Episode 7: "Super Dalek Origin Story" - Classic Doctor Who Comics Double Feature - Patreon Exclusive

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #1: "Doctor Who on the Web Planet" (March 22 - April 26, 1965) TV Comic, Six Parts Writer/Artist: Neville Main

The only Doctor Who comic strip ever given an official title! The First Doctor, John, and Jillian return to Vortis long after their adventure with Ian, Barbara, and Vicki. A legend has grown among the Menoptra about the Doctor's previous liberation of their world - but freedom was short-lived. The planet has fallen under new oppression from the Skirkons, aliens who've mastered mind control over the easily-manipulated Zarbi and built Zarbi-shaped personal flying craft armed with death rays. The Doctor must free Vortis once again while confronting the sad reality that some worlds can never maintain peace.

The Zarbi Multimedia Empire - John discovers extensive Zarbi appearances across formats:

• Two Give-A-Show projector stories
• IDW comic (2000s) featuring First Doctor team fighting Zarbi invasion of 1868 Earth
• Doctor Who Annual prose stories: "Lair of the Zarbi" and "The Lost Ones"
• Patrick Troughton prose novel Twilight of the Gods
• Big Finish audio Return to Vortis with Fifth Doctor and Nyssa
• The Zarbi are revealed as "the new Pokémon - gotta catch 'em all!"

Jim's OCD kicks in and he must now consume all Zarbi media. The hosts marvel at how deeply BBC tried mining these creatures despite their failure to capture Dalek-level popularity.

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #2: "Duel of the Daleks" (March 6 - April 10, 1965) TV Century 21, Six Parts Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's plot) Artist: Richard Jennings

Dalek Zeg survives an industrial accident that coats him in near-impervious metallic skin and transforms his casing to golden color - giving him a superhero origin story! Believing his superiority entitles him to leadership, Zeg challenges the Black Dalek Emperor for control of the Dalek race. Internal Dalek civil war erupts as some Daleks support the upstart while others remain loyal to established hierarchy. The Emperor ultimately defeats Zeg using liquid metal to freeze him solid, learning from the duel to develop stronger Dalek armor.

Collected Editions Available:

• The Dalek Chronicles - Doctor Who Magazine Summer Special (1994, Marvel UK) - complete run
• The Daleks: The Ultimate Collector's Edition (Panini reprint)

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