Controller from escaping the tombs. It’s fascinating to see such an explicit portrayal of body horror in this adventure. The whole idea of Cyber-Conversion is horrifying enough, but Tomberman’s fate and the graphic death of a Cyberman after having its chest plate smashed – oozing foam and writing on the ground in its death throes – are all clear signs that Doctor Who was wholeheartedly embracing a much darker tone. Even the Doctor seemed to manipulate events in a way that ensured the outcome, with a glint in his eye and a mischievous grin that belied the formidable intellect within.

With the Cybermen confined to their icy tombs the TARDIS whisks the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria to 1935 to visit a  Detsen monastery in Tibet. The Doctor sets out to return a sacred bell to his old friend The High Lama Padmasambhava (Wolfe Morris). He encounters Travers (Jack Watling), an Englishman who is trying to discover the truth behind the mysterious sightings of the Abominable Snowmen – who are later revealed to be the robotic Yeti; servants of the disembodied entity known only as the Great Intelligence.

The Abomniable Snowmen

The Doctor is shocked to find that Padmasambhava has been possessed by the Great Intelligence, prolonging the High Lama’s life and using him to control the Yeti through model replicas placed on a chessboard. With the assistance of the Monks, Jamie and Victoria help fend off the Yeti to give the Doctor time to confront the great intelligence, preventing it from attaining a corporeal form, and banishing it back into the great beyond so Padmasambhva can die peacefully.

The Abominable Snowmen (1967) is a highly atmospheric story by newcomers Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln. It is an extremely clever move to have the Doctor visit the scene of an untelevised adventure, the Yeti and their bleeping control spheres would quickly become one of this seasons most iconic monster’s, lurching into life at any given moment as they stalk the mountainsides and dark halls of the monastery. But it is the all pervading sense of isolation director Gerald Blake manages to covey that really makes this story something special. As the wind howls outside the evil within is even more terrifying as Padmasambhva draws the pieces on the chessboard to their doom, his quiet rasping voice sending genuine shivers down the spine.

As well as featuring some excellent location filming, The Abominable Snowmen has some impressive production values, a great supporting cast, and Deborah Watling’s father, Jack, also played Travers. Even by today’s standards, The Abominable Snowmen stands as a great piece of television drama, and marks the debut of one of seasons fives most memorable monsters.

Ice Warriros (Victoria)

If the TARDIS crew thought it was cold in Tibet then their next adventure would see the temperature plunging even further below zero. The Ice Warriors (1967) sees the time travellers arrive at the dawn of a new ice age, where Leader Clent (Peter Barkworth) and his team are operating an ioniser device from their base to hold back the threat of an advancing glacier. With the world in the grip of a new Ice Age and completely reliant on the computerized ionisers to keep the glaciers at bay, the delicate balance is threatened when a giant creature is found by a group of scientists frozen in the ice. When they thaw it out, the Ice Warrior (Bernard Bresslaw) breaks free and kidnaps Victoria, taking her back to its spaceship in the glacier where he revives the rest of his crew.

With The Ice Warriors, writer Brian Hayles plays on the themes global warming and mankind’s over reliance on automated technology, with Leader Clent’s rigid adherence to protocol and logic being flung into chaos by the arrival of the Doctor. Much like Tomb of the Cybermen, the Doctor seems to manipulate events from the sidelines, gradually steering the disgruntled scientist Penley (Peter Sallis) towards patching up his differences with Leader Clent, and ultimately overriding the computers control to turn the ioniser on the Martians spaceship.

Director Bernard Martinus casting of tall actors to play the Ice Warriors was a brilliant idea, as they tower over everyone. Their impressive costumes are like armoured shells, with only their lizard like mouths showing, these reptilian aliens with their hissing voices were as ruthless as they were calculating. The Martian leader Varga is played by Bernard Bresslaw (already well know for his role in the Carry On films), and the actor makes the role his own, exuding menace as he plans to take over the base – ordering his troops to execute anyone that stands in their way with their lethal sonic weapons.  The Ice Warriors is full of memorable moments: Victoria’s plight after she escapes the Martian ship and is chased through the glacier by an Ice Warrior is nail bitingly good, Jamie has his fair share of the action as well, while Toughton’s Doctor mischievously uses a complex machine to make himself a glass of water and manages to outwit the Ice Warriors by using a stink bomb! The Ice Warriors is a fantastic story, overflowing with B-Movie thrills, and spills, while also serving as a perfect vehicle for the introduction of the Martian warriors from the Red Planet.

Enemy of the World

The Enemy of the World (1967/68) offers Patrick Troughton the opportunity to really flex his acting muscles with his dual role as the Doctor and his tyrannous doppelganger Salamander. After arriving in Australia in the future, the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria find that the world is on the verge of being taken over by Salamander – a scientist who has discovered a form of storing and using solar energy to aid the world while advancing his ambition to become its absolute ruler. Discovering that he is Salamander’s double, the Doctor decides to impersonate the dictator in waiting and ruin his plans so he can save Jamie and Victoria, but even in defeat, Salamander isn’t prepared to give up that easily.

In its attempt at creating an ambitious action adventure along the same lines as a Bond film, David Whitaker’s script is only partially successfully. Sadly not even director Barry Letts could work his magic on this story, and while the central premise is sound, it does stand out as one of the weakest stories during this otherwise impeccable season. However, its saving grace has to be Troughton’s dual performance, and the actor no doubt relished the chance to play the villainous Salamander. Deborah Watling and Frazer Hinez also have little to do; spending much of their time separated from the Doctor, but the final scenes where Salamander tries to commandeer the TARDIS and gets sucked out through the doors into the time vortex at least provides a fitting end for this slightly disappointing story.

The Web Of Fear

After Salamander’s demise the TARIDS manages to avoid becoming trapped in a giant web in deep space. The Web of Fear (1968) begins in earnest when the TARDIS finally materialises in the London Underground, which has also been overrun by huge pulsating webs controlled by the Great Intelligence and its robotic Yeti. The Doctor and his companions meet up with Professor Travers (Jack Watling), who they first met forty years ago in the Himalayas. They learn that Travers brought one of the Yeti back with him, and after accidentally reactivating it, he gave the Great Intelligence the opportunity it needed to try and invade Earth again. As the webs begin to fill the underground tunnels the Doctor joins forces with the Army, led by Captain Knight (Ralph Watson), and then later Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), to fight the Yeti. The Great Intelligence draws the Doctor to its lair, determined to take possession of his body, but the Doctor is saved by his companions and the Intelligences is sent screaming back into the void from whence it came.

The Yeti make a triumphant return in Mervyn Haisman’s and Henry Lincoln’s direct sequel to The Abominable Snowmen. Directed by  Douglas Camfireld, The Web of Fear is blessed with incredibly realistic sets designed by David Myerscough-Jones. Although the plot may be little more than a whodunit, with almost everyone under suspicion as the Great Intelligence’s duplicitous servant, this is one of the most exciting stories of Season Five – memorable also for Nicholas Courtney’s first appearance as the Doctor’s long time friend Lethbridge-Stewart. Nicholas Courtney had previously appeared as Space Security Service Agent Bret Vyon in The Dalek Master Plan (1965) with William Hartnell.

Fury From the Deep

Season Fives penultimate story is Fury from the Deep (1968) by Victor Pemberton. Based on the writers own BBC radio serial The Slide, and places the Doctor and his companions in mortal danger from a parasitic seaweed that is threatening to overrun a gas refinery and its offshore drilling rigs. The man in charge of the operation, Robson (Victor Maddern), is struggling to contain the situation as the seaweed and poisonous foam begins to affect his staff, possessing their minds, until he himself becomes a vessel for the weed creature dwelling within the pipeline.

Fury from the Deep is one of the most terrifying adventures of Season Five. Director Hugh David wrings every ounce of psychological tension from Pemberton’s fantastic story, preying on deep seated fears as this isolated community comes under attack. There are scenes of pure horror throughout: the pulsating heart beat of the weed creature in the pipe line is deeply unnerving, bubbling foam boils and writhes from the darkness to consume anyone in its path, and perhaps most horrific of all is when Maggie Harris (June Murphy) is attacked by the grotesque Oak and Quill who subdue her by spewing noxious fumes from their rasping black mouths. Later she appears to commit suicide as she walks into the sea, vanishing beneath the waves in what must surly be one of Doctor Who’s most chilling cliff-hangers.

When Robson becomes possessed by the weed creature he captures Victoria and takes her to the control rig, the source of the seething infestation. The Doctor and Jamie manage to rescue her and escape to the refinery, but having fully established itself the weed begins to advance through the pipeline, and its only Victoria’s high pitched screams – amplified by a device the Doctor builds – that ultimately destroys it and frees everyone from its control. Sadly this is Deborah Watling’s final story, meaning that Fury from the Deep is also tinged with a hint of sadness as this popular TARDIS crew say their goodbyes. Victoria decides to stay behind and live with Harris (Roy Spencer) and his wife Maggie at the end of the story, having grown tired of her adventures in time and space. So with a heavy heart the Doctor and Jamie bid her farewell in a poignant final scene, one that ends with them watching Victoria slowly fading from the scanner screen as the TARDIS continues on its way.

The Wheel In Space

After leaving Victoria on Earth the TARDIS develops a fault with the fluid link as it arrives on a spaceship called the Silver Carrier. As they set out to find some more mercury for the fluid link the Doctor and Jamie are attacked by a Servo Robot, Jamie manages to radio a nearby space station called the Wheel and they are soon rescued, but the Cybermats hidden on the Silver Wheel have also made their way over to the space station. The Doctor and Jamie team up with a young woman called Zoe Heriot, and together they discover the Cybermen want to use the Wheel as a beacon for their Cyber-Fleet to lock onto before they can invade Earth. The Doctor manages to break the Cybermen’s hypnotic control over the space stations crew, before connecting the TARDIS vector generator rod to the stations X-Ray laser so he can use it to destroy the Cyber-Fleet.

The Wheel in Space (1968) features the return of the Cybermen and the Cybermats, but David Whitaker’s story (based on an idea by Kit Pedler) doesn’t quite mange to live up to the promise of its early episodes, and as such ends up being an extremely routine invasion story. With its claustrophobic setting in deep space, director Tristan de Vere Cole successfully builds up the tension, and you never know when a Cyberman will suddenly appear from the shadows. Overall the Wheel in Space makes a good introduction story for Zoe, and Wendy Padbury is brilliant as the super genius. The Cybermen also get a makeover for this story, there are some chilling scenes when they begin attacking the crew of the Wheel, and the Cybermats are also as deadly as ever.

The Mind Robber

As season five draws to a close Zoe joins the Doctor and Jamie on their adventures in time and space. The dynamic between this TARDIS crew does seem to shift somewhat as the series moves into its sixth season, with Zoe’s keen intellect proving to be almost  a match for the Doctor’s, while Jamie is often left a bit bemused and bewildered by how strong and independent she is. With Peter Bryant and Derrick Sherwin becoming involved in other projects, the production of Season Six was beset with difficulties: The Dominators and The Mind Robber were both subjected to rewrites, and The Krotons, The Space Pirates, and The War Games were all hastily commissioned after a successive number of stories had to be abandoned.

The Krotons (TARDIS)

The sixth season of Doctor Who was the last to be entirely filmed in monochrome, and would also feature the departure of Patrick Troughton, along with Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury who had also decided to move on. In many ways Season Six is the end of an era, and although The Dominators (1968) and their deadly Quarks proved to be something of an understated start to the season, things rapidly improved when the TARDIS was apparently destroyed in the white void of The Mind Robber (1968) – transporting the Doctor and his companions into a land of fiction. The Cybermen would make another attempt to invade the Earth, this time with the help of entrepreneur Tobias Vaughan (Kevin Stoney). The Invasion (1968) would see the Cybermen emerging en mass from the sewers of London, a scene that would go on to become one of Doctor Who’s most iconic moments.

The Invasion (Cybermen)

Robert Holmes first story, The Krotons (1968/69) is a far from auspicious start for the writer who would go on to write a plethora of classic Doctor Who episodes in the years to come, while The Seeds of Death (1969) would see Brian Hayles script the Ice Warriors return, before The Space Pirates (1969) also proved to be something mixed offering from Robert Holmes. The ten part epic, The War Games (1969), saw the Doctor and his friends racing across a number of different time zones in their bid to stop The War Chief from taking people from various conflicts throughout Earth’s past and making them fight for the amusement of his alien masters. At the end of the story the Doctor  is forced to call on his own people, The Time Lords, for help. The Time Lords intervene, using their immense powers to return the combatants to their own time zones, but the price is high for the Doctor. He is captured and placed on trail by his own people, charged with breaking the Time Lords code of non interference with the affairs of other worlds, and ultimately sentenced to exile on Earth. Allowed only to say goodbye to Jamie and Zoe before they are sent back to their own times, every memory of their adventures with the Doctor wiped from their minds, before he must then endure the ignominy  of having his appearance is forcibly changed by the Time Lords as he begins his sentence on Earth.

doctor-who-the-dominators-quarks

With so many of these fantastic episodes junked by the BBC much of Patrick Trougnton’s era sadly no longer exists. There is always hope that some of these episodes might turn up one day, having been sold overseas, it is entirely possible that the miraculous moment when Tomb of the Cybermen was found in Hong Kong back in 1991, and quickly released on video in 1992, might happen again one day. Indeed, in 2011 two more classic episodes turned up: Episode 3 of the William Hartnell story Galaxy 4, and Episode 2 of The Underwater Menace from Patrick Troughton’s first season. In October  2013 fans were delighted by the news that 9 episodes had been found by Philip Morris in Nigeria, The Enemy of the World (episodes 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6) and The Web of Fear (episodes 2, 4, 5, & 6), and both stories were made available to download on iTunes right away (While Episode 3 of The Web of Fear remains missing, a reconstruction was made from stills and the soundtrack to recreate it).  The Invasion was released on DVD back in 2006 with its missing episodes recreated by animation, and the results proved highly popular with fans. Two more incomplete Troughton stories were later released on DVD, The Ice Warriors and The Moonbase, using similar animation techniques to replace their missing episodes. The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear are now also available on DVD. However, the planned release for The Underwater Menace (Which would have included the long lost episode 2, and possibly animation for the missing episodes 1 & 4) was unfortunately cancelled following the insolvency at the animation company Qurios. But, following support from fans and an online petition, gaining over 2750 signatures, it now seems The Underwater Menace will finally be released on DVD on October 26th 2015 (tbc) at last! They may be missing from the BBC’s archives, but all the soundtracks of the 2nd Doctor’s missing adventures are now available on CD, with superb linking narration, and are a still a perfect way to enjoy Doctor Who’s lost episodes. It is a credit to Troughton’s immense talent that these stories work so well on audio, they are as spellbinding now as they ever were, and effortlessly captivate our imagination of a classic era of Doctor Who that is now sadly consigned to history.

The War Games 1

Patrick Troughton’s three years as the Doctor were some of the finest from the programmes monochrome era. Troughton’s performance is simply superb in every way, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the programme could survive the change of its lead actor. Anneke Wills and Michael Craze were instrumental in bridging these two eras of the show, while Troughton’s comic timing with Frazer Hines is a joy to behold, and together with Deborah Watling, then later Wendy Padbury, the Second Doctor’s companions would become an endearing part of this halcyon age of Doctor Who.

Season Five is certainly a contender for one of the best, if not finest, seasons of Doctor Who ever made. As Doctor Who begins to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the programmes past is likely to come under even greater scrutiny than ever before. Season Five was ahead of its time. It takes the simple base under siege format and turns it into something uniquely special. Blessed with impeccable design and production values, Season Five introduced a wealth of classic monsters, paved the way for UNIT to be phased into the Doctor’s life, and together with a  fantastic regular cast, The Era of Monsters remains a timeless gem that will endure forever.

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Earth 2 #15 Review

08 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, DC Comics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Brutaal, DC Comics, Doctor Fate, Earth 2, Earth 2 #15, Flash, Green Lantern, James Robinson, Nicola Scott, Steppenwolf, The Hunter Gods, The New 52, Tom Taylor, Trevor Scott

Earth 2 #15

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

Earth 2 #15 (Cover)

War is about to break out on Earth 2 as the World Army prepares to strike at Steppenwolf in Dherain, but Green Lantern, the Flash, and Doctor Fate are already tearing across Dherain’s inland steppes towards the nation’s capitol city, Draemyre, to launch an attack of their own. As the battle intensifies the New Wonders receive some unexpected help from the Atom, Red Arrow, and Colonel Dodds and his Sandmen, before suddenly being confronted by the Hunter Dogs of Steppenwolf.

Earth 2 #15 opens with the Flash clinging to the edge of consciousness, as he recollects the terrible events of the battle. The Hunter Dogs of Steppenwolf were far more powerful than any of them could have realized: Brutaal was a raging powerhouse of bruit strength, Bedlam used his ability to drive people into a psychotic rage, and the Beguiler’s strange energy powers seemed able to counteract and reflect all forms of attack.

Hawkgirl’s investigation into Sam’s murder leads her to a casino in Morocco, while back in Gotham the battle between Mr Miracle and Fury continues. Now as the dust settles over the battlefield the Flash must quickly regain his strength if he is to help his friends, but as Commander Khan and General “Stormy” Foster lead the World Army forces into Dherain airspace, Steppenwolf’s Hunter Dogs are expecting them…

Earth 2 #15 Preview 4

After last issues call to war, Earth 2 #15 sees the New Wonders fall in battle against the Hunter Dogs of Steppenwolf. War Torn is another excellent issue by James Robinson, filled with explosive action and exciting set-pieces, as Doctor Fate’s ominous words of caution from last issue becomes a frightening reality for both the New Wonders and the World Army Wonders.

Jay Garrick calls them “Terrors” which turns out to be an apt moniker, as Brutaal, the Beguiler, and Bedlam pick the heroes of Earth 2 apart with savage efficiency. The Beguiler seems to wield some bizarre form of energy manipulation, which she uses to disrupt Doctor Fate’s spells – effectively warping his own energies back at him – with devastating results. Bedlam’s powers causes the Sandmen and Red Arrow to crazy and attack everybody around them, creating absolute chaos on the battlefield, and even the Flash is not fast enough to evade Red Arrow’s lightning quick skill with a bow. But it is Brutaal who proves to be the most ruthless, unleashing his Apokolips eye beams on the Sandmen, cutting a swathe through their ranks before taking on Green Lantern and the Atom without even breaking a sweat. The art by Nicola Scott, with inks by Trevor Scott and colors by Pete Pantazis, brings a shocking clarity to every moment of the carnage, the most striking of which shows Brutaal ripping the head off a Sandman as the battle rages, and the bone crunching smack down Brutaal meets out to Green Lantern and Atom is so intense it will leave you wondering how they could ever hope to defeat these Terrors.

James Robinson also includes two breaks in the action, which allows us to catch up with Hawkgirl and Mr Miracle. In her quest to help Green Lantern find out the truth behind Sam’s murder, Hawkgirl has travelled to Casablanca, which is now a gleaming gambling mecca where Warlords and Mullahs have consolidated their power behind its secure walls. The trail leads to Darcy Twain, a wealthy recluse and owner of the towering Double Zero casino. However, before she can find Twain, Hawkgirl is captured by Hazard and Melody – two villains who quickly subdue her with disorientating notes from Melody’s violin.

Meanwhile in the ruins of Gotham City, Fury has caught up with Mr Miracle and Barda, who have been searching for the mysterious new Batman. Mr Miracle helps Barda escape so she can find Batman and tell him what they‘ve learned, while he stands his ground against Fury. Their battle is fast and furious, with Mr Miracle always managing to stay one step ahead of Fury. We get to learn more about Mr Miracle (Scott Free) and Barda during the fight as Barda recollects their time as fugitives, wanted by Steppenwolf and the World Army, these refugees from Apokolips are prepared to risk everything in their attempt to locate the mysterious new Batman.

Earth 2 #15 Preview 3

Earth 2 #15 concludes as Mr Miracle’s and Fury’s battle is interrupted by a new arrival. This fantastic cliff-hanger rounds off this issue in fine style, with a beautifully crafted final page to reveal the surprise.

The cover of Earth 2 #15 by Juan Doe shows Brutaal, the Beguiler, and Bedlam painted on what appears to be the walls of a prison yard, with the words “Submit” emblazoned beneath them, in a stark contrast to last issue which depicted the Wonders of Earth 2 as murals on an oppressive looking brick wall topped barbed wire. Earth 2 #15 has searchlights beaming into the sky over the walls, as the barbed wire snakes around the walls and seems to wrap itself around the bottom of the cover. This image sublimely juxtaposes the call to war from the last issue, supplementing it with the impending sense of hopelessness and defeat that ultimately befalls the New Wonders during the course of this issue.

With only one more issue to go before James Robinson leaves, Earth 2 #15 has proven to be one of the most exciting yet, as the New Wonders suffer their worst ever defeat at the hands of Steppenwolf’s Hunter Dogs. With Desaad and Solomon Grundy featuring in the two Villains Month specials in September, we still have Robinson’s final issue, Earth 2 #16, to look forward to before Tom Taylor takes over in November with issue #17. I’m sure Taylor will continue to build on the blend of old and new that has made Earth 2 so distinctive, showcasing all of the heroes, as well as focusing on the new Batman. Although it’s still a shame that James Robinson is about to depart, this final storyline look sets to be one of his best yet, and issue #16 will bring his run on Earth 2 to a spectacular end.

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Doctor Who Live : Peter Capaldi Is The 12th Doctor!

04 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Doctor Who

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

12th Doctor, Bernard Cribbins, Colin Baker, Doctor Who, Doctor Who Live, Matt Smith, New Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi, Peter Davison, Steven Moffat

Doctor Who Live: Peter Capaldi is the 12th Doctor!

 Peter Capaldi: The Twelfth Doctor

The actor who will play the 12th Doctor was announced tonight during BBC One’s special Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor programme, as Peter Capaldi! The special live show, hosted by Zoe Ball, was a celebration in which The Thick of It actor Peter Capaldi was officially announced as the 12th incarnation of the Time Lord. The 55 year old Scottish actor, who is a also a life long fan of the series, is the oldest actor cast in the role of the Doctor in the modern version of the show. Peter Capaldi  will take over as the 12th Doctor when Matt Smith’s 11th incarnation regenerates at Christmas.

The live show featured appearance by former cast members and celebrity fans. Peter Davison (The 5th Doctor) was there in person as well, and Matt Smith, Steven Moffat, Jenna Coleman, and Colin Baker (The 6th Doctor) also contributed via video clips. The wonderful Bernard Cribins (Wilfred Mott) was also there in person, and there were contributions by some of the Doctor’s pervious travelling companions including Anneke Wills (Polly), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Janet Fielding (Tegan) and Bonnie Langford (Mell). Celebrity fans on the show included Rufus Hound, Liza Tarbuck, and Outnumbered’s Daniel Roche. There were also special video contributions from Professor Robert Winston, Jo Whiley, Professor Stephen Hawkins, Bruno Tonioli, and Professor Brian Cox (who appeared in The Power of Three).

Matt Smith and showrunner Steven Moffat spoke about the 12th Doctor, before Zoe Ball introduced Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor and interviewed him about his new role as the 12th Doctor. Peter Capaldi has appeared in Doctor Who before, in the Fires of Pompeii with David Tennant’s 10th Doctor, and he was also in Torchwood Children of Earth. Recently he played a WHO doctor in the film World War Z.

Speaking to the Official BBC Doctor Who Website, Peter Capaldi spoke about his role as the 12th Doctor: “Being asked to play The Doctor is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can’t wait to get started. “Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer says : “It’s an incendiary combination: one of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television. Peter Capaldi is in the TARDIS! ”Doctor Who companion, Jenna Coleman says “I’m so excited Peter Capaldi is the man taking on the challenge of becoming the Twelfth Doctor. With Steven’s writing and his talent I know we’ll be making an amazing show with an incredible incarnation of number 12. I can’t wait to start this new adventure!” Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One said: “Peter Capaldi has all the genius and versatility…This special programme was simulcast live on BBC America, which made it an extra special event for Doctor Who fans.

Check out the BBC Doctor Who Website for all the latest news about the 12th Doctor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/

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12th Doctor To Be Announced Live on BBC1, This Sunday

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Doctor Who

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Doctor Who, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Steven Moffat, Zoe Ball

12th Doctor To Be Announced Live on BBC1, This Sunday

The Doctor and the TARDIS.

After several weeks of intense speculation Doctor Who fans will soon know who will be taking over from Matt Smith as the Doctor. Yes, that’s right, the BBC will soon announce the name of actor who will be playing the 12th incarnation of the Doctor. The news will be announced live on BBC 1 this Sunday, 4th August, at 7.00 PM in a special programme hosted by Zoe Ball, along with Matt Smith and showrunner Steven Moffat.

This long awaited announcement will also be backed up by specail guests, including old Doctors, companions, and celebrity fans as they recall their favourite Time Lords from the series 50 Year history. The current Doctor, Matt Smith, and showrunner Steven Moffat will also give interviews.

Zoe Ball will interview the actor who has been cast as the new Doctor, who the BBC have been code-naming “Houdini”. Over the last day, The Thick of It actor Peter Capaldi – who is incidentally a Doctor Who fan himself – has now emerged as the bookmakers hot favourite to take over from Matt Smith as the Doctor. Although we wont know for certain until Sunday.

The secret will be simulcast live on BBC America
The Official BBC Doctor Who Website issues this press release…

Back in June we confirmed that Matt Smith would be leaving Doctor Who and since then there’s been intense speculation about who would be taking over the role of the Doctor. But the guesswork and conjecture end this weekend… The BBC will reveal the identity of the next Doctor during a live BBC One show that begins at 7pm on Sunday, 04 August.
The news about the announcement has been delivered in the following press release:
Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor
In a special one-off live television event on BBC One this Sunday 4th August at 7pm, the next Doctor will be exclusively revealed to the nation.
Widely regarded as one of the most hotly contested roles in British television, the show’s host Zoe Ball will unveil the 12th Doctor in the first ever interview in front of a live studio audience set against the backdrop of a swirling vortex, amongst Daleks and the TARDIS.
The half hour show will include live special guests, Doctors old and new, as well as companions and celebrity fans. Excitement will reach fever pitch as they speculate and recall their favourites, plus feature clips and moments from across the show’s 50 year history.
Current Doctor Matt Smith and lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat will both give interviews about one of the biggest roles in TV and set out just what it takes to be the Doctor. Steven Moffat says: “The decision is made and the time has come to reveal who’s taking over the TARDIS. For the last of the Time Lords, the clock is striking twelve.”
Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One says: “BBC One is the home of big live events and this special live show is the perfect way to reveal the identity of the next Doctor and share it with the nation. The Doctor is a truly iconic role and I’m more than excited about the booking.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning says: “We can’t wait to unveil the next Doctor with everyone live on BBC1 on Sunday night. Amongst all the speculation and betting, there has been lots of fun and intrigue at work as we’ve been using the codename Houdini as a decoy! It’s the biggest secret in showbiz, even those working with the new Doctor on other projects at the moment have no idea they are in the presence of the 12th incarnation.”
Keep up to date with all the latest news about the show and special guests as we build to the big climax over the next few days and follow http://www.facebook.com/BBCOne, @ BBCOne and @bbcdoctorwho and bbc.co.uk/doctorwho
The special live show is made by BBC Entertainment and Events for BBC One, Guy Freeman is Executive producer and Pinki Chambers is Executive Commissioning Editor. Commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One.
The show will be simulcast live on BBC America. Doctor Who is produced by BBC Cymru Wales.
Before the announcement we’ll bring you lots more exciting news, including how you can be part of the big reveal!
The next Doctor will be revealed on Sunday… More news soon!

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