Anno Dracula: 1895: Seven Days In Mayhem #1
Written by Kim Newman
Art by Paul McCaffrey
Colors by Kevin Enhart
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover A: Paul McCaffrey
Cover B: Tom Mandrake
Cover C: Brian Williamson
Cover D: Jeff Zornow
Cover E: Mike Collins
Cover F: Ben Oliver (Forbidden Planet/Jetpack Comics Variant)
Cover G: Ben Oliver (“Phoenix Event Exclusive” Variant)
Titan Comics
Release Date: March 22, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

I loved the original 1992 Anno Dracula novel by British writer Kim Newman. Let’s just get that out of the way, okay? So it stands to reason that I would jump at the chance to review the new comic book Anno Dracula: 1895: Seven Days In Mayhem #1, right? Well, you would correct. And for a fan like me, the comic was pretty much what I would want and expect. But for the first-time reader, not so much.

Doctor Who: Prisoners Of Time #4
Script by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Gary Erskine with thanks to Mike Collins
Colors by Charlie Kirchoff
Covers by Francesco Francavilla and Gary Erskine
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

IDW’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who resumes with the Tom Baker issue of Prisoners of Time. While this fourth chapter continues some of the elemental highlights of the previous issue, there are some less-than-stellar characteristics that detract from the plot, though not enough to stop it from being an enjoyable read.

The overarching plot of Prisoners of Time looks at an as-of-yet undisclosed villain and enemy of the Doctor, who is invading moments from all 11 of his incarnations and kidnapping his companions. The motives and reasoning are not yet clear as to why he is doing this, though each Doctor will have their own issue, crowning in the 12th issue where presumably all Doctors will join forces.

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #3
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Art by Mike Collins
Colors by Charlie Kirchof
Cover Artwork by Francesco Francavilla
IDW Publishing
Publication Date: March 20, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The 50th anniversary celebrations by IDW for Doctor Who resume in the third issue of Prisoners of Time – a series that is getting better with each issue, with this one focusing on Jon Pertwee‘s portrayal of the Third Doctor. Writers Scott and David Tipton have made yet a further chapter that tops the previous edition and I cannot emphasize enough how much I recommend this noteworthy series.

Each issue of Prisoners of Time focuses in on one incarnation of the Doctor, to close with a 12th issue in which all presumably join forces. The Doctor is plagued by the kidnapping of his companions from each of his major eras, from an unseen (or rather now, unknown) enemy. While this is the story arc, each chapter focuses on an adventure that beautifully represents that specific Doctor’s era with much respect and reverence.

For the Jon Pertwee Third Doctor issue, we find the Doctor back in his UNIT days in 1974. He comes with Sarah Jane Smith, one of the most memorable companions of all time; as the Doctor is also reunited with a former companion from the same era, Liz Shaw. Having been summoned to UNIT in an extraordinary emergency during a thundering deluge of rain, the Doctor finds Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart acting irrationally and ordering troop movements that make no sense whatsoever.