Interesting interview with Who's new head writer and executive producer, Stephen Moffat, in The Guardian.
Here
Monday, 22 March 2010
Saturday, 20 March 2010
The Art of Who (Part 3) : Andrew Skilleter
Andrew Skilleter became ´the´ Who artist of the 1980s and early 90´s, illustrating over 50 Target book covers, twenty-four video covers (including the limited edition collector’s Tardis and Dalek Tins), and becoming widely known to Who fandom through his Doctor Who Monthy special edition posters and independently produced high quality print portfolios.
His work included the iconic 'The Five Doctors' Radio Times cover (above), one of only two artists to illustrate Who RT covers (Frank Bellamy being the other).
In the 1980s he founded Who Dares Publishing. In addition to producing Who calendars (between 1986 and 1989) and other merchandise, he published a number of book titles for the UK and USA, including the classic 'Cybermen' by David Banks and ´The Radio Times Doctor Who Art of Frank Bellamy´.
Andrew´s work has just got better and better over the years, and his mastery of airbrush techniques gives it a unique feel and atmosphere.
´Blacklight : The Art of Andrew Skilleter´, a large format, colour hardback written by the artist was published by Virgin in 1995, showcasing his Who and other work.
You can find Andrew´s personal site here, including an excellect sample gallary, and you can see an example of one of his most recent limited edition portfolio´s here. The best online collection of his work can be found here.
List of Target cover illustrations
Destiny of the Daleks (1979)
The Dæmons (1980 reprint)
Invasion of Time (1980)
The Stones of Blood (1980)
The Androids of Tara (1980)
The Power of Kroll (1980)
The Nightmare of Eden (1980)
An Unearthly Child (1981)
The Cybermen (1981, reprint)
State of Decay (1982)
Warriors' Gate (1982)
The Keeper of Traken (1982)
The Leisure Hive (1982)
Full Circle (1982)
Logopolis (1982)
The Sunmakers (1982)
The Crusaders (1982, reprint)
The Auton Invaison (1982, reprint)
Day of the Daleks (1982, reprint)
Pyramids of Mars (1982, reprint)
Planet of Evil (1982, reprint)
Meglos (1983)
The Five Doctors (1983)
more to come soon...
List of Virgin new Adverntures cover illustrations to follow
Timewyrm: Genesis
Timewyrm: Exodus
Timewyrm: Apocalypse
Timewyrm: Revelation
Iceberg
List of BBC Video cover illustrations to follow
List of other book cover illustrations
The Adventures of K9 and other mechanical creatures (1979)
Doctor Who: The TARDIS Inside Out (1985) - cover and internal illustrations
Doctor Who: Cybermen (1988) - cover and selected illustrations
The Gallifrey Chronicles (1991) - cover
Doctor Who: The Monsters (1992) - cover
List of Doctor Who Magazine special poster issues (and covers)
No 85 - February 1984 - pullout poster - The Master
No 87 - April 1984 - pullout poster - Five Doctors - Cybermen on Gallifrey (above)
No 107 - December 1985 - cover illustration of Tom Baker and inside interview
No 175 - 10 July 1991 - cover illustration (Timewyrm: Genesis)
Summer Special 1995 (inside covers, back and front, reproduce Andrew Skilleter's artwork used on the spines of the BBC Video release of the Key to Time series)
(and probably few more to add to this?)
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Fashion Girl
One of the first interviews with our new Who girl, Karen Gillan (not Gillian as many blogs are mistakenly calling her, or Millen, as some CBBC hosts think either!), appeared in womens fasion mag, InStyle, in their April issue (published early March)
More about handbags than Who (I have to now find out what a 2.55 is), but we do find out that Karen once died her hair pink. Think the punk look would quite suit her!
You can see an intro to the article online here.
More about handbags than Who (I have to now find out what a 2.55 is), but we do find out that Karen once died her hair pink. Think the punk look would quite suit her!
You can see an intro to the article online here.
Friday, 5 March 2010
New Season, New Doctor, New Companion!!!
Coming Soon! This publicity photo comes from the shoot done for SFX magazine's special 3D cover April issue (published early March) but which has also been widely used by the Beeb, including a re-season trailer.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Buy youself a Dalek
Hundreds of Doctor Who fans crammed into a London auction room on Wednesday to bid on classic costumes and props from the BBC sci-fi show.
The most expensive item of the day was a Dalek from the 1985 story Revelation of the Daleks - which sold for £20,400, including the auctioneer's fee.
Kylie Minogue's waitress costume, worn in the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned, fetched £3,120.
The auction of more than 160 lots took place at Bonhams in Knightsbridge.
More.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
The Problem with Peri
The other week I did a little post on Peri, and it got me thinking about the problems surrounding the characters departure from the series. In the original TV series Trial of a Time Lord, they left us a little confused about events, firstly killing off Peri, and then at the end of the series giving us a last minute "oh by the way she's not dead, but got married to King Yrcanos" happy ending. Yeah like, as if. I stopped watching the original TV show after they served up that crap.
[Photocredit shillpages]
I watched a few old documentaries online recently with interviews with JNT, the Who producer, and Eric Saward, the script editor, at the time of TOTL. We find out that the ending we watched was a JNT cobbled together bag of shite, and that the original plot, as envisaged by writer Robert Holmes, who sadly died, and then subsequently developed by Sarward, was withdrawn when Sarward resigned, following disagrements with JNT over the story. What we have therefore, is a miss-translation of the actual story, and sadly until Sarward's laywers fall asleep, we will have to wait for the details of the 'original' story.
Perhaps Peri did die, as we were shown in Mindwarp. But I wondered what, if any thing, had been done with Peri in spin-off media, such as the Big Finish audio dramas and New Adventures books.
My first port of call was to check the Companion Chronicles published by Big Finish. Now I've got a few of these, but I haven't really got into any of them, so am undecided on their merits. However we are in for more of these, as I see BF have a long list of titles to be published. But surprise surprise, no Peri. Now BF have used Peri, voiced by Nicola Bryant, in their main series of stories, but these slot in within the existing timeline for the character whilst travelling with the Doctor (I think, again I haven't listened to them, although I like the BF dramas, I just haven't got to these yet).
But I did find a New Adventure story, Bad Therapy, where the seventh Doctor finds Peri, now Queen Gilliam, twenty-five years later and blaming the Doctor for leaving her on Kron'tep. She gives him a nice slap, but happily they make up and he takes her home to the latter days of the 20th century. Well that's good then, but not exactly what I was hoping for.
Apparently there is another story which gives us information on Peri, The Age of Chaos, a graphic novel featuring the sixth Doctor and actually written by Colin Baker (news to me!), where we find out the Doctor visited Peri's descendants on Kron'tep.
Now all this raises the question of canonnity of spin off Who stories, such as the New Adventures, or Big Finish dramas. I'm more tempted to see Big Finish as canonish, but not New Adventures, but then I've never read any. So for me Audio dramas yes, but books no. And graphic novels, well, perhaps not this one.
So nothing really of merit... surely it's a loose end for BF to pick up in their Companion Chronicles? I've got a little idea of a story of my own, but the big question is what to do with poor Peri at the end... perhap's I'll kill her off!
[Photocredit shillpages]
I watched a few old documentaries online recently with interviews with JNT, the Who producer, and Eric Saward, the script editor, at the time of TOTL. We find out that the ending we watched was a JNT cobbled together bag of shite, and that the original plot, as envisaged by writer Robert Holmes, who sadly died, and then subsequently developed by Sarward, was withdrawn when Sarward resigned, following disagrements with JNT over the story. What we have therefore, is a miss-translation of the actual story, and sadly until Sarward's laywers fall asleep, we will have to wait for the details of the 'original' story.
Perhaps Peri did die, as we were shown in Mindwarp. But I wondered what, if any thing, had been done with Peri in spin-off media, such as the Big Finish audio dramas and New Adventures books.
My first port of call was to check the Companion Chronicles published by Big Finish. Now I've got a few of these, but I haven't really got into any of them, so am undecided on their merits. However we are in for more of these, as I see BF have a long list of titles to be published. But surprise surprise, no Peri. Now BF have used Peri, voiced by Nicola Bryant, in their main series of stories, but these slot in within the existing timeline for the character whilst travelling with the Doctor (I think, again I haven't listened to them, although I like the BF dramas, I just haven't got to these yet).
But I did find a New Adventure story, Bad Therapy, where the seventh Doctor finds Peri, now Queen Gilliam, twenty-five years later and blaming the Doctor for leaving her on Kron'tep. She gives him a nice slap, but happily they make up and he takes her home to the latter days of the 20th century. Well that's good then, but not exactly what I was hoping for.
Apparently there is another story which gives us information on Peri, The Age of Chaos, a graphic novel featuring the sixth Doctor and actually written by Colin Baker (news to me!), where we find out the Doctor visited Peri's descendants on Kron'tep.
Now all this raises the question of canonnity of spin off Who stories, such as the New Adventures, or Big Finish dramas. I'm more tempted to see Big Finish as canonish, but not New Adventures, but then I've never read any. So for me Audio dramas yes, but books no. And graphic novels, well, perhaps not this one.
So nothing really of merit... surely it's a loose end for BF to pick up in their Companion Chronicles? I've got a little idea of a story of my own, but the big question is what to do with poor Peri at the end... perhap's I'll kill her off!
Monday, 15 February 2010
Political Who
The Sunday Telegraph has revealed that the Doctor has been using his power to meddle in UK politics...
Left-wing script writers infiltrated Doctor Who to give it anti-Thatcher plot lines in the late 1980s in a failed attempt "to overthrow the Government" Sylvester McCoy has claimed.
McCoy, now 66, who took over as the Doctor three months after Thatcher's third election victory in 1987, said they brought politics into the show "deliberately" but "very quietly". He said: "We were a group of politically motivated people and it seemed the right thing to do. Our feeling was that Margaret Thatcher was far more terrifying than any monster the Doctor had encountered," he told the Sunday Times.
One three-part programme, The Happiness Patrol, featured a transparent caricature of Thatcher.
Sheila Hancock played Helen A, a big-haired despotic ruler of a human colony on the planet Terra Alpha, whose subjects – called "drones" – worked in factories. The Doctor calls on the drones to down their tools and revolt, an obvious reference to industrial disputes like the miners' strike.
Also a spin-off children's novel, Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, published under licence by the BBC in 1987, featured a villain called Rehctaht - Thatcher backwards.
I've also seen interviews with the script editor at the time, who aparently when asked what he wanted to achieve when auditioning for the job, said he wanted to bring down the government, and McCoy, where he's stated that he took on Thatcher in roleplay as an advisory in his audition.
The fact that its taken this story twenty years to hit the press reflects the sad lack of interest in the Classic series before it was cancelled, and the fact that its not much of a story. New Who is full of so many political, moral and cultural references that I guess it's only a matter of time before someone does a Phd thesis on the good Doctor's effect on polictics and our society. Or perhaps someone's done it already?
Link
Left-wing script writers infiltrated Doctor Who to give it anti-Thatcher plot lines in the late 1980s in a failed attempt "to overthrow the Government" Sylvester McCoy has claimed.
McCoy, now 66, who took over as the Doctor three months after Thatcher's third election victory in 1987, said they brought politics into the show "deliberately" but "very quietly". He said: "We were a group of politically motivated people and it seemed the right thing to do. Our feeling was that Margaret Thatcher was far more terrifying than any monster the Doctor had encountered," he told the Sunday Times.
One three-part programme, The Happiness Patrol, featured a transparent caricature of Thatcher.
Sheila Hancock played Helen A, a big-haired despotic ruler of a human colony on the planet Terra Alpha, whose subjects – called "drones" – worked in factories. The Doctor calls on the drones to down their tools and revolt, an obvious reference to industrial disputes like the miners' strike.
Also a spin-off children's novel, Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, published under licence by the BBC in 1987, featured a villain called Rehctaht - Thatcher backwards.
I've also seen interviews with the script editor at the time, who aparently when asked what he wanted to achieve when auditioning for the job, said he wanted to bring down the government, and McCoy, where he's stated that he took on Thatcher in roleplay as an advisory in his audition.
The fact that its taken this story twenty years to hit the press reflects the sad lack of interest in the Classic series before it was cancelled, and the fact that its not much of a story. New Who is full of so many political, moral and cultural references that I guess it's only a matter of time before someone does a Phd thesis on the good Doctor's effect on polictics and our society. Or perhaps someone's done it already?
Link
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Peri, as in hot!
It was only a matter of time... No excuses, this is the beginning of a little series posts honouring some of the wonderful lead female actresses that have graced the show in the form of the Doctor's companions. As always, I'll try to find unusual photos which may not be so well known outside Who circles. I should stress that there is no particular order to which I shall post this series (honestly!).
Nicola Bryant portrayed American college student Peri (Perpugilliam) Brown from the beginning of Planet of Fire (1984) through the end of Mindwarp (1986).
So without further ado, I present Ms Nicola Bryant, who played the never to be forgotten Peri alongside the fifth and sixth Doctors. Poor girl had a rough ride however, and no sooner had she made firends with the 5th Doctor, he regenerated into the 6th Doctor, and one wonders why such a lovely girl hung around such a self indulgent character. Anyway, handicapped by an American accent (who's idea was that? Don't tell me... JNT?) which drifted across various regions of the State, poor Nicola didnt really get a chance to show her true talents, and ended up being killed off in Mindwarp (Trail of a Time Lord), only to be brought back to life and married off to some big hairy guy she'd just met in a last minute plot twist. I don't believe it, and like to think he kidnapped her and keeps her tied up for his personal pleasure in his dungeon. I mean, I just can't imagine her doing that of her own free will! (Good o,ld Brian Blessed, who played 'the big hairy guy' should have won and a life-time's supply of ham for his over acting.) Perhaps I should write a companion's story for Big Finish... (or is there one already??)
I don't know how I've managed avoided posting any classic shots of Peri, for example in her bikini (in her first story, Planet of Fire). It was quite an intro for our new girl, clips of which are suitably represented on You Tube! Oh go on then, under pressure...
[Photocredit shillpages]
Nicola has her own offical website which you can visit here.
Nicola Bryant portrayed American college student Peri (Perpugilliam) Brown from the beginning of Planet of Fire (1984) through the end of Mindwarp (1986).
So without further ado, I present Ms Nicola Bryant, who played the never to be forgotten Peri alongside the fifth and sixth Doctors. Poor girl had a rough ride however, and no sooner had she made firends with the 5th Doctor, he regenerated into the 6th Doctor, and one wonders why such a lovely girl hung around such a self indulgent character. Anyway, handicapped by an American accent (who's idea was that? Don't tell me... JNT?) which drifted across various regions of the State, poor Nicola didnt really get a chance to show her true talents, and ended up being killed off in Mindwarp (Trail of a Time Lord), only to be brought back to life and married off to some big hairy guy she'd just met in a last minute plot twist. I don't believe it, and like to think he kidnapped her and keeps her tied up for his personal pleasure in his dungeon. I mean, I just can't imagine her doing that of her own free will! (Good o,ld Brian Blessed, who played 'the big hairy guy' should have won and a life-time's supply of ham for his over acting.) Perhaps I should write a companion's story for Big Finish... (or is there one already??)
I don't know how I've managed avoided posting any classic shots of Peri, for example in her bikini (in her first story, Planet of Fire). It was quite an intro for our new girl, clips of which are suitably represented on You Tube! Oh go on then, under pressure...
[Photocredit shillpages]
Nicola has her own offical website which you can visit here.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Companions that never were
Actress Carey Mulligan was nominated today for a Best Actress Award in this year’s Oscars. Mulligan is best known amongst us as Sally Sparrow in the Steven Moffat written episode Blink from Season 3.
Mulligan was nominated for her role in the film An Education and is in heavy company as other nominees include Oscar favorite, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirrien, Sandra Bullock and Gabourey Sidibe.
Photo and details from here.
Fansite Den of Geek included her in a list of the top 10 "companions that might have been" in 2008. It's an interesting list, so worthy of copying. Click here for the full article.
In order of doctors (rather than in order of favourite, which is what I thought a top 10 was, but DoG know better, I'm sure).
Anne Chaplette - The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
Samantha Briggs - The Faceless Ones
Isobel Watkins - The Invasion
Dr Ruth Ingram - The Time Monster
Duggan - City Of Death
Will Chandler - The Awakening
Herbert - Timelash
Ray - Delta and the Bannermen
Lynda ("with a y") - BadWolf/Parting of the Ways
Sally - Sparrow Blink
The list was published in 2008, and to which we can surely add Lady Christina de Souza from the 2009 special Planet of the Dead, played by the lovely Michelle Ryan, even if it does bugger up the 'one-for-each-doctor' theme (well, skipping number eight of course).
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Aiming for Amy
Now if my meglomanic days weren't behind me, I think I'd be cooking up a cunning plan to kidnap Amy... in fact I may come out of retirement.
I remember the first time I heard the concept that the Doctor's female companions were eye-candy for the Dads. What rubbish! As if the makers of Doctor Who would use such cheap tricks. But then I questioned my own watching of the series during Colin Baker's reign, and realised with sadness that it was more than that, they were there for the teenage sons two! Yes, I fell in love with Nicola Bryant, I had no choice, but it also explains why I never watched any seventh Doctor stories. Bonnie Langford just doesn't do it for me.
Anyway, yes, you've guessed it... this whole ramble is really just an excuse for the following... hats off to Karen Gillan (I'm sure we'll get back to Nicola later)
I remember the first time I heard the concept that the Doctor's female companions were eye-candy for the Dads. What rubbish! As if the makers of Doctor Who would use such cheap tricks. But then I questioned my own watching of the series during Colin Baker's reign, and realised with sadness that it was more than that, they were there for the teenage sons two! Yes, I fell in love with Nicola Bryant, I had no choice, but it also explains why I never watched any seventh Doctor stories. Bonnie Langford just doesn't do it for me.
Anyway, yes, you've guessed it... this whole ramble is really just an excuse for the following... hats off to Karen Gillan (I'm sure we'll get back to Nicola later)
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Not Who but Poo...
OK, so now we are getting to the bottom of Who parody here, with Doctor Poo from Monster Fun Comic (1976). Haven´t been able to find any more info about this, more´s the relief.
This image is from the Cuttings Archive.
VIZ magazine did a Doctor Poo story in the June 1996 issue of the comic, and there is a flash animated version online, but I don´t have the sense of humour to look at this any further... if you do a quick web search I´m sure you´ll find it...
This image is from the Cuttings Archive.
VIZ magazine did a Doctor Poo story in the June 1996 issue of the comic, and there is a flash animated version online, but I don´t have the sense of humour to look at this any further... if you do a quick web search I´m sure you´ll find it...
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
The Art of Who (Part 2) : Frank Bellamy
During in the early seventies, one of Britain´s most successful comic artists provided Who illustrations to support the program listings in the Radio Times. Frank Bellamy´s work was made famous to a generation through the Eagle and TV21 comics, among others.
His first Radion Times Who contribution appeared in 10 April, 1971, a two and a half page comic strip introduction (two of which were in full colour) based on episode one of the story ´Colony In Space´ (main frame of which below).
From January, 1972, Bellamy started an intermittent run of small illustrations to accompany the episode details in the magazine, the majority of which were only slightly larger than a postage stamp, appearing throughout the rest of Pertwee´s portrayal of the third Doctor.
However the highlight of this period was his full colour cover illustion for ´Doctor Who - Day of the Daleks´ (RT 1st - 7th January 1972) and now a very collectable issue, if you can find one. He is one of only two artists to illustrate Who covers for the RT (the other being Andrew Skilleter for the ´Five Doctors´ anniversary issue)
With the beginning of Tom Baker regin, larger illustrations accompanied the start of some stories, the last being 'The Planet of Evil' in July 1976, the year in which he died.
His work as 'the' Dr. Who artist was reprinted in a book edited by his son David in "Dr. Who Timeview: The Complete Doctor Who Illustrations of Frank Bellamy”, published by Who Dares in 1985.
You can find listings of his complete works here (from which the following list is edited), and a detailed blog here. There´s not much of his work available online, although a gallery of his dalek illustrations can be seen here.
Doctor and Dalek, for episode 2 of Planet of the Daleks
I haven´t found full page scans from any of the Radio Times issues showing Frank Bellamy´s work in context. It would be a nice collection to have, especially for the larger illustrations, so if anyone has them...
Frank Bellamy Radio Times Doctor Who Illustrations Listing
Colony in Space (10 - 16/04/1971) Page 14 one quarter page B&W comic strip, Doctor, Jo (“What is it?”) & shadowy figure. Pages 53-55 Two full colour pages, Dr (“We´ll just have a look around and then I´ll try and get you back to earth”) & Jo and two-thirds B&W illustration
The Daemons (22 - 28/05/1971) Page 15 B&W Doctor and Jo Grant in Bessie screeching to Devil's End with Miss Hawthorne
Spearhead from space (03 - 09/07/1971) p.41 B&W Doctor
Spearhead from space (10 - 16/07/1971) p.43 B&W Doctor [Reprint of 3-9/7/1971]
The Daemons - omnibus edition (18 - 31/12/1971) p.75 B&W The Master and Doctor
Day of the Daleks (01 - 07/01/1972) Colour cover - Doctor and Daleks
The Curse of Peladon (29/01 - 04/02/1972) p.17 B&W Aggedor
The Curse of Peladon (05 - 11/02/1972) p.15 B&W Alpha Centauri
The Curse of Peladon (12 - 18/02/1972) p.17 B&W Izlyr, the Ice Warrior
The Curse of Peladon (19 - 25/02/1972) p.17 B&W Arcturus
The Sea Devils (04 - 10/03/1972) p.19 B&W The Master
The Sea Devils (11 - 17/03/1972) p.15 B&W submarine
The Sea Devils (18 - 24/03/1972) p.20 B&W Sea Devil
The Sea Devils (25 - 31/03/1972) p.5 & p.19 B&W Doctor [repeated image]
The Sea Devils (01 - 07/04/1972) p. 15 B&W Jo
The Mutants (08 - 14/04/1972) p. 15 B&W spaceship
The Mutants (15 - 21/04/1972) p.17 B&W Jo
The Mutants (22 - 28/04/1972) p. 15 B&W Doctor
The Mutanta (29/04 - 05/05/1972) p.17 B&W The Tardis
The Mutants (06 - 12/05/1972) p.15 B&W guard
The Mutants (13 - 19/05/1972) p. 17 B&W Solonian mutant
Time Monster (20 - 26/05/1972) p. 15 B&W Doctor ¨[Reprint of 22-28/4/1972]
Time Monster (17 - 23/06/1972) p. 17 B&W The Master [Reprint of 4-10/3/1972]
The Sea Devils [Omnibus edition] (16 - 29/12/1972) p.82 B&W Doctor (“The whole place will go up in approximately ten minutes, enjoy your revenge”), the Master and Sea Devil
The Three Doctors (06 - 12/01/1973) p.15 B&W Patrick Troughton
The Three Doctors (13 - 19/01/1973) p.17 B&W William Hartnell
The Three Doctors (20 - 26/01/1973) p.17 B&W Jon Pertwee
The Carnival of Monsters (03 - 09/02/1973) p.13 B&W Pletrac (guard)
The Carnival of Monsters (10 - 16/02/1973) p.15 B&W Drashig
The Carnival of Monsters (17 - 23/02/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
Frontier in Space (24/02 - 02/03/1973) p.17 B&W Draconian
Frontier in Space (03 - 09/03/1973) p.17 B&W Ogran
Frontier in Space (10 - 16/03/1973) p.15 B&W guard
Frontier in Space (17 - 23/03/1973 p.19 B&W the Master
Frontier in Space (24 - 30/03/1973) p.17 B&W Draconian
Frontier in Space (31/03 - 06/04/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
Planet of the Daleks (07 - 13/04/1973) p.15 B&W Tardis
Planet of the Daleks (14 - 20/04/1973) p.14 B&W Doctor and Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (21 - 27/04/1973) p.15 B&W Jo and Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (28 - 04/05/1973) p.17 B&W Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (05 - 11/05/1973) p.16 B&W Doctor
Planet of the Daleks (12 - 18/05/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
The Green Death (19 - 25/05/1973) p.17 B&W Doctor
The Green Death (26/05 - 01/06/1973) p.17 B&W of Jo in miner's helmet
The Green Death (02 - 08/06/1973) p.17 B&W maggots
The Green Death (09 - 15/06/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor and exploding mine mechanism
The Green Death (16 - 22/06/1973) p.17 B&W Jo and maggots
The Green Death (23 - 29/06/1973) p. 19 B&W Doctor and Bessie
Ark in Space [Omnibus edition] (16 - 22/08/1975) p.34 B&W landscape illustration, small snip of Doctor (Tom Baker), the ark, and the Wirrn
Terror of the Zygons (30/08 - 05/09/75) p.6 Two-thirds page colour illustration of the Doctor (“Whe´re dealing with a monstor of no ordinary flesh and blood”) and Loch Ness monster. p.17 B&W Oil Rig illustration to accompany the programme listing
Planet of Evil (27/09 - 03/10/1975) p. 19 Part reprint of Ark in Space 16/08/1975 - 22/8/75
Genesis of the Daleks (20/12 - 02/01/1976) pp 60-61 B&W Landscape comic tryptic - Doctor and Davros and Daleks (below)
The Seeds of Doom (31/01 - 06/02/1976) p. 55 B&W Sarah Jane and The Doctor
The Planet of Evil (03/07 - 09/07/1976) p. 26 B&W landscape illustration
His first Radion Times Who contribution appeared in 10 April, 1971, a two and a half page comic strip introduction (two of which were in full colour) based on episode one of the story ´Colony In Space´ (main frame of which below).
From January, 1972, Bellamy started an intermittent run of small illustrations to accompany the episode details in the magazine, the majority of which were only slightly larger than a postage stamp, appearing throughout the rest of Pertwee´s portrayal of the third Doctor.
However the highlight of this period was his full colour cover illustion for ´Doctor Who - Day of the Daleks´ (RT 1st - 7th January 1972) and now a very collectable issue, if you can find one. He is one of only two artists to illustrate Who covers for the RT (the other being Andrew Skilleter for the ´Five Doctors´ anniversary issue)
With the beginning of Tom Baker regin, larger illustrations accompanied the start of some stories, the last being 'The Planet of Evil' in July 1976, the year in which he died.
His work as 'the' Dr. Who artist was reprinted in a book edited by his son David in "Dr. Who Timeview: The Complete Doctor Who Illustrations of Frank Bellamy”, published by Who Dares in 1985.
You can find listings of his complete works here (from which the following list is edited), and a detailed blog here. There´s not much of his work available online, although a gallery of his dalek illustrations can be seen here.
Doctor and Dalek, for episode 2 of Planet of the Daleks
I haven´t found full page scans from any of the Radio Times issues showing Frank Bellamy´s work in context. It would be a nice collection to have, especially for the larger illustrations, so if anyone has them...
Frank Bellamy Radio Times Doctor Who Illustrations Listing
Colony in Space (10 - 16/04/1971) Page 14 one quarter page B&W comic strip, Doctor, Jo (“What is it?”) & shadowy figure. Pages 53-55 Two full colour pages, Dr (“We´ll just have a look around and then I´ll try and get you back to earth”) & Jo and two-thirds B&W illustration
The Daemons (22 - 28/05/1971) Page 15 B&W Doctor and Jo Grant in Bessie screeching to Devil's End with Miss Hawthorne
Spearhead from space (03 - 09/07/1971) p.41 B&W Doctor
Spearhead from space (10 - 16/07/1971) p.43 B&W Doctor [Reprint of 3-9/7/1971]
The Daemons - omnibus edition (18 - 31/12/1971) p.75 B&W The Master and Doctor
Day of the Daleks (01 - 07/01/1972) Colour cover - Doctor and Daleks
The Curse of Peladon (29/01 - 04/02/1972) p.17 B&W Aggedor
The Curse of Peladon (05 - 11/02/1972) p.15 B&W Alpha Centauri
The Curse of Peladon (12 - 18/02/1972) p.17 B&W Izlyr, the Ice Warrior
The Curse of Peladon (19 - 25/02/1972) p.17 B&W Arcturus
The Sea Devils (04 - 10/03/1972) p.19 B&W The Master
The Sea Devils (11 - 17/03/1972) p.15 B&W submarine
The Sea Devils (18 - 24/03/1972) p.20 B&W Sea Devil
The Sea Devils (25 - 31/03/1972) p.5 & p.19 B&W Doctor [repeated image]
The Sea Devils (01 - 07/04/1972) p. 15 B&W Jo
The Mutants (08 - 14/04/1972) p. 15 B&W spaceship
The Mutants (15 - 21/04/1972) p.17 B&W Jo
The Mutants (22 - 28/04/1972) p. 15 B&W Doctor
The Mutanta (29/04 - 05/05/1972) p.17 B&W The Tardis
The Mutants (06 - 12/05/1972) p.15 B&W guard
The Mutants (13 - 19/05/1972) p. 17 B&W Solonian mutant
Time Monster (20 - 26/05/1972) p. 15 B&W Doctor ¨[Reprint of 22-28/4/1972]
Time Monster (17 - 23/06/1972) p. 17 B&W The Master [Reprint of 4-10/3/1972]
The Sea Devils [Omnibus edition] (16 - 29/12/1972) p.82 B&W Doctor (“The whole place will go up in approximately ten minutes, enjoy your revenge”), the Master and Sea Devil
The Three Doctors (06 - 12/01/1973) p.15 B&W Patrick Troughton
The Three Doctors (13 - 19/01/1973) p.17 B&W William Hartnell
The Three Doctors (20 - 26/01/1973) p.17 B&W Jon Pertwee
The Carnival of Monsters (03 - 09/02/1973) p.13 B&W Pletrac (guard)
The Carnival of Monsters (10 - 16/02/1973) p.15 B&W Drashig
The Carnival of Monsters (17 - 23/02/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
Frontier in Space (24/02 - 02/03/1973) p.17 B&W Draconian
Frontier in Space (03 - 09/03/1973) p.17 B&W Ogran
Frontier in Space (10 - 16/03/1973) p.15 B&W guard
Frontier in Space (17 - 23/03/1973 p.19 B&W the Master
Frontier in Space (24 - 30/03/1973) p.17 B&W Draconian
Frontier in Space (31/03 - 06/04/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
Planet of the Daleks (07 - 13/04/1973) p.15 B&W Tardis
Planet of the Daleks (14 - 20/04/1973) p.14 B&W Doctor and Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (21 - 27/04/1973) p.15 B&W Jo and Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (28 - 04/05/1973) p.17 B&W Dalek
Planet of the Daleks (05 - 11/05/1973) p.16 B&W Doctor
Planet of the Daleks (12 - 18/05/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor
The Green Death (19 - 25/05/1973) p.17 B&W Doctor
The Green Death (26/05 - 01/06/1973) p.17 B&W of Jo in miner's helmet
The Green Death (02 - 08/06/1973) p.17 B&W maggots
The Green Death (09 - 15/06/1973) p.15 B&W Doctor and exploding mine mechanism
The Green Death (16 - 22/06/1973) p.17 B&W Jo and maggots
The Green Death (23 - 29/06/1973) p. 19 B&W Doctor and Bessie
Ark in Space [Omnibus edition] (16 - 22/08/1975) p.34 B&W landscape illustration, small snip of Doctor (Tom Baker), the ark, and the Wirrn
Terror of the Zygons (30/08 - 05/09/75) p.6 Two-thirds page colour illustration of the Doctor (“Whe´re dealing with a monstor of no ordinary flesh and blood”) and Loch Ness monster. p.17 B&W Oil Rig illustration to accompany the programme listing
Planet of Evil (27/09 - 03/10/1975) p. 19 Part reprint of Ark in Space 16/08/1975 - 22/8/75
Genesis of the Daleks (20/12 - 02/01/1976) pp 60-61 B&W Landscape comic tryptic - Doctor and Davros and Daleks (below)
The Seeds of Doom (31/01 - 06/02/1976) p. 55 B&W Sarah Jane and The Doctor
The Planet of Evil (03/07 - 09/07/1976) p. 26 B&W landscape illustration
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Who in Futurama
Here´s a few more crossover Who ´cartoons´, this time from ´Futurama´ comic and featuring Daleks, cybermen and K9. I´ve collected these from random sources, and can´t remember where, and the only information I have indicates that they are from a Who parody story called ´Doctor What´ which appeared in Futurama comic No 32 (US publication, June 2007) and in No 49 (UK publication, Jan 2008).
There is a short synopsis of the story here. Professor Farnsworth creates the world's greatest porta-potty. When it flushes, it teleports to a random place in space and time. Whilst Farnsworth is being interviewed by ´Straight Poop´, Dr Zoidberg goes into the porta-potty to poke around and ends up breaking the teleports switch...
According to wikipedia, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Fururama, is a Doctor Who fan and one of the main characters in Futurama is named Leela after the Fourth Doctor companion. Not a lot of people know that.
If anyone has scans of the full story please get in touch - I´m not convinced the above panels are all from the same story, or that its the story I´ve identified!
See here for reference to Doctor What from the 1960s.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
First Doctor Cartoon - Captain Pugwash?!
Following my last post, I´m wading my way through the Radio Times clippings in the Cuttings Archive (link), and I found something which I´d not seen before, an appearance by the first Doctor, together with a Dalek an Zarbi, in the Captain Pugwash cartoon from the Radio Times (Cover date 27 March to 02 April 1965). This accompanied the screening of episode one of The Crusade.
The frist Who comic strip had appeared in TV Comic in November 1964, so it´s not the first comic appearance of the Doctor, but it maybe the first cross-over appearance, or first ´official´ cartoon appearance if we classify it as such (and seperate from comic strips).
The first ´unofficial´ appearance goes to Boys World magazine, which from May 1964 included a cartoon called ´Doctor What´, a spoof strip in which inventor and William Hartnell impersonator Doctor What gets up to all sorts of trouble.
Does anyone out there has any more first Doctor comic/cartoon information to add to this? I´ll put up more information on Who in comics soon...
The frist Who comic strip had appeared in TV Comic in November 1964, so it´s not the first comic appearance of the Doctor, but it maybe the first cross-over appearance, or first ´official´ cartoon appearance if we classify it as such (and seperate from comic strips).
The first ´unofficial´ appearance goes to Boys World magazine, which from May 1964 included a cartoon called ´Doctor What´, a spoof strip in which inventor and William Hartnell impersonator Doctor What gets up to all sorts of trouble.
Does anyone out there has any more first Doctor comic/cartoon information to add to this? I´ll put up more information on Who in comics soon...
Friday, 1 January 2010
The End of Time
Hiya, sorry, I've been a bit busy moving half way across the world and stuff... now back in the UK, re-united with my Who collection (although I have no idea where my TARDIS cookie jar has dematerialised too!) and generally grumbling about the snow and ice.
So for the first time in several years I was able to watch Who live on tellie! No waiting for international download versions or frustrations with broken internet connections... and my how nice it was too.
Generally speaking I was ready for The End of Tennant... as well as Davies. I love them both, and what they have done for Who, but for me it was definately time for a change, and I'm really looking forward to the New Series.
But an excellent two part story with some great moments... Simms must have revelled in the opportunity to create such an unstable and manic Master, if not in stuffing his face with all those burgers. Big thumbs up to one and all.
I'm still a bit confused as to why the Doctor jumped out of an alien spaceship and crashed through the roof before going splat on the floor... did he think he would bounce or something? But anyway, we are used to brushing over such minor details these days. And was Dalton really playing Rassilon? Perhaps some explanation needed there if he was. At whilst we're at it, how did the Master get resurrected with super-powers? Not even a hint of an explanation? Please? However I am sure that all these minor points of detail were detailed in full in the script, but just couldn't be fitted into the show, and I am therefore waiting for the novelisation to explain all. By the way, why is it we don't have any novelisations of New Series Who episodes? Has the Beeb forgetten to flog the rights to these?
There is an excellent detailed review of the 'loose ends' surrounding the story here, as recommended by the one and only combom.
For my money, I like the idea that the 'Woman in White' was the Doctor's mum, but also equally that it's Romana or Susan...(which I hadn't even thought of) so long as the White Guardian is the one pulling the strings behind everything!
So for the first time in several years I was able to watch Who live on tellie! No waiting for international download versions or frustrations with broken internet connections... and my how nice it was too.
Generally speaking I was ready for The End of Tennant... as well as Davies. I love them both, and what they have done for Who, but for me it was definately time for a change, and I'm really looking forward to the New Series.
But an excellent two part story with some great moments... Simms must have revelled in the opportunity to create such an unstable and manic Master, if not in stuffing his face with all those burgers. Big thumbs up to one and all.
I'm still a bit confused as to why the Doctor jumped out of an alien spaceship and crashed through the roof before going splat on the floor... did he think he would bounce or something? But anyway, we are used to brushing over such minor details these days. And was Dalton really playing Rassilon? Perhaps some explanation needed there if he was. At whilst we're at it, how did the Master get resurrected with super-powers? Not even a hint of an explanation? Please? However I am sure that all these minor points of detail were detailed in full in the script, but just couldn't be fitted into the show, and I am therefore waiting for the novelisation to explain all. By the way, why is it we don't have any novelisations of New Series Who episodes? Has the Beeb forgetten to flog the rights to these?
There is an excellent detailed review of the 'loose ends' surrounding the story here, as recommended by the one and only combom.
For my money, I like the idea that the 'Woman in White' was the Doctor's mum, but also equally that it's Romana or Susan...(which I hadn't even thought of) so long as the White Guardian is the one pulling the strings behind everything!
Sunday, 27 December 2009
More of those little ident clips...
Long before Tennant got power crazed and took over everything that is Who, the job of publicity was shared around a bit more. Even the bad guys got a chance.
The daleks (well, dalek influenced '2's) got a special ident for Doctor Who Night (13 Nov 1999), hosted by Tom Baker, and its popularity meant it went on to join the roster of regular idents. A variant on this ident, named Exterminate, has the sequence opening with the Dalek '2' shouting the familiar phrase.
I've gone for a longer intro version, complete with Tom Baker introducing the evenings shows and edits of all the ins and outs. One thing leads to another, as they say, so here's one of those shows, the comedy sketch with Mark Gatiss.
And another, 'How to build a TARDIS', of note for another couple of Delek idents at the beginning and end.
I couldn't find the other shows...
The daleks (well, dalek influenced '2's) got a special ident for Doctor Who Night (13 Nov 1999), hosted by Tom Baker, and its popularity meant it went on to join the roster of regular idents. A variant on this ident, named Exterminate, has the sequence opening with the Dalek '2' shouting the familiar phrase.
I've gone for a longer intro version, complete with Tom Baker introducing the evenings shows and edits of all the ins and outs. One thing leads to another, as they say, so here's one of those shows, the comedy sketch with Mark Gatiss.
And another, 'How to build a TARDIS', of note for another couple of Delek idents at the beginning and end.
I couldn't find the other shows...
Friday, 25 December 2009
Merry Whomas
Framegrab from the BBC Xmas 'idents' (one of three done with Tennant and TARDIS).
Watch on YouTube...
Thats the first time I've embedded a video link! Easy. Now to take over the known universe...
You can see them all on the official BBC Who site here
Saturday, 19 December 2009
The Doctor beats the Daleks, at last...
So far we´ve looked at the first Who related merchandise, all of which has been Dalek themed, from ´The Dalek Book´ and Cadet collectors cards, to the first novelisation, in which he at least got the headline over the Daleks. However two days after the publication of that first story, the Doctor appeared in his own comic strip, published in TV Comic magazine on the 14 November 1964, and without a Dalek in sight. So far, David Whitaker, series script-writer, had played a key role in writing supporting Who material, but here he is notably absent. The artwork was by Neville Main and later Bill Mevin.
Starting in the 10 part The Klepton Parasites, and joined at the beginning by his grandchildren John and Gillian, the Doctor embarks on a run of stories which would continue in the magazine through to the end of the second Doctors reign, including also Annual and Holiday specials.
Many stories were later reprinted by Marvel UK under the Classic Comics series launched in 1992.
The best place to start getting to know these stories online is the excellent Who website In the Comics, with story briefs and example artwork, and presented to us by Altered Vistas. I´ve also found the odd scanned story to download, but few and far between. Perhaps there´s scans of the Classic Comics out there somewhere.
[UPDATE SEPT 2010: For several months now a blog has been building up a great archive of the early comic strips, scanned from the reprinted and colourised 'Classic Comics', along with all out other Who comics strips. Check out Doctor Who Comic Fun, and show your appreciation!]
I should probably post up as list of the stories, but I think I´ll tackle them Doctor by Doctor rather than all in one go... sooner or later...
Starting in the 10 part The Klepton Parasites, and joined at the beginning by his grandchildren John and Gillian, the Doctor embarks on a run of stories which would continue in the magazine through to the end of the second Doctors reign, including also Annual and Holiday specials.
Many stories were later reprinted by Marvel UK under the Classic Comics series launched in 1992.
The best place to start getting to know these stories online is the excellent Who website In the Comics, with story briefs and example artwork, and presented to us by Altered Vistas. I´ve also found the odd scanned story to download, but few and far between. Perhaps there´s scans of the Classic Comics out there somewhere.
[UPDATE SEPT 2010: For several months now a blog has been building up a great archive of the early comic strips, scanned from the reprinted and colourised 'Classic Comics', along with all out other Who comics strips. Check out Doctor Who Comic Fun, and show your appreciation!]
I should probably post up as list of the stories, but I think I´ll tackle them Doctor by Doctor rather than all in one go... sooner or later...
Friday, 18 December 2009
Another Dalek ´first´...
Published on 12 November 1964, just in time for the second arrival of the Daleks in the TV series ´The Dalek Invaision of Earth´, was the first ever Who book. A novelisation of their first appearance almost a year earlier, Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks, was written by David Whitaker and published in hardback by Frederick Muller. The first edition of 20,000 copies, with pink dustjacket, soon sold out and was quickly reprinted in December (the second, and later third, editions have grey covers).
Twelve internal black and white illustrations were by Arnold Schwartzman (a detail from one was reused on the cover).
A paperback edition was issued on 4th October 1965 by May Fair Books Ltd, under the Armada Paperbacks imprint. This version did not use Schwartzman's artwork, instead having a colour cover and 6 line illustrations by Peter Archer. This was the first Doctor Who novel to be published in paperback.
On 2 May 1973 it was the first Who title published under the Target Books range, renaming it as ´Doctor Who and the Daleks´, although the full title was still given on the inside frontpage, and with the subtitle "Based on the popular BBC television serial". From 1977 onwards reprinted editions, now complete with the arched Who logo, dropped the full title completly. All of the Target editions included the 12 illustrations by Schwartzman.
The now classic cover illustration was by Chris Achilleos, who has acknowledged the influence of Ron Turner's artwork for The Dalek Chronicles comic published in TV Century 21 (more about that soon!), in particular the two Daleks were modelled from Issue 60 (The Rogue Planet, part 2) and the title graphic from Issue 76 (Legacy of Yesteryear) onwards.
In January 1992 it was republished by Virgin, retitled ´Doctor Who - The Daleks´ and released with a new cover by Bruce Pearson.
BBC Audio used the Achilleos artwork on the cover of their 2005 audio CD release as part of the ´Doctor Who: Travels in Time and Space´ collectors tin, with actor William Russell (Ian) reading the novelisation.
Probably one of the best Who related websites, On Target, has jacket details and cover examples, including a section on foreign editions, complete with scans of inside illustrations by varying artists. Definately a site to booknmark!
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Smokin´ Who
Hot on the heals of ´The Dalek Book´, Dr. Who and the Daleks sweet cigarettes were produced by Cadet in mid 1964, with artwork heavily inspired by the Dalek Book, and each packet containing a free collectors picture card.
Produced back in the days when smoking was cool, confectionery known as ´sweet cigarettes´ were popular for kids who wanted to emulate their parents' addiction. In this politically correct era they are now marketed as ´candy sticks´...
The series of 50 cards were split in half into two stories, illustrated by different artists. The likeness (and character) of the Doctor is hard to match to the TV version, in the first story having white hair, and in the second dark, but neither looking much like Hartnell.
The first story features the Doctor and the Daleks visiting Marinus and the Voord, created by Terry Nation in the TV story ´The Keys of Marinus´. Notably the Daleks are in search of magic mushrooms to make them invincable... The second story features the Doctor on an equally bizarre rescue mission with the Daleks.
Apparently there are two imprints of the cards, first by Cadet and then Goodies, which are much rarer. There are also two versions of the box, with different back panel illustrations - the common one being a space rocket (above), and the rarer version a ringed planet.
Unfortunately there was no special album produced to accompany the cards. although you could send off for a generic album.
There´s not much about these on the net, although I know I have found stuff before, I can´t find anything worth linking here at the moment. I do have a downloaded collection of the complete set, but again I can´t remember where I found it! It contains a banner page listing it as a "Receptacle Presentation", and a notes page from which much of the info presented here has been edited. If you search around you´ll certainly find the odd card scan (eg. ebay and other collectors sites), and card number 50 is show above.
Produced back in the days when smoking was cool, confectionery known as ´sweet cigarettes´ were popular for kids who wanted to emulate their parents' addiction. In this politically correct era they are now marketed as ´candy sticks´...
The series of 50 cards were split in half into two stories, illustrated by different artists. The likeness (and character) of the Doctor is hard to match to the TV version, in the first story having white hair, and in the second dark, but neither looking much like Hartnell.
The first story features the Doctor and the Daleks visiting Marinus and the Voord, created by Terry Nation in the TV story ´The Keys of Marinus´. Notably the Daleks are in search of magic mushrooms to make them invincable... The second story features the Doctor on an equally bizarre rescue mission with the Daleks.
Apparently there are two imprints of the cards, first by Cadet and then Goodies, which are much rarer. There are also two versions of the box, with different back panel illustrations - the common one being a space rocket (above), and the rarer version a ringed planet.
Unfortunately there was no special album produced to accompany the cards. although you could send off for a generic album.
There´s not much about these on the net, although I know I have found stuff before, I can´t find anything worth linking here at the moment. I do have a downloaded collection of the complete set, but again I can´t remember where I found it! It contains a banner page listing it as a "Receptacle Presentation", and a notes page from which much of the info presented here has been edited. If you search around you´ll certainly find the odd card scan (eg. ebay and other collectors sites), and card number 50 is show above.
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