Publisher: Titan Comics
Author: Nick Abadzi’s
Artists:Elena Casagrande and Michele Pasta
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Doctor Who fan. I’m a fan that watches every episode, and I have been for a few years now. I love the lore, the Doctors, and the heart of the show. I also enjoy the occasional debate about the Doctor’s regeneration, River Song’s existence, and the Doctor’s actual name. So, you can imagine when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance to review this comic.
This issue begins with two women (Gabriella and Cindy) are at a laundry mat discussing their issues about their family and their current life status. It seems like a nice place to hangout, but it’s all interrupted by every washing machine sending out swirling typhoons of water everywhere. It had the feeling of any other episode of Doctor Who.
It then broke cuts to a gorgeous shot of the New York City skyline, and the Tardis randomly placed in Sunset Park. We then follow the story to a Mexican Restaurant named The Castillo Mexicano. Here, the family issue with Gabi continues as she debates with her parents about their business, and her desire to leave the family business. A couple pages are used to show us a debate that is very relevant in today’s society. The parents are Hispanic, and they talk about the struggles they had coming to America to be prosperous. I appreciate Nick Abadzis’ attempt to hit a diverse culture in a America. I’m not turning this issue into a race thing, but it was just an interesting concept brought to Doctor Who. Speaking of the Doctor, we are taken from the kitchen, and we are shown the hero our story.
David Tennant is one of my favorite Doctors, so hitting his demeanor was vital to me. This issue completed that task wonderfully. In the show, I always loved how Tennant would just randomly show up in the most unexpected places after we’ve been introduced to other characters. He is sitting down with some timey whimey device on the table and ordering food. He then has to split before eating because of a phone call that “apparently” was important. I believe Abadzi sold me on this issue with this simple set of dialogue. After saying he was being called by the President of Algeria, “Was that believable? That sounds believable. Does Algeria have a President? I think I met her once. Maybe I met Algeria, and she was the President of somewhere else…” Tennant always babbled and it was always amazing.
As we continue the issue, we see that there is definitely something going on that is not good. Titan gives us a set of pages that shows us random events. For example: the grandmother and uncle are encountered by, whom they believe is the devil or a lost loved one. We also see Tennant walk by a group of mothers who see blisters appear and reappear on a baby’s body. It seems that there is a demonic presence in New York. The final page is another piece that made me love this issue. It shows Tennant heroically standing in front demonic being, and he is just ready to do his magic.
When I first began the issue, I felt that the art didn’t fit what I was expecting. However, it grew on me quickly, and I feel that it fits perfectly for what the issue is trying to accomplish. I give kudos to Elena Casagrande, Michele Pasta, and company for grasping me with the art that helped tell a great set up story.
I cannot wait for the next issue of this comic. The characters, outside the Tenth Doctor, all seemed real and relatable. It felt great to have a different environment than London, Italy, or the Fields of Tranzalore. The culture barrier was sort of busted down with a Hispanic family’s “real” struggles. I’m also curious as to how Gabi deals with her current dilemma. This issue was a highlight to my week and Titan Comics has gained themselves a new fan.
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