Doctor Who returns to comic books

After a long absence from the medium, Doctor Who is making a return to comic books in a big way.

Published as a comic strip in Doctor Who Weekly/Monthly throughout the 80’s, the Doctor Who comics have seen some of the biggest names in comics, including Alan Moore, Walt Simonson, Paul Neary, Dave Gibbons and even Grant Morrison.

Marvel Comics released a short-lived color reprint series that collected the strips into 24 page issues in the direct market format (read ‘expensive $1.75 comic versus 75 cent X-Men).

The series bridged the popular Tom Baker/Peter Davison stories of the 80’s before getting the axe but it was a valiant effort. Several collections have been released by Panini Books of fan favorite comic strips including Tom Baker’s Dragon’s Claw and Peter Davison’s Tides of Time.

The new IDW series announced this weekend at the San Diego Comic Con (vicious drinking game, this) will be written by one of the new series bullpen Gary Russel and drawn by Nick Roche, recently off of “Transformers: Devastation” and “Transformers: Beast Wars.”TV producer Russel T Davies will oversee the entire project.

All three men are incredibly excited. Gary Russell counts dashing Pertwee and brave Davison as being among his favorite Doctors… after the current Doctor, David Tennant, ofcourse and is a big fan of Marvel Horror comics Nexus and Astro City. All good things.

The stories star Doctor #10 and Martha Jones and therefore take place somewhere during season three before Freema left the TARDIS after giving the Doctor her mobile (easily the weirdest break-up ever) .

The image below suggests an appearance from Rose, but I imagine it was just Roche noodling about… but you never know.

Suggested reading:

Dragon’s Claw (Doctor Who)
Doctor Who: The Tides of Time
The Maltese Penguin (Doctor Who)
Mark of Mandragora: A Doctor Who Graphic Novel

New Frontier Batman announced

After a special preview showing of the Superman/Doomsday film at the San Diego Comic Con (new drinking game, everybody) Jeremey Sisto of Six Feet Under was announced as the voice actor of the Dark Knight himself, the Batman in the upcoming direct to DVD animated film version of DC The New Frontier.

Batman the Animated Series creator Bruce Timm noticed the awkward murmur at the announcement and immediately stood up to bat for Jeremy… if you’ll pardon the saying.

Bruce Timm commented, “I see you guys are a little unsure about Jeremy Sisto as Batman. Everybody else got a big clap and as soon as Jeremy’s name came on you went, ‘Huh?’. I’m going to make a prediction right this minute… when you guys see this movie and hear what he sounds like as Batman, you guys are going to lose your sh*t.”

From the lips of the man who has worked with Kevin Conroy as THE voice actor for the animated Batman in all of his cartoon incarnations since 1990, this carries a lot of weight.

But I still ain’t buyin’ it.

Iron Man mach 1 armor pic

Premiered with great aplomb at the San Diego Comic Con, Robert Downey Jr., John Favreau and Stan Winston posed with the Mach One Iron Man armor from the upcoming film.

 

As fans of the comic can tell you, a wounded inventor Tony Stark found himself behind enemy lines and ordered to create weapons for the North Korean army. In an effort to escape and slow a piece of shrapnel that was nearing his heart, he and another captured scientist fashioned a makeshift one-man tank that became Iron Man.

 

As the chest unit kept Stark alive, it also repelled attackers and provided a message that free men would never bow to a tyrant as Iron Man destroyed the entire enemy camp and made his way back to the US.

 

Seen here, Tony Stark (as played by Downey Jr.), seems much more casual about the situation.

 

Torchwood co-starring Spike?

The BBC recently announced that Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel star James Marsters (Spike) will be joining the Torchwood crew for the premiere episode of Season Two. The series enjoyed record high viewing figures on BBC3 last year and will be making the big move to BBC2 in 2008.

The entire crew of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Gwen (Eve Myles), Owen (Burn Gorman), Tosh (Naoko Mori) and Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) will be returning to combat alien menaces but are joined by Freema Agyeman, Martha Jones from Doctor Who Season 3. Freema will be reprising her role as she assists Captain Jack and his team in some of the wildest adventures that are (if the first season is anything to go by) more adult in nature than its sister program Doctor Who.

The writers of the thirteen part season have been announced (there are some very welcome names in there!) and the list includes Chris Chibnall , Catherine Tregenna, Helen Raynor, James Moran, Joseph Lidster, Peter J Hammond (creator of Sapphire and Steel), JC Wilsher and Matt Jones.Torchwood Season Two begins early 2008.

BBC America will be screening Torchwood Season One shortly.