IN PRINT - 122

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Aha!!! A new character! Who is she? Well you can probably work it out if you’ve read the books, but if you don’t then all you need is a little patience and the answer will be revealed soon enough. In other news they’ve revealed the new Doctor’s outfit and I’m a little concerned. They need to get this right and this, in my opinion, is their first misstep. If this Doctor fails, for any reason, then people will always assume it was because she was a woman. Hopefully they’ll adapt it as they go. And I’ve just had an idea for a strip... 

IN PRINT - 109

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Aha! Plot development!

It's been a while, but I'd recognise it anywhere.

April's on us at last and the Doctor won't be far behind. I, for one, can't wait.

Apologies for the late posting, my partner moved in with me a week or so back and we're still living out of boxes.

Normality resumes.... ah sod it. You're never getting normal here and quite frankly I wouldn't thank you for it.

See you all next week.

The Gallifrey Exchange #3

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And now I want to re watch The Brain of Morbius. Thanks Jim!

However I'm currently doing this from my mobile and it thinks I want to watch The Brain of Morris. Hmmmmm.

Normal service is edging closer. Nice hope to have scripts to Jim by the end of the week. 

Eh, that's it for this week. I'll see you all next week.

The Dressing Room Part 2 - Jim Wilkins

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Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas/Holiday period, I certainly did!

I rather enjoyed The Return Of Doctor Mysterio, it was a nice comedic episode that didn't take itself too seriously. Which was well needed after some of the darker stories of the previous series. Matt Lucas was a joy to watch too! Can't wait to see how he develops in series 10.

Anyway, here we are with another instalment of In Print cheesy fun. Hope you all enjoy and we'll be back again next week to conclude the silliness.

  

IN PRINT - 106

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Yes that was my little swipe at people that thought the War Doctor was perhaps the Master or the Valeyard despite having 'as the Doctor' in big flaming letters right next to him the very first time he appeared.

I love the Valeyard, you might have noticed, but I really do get tired of all the 'It's the Valeyard!' yelling each time someone vaguely resembling him or an aspect of him appears. The only exception being the Dream Lord, I mean just look at the direction of 'Amy's Choice' compared to 'The Ultimate Foe'. Not only have the same root (darkest part of the Doctor type stuff), but the teleportation plot device they both use are directed identically!

Anyway, safe to say this new 10 is not the Valeyard, he's just what he appears to be, an earlier form of 10.

Jim was saying to me the other day how chuffed he was that we had enough strips that we could do flashbacks. For my part I was ecstatic to finally address the 8 to 9 regeneration we did in one of early strips. It's been annoying me ever since 'Day of the Doctor'.

In other news I've started back with Loose Canons, a conversation about self publishing with a friend of mine has given me the much needed kick I was needing, More on that in the coming weeks...

IN PRINT - 105

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The other three of him last turned up here and the Other guy was introduced here.

I still want to see the Others put onto a print or a Tshirt. What do you guys think?


 The next few arcs of the main strip and the Infinites are slightly connected, so Nesshead's ones need to run before Jim's ones. The thing is I can't remember if I typed up the last set for Jim. And if I haven't I'm not entirely sure where I left the hand written copies.

All will be well.

I'm sure.

Reasonably....

IN PRINT - 103

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I'm currently typing this on my phone whilst at one of my kids' climbing clubs. I had planned to type this last night, but I've cracked some of my ribs and it's slowed me down slightly.

In case you're wondering where Jack came from he's been running since the end of the I-files - I Files Part 3

I'll see you all next week.

Read the whole I Files story here - The I Files

IN PRINT - 101

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He's right of course, the strip immediatly before this one started with 96 (TV Movie year) and finished on our 100th strip. That was a while back now, there have been plenty of real life delays and the likes at my end. My favourite delay is because I had to rewrite this first arc entirely after my friend David (don't call him Dave) from The Glasgow Doctor Who Society pointed that having a room 101 and a character essentially played by John Hurt was too good to pass up, If you don't get the connection then I suggest you go and watch 1984. Actually, no, I insist.

Of course David meant it as a one off strip, but the whole thing grew arms and legs and marched off in a whole new direction. Hardly the first time that's happened with an idea on here.

Anyway. Of course if you're doing a strip referencing 1984 then you really need to have 5 and 6 present. You just do.

Hard to believe we're into April and this is the first main strip of the year. Still it's just in time to help mark our 5th anniversary. I can't quite get my head around that idea, it just doesn't feel like it at all. 

Right before I sign off for this week I'd like to point you all in the direction of my friend Kenny. Some of you may have seen Kenny before as he's appeared in Doctor Who: Besieged (actually I think it might have been a follow up to that, I'll need to check), a fan film of a superior quality directed by and starring Ryan Hendrick as the Doctor. Recently Kenny and Ryan have collaborated on 'Perfect Strangers' which has been doing rather well for itself and are currently working on it's follow up that boasts none other than Sylvester McCoy in it's cast. 

But it's Kenny's current project that I feel deserves highlighted just now. Kenny does a one man show called Hero Worship that he's currently trying to take to the Edinburgh Fringe later on this year. The show tackles two subjects that are incredibly dear to my heart; mental health and superheroes. However going to the Fringe isn't cheap and Kenny is looking to raise money to help get him there. You can donate here if you're so inclined, every penny helps.

Right, that's me done. I'll see you all next week for a surprise guest star that my son pointed out should have appeared in the strip ages ago. See you then. 

IN PRINT - 'SOMETHING' NATURE Part 7

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And we're done.

"Emotionally vulnerable Science Teachers" made me giggle somewhat, mostly because I work with Science Teachers and none of them are what I would term emotionally vulnerable.

Jim quite often surprises me with these strips. That last panel, for example, didn't have the other Doctors in the background in the script, but I think we can all agree that they belong there. In all the years we've been doing this I can only think of two occasions where I've asked Jim to alter something he's done for, although it's possible Jim'll recall more. Given that we're coming up to the 100th main strip and multiple side strips I think that says something about our working relationship.

Next week we have a guest strip, either from Jesse Lax or Paul Salvi, we're still working on scheduling. But both of these gentlemen are providing guest strips  help Ness catch up to my late writing. So, yeah, guest strips for the next couple of weeks, but you guys know the quality of our guest contributors, you won't be disappointed.

IN PRINT - 'SOMETHING' NATURE Part 4

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He really, really has. A lot of ideas from the EDAs have been recycled into the new series, too many to go into just now. All you need to know for today is that the Doctor encountered his biodata in physical form once before, in 'Unnatural History' by Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum and that last panel is meant to represent 8 and 11 scanning it at the same time, but from different locations.

After over half a century of ideas I suppose old ideas are going to get recycled, the Daleks and Cybermen are prime examples, but ideas from the 91-05 books seem especially ripe for picking as a minority of fans have managed to read them for various reasons. Certainly Kate and Jonathan were tweaking with the Doctor's biodata long before Great Intelligence tried it in 'The Name of the Doctor'.

Right, time to go. There's going to be some more book references next week, this time in a panel that I'm thinking about ordering off of Jim as a print...

IN PRINT - 'WHOVIAN' NATURE Part 3

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It's always heartbreaking that scene. Doesn't matter how often I watch it.

We've gone for 'Whovian Nature' this week, these titles just won't stay static.

On a side note; have we featured Martha in the strip before? I'm not sure we have. Probably because I'd struggle to poke fun at her in a way that the BBC hasn't already. The unrequited love aspect of her character was constantly played up and apart from that aspect there isn't much to make fun of. I remain gutted that she didn't join Torchwood, a seriously missed opportunity in my opinion.

Anyway, short entry this week. See you all next time.

IN PRINT - 'NOT' HUMAN NATURE Part 2

 

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 'Human Nature' does raise a number of issues regarding continuity and just how the NAs fit into the overall continuity.

I'm not even going to try and address them, that's a minefield I'm not prepared to on a Saturday morning. All I'll say is that my own, personal, take on it is that the events of the novel got wiped out during the Time War and history hates a vacuum.


The initial script had the last panel set in Mr Cornell's office. Jim decided to put him at a signing at my local Waterstone's either because he likes subtle nods or because he's not stalkery enough to know what Mr Cornell's office looks like. Incidently 'Love and War' has been out on CD for a while. The fact the poster is still up either suggests particular things about just when this strip is set and how much time has past since the Christmas before last when we were last here or that the Glasgow staff are really bad at changing displays. I know the answer of course, but I'd never say anything unkind about people who have their own Dalek.


Right, I need to get moving as I'm actually meant to be in Glasgow in about an hour and a half. See you all next week.

IN PRINT - HUMAN NATURE Part 1

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 It doesn't happen often, Jim and myself have been putting In Print out for four years now (as of this week) and we've rarely argued about anything to do with the strip. Sure there's been times when we've disagreed about certain elements, but we've always managed to discuss things in a civilized and friendly way and devise a solution that keeps everyone happy. In fact sometimes I forget that Jim and I have never actually met, we've not even talked on the phone. Our entire working and personal relationship is carried out through Email and text messages. Something we really should correct at some point since I've come to regard him as a good friend as well as a colleague.

But I digress. I usually do.

This week was different though. As I mentioned last week the name of this arc has been giving me trouble. Turns out it's been bothering Jim as well since he texted me yesterday with a bunch of suggestions and I replied with some of own. Things weren't heated, but we were definitely at a stand off, we just couldn't agree on a title and then my phone died. By the time I'd got my kids to bed and got some charge back into the phone Jim had found a solution to our predicament that fitted the actual story arc quite well. Unfortunately he'd suggested it right as my phone died, so I was worried he'd think I was ignoring it. Didn't help that I sent another suggestion before Jim's solution was actually delivered. More about that next week, in the mean time the adjustment to the title arc today was Jim's suggestion.

Anyway, I love 'Human Nature', I like to view the televised version as a reprint of sorts of the book form. Both pack an emotional stomach punch that always makes me sad that we've not seen Paul Cornell in these parts since. I would love to see him writing for the 12th Doctor, Capaldi seems to have sprung straight from the NAs and I can think of few other writers better equipped to write him in that style.

Anyway, time for me to go. See you all next week.

IN PRINT - EPISODE 88

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It did seem like something of an odd choice didn't it? Having said that I was still glad to see 'Remembrance of the Daleks' reprinted as apart from being a cracking story the Target novelisation featured the first mention of the Other. In fact it's often regarded as being a prelude to the NAs. Still it's hard to be negative about any reprints, especially as we've got 'Human Nature' getting reprinted this month.

In other news it seems that Gallifrey One is going on as we speak. Nesshead is there representing the In Print team and he's brought ribbons. Seek him out, I'm not told he doesn't bite. At least not anymore.

Oh and has anyone out there got any idea where I could find a decent reference book for Big Finish stuff? I'm having bother finding one for a decent price.

IN PRINT - EPISODE 87

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He just can't catch a break, can he.

Having said that I do kind of get why Big Finish are doing these two releases, it's pretty hard to beat as a team. That and to be honest I'm pretty excited that Big Finish are 'reprinting' the 91-05 books like this. It's a dream come true to be able to hear Tom Baker and Sylvester McCoy acting out their roles in these books.

'Lungbarrow' soon please? Or Paul McGann and John Simm performing 'The Infinity Doctors'.

Actually....

Dear Big Finish, could we please have 'Cold Fusion' done with the cast from 'Damaged Goods' and Peter Davison and Co? Adapted by Lance Parkin from his own book of course.

I might have asked for Colin Baker doing 'Spiral Scratch' a few days ago, but quite frankly with this announcement they've essentially created their own version of the 6th Doctor's regeneration. Between those two and 'Time's Champrion' and 'Time and the Rani' we don't have a shortage of 6th Doctor regenerations these days.

Although I do have to admit to being pretty excited to have one that involves Colin Baker himself. Of course the fact that the Valeyard is involved makes this a must listen to me.

The fact that I'm currently reading 'Time's Champion' and listened to 'Trial of the Valeyard' recently only add to the excitement.

Exciting times.

IN PRINT - CURATION Part 4

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I think my favourite thing in that room is the Adric monument done in a Robin style. You can pick the other details out for yourself.

Of course all this begs the question just how long has the Curator been around and where's the real 4th Doctor? Or is the Curator the real one? Has Tom Baker ever really stopped being the Doctor?

These are questions that I'm probably never going to answer in strip, but it's fun to ask them nevertheless.

The finale tonight. I, for one, enjoyed last week's episode quite a bit and just so you all know I don't have a problem with the Missy reveal. In fact it opens up an old relationship to be explored in different ways which is never a bad thing.

I hope you're all still reading 2ndFade's reviews of the series. They've been hugely entertaining and thought provoking. I mean the man referenced Nietzsche this week. Pretty sure no other review did that.

And speaking of contributors; we need to talk about Nesshead.

Nesshead had just started prepping the next round of Infinites when his laptop failed him. He's been trying to get it fixed, but these things take time and money and sadly he's not in a position to repair it any time soon. Which means, dear reader, that we'll have to stall the Infinites segment of the site temporarily.

We don't make much money from our store, pretty much enough to cover the running costs of the site, so we're not really in a position to pay for Nesshead's laptop to be repaired.

So we're just going to leave this donate button here:

There's no pressure or compulsion to donate if you don't want to. But the simple fact of the matter is that the sooner Nesshead raises the funds to replace his laptop the sooner we all get the Infinites back up and running. Every penny donated via the above button goes into Nesshead's laptop.

Thanks for your time.

IN PRINT - CURATION Part 3

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Yeah, that was a Star Trek reference. There are other Science Fiction shows out there you know.

And of course we couldn't have a wig arc without having Hartnell's wig making a cameo of some description. If you don't recognise him you need to be reading 'The Prop Cupboard of Obscure Doom'. It's a throwaway gag that's taken on a life all of it's own. Literally. 

Jim's had an idea for keeping track of the wigs, you'll see the results of that in a few weeks.

It's the beginning of the end tonight. Trailer spoilers ahead and then some speculation.

Still here?

Really?

Right, on we go.

Last weeks trailer seemed to indicate that Clara was going to turn and that perhaps Clara was never really Clara. If this plays out the way I think it's going to then Steven Moffat is a bona fide genius and a master of the long game.

Think about it; when did we first see Clara? Well technically it was 'Asylum of the Daleks', but we'll come back to that. What we all thought was going to be 'The Snowmen' although that turned out to be a shard of Clara against the Great Intelligence. Nope we first met the 'real' Clara in 'The Bells of St John' when the Doctor went up against the Great Intelligence. Apart from linking Clara and the Great Intelligence and having Clara's personality up and down loaded at varying rates of success what this episode really did was show us that the Intelligence could have a false personalty installed for most of a persons life.

I think Clara has been an invention of the Intelligence the whole time. It would explain his apparent lack of planning in jumping into the Doctor's timestream in 'Name of the Doctor', it was all a bluff to allow Clara to jump in as well and planting the ultimate sleeper agent into the Doctor's life. 

If this is right then what we'll find the Doctor with a companion with a familiar face, but different personality. Which is what Madame Vastra was foreshadowing all the way back in 'Deep Breath'. Let's see if the Doctor can handle the same kind of change he usually inflicts on others....

IN PRINT - EPISODE 77

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As it happens the similarities between 7 and 12 seem to more than we first suspected. There's the Scottish accent of course (and they are cool), but from what we've seen of the trailers so far there seems to be an underlying darkness to this Doctor and a desire to correct past mistakes that we haven't seen since The New Adventures.

This is looking promising. Very, very promising.

And that's the end of 'The Fall of the Eleventh'. Next week should have been more Infinites, but Nesshead's laptop died and he's at San Diego this week. Apparently there's some kind of Comicon or something on...

If you get a chance you should go and find him and say hi.

We have an unusual strip for you next week and then a couple of guest slots. We'll see you all then.

THE INFINITES - Strip 27

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Looks as if the War Doctor has gotten a little lost on his way back to the Time War. This is a War and it's certainly got quite a few similarities to the Time War, but it's not quite right is it?

Although that moon in the 2nd panel looks a little familiar....

Is this a thinly veiled excuse to have Nesshead draw Star Wars stuff or is there a plot coming? You'll find out next week.

But would you really be upset if it was the first reason....

A quick reminder that Jim has created a Facebook group for In Print. I would urge you all to join it, especially if you've not been getting all of our updates. We've found that although we have about 5,000 of you liking us on Facebook that each update tends to reach less than 200 of you. Being part of the group means that you should see each and every update. We've also been showing off pre-strip sketches and alternate designs for some characters. Come and join us, it's going to be fun!

IN PRINT - EPISODE 74

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And the cast grows yet again. Of course long term readers may already of guessed just when these alternate versions of 8 got their window of opportunity, it's almost as if I have things planned out.

 There are still some people, and I may be one of them, who cling to the idea that all these different versions of the 8th Doctor are all held within the same continuity, but as time marches on it becomes harder and harder to reconcile them all. Especially as 'Night of the Doctor' seemed to canonise the Big Finish material at the expense of the comics and books.

For those of you who might be wondering our 8, for lack of a better term, is the prime one. He appeared in the TVM and nothing else.

I was pretty out of it last weekend due to some new medication, so much so that I missed the fact that Jim had Emailed me todays strip. In fact I even seem to have replied to him, but had no memory of it all. All of which left poor Jim a little confused when I texted him last night wondering where the strip was...

This wraps up 'The Other Three Doctors' so next week sees the return of the Infinites. Which reminds me, Nesshead only has the first three scripts for that arc, I should really finish it and Email him...

A quick reminder that Jim has created a Facebook group for In Print. I would urge you all to join it, especially if you've not been getting all of our updates. We've found that although we have about 5,000 of you liking us on Facebook that each update tends to reach less than 200 of you. Being part of the group means that you should see each and every update. We've also been showing off pre-strip sketches and alternate designs for some characters. Come and join us, it's going to be fun!