Doctor Who: Prisoners Of Time #8
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Roger Langridge, Charlie Kirchoff
Covers by Francesco Francavilla, Charlie Kirchoff, Dave Sim
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

I’ve always likened the Paul McGann era of Doctor Who to be the transitional stage between Classic Who and Nu Who. Despite having only been in one television adventure, the McGann incarnation of the Doctor is interesting in that this 8th version of the Time Lord has had possibly more explorations in print than most of the other Doctors.

Despite my praising, I also often feel that McGann got the raw end of the stick in the Whoniverse – having only had one televised adventure and never since been given a chance to make an appearance in the modern series. (Come on, Steven Moffat; let him show up in a Multi Doctor story!!!)

So it was with great anticipation that I received the eighth issue of Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time, focusing on the McGann Doctor. Although it’s never specified how far along in his incarnation he is within the confines of this issue, the comic finds him arriving back in San Francisco in February 2000, to meet up with his companion from the TV movie, Grace.

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #7
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Kev Hopgood and Charlie Kirchoff
Covers by Francesco Francavilla, Charlie Kirchoff, Dave Sim
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time now turns to concentrate on the final Doctor from the Classic era, originally played by Sylvester McCoy, representing the Gallifreyan’s seventh incarnation. With a breath of fresh air, Scott and David Tipton step back from the continuing overarching plot, allowing this single adventure in which the Doctor faces off against the Master to have more space.

Across the vast expanse of space and time, an unnamed foe is reaching out into multiple points of the Doctor’s timeline and abducting his companions. Meanwhile, the Seventh Doctor, along with awesome companion Ace, arrives in Scotland in 1830, discovering a strange plot involving an aristocratic family and their manor.

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #2
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Lee Sullivan
Colors by Phil Elliott
Cover Artworks by Phil Elliott, Francesco Francavilla, Lee Sullivan
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 27, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

The intriguing and enjoyable IDW series commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, Prisoners of Time, continues with the second issue focusing on the second incarnation of the Doctor, originally portrayed by Patrick Troughton, with his most memorable companions Zoe Heriot and Jamie McCrimmon. The solid writing from the debut issue not only continues with this follow-up, but is markedly improved with some absolutely brilliant artwork that also tops the previous chapter.

With the debut chapter of Prisoners of Time, we were introduced to the concept of the anniversary series: one issue on each Doctor, and a final 12th issue to bring it all to a riveting conclusion. Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #2 the Doctor with his companions materialize in a store that specializes in selling Police Boxes”¦ a store that sells Police Boxes in outer space! The ridiculous premise echoes elements of modern Doctor Who as well as Troughton’s era, which truly grabs your concentration immediately.

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #1
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Simon Fraser
Colors by Gary Caldwell
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Fantastic! Grab your bow ties, scarves, recorders, celery sticks, and sonic screwdrivers for some wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey lunacy: 2013 is going to be a squall of a year for Whovians. Being the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, aside from the broadcast plans from the BBC, there are bound to be a variety of other celebrations in a range of media for us all to sop up. And IDW are jumping on the celebratory TARDIS with their special series for the anniversary, entitled Prisoners of Time.

Ostensibly a limited series that will eventually include every single incarnation of the Doctor, Prisoners of Time #1 begins with the inevitable nemesis, shrouded in darkness and hidden from our view, drawing his/her designs against the Time Lord. Meanwhile or later or yesterday or after breakfast or whenever, the First Doctor arrives at the Royal College of Surgeons in London in 1868, with his three companions.