Home › Comics › British Comics › Panini teases Doctor Who “back up strips” collection

Panini teases Doctor Who “back up strips” collection

By John Freeman on March 6, 2024

Panini UK, publishers of Doctor Who Magazine, have begun teasing details of the first volume in a series of collections of back up strips from the early days of the title.

Based on the 148 page extent and creators listed in online sales details, Doctor Who: The Return of The Daleks – The Complete Doctor Who Back-Up Tales Volume One, due for release on 1st July 2024, will include a large number of the monster-focused strips from Doctor Who Weekly, written by the likes of Steve Moore, with art from artists such as David Lloyd, Steve Dillon and Paul Neary.

The collection clearly includes the first appearance of Abslom Daak – Dalek Killer, created by Steve Moore and Steve Dillon, who made his memorable debut in Doctor Who Weekly issues 17 – 20.

*Abslom Daak makes his debut in Doctor Who Weekly No.17, scans from the Marvel UK Dalek Killer collection published in 1990*

It’s assumed a second volume, featuring the near legendary “Order of the Black Sun” Time Lord tales written by Alan Moore, will follow in due course.

These short backup comic stories first appeared in addition to the issue’s main story, the Doctor a “presenter” to a wide variety of stories, focusing on other characters within the wider Doctor Who universe. Most backup comic stories were published in Doctor Who Weekly and Doctor Who Monthly prior to 1982, and so were printed in issues that otherwise featured the Fourth Doctor.

Rights issues and costs of reprinting these strips featuring monsters such as the Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians and many more has previously made such collections complicated, to say nothing of the restoration costs involved. But after collections editor Ed Hammond hinted that such collections were in the works in a Panel to Panel podcast last year, and reprints of some of these strips in previous collections (not forgetting, of course Doctor Who Classic Comics), Doctor Who fans have been eagerly awaiting an announcement about dedicated compendiums, and their patience is now rewarded.

In this brand-new collection from Panini Comics, these “back-up tales”, taken from the early days of Doctor Who Weekly, are a highly sought-after and much-loved slice of Doctor Who comic history. Panini say each strip digitally restored to the highest quality, ensuring that these thrilling stories can be enjoyed at their absolute best.

• Doctor Who: The Return of The Daleks – The Complete Doctor Who Back-Up Tales Volume One is due for release on 1st July 2024 – preorder your copy now from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | 148 Pages | ISBN 978-1804912263

Doctor Who Magazine: The Early Back Up Strips – Checklist

Doctor Who Weekly 1-4
The Return of the Daleks written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd and Paul Neary, featuring the Daleks
Doctor Who Weekly 5-7
Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon – first appearance of Kroton, the Cyberman with a soul, featuring the Cybermen
Doctor Who Weekly 8
The Final Quest written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd and Paul Neary, featuring the Sontarans
Doctor Who Weekly 9-11
The Stolen TARDIS written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon, featuring the Time Lords
Doctor Who Weekly 12
K-9’s Finest Hour written by Steve Moore, art by Paul Neary, featuring the K9
Doctor Who Weekly 13-14
Warlord of the Ogrons written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon, featuring the Ogrons
Doctor Who Weekly 15-16
Deathworld written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Ice Warriors and Cybermen
Doctor Who Weekly 17-20
Abslom Daak… Dalek Killer written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon, featuring the Daleks and marking the first appearance of Abslom Daak
Doctor Who Weekly 21-22
Twilight of the Silurians written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Silurians
Doctor Who Weekly 23-24
Ship of Fools written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon, featuring Kroton the Cyberman
Doctor Who Weekly 25-26
The Outsider written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Sontarans
Doctor Who Weekly 27-30, Doctor Who Monthly 44-46
Star Tigers written by Steve Moore, art by Steve Dillon (Doctor Who Weekly 27 – 29 and David Lloyd (Doctor Who Weekly 30)
Doctor Who Weekly 31-34
Yonder… The Yeti written by Steve Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Yeti
Doctor Who Weekly 35-38
Black Legacy written by Alan Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Cybermen
Doctor Who Weekly 40-43
Business as Usual written by Alan Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Autons
Doctor Who Monthly 47
Star Death written by Alan Moore, art by John Stokes, featuring the Time Lords
Doctor Who Monthly 48
The Touchdown on Deneb-7 written by Paul Neary, art by David Lloyd, featuring K9
Doctor Who Monthly 49
Voyage to the Edge of the Universe written by Paul Neary, art by David Lloyd (who provided additional dialogue), featuring the Daemons
Doctor Who Monthly 50
Crisis on Kaldor written by Steve Moore, art by John Stokes, featuring Voc Robots
Doctor Who Monthly 51
4-D War written by Alan Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Time Lords
Doctor Who Monthly 56
The Greatest Gamble written by John Peel, art by Mike McMahon, featuring the Celestial Toymaker
Doctor Who Monthly 57
Black Sun Rising written by Alan Moore, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Time Lords
Doctor Who Monthly 58, Winter Special 1981
Skywatch-7 written by Maxwell Stockbridge, art by Mick Austin, featuring the Zygons
Doctor Who Monthly 59
The Gods Walk Among Us written by John Peel, art by David Lloyd, featuring Sontarans
Doctor Who Monthly 61
Devil of the Deep Sea written by John Peel, art by David Lloyd, featuring the Sea Devils
Doctor Who Monthly 64
The Fires Down Below written by John Peel, art by John Stokes, featuring the Silurians
Doctor Who Winter Special 1981
Minatorius written by Maxwell Stockbridge, art by John Stokes, featuring the Time Lords
Doctor Who Summer Special 1982
The Fabulous Idiot written by Steve Parkhouse, art by Steve Parkhouse & Geoff Senior
Doctor Who Summer Special 1982
A Ship Called Sudden Death, written by Steve Parkhouse, art by Dave Gibbons

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.