The Lost Dimension Part Four
Titan Comics 2017
Written by Nick Abadzis
Illustrated by Leandro Casco & JB Bastos
Coloured by IHQ Studios
Lettered by Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
An unknown force is striking from the depths of space, emerging as impossibly-large white holes over civilized planets, absorbing or annihilating everything that lives. The Eleventh Doctor and his companion, Alice Obiefune, were travelling through space when a mysterious signal grabbed their attention – that and the fact that they suddenly ran out of space! Now trapped inside an endless white Void, the pair are trying to get their bearings in a part of space where matter itself has ceased to... matter. Investigating the cause of the Void will take the pair further than they have ever gone before…
Well I will say this much almost pains me to say this is one of the more interesting things I’ve ever seen that involves the Eleventh Doctor. So while the universe is becoming unglued, once again, and each of the Doctors must face something that they’ve either dealt with or desired, for the latter you have to be familiar with each one and their continuity. Also I am rather taken with the fact that each part of this series is pretty much about the sole Doctor instead of a true crossover where they all appear in each issue or at least feel like each combines to create a greater whole. While each chapter feels different, unique to the Doctor it also holds clues as to what is happening in the bigger picture. I have a feeling that each one is supposed to be where they are to experience something specific so that they each have a piece of the puzzle to find a way out of all this.
I really enjoy Nick’s writing and this issue’s example is the use of Alice his companion. The easy breezy conversations that they have along with their personalities shining through. Just the way he’s able to make seem so incredibly natural and normal regardless of the situation is one of those strengths of his that I don’t think most people think about. Just how “human” the characters come across as if it were you and a friend doing the exact same thing, and admit it you are the Doctor who seems find that stroke of insight which helps to save them. We all want to believe we are smart like the Doctor even if we’re far far from that truth.
The interiors here are nice and solid. Yes i’d like to see less unused background space instead of some colour behind them but on the whole the backgrounds we do see are extremely well utilised. The likeness of the Doctor to the actor is amazingly good. The creativity and imagination in getting to showcase a world on the cusp of what makes it as well known as it becomes is nicely done.
I do like Alice’s narration of this a lot! Her assessment of the Doctor and the nature of the man who we’ve seen over all these years is spot on. No matter what form he takes or what century or galaxy he’s in there’s no stopping the fact that he feels like it’s his duty to be involved. It’s like a part of his DNA or perhaps it’s just compulsory I don’t know but what we see here is what is and there’s no denying it. Anyone who wants to understand the Doctor, which of course is almost impossible, needs to read this issue and this is as close as we’re going to get to something akin to an origin story for The Doctor.
Another thing that Nick embraces is how the companion is vital to whatever is going on and ultimately rescuing The Doctor whether he ever admits that or not. So when she finds herself face to face with a past Doctor, in this case it’s the Second Doctor if I’m not mistaken, who tells her that she must do something and it’s of the utmost importance well you know straight away that this thing is indeed going to happen. Though I have to be honest I love the fact that he’s transmitting from the same place that Alice was in when the book opened. It’s got an interesting synergy or cohesion to it that is both interesting and makes you wonder.
Despite its Star Trek the Animated Series interior feel the story is pure Doctor Who and it encompasses everything we want and love about the franchise. Out of the frying pan and into the fire within the blink of an eye it’s going to be interesting to see how this affects the past, present and future of this current epic crossover event!