S-S-SOWING 'THE SEEDS OF DEATH'...

Creating iconic villainous opponents for our Doctor to confront with the (temporary) loss of the Daleks proved difficult in the late sixties, but there were occasional creative/design triumph successors, most notably with the Ice Warriors conceived by Brian Hayles, who, after their intriguing debut story, would return for another battle with Patrick Troughton in a more action-packed adventure that saw the cold beings plan to conquer Earth via humanity's use of a unique Transmit system. The end result, The Seeds of Death, was another viewing success in a season that was a mixed bag of fortunes, and which would see the warriors of Mars, and their expensive to make costumes, eventually return to the show during the colourful Pertwee era...

Great cover art for the excellent fan made An Adventure in Time and Space partwork series of the mid-eighties, by Stuart Glazebrook.

The never dull Target novel adaptation by Terrance Dicks makes a fine conversion to BBC Audio Books, read by none other than the versatile David Troughton himself.

Get it here:

Doctor Who: The Seeds of Death: 2nd Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): Terrance Dicks, David Troughton, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE SAVAGE KIND!

Having taken a mysterious detour from her explorations of a city world previously visited by the Doctor, Dodo own investigation of a realm seemingly too good to be true proves right as a shocking sight lies ahead of her in an enclosed corridor - the terrifying visages of an approaching, threatening- looking savage, during the memorable and tense finale to the opening episode of the genuinely under-appreciated Hartnell sci-fi gem, The Savages, a story that was truly the beginning of the end for the show's original star, with a momentous format change ahead...

OUT NOW: 'DOCTOR WHO - THE COLLECTION: SEASON 9'

Composition by Lee Binding for BBC STUDIOS.

It was the classic season that cemented Jon Pertwee's tenure as the Doctor and delivered excellent ratings, its enhanced popularity now turning Doctor Who into a genuine British institution. A 26-episode run effectively launched with the return of classic villains the Daleks after five years away, now seen, finally, in glorious colour for the small screen, in what could truly be considered The Day of the Daleks. Plus, more old favourites back on screen with the reptilian Martians, the Ice Warriors, previously from the Troughton era, and now given a new spin within the super, gothic-edged space saga The Curse of Peladon. Then, more monster mania and underwater excitement, courtesy of the brilliant new underwater enemies The Sea Devils, now in league with the no longer imprisoned the Master (Roger Delgado, better than ever), wanting to regain their world from the human menace at large above the waters. 

And after three such classic adventures that would never be forgotten by viewers, two further interesting tales packed with memorable moments - the first involving the planet of The Mutants, as the Doctor is caught in a future conflict between mankind and the super-evolving Mutts, then, bringing the season to a lively and ambitious close, another battle for the Doctor, his companion Jo Grant (the ever radiant and sexy Katy Manning) and the military men of UNIT against the Master, now determined to awaken the fury of The Time Monster across the known universe.

A great Doctor, and great stories, brilliantly remastered (the surviving NTSC copy of The Curse of Peladon is restored superbly for Blu-ray HD), alongside a wealth of old and new extras, and a treasure chest of archival information, that will keep fans busy for months!

Season 9 announced as the next instalment in The Collection Blu-ray range | Doctor Who

Doctor Who - The Collection: Season 9 has materialized, and it's better than ever!

Get it here:

Doctor Who - The Collection Season 9 Blu-Ray (Limited Edition Packaging): Amazon.co.uk: Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning: DVD & Blu-ray

 

CLASSIC ART: THE ULTIMATE CONFRONTATION!

It's hard to believe that a confrontation between the mighty Who enemies the Daleks and Cybermen never actually happened in the TV Classic Series, an attempt in the last season of the B/W Troughton era having been swiftly quashed by Dalek creator Terry Nation (unwilling to see his top baddies potentially caught in another rival monster's shadow!). But in the worlds of comic strip adventure and artistic wonder, such a contest of superpower supremacy could at least be made a fan-tastic reality, thanks to the superb talents of Doctor Who Magazine's then regular contributor in the 90's, Lee Sullivan.

THE GODS THEMSELVES...

Purposefully bringing out the destructive wrath of the dreaded mythical monsters that are the Gods of Ragnarok, the seventh Doctor must put on the ultimate one-man show to distract them before Ace and her remaining friends at the once evil-controlled Psychic Circus of Segonax can ultimately help him. A memorable finale to the atmospheric and memorable The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, in this great DVD release cover art by Lee Binding. 

TWICE REMOVED!

Inadvertently crossing their own time streams at a pivotal time leads to unique dangers for the second and sixth incarnations of the Doctor, as they face capture and biological dissemination by the ruthless, war-mongering Sontarans and their cannabilistic Androgum allies, in both deep space and on Earth, during the fun and inventive three-part adventure from the delightfully wicked Robert Holmes that was The Two Doctors.

Though Doctor-less, the original Target Books adaptation cover art, by the always impressive Andrew Skilleter, would nonetheless convey the importance of the story and its key selling point factors beyond them.  

CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF SEASON TWENTY: 'SNAKEDANCE'

The Mara has returned!

Defeated in its prior battle with the Doctor on the peaceful jungle world of Deva Loka, but nonetheless dormant inside its host Tegan Jovanka's mind, the evil Mara being has been trapped on 20th Century Earth for at least a year. Now, with Tegan back in the TARDIS family, it has become reemergent and plans a spectacular return for conquest via the place from which it was originally borne, on the planet Manussa, former homeworld to the dominant Sumaran Empire.

 

Can Tegan be saved from the building threat of the Mara? And can the Doctor find the inner mental strength linked to the mysterious Snakedancers of legend in finally destroying such tyrannical and mind controlling evil?

Certainly one of the best writing finds for the series during the eighties, Christopher Bailey's work on the parable-esque Kinda during Peter Davison's opening season impressed the production team enough to quickly commission him for a sequel. Snakedance more than proves itself as a worthy continuance of the Mara saga, giving the Fifth Doctor's era a unique regular new enemy of sorts. Janet Fielding shines once more as both the possessed Tegan and as the Mara, and there's a superb guest cast (an impressive young Martin Clines, alongside notable character acting support from John Carson, Brian Miller (husband of the late Elisabeth Sladen) and Colette O'Neill). 

Tegan is literally lost in the crowd physically and mentally as her friends try to help her, newly arrived on the world of Manussa.

Out of time, out of step in the modern world: Federator Queen (Colette O'Neil) and the greedy archaeologist Ambril (John Carson).

A controversial new look for Nyssa from designer Ken Trew.

The Doctor tries to warn the Federator's son Lom (Martin Clunes) about the Mara's return.

A great posed publicity image taken at Ealing film studios of Sarah Sutton, Peter Davison and Jonathan Morris, whose character of Chela helps the Doctor find the lone Snakedancer, Dokeen.

The Doctor discovers the power of the Snakedancers via the mysterious Dojeen (Preston Lockwood).

The ancient ceremony linked to the Mara legend gets a shocking new turn.

With Nyssa and the ceremonial guests enslaved by the Mara's power, the Doctor must fight alone with the power of mental control.

The final battle between the Doctor and the Mara/Tegan.

The story's all-studio production design (from Jan Spoczynski) is interesting in its world-building, though it's a shame that the story couldn't all have been shot on film as seen with the fascinating and atmospheric desert-set Snakedancer scene featuring Preston Lockwood as the self-exiled mystic Dojeen, captured at Ealing film studios. Though her work lacks the pacy quality of Peter Grimwade's tone seen with Kinda, Fiona Cumming clearly enjoys telling the sequel story's character-driven storytelling with unflashy but effective direction, for what was ultimately the first story shot, but shown second obviously, for Season Twenty. 

The Doctor wields the crystal still point.

The Doctor consoles a tearful Tegan. The Mara has been destroyed.

Original Radio Times listings.

Memorable Target books art by Andrew Skilleter.

VHS art by Colin Howard.

Art by Peter Wallbank.

UK DVD image composition by Clayton Hickman, adapted for the US release.

MY HORSE, MY HORSE... A TIME LORD FOR A HORSE!

The Doctor was having an interesting time of things exploring 15th Century Italy at the turn of the Renaissance, but trouble soon heads his way - his loyal companion Sarah Jane Smith is captured by a hooded sect, enemy guards from the local San Martino township prove bullying, and the TARDIS stowaway that is the powerful Mandragora Helix unleashes its disruptive power! 

A great location shot of Tom Baker, soon heavily involved in physical action as the Doctor during the first two episodes of the lavish Season Fourteen opener, The Masque of Mandragora. 

Original Radio Times listing promotion - 1976.

TEMPUS FUGIT, IN THE DEADLIEST WAY!

The legendary 'time monster' that is Kronos has been unleashed by the evil schemes of the Master, of which the fabled city of Atlantis is the creature's latest target for destruction and absorption. A couple of interesting behind the scenes images of the alien as seen in the finale adventure to Jon Pertwee's third season in the role: The Time Monster.

Kronos, as played on set by stunt man Marc Boyle.

Terrance Dicks' satisfying Target Books novelisation makes its way to BBC AUDIO adaptation this month (16th March, 2023), read with multi-characters voiced aplomb by the ever enthusiastic actor/Who fan Jon Culshaw. 

Original Target book art by Andrew Skilleter.

Get it here:

Doctor Who: The Time Monster: 3rd Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): Terrance Dicks, Jon Culshaw, BBC Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

THE SECRET TAKE OVER!

'Servants' to the pathetic humans of Vulcan no more, as the Dalek's secret conveyor belt sees the en masse creation of more of the clever and manipulative Skaroan race, ready to exterminate the colony and take over in this superb art linked to the US release of the original The Power of the Daleks animation of 2016.