THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) is back this month in Fast Asleep, issue #2.13 of his ongoing Titan Comics adventures.
The action returns to the Time War and the Volatix, and the elusive War Doctor makes another rare and welcome appearance. Another favourite from the Doctor’s past, present and future appears – River Song, after their adventures in the library.
Talk of Time and Loss
In this excellent new story from writer Rob Williams, comic book companion Alice Obiefune is determined to change the course of time and clear the name of her friend. The comic opens with a poignant discussion of time and loss. Alice discusses her late mother, and how loss warps the idea of time. “You know those moments you shared? That person was here and now they’re not….You think ‘why can’t I just touch them?’ How can they not exist anymore when I can still see them? We are all time machines.’ You said that to me once, Doctor. Remember?”
This exchange occurs as the Doctor is gazing at the preserved body of River Song. He hears Alice and gazes at River, as he is filled with regret about the haunting of the timestream – in fact, a complete chronal meltdown — after the Psilent Songbox is activated. Will the Doctor and the War Doctor be able to close the box and save Alice? What happens to the timestream after such a complete meltdown?
Whispered Secrets
There is another pressing matter: the Doctor has whispered a secret to Alice, in words so quiet that they don’t appear as letters on the page. Alice now holds this secret and needs to remember it, but her place in the timestream is unclear — and it may be impossible to find her.
Once again, the story is riveting, but the art is not completely accurate. The character of the Eleventh Doctor does not particularly favour Matt Smith, aside from the bow tie, and the body of River Song seems decades older than the River in the Library.
‘Fast Asleep’ is an exciting read with plenty of unanswered questions leaving you with a great sense of anticipation for the next issue.
You’ll find Eleventh Doctor #2.13 in stores now.
Credits:
- Writer: Rob Williams
- Artist: I.N.J. Culbard and Simon Fraser
- Colorist: Gary Caldwell
- Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
- Cover A: Simon Fraser
- Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks
- Cover C: Linked Variant – Mike Collins
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