The Tenth and Eleventh Doctor comics get special guest stars in their respective second series, both of whom are exciting to see in comic form. The Eleventh Doctor goes to spring future wife (from his perspective) River Song out of prison to aid in a heist while Captain Jack Hotness … er Harkness … swaggered into the Tenth Doctor’s series a couple of issues ago and once again gets his moment in the sun.
Official synopsis: The Doctor and Gabby are still caught between two factions as modern humanity is born. Neanderthals and Cro Magnons clash, and their actions will shape the direction taken by humankind in the millennia to come! Plus: Cindy discovers an alarming secret back in NYC… and in deep space, Anubis grows impatient!
(Shh!) Spoilers – Beware that this review contains some details of the plot.
The issue is told largely from Gabby’s friend Cindy’s POV after she gets sucked through the temporal tornado that was the cliffhanger to the previous issue. Cindy is still armed with Gabby’s sketchbook. Along with Cleo, Captain Jack, Muthmunna, and Erik, the team are wandering through prehistoric times with their memories lost, vaguely searching for the Doctor. I’m more accustomed to the rapid pace of the Eleventh Doctor’s run. Reading a storyline that’s put the brakes on a bit to really explore these characters – even with memory loss – has been a treat. I loved the Doctor-lite issue that initially centered around Cindy and Cleo and was quite happy to see more of them.
I like Eleonora Carlini’s art, which feels very manga-inspired. She uses this to great effect once our amnesia-stricken team finally meets up with the equally memory-deprived Doctor. The ensuing battle between him and his allies harkens back to some great anime battle scenes. This battle, set against the lush Neanderthal setting that’s been the home of the past couple issues, is exactly what’s needed to break the comic out of the slow narrative through the first part of the issue.
In the process of the fight, it’s quickly realized that once you’re addressed by the name you’re known as, you get your memory back. That’s when our big bad steps onto the stage and decides to clue the Doctor and everyone else in on the plot: that they’re essentially stuck in a twisted version of The Hunger Games. It ends on a cliffhanger where we find out who’s pulling the strings – though it is a bit watered down once you add up the members of the cast and realize someone is missing. But it’s big enough that you’ll find yourself eagerly awaiting the next issue.
Blogtor Rating – 8/ 10
DOCTOR WHO: THE TENTH DOCTOR #2.6 Out Now!
Credits
Writer: Nick Abadzis
Art: Eleonora Carlini
Colors: Ariana Florean with Azzurra Florean
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
