‘Prisoners of Time’ (Comic)

‘PRISONERS OF TIME’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The Eleven Doctors – Celebrating 50 Years of ‘Doctor Who’

For Leigh (IWishIHadATARDIS), a ‘keen reader’

This should have been made as a TV story or a Big Finish audio with all the Doctors and companions!

‘Prisoners of Time’ is a fantastic graphic novel from IDW comics that definitely celebrates the 50th anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’ in all its glory! After enjoying the ‘Doctor Who’/‘Star Trek’ crossover adventure, ‘Assimilation²‘, I saw no reason to not purchase this celebratory story in its complete form!

I purchased this graphic novel at the ‘Cardiff Film and Comic Con’ in 2014 which was a fantastic and memorable weekend! It’s taken me a while to get round to reading this graphic novel from start to finish. I was looking forward to reading the twelve stories featuring all the Doctors and companions.

This story features the eleven Doctors for the 50th anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’. It was released in twelve monthly issues with each of the Doctors from 1 to 11 in turn from January to November. The last issue in December starred all the eleven Doctors and companions in the story’s final showdown.

I’m very pleased this comic story in graphic novel form celebrates the 50th anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’ properly by featuring all the eleven Doctors which was what I wanted unlike the TV story ‘The Day of the Doctor’. With some of my favourite companions joining the Doctors, it was a joyful treat.

I wish this multi-Doctor story in comic form became the TV adventure that I wanted to see. Or at least have Big Finish produce this story with all of the Doctors like ‘The Light At The End’ and include Christopher Eccleston; David Tennant and Matt Smith. It would be heaven for a ‘Doctor Who’ fan!

The story is by Scott and David Tipton, with comic artwork done by various artists including Simon Fraser; Lee Sullivan; John Ridgway; etc. I wished the artwork in this story was consistent as some of stories with the different Doctors disappointed me. But it still manages to hold together somehow.

In each of the eleven Doctors’ stories of ‘Prisoners of Time’, a mysterious cloaked figure watches the Doctors and their adventures with their companions. His identity gets revealed later, but he’s determined to remove the Doctor’s companions from his timelines. This also gets revealed later on.

Each of the Doctors’ stories ends with their companions are kidnapped by the mysterious cloaked figure and the Doctor is alone. This left me as the reader in suspense and wondering what’s happened. I was anxious for the Doctor losing his companions and wondered how he’d rescue them.

Chapter 1 called ‘Unnatural Selection’ features the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki. The artwork is by Simon Fraser, which I didn’t really like. I enjoyed the story with the Doctor meeting Thomas Huxley in Victorian London. The Zarbi and the Animus from ‘The Web Planet’ make an appearance.

Chapter 2 called ‘Bazaar Adventures’ features the Second Doctor; Jamie and Zoe. The artwork is by Lee Sullivan, which I love as it feels very 60s. This is a great story where the Doctor and friends visit the outer space Frenko Bazaar and they face against lizard Voraxx; White Robots and Ice Warriors.

Chapter 3 called ‘In With The Tide’ features the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane with Liz Shaw and the Brigadier. The artwork is by Mike Collins, which is superb. This is a very gripping instalment as the Doctor and friends deal with the parasitic mind-numbing Remoraxians that can control the weather.

Chapter 4 called ‘A Rare Gem’ features the Fourth Doctor, Leela and K9. The artwork is by Gary Erskine, which is also superb. This instalment is rather exciting as the Doctor; Leela and K9 face a new series monster, the rhino-like Judoon. It’s not as action-packed as I expected it to be though.

Chapter 5 called ‘In Their Nature’ features the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Adric. The artwork is by Phillip Bond, which I don’t like at all. The Sontarans and Rutans appear, but I thought that Nyssa would meet the Rutans in ‘Castle of Fear’ and Tegan would meet the Sontarans in ‘Heroes of Sontar’.

Chapter 6 called ‘Facades’ features the Sixth Doctor, Peri and Frobisher. The artwork is by John Ridgway who was the main artist for the Sixth Doctor comics in the 1980s and he co-created Frobisher the penguin. The Master (played by Anthony Ainley) appears and the Tenth Doctor makes a cameo!

Chapter 7 called ‘Cat and Mouse’ features the Seventh Doctor and Ace. The artwork is by Kev Hopgood and it is really good. This episode takes place in Scotland 1830 where the Doctor and Ace try to save people’s lives at a gothic castle. The Anthony Ainley Master reappears for a second time!

Chapter 8 called ‘The Body Politic’ features the Eighth Doctor and Grace. The artwork is by Roger Langridge, who contributed to the Eighth Doctor comics beforehand. This episode is very special, as it features the return of Grace Holloway from ‘The TV Movie’ as she joins the Doctor on an adventure.

Chapter 9 called ‘Mystery Date’ features the Ninth Doctor and Rose. The artwork is by David Messina with Giorgia Sposito and it’s pretty gripping and gritty. The mysterious cloaked figure happens to be Adam Mitchell, short-time companion of the Ninth Doctor who was in ‘Dalek’ and ‘The Long Game’!

Chapter 10 called ‘Quiet on the Set’ features the Tenth Doctor and Martha. The artwork is by Elena Casagrande and it looks great and captivating. The Doctor and Martha visit 1950s Hollywood. Martha gets to be a movie star. I was surprised that the Dominators and the Quarks appeared in this.

Chapter 11 called ‘The Choice’ features the Eleventh Doctor and Clara. The artwork is by Matthew Dow Smith and is pretty good. Sadly Clara gets captured too early by Adam. But the Doctor follows the trail to find Adam where he’s working with the Ainley Master at his base outside time and space.

Chapter 12 called ‘Endgame’ features the Eleven Doctors and their companions. The artwork is by Kelly Yates. This is a great finale as the Doctors team up to free their companions and battle against Adam; the Master and an army of Autons. I wish I could see every companion in this final episode.

There are one-page articles called ‘Reflections of Time’ at the end of some of the stories by various contributors to the ‘Doctor Who’ comics such as John Ainsworth; Gary Russell; Clayton Hickman; etc.

At the end of the graphic novel, there is an impressive art gallery that contains fifteen covers of the ‘Prisoners of Time’ comic book series. I liked seeing the various artworks of the Doctors and their companions as well as an impressive spread of the Doctors with Adam and the Master in the gallery!

‘Prisoners of Time’ is a wonderful graphic novel to celebrate 50 years of ‘Doctor Who’. I enjoyed going through each of the 12 chapters and uncovering how each of the eleven Doctors’ adventures builds to the grand finale. If only they could make this story as a TV adventure like ‘The Five Doctors’.

‘Prisoners of Time’ rating – 9/10

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The previous story For the First Doctor was ‘The Rocket Men’ (Audio) For Ian was ‘The Rocket Men’ (Audio) For Barbara was ‘The Rocket Men’ (Audio) For Vicki was ‘The Rocket Men’ (Audio) For the Second Doctor was ‘Lords of the Red Planet’ (Audio) For Jamie was ‘Lords of the Red Planet’ (Audio) For Zoe was ‘Lords of the Red Planet’ (Audio) For the Third Doctor was ‘Decline of the Ancient Mariner’ (ST/Audio) For Sarah Jane was ‘Decline of the Ancient Mariner’ (ST/Audio) For the Brigadier was ‘Invasion of the Dinosaurs’ (TV) For Liz was ‘The Wages of Sin’ (Book) For the Fourth Doctor was ‘The Hunters of Doom’ (Z) For Leela was ‘The Hunters of Doom’ (Z) For K9 Mk I was ‘The Hunters of Doom’ (Z) For the Fifth Doctor was ‘Planet of Fear’ (Annual/Audio) For Tegan was ‘Cold Fusion’ (Book/Audio) For Nyssa was ‘Cold Fusion’ (Book/Audio) For Adric was ‘Planet of Fear’ (Annual/Audio) For the Sixth Doctor was ‘Nature of the Beast!’ (Comic) For Peri was ‘Nature of the Beast!’ (Comic) For Frobisher was ‘Nature of the Beast!’ (Comic) For the Seventh Doctor was ‘The Ripple Effect’ (Puffin/Audio) For Ace was ‘The Ripple Effect’ (Puffin/Audio) For the Eighth Doctor was ‘Spore’ (Puffin/Audio) For Grace was ‘The TV Movie’ (TV) For the Ninth Doctor was ‘Father’s Day’ (TV) For Rose was ‘Father’s Day’ (TV) For Adam was ‘The Long Game’ (TV) For the Tenth Doctor was ‘Gridlock’ (TV) For Martha was ‘Gridlock’ (TV) For the Eleventh Doctor was ‘The Blood of Azrael’ (Comic) For Amy was ‘The Prime Factor’ For Rory was ‘The Prime Factor’ For Clara was ‘The Blood of Azrael’ (Comic)	The next story For the First Doctor is ‘The Crusade’ (TV) For Ian is ‘The Crusade’ (TV) For Barbara is  ‘The Crusade’ (TV) For Vicki is ‘The Crusade’ (TV) For the Second Doctor is ‘The Final Sanction’ (Book) For Jamie is ‘The Final Sanction’ (Book) For Zoe is ‘The Final Sanction’ (Book) For the Third Doctor is ‘The Ghosts of N-Space’ (Book/Audio) For Sarah Jane Smith is ‘The Ghosts of N-Space’ (Book/Audio) For the Brigadier is ‘The Ghosts of N-Space’ (Book/Audio) For Liz is ‘The Zero Imperative’ (P.R.O.B.E.) (Film) For the Fourth Doctor was ‘The Sun Makers’ (TV) For Leela was ‘The Sun Makers’ (TV) For K9 Mk I was ‘The Sun Makers’ (TV) For the Fifth Doctor is ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius’ (ST/Audio) For Tegan is ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius’ (ST/Audio) For Nyssa is ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius’ (ST/Audio) For Adric is ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius’ (ST/Audio) For the Sixth Doctor is ‘Time Bomb’ (Comic) For Peri is ‘Time Bomb’ (Comic) For Frobisher is ‘Time Bomb’ (Comic) For the Seventh Doctor is ‘Police and Shreeves’ (ST/Audio) For Ace is ‘Police and Shreeves’ (ST/Audio) For the Eighth Doctor is ‘Organism 96’ (Puffin/Audio) For Grace is ‘The Fallen’ (Comic) For the Ninth Doctor was ‘Retail Therapy’ (Audio) For Rose was ‘Retail Therapy’ (Audio) For the Tenth Doctor is ‘Rewriting History’ (SS) For Martha is ‘Rewriting History’ (SS) For the Eleventh Doctor is ‘The Time Machine’ (DOTD) (Audio) For Amy is ‘Snake Bite’ (Audio) For Rory is ‘Snake Bite’ (Audio) For Clara is ‘The Horror of Time’ (Z)
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