New Ninth and the Twelfth Doctor Comics

Monday, 27 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees Titan release two new comics featuring The Ninth and the Twelfth Doctors

THE NINTH DOCTOR #3

Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Adriana Melo
Colorist: Mateus Lopes
Letterer: Comicraft
Covers A -Rod Reis, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Claudia Ianniciello, Cover D: Blair Shedd

Yes, the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack are once again entangled with the Slitheen – or, to be more precise, they've fallen into the middle of a Raxacoricofallapatorian civil war! You've never seen these skinsuit-wearing shapeshifters in their natural hunting grounds... or witnessed them this terrifying! Trust no one!

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover A (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover B (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover C (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 - Cover D (Credit: Titan)

DOCTOR WHO: THE NINTH DOCTOR #3 (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7

Writer: George Mann
Artist: Mariano Laclaustra
Colorist: Ivan Nunes
Letterer: Comicraft
Cover A: Alex Ronald, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Simon Myers, Cover D: Zak Simmonds-Hurn

The Twelfth Doctor continues his solo tour... or has he already welcomed a new comics companion aboard the TARDIS? We're not telling! Either way, it spells astounding interstellar adventure – with no limits!

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover A (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover B (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover C (Credit: Titan)

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.7 - Cover D (Credit: Titan)

On Sale Wednesday 29th June 2016

FILTER: - Comics - Ninth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Doctor Who earns LIMA award for Hot Topic

Sunday, 26 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Hot Topic: TARDIS Dress (Credit: Hot Topic)

The latest International Licensing Awards have been held by the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association, and American clothing/accessories store Hot Topic have won the Licensed Program: Retailer Award for their licensing programme for Doctor Who products, an award they previously won in 2014.

The company has produced a number of products within their license based on Doctor Who, including related coats and dresses, jogger bottoms, tee-shirts, and other apparel such as rings and necklaces. In late December they launched a new limited edition fashion collection of nine items which featured icons from the show, including the TARDIS, sonic screwdriver and Weeping Angels.

Hot Topic introduces Doctor Who Fashion Collection

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Clothing - Merchandise - USA

Big Finish: Adric returns to the TARDIS in 2017

Wednesday, 15 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Big Finish have announced that Matthew Waterhouse will be reprising his role as Adric in three new adventures alongside Peter Davison as the Doctor, Janet Fielding as Tegan and Sarah Sutton as Nyssa:

Matthew Waterhouse rejoins the 5th Doctor TARDIS team for 2017 (Credit: Big Finish)

2017 will find the Fifth Doctor joined by Adric, Nyssa and Tegan for three new adventures set within Season 19 of the classic television series!

Thirty-five years since they parted ways on television, Matthew Waterhouse will rejoin his TV co-stars Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding for three new Big Finish releases, following an appearance together in the critically-acclaimed Doctor Who: The Fifth Doctor Box Set.

Doctor Who main range script editor Alan Barnes said:

I've got a huge amount of affection for Adric and the whole of Season 19. It's the series that was on TV when I was 11, turning 12, which is a great moment to be a Doctor Who fan, when you're madly enthusiastic but not yet so insanely critical that you can't enjoy it!

The new trilogy begins with Doctor Who: The Star Men by Andrew Smith; who made his writing debut with Adric's introductory adventure Full Circle. Barnes continues:

The first thing I wanted to do was to get Andrew writing Adric again, because he'd been such a huge part of the character's development. So with The Star Men I asked Andrew to write something significant for Adric, something to serve the character well and perhaps show him in a slightly different light. I wanted a cosmically big sort of story, too, “full of spacey stuff”. I think it's a bit of a shame that Season 18's script editor Christopher H Bidmead didn't do Season 19 as well, so that was part of the thinking: “What would Bidmead do...?

The trilogy continues with Doctor Who: The Contingency Club by Phil Mulryne – set within an exclusive Victorian gentleman's club - and Doctor Who: Zaltys by Matthew J Elliot.

Zaltys came about because it struck me that there are a few hints in Season 19 that some of the directors have been looking at pop videos of the day – in the “Tegan's mind” bits of Kinda, for example, and in the Adam Ant-like “chandelier jump” in Castrovalva – so I asked Matthew to think about the sort of story that could have been told in the language of the pop video circa 1981/2. Yes, obviously, we don't have the visuals, but every story needs a starting point, and that can be almost anything. You'll have to wait to work out which particular videos we were looking at!

The three stories will be released by Big Finish from January next year, and can be pre-ordered from their website.

FILTER: - Big Finish - Fifth Doctor

The Tenth Doctor #2.11

Sunday, 12 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees Titan release a new comic featuring The Tenth Doctor.

The Tenth Doctor #2.11

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Artist: Eleonora Carlini
Colorist: Arianna Florean
Letterer: Comicraft
Covers Claudia Ianniciello, Will Brooks, Simon Myers

After near-deadly adventures in the Jazz Age, the Doctor, Gabby and Cindy have tracked the murderous Noctures to the Disco-era New York City, 1978. Quite aside from the fashions, how will Gabby and Cindy deal with being stalked through their hometown by terrifying creatures, decades before they were born?!

On Sale Wednesday 15th June 2016

FILTER: - Comics - Tenth Doctor

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Showstoppers

Saturday, 11 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books have released released further information about the second Lethbridge-Stewart release of 2016, The Showstoppers by Jonathan Cooper:

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Showstoppers (Credit: Candy-Jar Books)

LETHBRIDGE-STEWART’S LIFE WILL CHANGE FOREVER!

As well as introducing a new writer to the range, The Showstoppers plays out a major turning point in Lethbridge-Stewart’s life, as he is rewarded for all his hard work since the Doctor Who serial, The Web of Fear.

Range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen, says:

It’s something we’ve been working towards – a pivotal Lethbridge-Stewart moment.

Author, Jonathan Cooper, agrees:

It’s genuinely a massive honour to be given this responsibility; to dramatise the events leading up to something that most fans would certainly like to see. I wish I could say what it is, but that would ruin what’s going to be a big surprise.

The Showstoppers taps into the booming television industry of the 1960s, in particular the popular super-spy thrillers such as The Saint, Danger Man and The Avengers, blending it with more than a hint of the b-movies of the 1950s, all revolving around a secret Nazi plan left over from World War II.

Jonathan Cooper continues:

It was initially inspired by the film Dr Strangelove. At the pitching stage we even had Strangelove as the primary villain, along with a neat little twist to tie the Kubrick film into the world of Lethbridge-Stewart. But we soon moved beyond that, which gave the book a wider scope and allowed me to have a lot more fun with it. There’s still a couple of sly references in there though – including one bit towards the end that I hope readers are going to find
particularly chilling.

The book also features an introduction by David George, son of Dr Strangelove writer Peter George, focusing on the conspiracy theories that tie Dr Strangelove to the Kennedy assassination.

A fourth lead character of the range is also introduced in this novel. Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says:

From day one it has always been our intent to build up something of an ensemble cast of characters, with four main characters leading the way. That started with our licensed characters, Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers, complimented by our very own Corporal William Bishop, who first appeared in our initial release, The Forgotten Son. Now we’re very pleased to introduce Samson Ware to our readers. A very different character to any seen in the range before, and someone quite unique for a series set in the late-‘60s, early-‘70s, a man of Bajan origin.

Jonathan Cooper is no stranger to Doctor Who, having once served as Doctor Who correspondent for The Mirror and The Independent online papers. He has previously written two novels for Space: 1889 series, co-writing one with Lethbridge-Stewart range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen.

Andy Frankham-Allen says:

Jon first came to my attention back in 2007 when I was running the eZine, Pantechnicon. He submitted one of the best short stories I have ever read, and ever since then I have tried to give him as much work as possible. The world can never have too much of Jon’s writing. His sense of humour, and great instinct for twisting a tale on its head, has always been a hallmark of his writing, and it’s this skill that he brings to Lethbridge-Stewart.

The Showstoppers is now available to pre-order from Candy Jar Books, and those who do so will also receive the free digital-only short story, The Band of Evil, by Roger J Hammond and Shaun Russell.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart - Merchandise

BBC Audio: a collection of Tales

Wednesday, 8 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Audio have released details of three collections coming later this year, collating previously released audio tales featuring the Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor and Torchwood:

Tenth Doctor Tales
Published by BBC Books 4th August 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Michelle Ryan read this exclusive collection of original audio adventures. Join the Tenth Doctor on these seven adventures in Time and Space, written specially for audio:

Pest Control by Peter Anghelides, read by David Tennant
The Forever Trap by Dan Abnett, read by Catherine Tate
The Nemonite Invasion by David Roden, read by Catherine Tate
The Rising Night by Scott Handcock, read by Michelle Ryan.
The Day of the Troll by Simon Messingham, read by David Tennant
The Last Voyage by Dan Abnett, read by David Tennant
Dead Air by James Goss, read by David Tennant

With thrilling music and sound design, these seven adventures are based on the hit BBC TV series.

Duration: 13 hours approx

Torchwood Tales
Published by BBC Books 1st September 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Kai Owen and others read ten stories based on the hit BBC TV series. Written specially for audio, with additional sound design, the stories feature the original Torchwood line-up including Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Owen and Toshiko, plus Rhys and PC Andy. The titles are:

Hidden by Steven Savile, read by Naoko Mori
Everyone Says Hello by Dan Abnett, read by Burn Gorman
In the Shadows by Joseph Lidster, read by Eve Myles
The Sin Eaters by Brian Minchin, read by Gareth David-Lloyd
Department X and Ghost Train by James Goss, read by Kai Owen
Army of One by Ian Edginton, read by Kai Owen
Fallout by David Llewellyn, read by Tom Price
Red Skies by Joseph Lidster, read by John Telfer
Mr Invincible by Mark Morris, read by Tom Price

Duration: 16 hours approx

Eleventh Doctor Tales (Credit: BBC Audio)

Eleventh Doctor Tales
Published by BBC Books 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

Matt Smith, Arthur Darvill and Meera Syal are among the readers of this exclusive collection of original audio adventures. Join the Eleventh Doctor on journeys in Time and Space in the stories:

The Runaway Train by Oli Smith, read by Matt Smith
The Ring of Steel by Stephen Cole, read by Arthur Darvill
The Jade Pyramid by Martin Day, read by Matt Smith
The Hounds of Artemis by James Goss, read by Matt Smith & Clare Corbett
The Gemini Contagion by Jason Arnopp, read by Meera Syal
Eye of the Jungle by Darren Jones, read by David Troughton
Blackout by Oli Smith, read by Stuart Milligan
The Art of Death by James Goss, read by Raquel Cassidy
Darkstar Academy by Mark Morris, read by Alexander Armstrong
Day of the Cockroach by Steve Lyons, read by Arthur Darvill
The Nu-Humans by Cavan Scott & Mark Wright, read by Raquel Cassidy
The Empty House by Simon Guerrier, read by Raquel Cassidy
The Sleepers in the Dust by Darren Jones, read by Arthur Darvill
Snake Bite by Scott Handcock, read by Frances Barber

Duration: 15 hours approx.

FILTER: - BBC Audio - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Torchwood

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Band Of Evil

Monday, 6 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books has announced a new digital-only short story, The Band Of Evil, which is free to all subscribers to the 2016 range of Lethbridge-Stewart novels, and those who order the next novel, The Showstoppers:

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Band Of Evil (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce the release of their latest free digital-only short story, The Band of Evil.

Lethbridge-Stewart editor Shaun Russell has joined forces with Candy Jar author Roger J Simmonds to pen this story of rock music aliens on the rampage in Wembley.

Shaun said:

Although I’ve had a hand in establishing the direction of the series it’s been my goal to write a Lethbridge-Stewart story myself, but this has always proved difficult due to health and work commitments, so when the opportunity to work with Roger on this short story presented itself I jumped at it. The story is a classic ‘base under siege’ tale with a rock ‘n’ roll twist.

The book also contains a preview chapter of Roger’s autobiography Standing on the Sidelines. Roger’s life has been a rock ’n’ rollercoaster of a journey. Highlights of his remarkable career include playing the 2is club in Soho at the height of its popularity, being part of the only Welsh group to play The Cavern Club, working alongside the influential record producer Joe Meek, getting drunk with The Krays, and being present when Tom Jones got his name.

Roger J Simmonds, who was once of touring member of The Honeycombs, said:

I met some of the most influential performers during the ‘60s including George Harrison, Brian Jones, David Bowie and Tom Jones. My autobiography captures the glamour and sleaze, the hedonism and idealism and the sights and smells of the British rock scene. It was great to transfer these experiences to the world of Lethbridge-Stewart.

Hayley Cox, senior publishing coordinator at Candy Jar Books, feels that Roger was the perfect choice to collaborate with Shaun. She said:

Currently the Lethbridge-Stewart stories are set in the tail end of the swinging ‘60s and who better to draw upon these exciting times than someone who was actually there. I believe that Roger and Shaun have captured the rock music scene perfectly.

The Band of Evil will be given free to every person who pre-orders The Showstoppers by Jonathan Cooper, which is due out at the end of June. All subscribers will receive the short story automatically, as will those who purchase any of the bundles for the 2016 series.

The Showstoppers is now available for pre-order directly from the Candy Jar Books website.

In addition Candy Jar has created a Spotify Lethbridge-Stewart and Standing on the Sidelines playlist.

FILTER: - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

New Comic - Eleventh Doctor #2.10

Sunday, 5 June 2016 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees Titan release a new comic featuring The Eleventh Doctor.

ELEVENTH DOCTOR #2.10

Writers: Rob Williams
Artist: Simon Fraser
Colorist: Gary Caldwell
Letterer: Comicraft
Covers Dan Boultwood, Will Brooks, Andrew Pepoy

Badly wounded by The Then and The Now, the Squire must deal with the fallout of Alice's deadly decision, as Abslom's fury rounds on the Doctor in full force. Death, devastation, and the aftermath of the Time War... this one has it all! Can the Doctor still find the truth and save his friends?

On Sale Wednesday 8th June 2016

FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor

New Comic - The Fourth Doctor #3

Sunday, 29 May 2016 - Reported by Marcus

This week sees Titan release a new comic featuring The Fourth Doctor.

THE FOURTH DOCTOR #3

Writers: Gordon Rennie & Emma Beeby
Artist: Brian Williamson
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Comicraft
Covers Brian Williamson, Warren Pleece, Robert Hack

'GAZE OF THE MEDUSA' continues, as the Doctor and Sarah Jane team with Professor Odysseus James, and his daughter, Athena, to face down an ancient alien horror. Battling a malign influence all the way from Ancient Greece to London in 1887, the Doctor is faced with a petrifying challenge – and physical evidence that he cannot win!

On Sale Wednesday 1st June 2016

FILTER: - Comics - Fourth Doctor

Sixth Doctor returns to the airwaves

Saturday, 28 May 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Crimes of Thomas Brewster (Credit: Big Finish / Anthony Lamb)

Colin Baker becomes the 'current' Doctor again on British airwaves today as BBC Radio 4 Extra begin a new run of Big Finish adventures on the radio, Saturdays at 6:00pm (repeated midnight). The Crimes of Thomas Brewster kicks off the run, broadcast in two parts over the next couple of weeks. The story also features Maggie Stables as the sixth Doctor's long-time audio companion Evelyn and guest stars David Troughton as Raymond Gallagher.

This weekend also sees a repeat of the 50th Anniversary programme Who Made Who, which was presented by Tracy Ann Oberman and featured a variety of interviews and special documentaries, plus the mockumentary from 2004, Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman?, which starred Jane Asher as the titular character whose life is examined some years after being left on Earth... The three hour programme follows on after Doctor Who at 7:00pm (and is also on at 9:00am this morning).

Both The Crimes of Thomas Brewster and Who Made Who should be available to listen to over the next 29 days via the BBC iPlayer.

FILTER: - BBC - Broadcasting - Colin Baker - Radio - Sixth Doctor - WHO50

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