The latest issue of Panini UK’s Doctor Who Magazine — alongside its usual as ever excellent coverage of the ongoing TV series — features some cracking illustrations by comics artist Brian Williamson that accompany a feature on a series spin-off that never made it to the screen: The Daleks.
Written by top TV archivist Andrew Pixley, Daleks’ Invasion USA: 1967 AD details how Dalek creator Terry Nation tried to get a Daleks series off the ground at a time when Dalekmania gripped the nation. According to the article, which includes a detailed synopis of Nation’s “pilot episode” for the series, set construction had even begun when negotiations between Nation and the BBC broke down, largely over costs.
Meticulously researched, Pixley delivers one of the most intriguing freatures on the history of Doctor Who in many a year… we just hope that given the Magazine’s cover date, it’s not an April Fool*.
Brian will be well known to some downthetubes readers for his work on the Torchwood strip for Torchwood Magazine, and for his past Doctor Who and Marvel UK work. Lured away from comics by the regular paycheck of the games industry he’s now freelance once more, working as an illustrator for newspapers, books and advertising.
Despite their popularity, the Daleks have had an ill-fated history outside the Doctor Who show when it comes to spin-offs. In the 1990s Keith Barnfather of Reeltime Pictures, Nicholas Briggs, Kevin Davies and John Freeman attempted to get an animated Daleks series off the ground and began discussion with Nation, but the plans got no further than initial outlines and conversations with Nation himself during a US convention in Chicago.
• Doctor Who Magzine Issue 406 which also includes an interview with David Tennant, a new comic strip written by Dan McDaid with art by Sean Longcroft and a tribute to the late Dalek operator John Scott Martin is on sale in all good UK newsagents and available in US comic shops.
* It isn’t. Phew!
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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.
Categories: Doctor Who, Television
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