ADVANCE REVIEW! Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #4

Is the Doctor’s time with Alice already at an end? Read on to find out.

The official description from Titan:

That’s just one of the reasons Alice and the Doctor have come to a remote space research facility.

The views are breathtaking… but so is the formless creature creeping through the station, stealing voices and inflicting comas on those research scientists unlucky enough to be caught.

Tracking the temporal trail of the slippery SERVEYOUinc corporation, has the Doctor found more than he bargained for? And will this entity from between the stars be the death of them all?

So far Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor has had a very one-shot feel, giving a similar vibe to the television series. Whodunnit? however brings the first continuing story, and with it a tale that is so engaging that you don’t want it to end. Readers of the series will have probably noticed the SERVEYOUinc recurrence, and we get it once again, with the series also touching on how the T.A.R.D.I.S. cleverly avoids paradoxes.

Though Rob Williams contribution to this series (which is still in it’s early days) has been good, Al Ewing is definitely appearing to be the standout writer on this series, with both of his tales amazing me. The way that he manages to build upon the SERVEYOUinc overarc, whilst also giving fun, exciting self contained tales has really impressed me. This however is the best yet, with the Whodunnit? title being extremely fitting. He also gives us some interesting background on Alice, with it causing a rather rough patch in the building relationship between her and the Doctor.

Boo Cook handles the artwork on this issue, and I have to say I have a rather split opinion. Despite having some fluid layouts, and an energetic pace, I can’t help feeling put off by the roughness of Cook’s art. The main thing that bugs me about this is the facial expressions of the Doctor, or should I say lack of, with his mouth literally being closed throughout the entire issue. The artist does however show some form of emotion, with Alice’s frustration coming across perfectly. The colours of Hi-Fi also give some vibrancy to this space tale, with his choice of colours giving a very lively finish to Cook’s art.

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor edges ahead as the best Doctor Who series from Titan, but being one issue ahead of the Tenth, and three ahead of the recently launched Twelfth this could easily change. Nevertheless it’s an exciting trip that all Whovian’s will love. Highly recommended.