Doctor Who Adventures Issue 23 is in sale now from Panini, and I’m delighted to report that the Doctor is still battling aliens accompanied by an alien talking horse.

(Not that it wouldn’t be great to have new companion Bill in the strip – she gets an introductory UNIT “Alien Archive” feature this issue – but a talking horse is simply great fun!)

In this issue:

• “Killer App” The Doctor and Jata battle an alien that wouldn’t look out of place in a story from One Thousand and One Nights. Andrew Cartmel drops in some nice gags for older readers alongside a fun adventure drawn by Russ Leach, coloured by John Burns and lettered by Caroline Dunk

• “The Inscrutable Illusionist” – the Paternoster gang meet the Lumiere brothers as “moving pictures” come to London. But who’s tgeir mysterious new business partner? Story by Kieron Moore, illustrated by Russ Leach, coloured by John Burns

• Cyber Dalek Wars – Choose your side and go blaster to blaster for the conquest of our solar system!

• Shoal of the Winter Harmony Brain – make your own brain in a jar… just don’t spill any brain fluid!

• UNIT Alien Archive – Bill Potts in the spotlight

• Twisted Conundrums – the Doctor has some more fiendish puzzles for readers!

• Doctor and Bill Pin-Up (oh, and Nardole, looking terrified!)

• Strax’s A-Z of Everything – the Kandyman and Krynoids in the spotlight

• “The Adventures of Strax and The Time Shark” Grant Perkins pulls out every cheesy joke he can think of (I mean that in a good way!) in this daft chase through the TARDIS

What is the Conunudrum Cube?

On sale now in all good newsagents for £3.99, Doctor Who Adventures comes with a “Conundrum Cube” gift. No, we’re not sure about that either, but you can’t give away Daleks and Sonic Screwdrivers on every issue.

Talking of free gifts, though, if you’re curious about how they’re chosen, DWA editor Jason Quinn reveals how in the new Doctor Who Special Edition – Toys & Games, which is a terrific guide to Doctor Who merchandise down the years. There’s some fascinating stuff about Dalekmania, Dapol, the 1970s Leela figure myths are dispelled, the secrets behind the creation of the War of the Daleks game and more.

You’ll be muttering “I had one of those!” Before you know it! Out now.

Jason Quinn ponders the mysterious long “limbed” Dalek given away free with Doctor Who Adventures…

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 - Current British Publishers, Doctor Who, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Television

Tags: Andrew Cartmel, Caroline Dunk, Comics By Country, Conundrum Cube, Doctor Who, Doctor Who Adventures, downthetubes News, Jason Quinn, John Burns, Kieron Moore, Panini UK, Russ Leach, SF Comics