Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #1

Writer: Nick Abadzis | Letterer: Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt | Editor: Andrew James | Artist: Elena Casagrande (with Michele Pasta) | Colorist: Arianna Florean (with Claudia SG, Fabiola Ienne, Valentina Cuomo, Azzurra Florean) | Designer: Rob Farmer

Having read several issues of Doctor Who in the past, I have to say that I was rather blown away by what Titan is doing with the title. The cover art by Elena Casagrande is, in a word, brilliant! The artistic style is reminiscent of painting, rather than the typical hand drawn fare. In fact, if you turned that art into a poster, it would be framed and on my wall in two seconds flat!

The layouts and colors are eye-catching and the storyline by Nick Abadzis instantly draws the reader in. We follow a girl named Gabriella, who herself is straddling two worlds. One in which she longs to chase her American dreams and a second in which she is weighted down by obligations to her family. Immigrants from Mexico, her parents have worked very hard to build a life for themselves in America. They juggle several business ventures, including a Mexican restaurant and a laundromat; the latter of which Gabby is in charge of running. However, strange happenings are afoot when the dryers suddenly sprout whirling vortex winds and unleash strange spirits. Unfortunately Gabby's father isn't about to believe her fantastical tale of how the laundromat was trashed. Things get even stranger when more members of her family start seeing, what they believe to be, demons.

Are these creatures somehow tied to the Doctor, the mysterious man who dropped by the restaurant this morning? Could they be connected to Los Dia De Los Muertos, the legendary day of dead, where spirits come back to walk the earth? Or is there something even odder going on here?

Elena Casagrande has done an amazing job on the artwork for this issue. She and colorist Arianna Florean are a powerhouse team. They've managed to create a wonderful combination of beautiful scenery and frightening monsters that almost leap off the page. I also offer them my highest praise on being able to capture the tenth Doctor in all his glory. Their likeness of him is the most accurate depiction that I've come across in the Who comics in ages. Previous artists have managed to get the clothing style right but not really nail down the facial features and the gestures that are essential to the Doctor's character. I look forward to seeing more of their work in the issues that are to come!

As an added bonus, this comic also comes with a special bonus code for the Doctor Who: Legacy game. You can unlock your own version of Gabby to travel with the Doctor and battle the evils of the universe!

Hurry up and grab your copy of Titan's Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #1 on sale today! (I can't wait for issues #2!)

-Companion4Life

So, if you've gotten your hands on the issue, drop me a line and tell me what you think! Are you as enamored of the artist/colorist pair as I am? Did you love the storyline? Or was something missing? Let me know in the comments.

Cover Gallery: