The Doctor faces the Haemovores, the Flood and a defeated adversary who re-emerges to achieve a new plan that sets to give the Doctor one of his toughest chess matches yet.
As the Doctor discovers the origin of the cursed treasure, he sends Bill to ask the Ice Warriors to leave as the mountain range they currently reside on is a volcano. And it’s set to blow. Memories of the Doctor’s seventh incarnation are brought to his attention as he relives a chess match made of people.
Only then does he understand that they are all pawns in a game of cat and mouse through time. The Ice Warriors and the Vikings retreat safely, leaving only the silent thought of a consciousness determined to poison the world.
Writer Richard Dinnick delivers dexterity and vividness to the script. He encompasses the energy of the characters wonderfully and brings softness and brute conflict to the heart of the story. There is a welcoming flow and each character is given an ending that satisfies.
The guest characters develop considerably; the Vikings alliance with the Ice Warriors becomes more graceful and balanced. However, the antagonists are not given as much expression and time to develop which minimalizes their value within the story.
Artists Brian Williamson, Marcelo Salaza and Edu Menna and colourist Hi-Fi add soft pastel colours to the character’s faces; complimenting the fine details of their emotions. There’s a deep contrast between the subtler lines of the characters and the broad, open strokes of the setting.
Overall, the concluding chapter to the Wolves of Winter is intriguing and offers a hint at more to come from one of the Doctor’s more intelligent and sneaky foes. There are growing interspecies alliances, polar bears and a heap of classic enemies. It’s hard not to marvel at them being in the same story!
Blogtor Rating 7/10
Titan Comics Twelfth Doctor #3.7 Wolves of Winter part 3 is available in stores now.
