Villordsutch reviews Doctor Who Vol. 3 #9…
“The TARDIS has recently been on the fritz, but now it has gone completely out of control. And the Doctor is nowhere to be found! Meanwhile, white holes have been forming throughout time and space, sucking in everything around them. What does the Hypothetical Gentleman have to do with it all? Find out in the four-part story ‘Sky Jacks’!”
To start this review I need to admit that I fell for the old judging a book by its cover. As soon as I caught a sight of the art, I hated the comic. Shame on me. As I continued to read, it dawned on me that this issue is perhaps one of the best Doctor and Clara stories I’ve seen / read. What both Andy Dingle and Eddie Robson have given us is a good old fashioned, ripsnorting, mystery story. A bloody good one it is too.
Clara has awoken in the TARDIS and makes her way towards the Console Room to speak with the Doctor. Passing through the Library, LEGO room and Italian Bistro before she arrives at a time looping corridor, she finds an odd button with a note telling her not to press said button. She does of course, and ends up in the claws of a metal pterodactyl being shot down by a steam-powered World War II American bomber. All this and she hasn’t even had breakfast yet. The Doctor barely gets a look in with this issue, yet the story alone has harpooned me in and I am already wishing I had part two ready to read.
As yet haven’t described the art work, and some of you may feel you may know what I’m going to say based upon my opening paragraph. Well you ruddy well shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Shame on you.
The art is extremely sneaky; I can only assume that Andy Kuhn is some sort of “Art Ninja” who lies in wait as you “tut-tut!” at the jagged cartoon style drawings which you initially dislike and then “WHAMM!” – you’re Dragon punched and you realise you’re enjoying it and you find the art exciting as it runs hand in hand with the story. Both writer and artist should sit down and do the television Who tales. Steven Moffat should look at these two fellows for inspiration for Season 8.
Now you’ve finished the review, go and buy this comic and enjoy yourself, as I did.
Brilliant!
Villordsutch is married with kids and pets. He looks like a tubby Viking and enjoys science fiction. Follow him on Twitter.
Originally published May 22, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
