Sneak Peek: Doctor Who’s Seventh Doctor returns to comics this week!

By John Freeman on June 4, 2018

Doctor Who – The Seventh Doctor – Operation Volcano #1 Cover A by Alice X. Zhang

The Seventh Doctor and Ace – played by Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred on screen in Doctor Who in the 1980s – return to comics week, with the launch of the three-part mini series, Operation Volcano.

Written by series script editor Andrew Cartmel (Rivers of London), with art by Christopher Jones (Doctor Who – Heralds of Destruction), coloured by Marco Lesko and lettered by Comicraft, the story, published by Titan Comics, sees the Doctor investigating a mysterious alien incursion in the Australian outback.

The project is edited by former Doctor Who Magazine editor John Freeman, who also commissioned Andrew to write his first comics back in the 1990s and who also write the Seventh Doctor story published by Titan in this year’s free Doctor Who Free Comic Book Day release, drawn by Christopher Jones.

This all-new story marks the first appearance of the Intrusion Countermeasures Group first seen in the TV story Remembrance of the Daleks in an ongoing comic, which have since featured in a number of audio dramas from Big Finish. Group Captain Gilmore plays a major role in the story – in two time frames!

The double issue includes the first part of a new story featuring Mags, a werewolf character who first appeared in the story The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. Written by Richard Dinnick, it’s drawn by the multi-talented Jessica Martin, who also played Mags on screen, and coloured by Charlie Kirchoff. “Hill of Beans” explores Mags background and family against the background of invasion and oppression.

• Andrew and Ben will be signing copies of Operation Volcano alongside artist Lee Sullivan at Forbidden Planet, London, on Wednesday 20th June, starting at 6.00pm. The signing also celebrates the release of the Rivers of London collection, Water Weed. Visit the Forbidden Planet web site for details of this and other events at the store

• Follow the creators behind the Operation Volcano on Twitter – subscribe to this Twitter list

• More about the Intrusion Countermeasures Group here

DOCTOR WHO: SEVENTH DOCTOR – OPERATION VOLCANO #1
Writer: Andrew Cartmel
Artist: Christopher Jones
Colour: Marco Lesko
Lettering: Comicraft
Executive Producer: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Titan Comics
FC, 64pp, $5.99, On sale: June 6, 2018

From the minds behind the fan favourite episode Remembrance of the Daleks, Andrew Cartmel and Ben Aaronovitch, (Rivers of London) which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2018!

Brand new comic adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and Ace as played by Sophie Aldred!

Includes short back-up strip, written by Richard Dinnick (Twelfth Doctor) with art by Jessica Martin!

COVER A: Alice X. Zhang
COVER B: Photo – Will Brooks
COVER C: Christopher Jones
COVER D: Simon Myers

Doctor Who – The Seventh Doctor – Operation Volcano #1 Cover B by Will Brooks

Doctor Who – The Seventh Doctor – Operation Volcano #1 Cover C by Christopher Jones

Doctor Who – The Seventh Doctor – Operation Volcano #1 Cover D by Simon Myers

And here’s the first page of “Hill of Beans”…

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.