Season 18 Tom Baker and K-9 available for pre-order

Not that it’s much of a prediction, nut I had predicted in my Doctor Who Regeneration- Peter Davison action figure review that a season 18 Tom baker figure would be on its way shortly. The actor will be released in miniature form dressed in the distinctive burgundy hues along with his faithful robot dog, K-9 in September. In addition to the altered costume, the figure will feature a new head sculpt (see above).

Tom Baker remains the longest serving actor to play the role of the Doctor. Starting as a relative unknown, over 6 years he rose to stardom and became synonymous with the character. When new producer John Nathan Turner and former New Scientist contributer Christopher H. Bidmead arrived on the scene, they decided to trade the whimsical direction the series had taken for a more traditional science fiction route.  Throughout the 18th season of the program, the formerly madcap character of the Doctor was muted to a more jaded traveler wandering the confines of a decaying universe on the brink of collapse (only to be reborn just as he saved the universe itself from destruction). To mirror this attitude shift, the once colorful attire was changed to a pall of dark red and burgundy hues.

Tom Baker’s last season is an oddity of sorts and not popular with all fans, but I have a soft spot for this era (see my review of Meglos) and look forward to the action figure capturing that feel.

Season18 Doctor No. 4 (Tom Baker) action figure and K-9

This Doctor masked his brilliant and inventive mind behind a façade of bohemian eccentricity. The longest lived incarnation of the Doctors so far, he was forced to change his body after losing a fight with his old enemy the Master and falling from a radio telescope to the ground beneath him…

K-9 is a mobile computer in the shape of a dog. He was constructed by Professor Marinus to be a companion for him whilst working at a medical foundation in deep space. K-9 is both a huge database and has defensive capabilities, being equipped with a retractable laser in his nose which can be set to stun or kill. He can integrate with virtually any computer system including the TARDIS and has also helped the Doctor escape many a tricky and dangerous situation.

The Doctor rebuilt K-9 several times, upgrading and improving each version.

In this exclusive release you get the Fourth Doctor in his famous season 18 burgundy outfit and featuring a stunning new head sculpt. He is accompanied by the trusty K-9.

Pre-orders are available in the UK at ForbiddenPlanet and in the US at Mike’sComics.com

Welcome back (from the dead), Frank

Goodbye Franken-Castle, hello Frank Castle

Writer Rick Remender has introduced a new facet to the Punisher mythology with his Franken-Castle story line.

This is not your father’s Punisher mag. Remender had already won over readers with his Punisher War Journal series along with co-writer Matt Fraction. The following series (simply named Punisher, not to be confused with… Punisher) saw a return to the Marvel Universe as Frank used super-powered tools to deal out justice to super-villains who were getting in his cross-hairs. The result was that the Punisher made new, more powerful enemies resulting in his assassination by the big man himself, Norman Osborn. The Franken-Castle run has been ripe with bloodshed and bullets (the wallpaper of the Punisher-verse), but with the added absurdity of horrific monsters and murderous samurai sworn to eliminate the impure.

Cut to ribbons by Wolverine’s son, Daken, Castle’s body parts were re-assembled into a horribly monstrosity, a parody of life. Taken in by the Legion of Monsters dwelling in the sewers of NYC, the Punisher took on a new war, one against the wicked monster-hunter Hellsgaard, himself an undead skull trapped in a suit of armor. The supporting cast of the Punisher, usually consisting solely of Microchip, was altered to include the man-Thing, Werewolf By Night and Morbius, the Living Vampire. It was a bizarre decision that challenged readers to say the least. The comic has been beautifully drawn by fan favorite Tony Moore (the Walking Dead) with a gorgeous fill-in issue by Dan Brereton to boot!

The 21st issue will mark the end of the experiment, a decision that I can understand but I have to confess that I will miss the monster-mag approach that made the series far more interesting than it ever was before (for me, anyway). The fan response to the Franken-Castle run has been positive, but controversial. Many readers claim to adore the comic, but it’s not the Punisher. This November, those fans will get their comic back, but readers will have lost a stellar horror mag.

Replacing the Frankencastle series will be a new 5 part mini-series by Remender and Ghost Rider artist Roland Boschi.
PUNISHER: IN THE BLOOD #1 (of 5)
Written by Rick Remender
Penciled by Roland Boschi
Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
Frank Castle is back. Back for revenge. Back in New York. Back to cleaning its streets. Back together, healed and strong, his mission resumed as he partakes in the sweet wet work, and notches up one of the highest body counts in Punisher history. Cyber sensei Henry Russo is back, keeping Frank proficient with an eye in the sky. Others are back as well – two of Frank’s most sadistic enemies united in a new vindictive plot: Enter the Jigsaw Bothers!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

This December, Marvel will release the entire Franken-Castle story line in one hardcover collection. I heartily recommend picking it up or giving it as a holiday gift for that ‘special someone.’

Click here to Pre-Order Punisher: Franken-Castle at Amazon.com