A collection of the Doctor Who comic story starring the Sixth Doctor, The Age of Chaos, written by Colin Baker, the actor who played him, is on its way from Panini next year – but excitement over advance online release information is at present, we’re told, premature.

Featuring art by John M. Burns and Barrie Mitchell, coloured by Steve Whitaker, The Age of Chaos, first published back in 1994, is set after the Sixth Doctor’s final TV adventures. The story features Peri, played on screen by Nicola Bryant, and companion Frobisher, the shapeshifter stuck looking like a penguin.

The strip was the first Doctor Who comic story originally produced in full colour by Marvel UK, pre-dating the advent of colour in the main Doctor Who Magazine comic strip by almost seven years.

Edited by Gary Russell and originally intended to be published as a four-issue series in 1993 until hit by art delays, the story was released in one edition in October 1994.

The story by Colin Baker follows on, loosely, from The Trial of a Time Lord, centring around the Sixth Doctor and Frobisher’s adventure with Peri’s grandchildren from her marriage to King Yrcanos (introduced on TV in The Ultimate Foe, played by Brian Blessed).

Advance solicits on the AmazonUK and the Forbidden Planet web sites The Age of Chaos, suggest the book is scheduled for release in April 2021 – but we have been informed by Panini that the book currently no longer has a release date, so it sounds like it’s a bit premature to start saving for it just yet!

When it does get released, the collection promotional copy states the book reprints the epic story in full colour – and that the volume will also feature stories starring the Third, Fourth and Seventh Doctors.

The next definite release from Panini in their Doctor Who graphic novel collection range is Doctor Who – Mistress of Chaos, which will be released on 5th October 2020.

Written by Scott Gray with art by John Ross, this is the first Panini Doctor Who graphic novel to feature stories first published in Doctor Who Magazine starring Thirteenth Doctor, as played on TV by Jodie Whittaker.

• You can pre-order Doctor Who – Mistress of Chaos here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• You can pre-order Doctor Who: The Age of Chaos here on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) – but be aware the listed release date is now in doubt

• You can pre-order Doctor Who: The Age of Chaos here on Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link) – but be aware the listed release date is now in doubt

This item has been updated to reflect the inaccuracy of advance publication listings

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. Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Explorer (previously known as Star Trek 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: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Doctor Who, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds

Tags: Age of Chaos, Barrie Mitchell, Colin Baker, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Gary Russell, John M Burns, Panini UK, SF Comics, Steve Whitaker