Doctor Who: Alternating Current Volume One is the newest Titan Comics and BBC adventure. The Thirteenth Doctor and Tenth Doctor meet again! Can the Doctors save reality before it’s too late? This adventure is written by Jody Houser (Doctor Who: Missy, Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious: Defender of the Daleks). The artwork is done by Roberta Ingranata (Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious 1 and 2).
Doctor Who: Alternating Current
Doctor Who: Alternating Current Volume One brings the Tenth and Thirteenth Doctors together to save reality. In the BBC’s television show Doctor Who, the Tenth Doctor is played by David Tennant. The Thirteenth Doctor is played by Jodie Whittaker. The Thirteenth Doctor and her friends, Graham, Yaz, and Ryan, arrive on Earth and realize everything is wrong. Earth is not the way they left it – it has been taken over by an alien race called the Sea Devils, first seen on television in 1972. According to those on Earth, this is the way it has always been. How is that so?
Now, this story feels like it is intended for audiences who are familiar with the television show. There are several references to characters, episodes, and villains that may not make sense to someone who has never seen an episode of Doctor Who. With that said, Rose Tyler (played by Billie Piper on television) and her parents Jackie and Pete Tyler (Camille Coduri and Shaun Dingwall, respectively) play an important part in this story. Rose Tyler is the very first person to travel with the Doctor at the reboot of the television show in 2005. Jackie Tyler raises her, and Pete has passed away. However, in Doctor Who: Alternating Current Volume One, Jackie and Pete are both alive and married. Rose has never met the Doctor before and is a freedom-fighter of sorts.
Dealing with a paradox
Because the Doctors have met previously, they have altered reality. Personally, I have not read the story where the Tenth and Thirteenth Doctors meet the first time. Based on context clues, it looks like the two of them have met in 1969 when the Tenth Doctor was without his TARDIS. The Thirteenth Doctor says, “London 1969, I didn’t have a TARDIS. Whole reason I was stranded there.” This is a reference to an episode of the television show titled “Blink.”
Also, helping the Doctors is a race called the Skithra. The Skithra is another alien race that is usually classified as a villain. They are first seen in the 2020 episode “Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror.” Ultimately, they save reality, but it does end with a cliffhanger.
Overall thoughts on Doctor Who: Alternating Current
Overall, this adventure was fun and exciting. I recommend being caught up on watching the television show to fully understand the plot. However, you do not necessarily need to read the previous comics. Blending Classic (1963-1989) Doctor Who and New (2005-present) Doctor Who villains is a nice touch. The storyline as a whole is well-written, and as a huge fan of Doctor Who, I appreciated all of the different references to characters, episodes, and timelines. The artwork is beautiful as well. I look forward to the next installment.
Doctor Who: Alternating Current is available for purchase on Amazon, Forbidden Planet, and on digital devices!
For more Doctor Who related articles:
Jody Houser Question and Answer for “Doctor Who: Alternating Current”
Roberta Ingranata Question and Answer: “Doctor Who: Alternating Current”
News about the next installment of the “Dalek Universe” series
Five Things You May Not Know About River Song
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