Villordsutch reviews Doctor Who Classics #3…
“Doctor Who Classics is back! This new series presents classic comic strips-many never before reprinted-and in color for the very first time! This issue includes the first three parts of ‘Nemesis of the Daleks,’ featuring the Seventh Doctor. After landing on a planet that has been conquered by the Daleks, the Doctor joins forces with Abslom Daak, a mercenary with a vendetta against the Time Lords’ oldest and most feared foes!“
I like my Doctor Who and I have for many years. Over the years I have become more than aware that there is a stigma attached to people like myself by those that a) haven’t seen a Who episode but take the piss anyway, or b) have seen a Who episode and it turned out to be a really bad episode (I’m looking at you ‘Green Death’ or ‘Any of the Last NuWho Series’) and believe they have a right to mock. Well for those that fall into the “B Group”, if they took to reading this comic they’d have even more of a reason to punch me in the stomach, take my dinner money and rip off my top blazer pocket (which was the way 25 years or so ago).
What we have here is a Seventh Doctor story that smells of desperate ideas and the 1980’s desire to fill the Marvel UK pages with aggressive, violent moments for nothing more than to please the male teenagers of the day. I probably would have loved it when I was 13 as I was into Death’s Head comics, but now at 38 it doesn’t appeal to me. Plus phrases like “Dalek Death Wheel” and “Planet Hell” make me roll my eyes (really I did) at these moments of history that now seem more alien to me than the Draconian and Ice Warrior who team up with Abslom Daak the chainsaw sword-wielding Dalek Killer. To go with this we have the simpleton aliens on Planet Hell who are being forced to mine poisonous gas for (another) Dalek master plan of destruction, mayhem and mischief. Don’t let any school bullies (with the ability to read) get their hands on this or you blazer is ruined.
The story written by Richard Starkings aka Richard Alan (X-Men, Wolverine) must have been knocked out in the remaining five minutes before home time on a Friday afternoon. “Right lads, Daleks! A crazy human who carries a chainsaw like that big-chinned fella from Evil Dead and – get this – he hacks up Daleks for a laugh. A planet covered in simpletons who mine gas and they wear nothing but loincloths. Oh and the Daleks are trying to make a Wheel of Death. Right, Pub!” That’s exactly how the planning went word for word (possibly).
The only saving grace for this issue is the artwork by Lee Sullivan (2000AD, Transformers) as it looks fantastic. Clear and well drawn, it’s the only reason to actually turn the pages of this comic. Thank you Lee.
Obviously Doctor Who Classics #3 is for the collectors (I feel for you). If, however, you’re a casual reader, save your pennies and buy another comic instead.
Villordsutch is married with kids and pets. He looks like a tubby Viking and enjoys science fiction. Follow him on Twitter.
Originally published July 16, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
