KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO - THE DALEK PROJECT' GRAPHIC NOVEL

An exterminating time for the Daleks against Matt Smith's Time Lord in DOCTOR WHO: THE DALEK PROJECT. Image: BBC BOOKS.

DOCTOR WHO: ‘THE DALEK PROJECT’ - A GRAPHIC NOVEL

Written by Justin Richards

Illustrated by Mike Collins

Published by BBC BOOKS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

“Daleks conquer and destroy!”

Those fearsome, extermination hungry Daleks, the pepper-pot death machines created by legendary TV writer Terry Nation, are back to terrorize the universe and its protector, their sworn enemy, the Doctor, as they unleash their boldest plan yet against humankind, their thirst for survival and conquest knowing no end in a bold, colourful and exciting new DOCTOR WHO graphic novel for all reader ages to enjoy: BBC BOOKS’ THE DALEK PROJECT, written by resident WHO novel range talent and keeper of the spin-off flames, Justin Richards, alongside exemplary and exciting art from DOCTOR WHO Magazine supremo Mike Collins, their pairing giving us the most vivid renderings yet for the series in comic form, alongside the kind of feature film big-budget and spectacular looking storytelling you just can’t get on the small screen.

A frightening discovery in France of 2017...

Above two pages: Text (c) Justin Richards. Art (c) Mike Collins.

Adventures set in Earth’s past mixed with sci-fi concepts have always been done well by WHO in television, audio dramas and beyond, and this is no exception. The might and superiority that is the rising technological age of weaponry and destruction during the brutal and heinous First World War soon proves a true golden period for the protruberanced meanies, ripe for exploitation and control for their own benefit as they work in secret to alter time and humanity to suit their needs, with an even bigger grand plan ahead...

Keeping them grounded in dialogue that sounds as Nation-like as possible, THE DALEK PROJECT also has a pleasing mixing of the kind of classic ideas and imagery about the creatures that lingers in the mind from earlier classic stories, particularly from the monochrome Patrick Troughton era, Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks(such as their time travelling, and the way they slyly and skillfully manipulative weak and resourceful human pawns into doing their bidding, unaware of the bigger and more life-threatening picture to come), alongside some of the very best elements of their appearances in the modern WHO series - there’s even a nice visual nod to incumbent hero Matt Smith’s first battle with his nemesis in Victory of the Daleks, in the graphic novels opening section.

Counterbalancing the all-round nastiness of the Daleks, the quirky and fun aspects of Smith’s TARDIS controlling, sonic screwdriver wielding, panama hat wearing, submarine piloting Time Lord (replacing the originally planned David Tennant version of the project a few years back) are well represented, of which the actor easily possesses one of the most interesting and Doctor-ishfaces ever, surely a gem of expression to Mike Collins, or any artist, bringing him to life in the illustrative medium, as the character takes viewers into the story, which soon moves apace through English, French and German locations, along with supporting helpers equally determined to stop the Skaroans sinister plot.

It’s nice to see that the WHO spin-offs still treat the Doctors confrontations with the Daleks with respect and live up to Terry Nation’s original legacy for the creatures, at times much more so than some of the things being done in the modern WHO series, where I feel they’ve been gradually losing a lot of their menace- all that recent rubbish, in particular, about the Doctor being “the Predator of the Daleks.” In my book, the Daleks have never found him scary, more a pesky, always turning up nuisance to their plans that has to be taken out at all costs!

One thing that hasn’t changed in any way, though, is the way that the Daleks are a potent visual force, the classic imagery and iconography of the all-important creatures is finely displayed throughout the graphic novel, with lots of great powerful and threatening angles. The only thing missing with the experience is the heartbeat audio of their technological presence to add to their intimidating aura. Perhaps the next graphic novel featuring them can have added sound effects! Controlled humans, transmats, and all other familiar types of Dalek technology of varying shapes and forms from past and present stories, which we’ve also come to know and love, are well utilized here, too, often given an enjoyable new spin by Richards and Collins.

Also carrying on the fine tradition of both on-screen versions of the series, there’s some clever new Daleks visual incarnations added to the mix (love the German war machines later on in the story, bearing the distinctive iron cross symbols!), and attempts to do ambitious visuals not yet realised or things that TV budgets simply can’t stretch to. One of the many memorable images I loved in the graphic novel was them bursting out of the ground of the French countryside almost like Zombies- in fact, I don’t think we’ve had Zombie Daleks yet (but give it time!).

With a spectacular and reader satisfying finale full of terrific and evocative single and spread art panels, set in the “blood and mud” of 1917 France’s trenches, mixed with a little bit of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen –type heroics from the Doctor, THE DALEK PROJECT is an exciting graphic novel that’s well worth adding to your WHO library, or making a great Xmas gift.

Apart from their continuing and profitable commercial life, I think that the much missed Terry Nation would be thrilled by the way his characters have endured so well over fifty years, and the vitality they’ve continued to spark in such fine storytelling and ingenuity within DOCTOR WHO’s enduring history. One thing is certain, no matter how many times the Doctor defeats them, no matter how much destructive fire is bought down on them, the Daleks might and menace remains out there in the universe. They will survive at all costs, with viewers ever enjoying their presence in these epic fairy tales for a hopefully long time to come…

KOOL TV RATING: an exemplary graphic novel showing WHO and the Daleks-the series ultimate TV creations- at some of their illustrative best: 4 out of 5

Doctor Who: The Dalek Project by Justin Richards and Mike Collins (BBC Books, £14.99)

BBC, DOCTOR WHO (word marks, logos and devices), TARDIS and DALEKS (word marks and devices) are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996. Doctor Who logo © BBC 2009. Dalek image © BBC/Terry Nation 1963.Daleks created by Terry Nation.

Get ‘DOCTOR WHO –THE DALEK PROJECT’ here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Project-Mike-Collins/dp/1846077559/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348134966&sr=1-1