Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #0
Written by Richard Dinnick
Art by Mariano Laclaustra, Giorgia Sposito, Arianna Florean, Brian Williamson, Iolanda Zanfardino, Neil Edwards, Pasquale Qualano, Rachael Slott, and Claudia Ianniciello
Inking by Fer Centurion
Colors by Color-Ice, Carlos Cabrera, Adele Matera, Dijjo Lima, and Enrica Eren Angiolini
Review by KrisK
The old cliche is your life passes before your eyes when you die. When you are an alien who has lived over two thousand years in 13 bodies, there’s a lot to show. The 12th Doctor uses this to impart wisdom in the 13th, hoping these memories teach lessons. Teach her to never be cruel. Teach her to be kind. Titan Comics uses this trope to explore the lives of the Doctor. It serves as both a primer for those who have only dipped their toes in the franchise and for those who are die hard fans. It succeeds more at the latter than the former.
If you were hoping for some glimpses of the new Doctor, you are mostly out of luck. This issue focuses on the previous doctors, and the adventures they experienced. The adventures last a few pages each. The individual adventures in themselves give the reader an idea of the tone and theme of the various doctors. The characterizations do not. Very few of the Doctors spoke in the unique voices of that Doctor. Which is understandable. 14 Doctors means 14 characters to nail, not counting the companions and aliens.
The companions are the ones most associated with the particular doctor for the most part. I was honestly bummed though with the choice of including Captain Jack Harkness in the Ninth Doctor’s adventure. He appears in only a few episodes, but he appears in almost every Ninth Doctor comic. Nine shines without him. (Bias Warning: My household is a Nine Household) Spoilers: River Song appears as well. I love River.
The art flows surprisingly well for the amount of contributors. Honestly, the most artist names I have ever seen on a comic. The art does go rather cartoonish for the Fourth Doctor and the Eighth Doctor, but I understand these tones suit them more. Just wish they pulled back slightly.
13 narrates the story, but they don’t give much away. I hoped, perhaps foolishly, to gleam some more about the character of the new Doctor. They do give away she is full of hope though, and I am excited for that. The prospect of an optimistic Doctor excites me. The Doctor serves as the best possible role model on TV for every living soul. I think 13 will keep to the standard.
Verdict: Check it out! If you are a Whovian, you will enjoy this comic. The Doctors reference other Doctors throughout the story. It serves as a nice tease of what is to come, and it left me wanting to re-watch the old episodes.
