IN PRINT - 102

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Everyone's a critic!

Five years ago today Jim and I were nervously watching the stats back on the DWRS website to see if anyone was reading the first ever In Print strip. Thankfully people were enjoying the strip and five years, 102 strips, umpteen specials and some additions to the team later we're still going.

There's been the odd bump along the way. Babies, illness, divorce and life will have that effect, but through it all we've kept going and there's no reason to think I won't be copying this entry five years from now to use in our 10th anniversary!

In other news I'm sure you've all heard that the new Companion is being announced today in the middle of something called a Fut baal mitch. I'm sure I'll find out through Facebook afterwards...

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 - THE I FILES Part 5

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And with that the Hurt Doctor joins the cast.

Of course this presents a few issues for the strip continuity, the most obvious being the accidental regeneration during 'The Great Costume Debacle', but rest assured I have a way round it and it'll be addressed later this year.

As for why we had Mr Hines dressed up as the 2nd Doctor? Well quite frankly the man has form as you can see from the picture. Actually that's probably the coolest bit of cosplay I have ever seen. As it happens Jamie is still my favourite companion, even after all these years.The fact that he's Scottish helps, but a big part of it is the easy chemistry he shared with Patrick Troughton. The two of them were an absolute joy to watch on screen.

Next week we have a Guest Print from Paul Salvi and then we'll be returning to the regular arcs. 2014 is all planned and the final tweaks are being made to the scripts. It's going to be a fun year.

IN PRINT EPISODE 48

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First things first; apologies.

Oh and spoiler warning if you haven't seen 'The Name of the Doctor' yet. In factif you haven't don't read the rest of this blog. Seriously, I'm going to be discussing it. At length.

I'm sorry. I hate spoilers, I really, really do and if I'd thought for one second that last weeks strip was going to include details from that nights episode then I wouldn't have run it.

So, yeah, sorry, guys.

But what an episode! There were several points were I felt I was watching a live version of the strip. After all the Doctor's Timeline seems to be a version of our own little Post Temporal Psychic Construct, although apparently you can discuss Series 24 in there version. Go figure.

Which brings me onto a point that has been bothering me. Could they not have chosen better moments from each Doctor's life? Poor Colin Baker got the short straw all over again and didn't even get a clip just another understudy in a blonde wig. But still, We mustn't grumble, after all we just got the multi Doctor story we thought we weren't going to.

Not just that, but the actor that played the Shalka Doctor was our guide. Now at last we have a potential origin story for him within the main continuity. I mean could he really live the Doctor's life along side him and not become like him in some fashion? And just how did the Shalka Doctor get into this strip anyway?

Hmmmmmmm.

But the highlight for me was seeing the Valeyard dragged kicking and screaming back into the main continuity. I've nothing against the Dream Lord, in fact I quite like him, but it was nice to see the Valeyard getting a name check as a future Doctor. Made my night that did.

Oh and while I remember, the more observant of you may have noticed that the newest Infinites was due up today. Unfortunately Nesshead suffered an IT crisis and Jim was able to step in to plug the gap and as luck would have it the next strip Jim had ready had the Infinites guest starring. And quite an apt episode as well. The Infinites continues next week.

In the mean time we're still on Facebook and Twitter as always and we'll see you all next week.

IN PRINT EXTRA... 7

Spoilers.

Maybe, perhaps, could be.

Probably not though.

There is a strip here, it's just underneath this text to give you guys a chance to decide if you want to risk being spoiled. In my opinion we've presented nothing but fan speculation and as such the strip is a perfectly safe read. But it wouldn't be the first time we've managed to hit the nail on the head completely by accident as a community.

Let's just say that it involves the casting of the Anniversary episode. Someone not unfamiliar to being cast in genre media. Someone who may, or may not, be dressed in some familiar clothes and a very familiar coat.

Anyway, the strip is just underneath. Make your mind up and I'll talk to you again in a moment...

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And there you have it; possibly the first bit of fan art of John Hurt as the new 9th Doctor. Or 8 and a half Doctor. Or something like that.

I personally think that Jim has knocked this one out of the park. In fact I have the initial sketch he did for this strip and if I ever get my own office then it'll be getting hung up there. It'd be a hell of a shame if John Hurt wasn't the Doctor now.

Maybe we'll find out tonight if he is. Who knows? Apart from the handful of Americans who recieved an advance copy of the DVD, I've kept out of their way though. I'll find out once my kids have gone to bed, much like I did for 'Nightmare in Silver'. Which was fun, wasn't it? I certainly enjoyed it. The last time Neil Gaiman wrote for the Doctor we got the wonderful 'The Doctor's Wife' which spawned this Extra for us and later introduced the character of Mrs T into or strip. 2nd Fade is currently working on our second Gaiman themed strip and I look forward to showing it off.

In the mean time I plan to go back to bed and try ignoring the rest of the world until I can commandeer the living room telly for myself.

How hard could that possibly be?

We can be disturbed through Facebook and Twitter as always.