Episode 9: "My Word, Doesn't He Look Fat and Pompous!" - Classic Doctor Who Comics: The Challenge of the Piper - Patreon Exclusive

COMIC STRIP REVIEW: "The Challenge of the Piper" (June 14 - July 12, 1965) TV Comic, Five Parts Writer/Artist: Neville Main

The First Doctor, John, and Jillian arrive in medieval Hamelin during the legendary Pied Piper crisis. After the townspeople refuse to pay the Piper for ridding them of rats, he lures away their children. The Doctor sympathizes with the wronged musician and undertakes three trials to win the children's freedom, using 1960s technology disguised as "magic" - fire extinguisher, radar, parachute, and tape recorder. When the Mayor still refuses payment, the Doctor threatens to return the children to the Piper unless he honors the debt!

The hosts mourn that both grandchildren function as mere Greek chorus, giving the Doctor someone to talk to beyond himself.

Where/When Are We? - The hosts debate ontological questions: Is this the actual legendary event on Earth's past? An alien world duplicating the tale? A fantasy realm? They conclude it's meant as the origin of the Hamelin legend, but fantasy elements (dragon, invisibility, mesmerizing flute magic) blur the science-fiction/fantasy boundary.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Next strips: "The Moon Landing" (premiering space race before real 1969 landing!), "Prisoner of the Grittog" (Doctor Who Summer Special), and "The Penta Ray Factor" (Daleks return!)

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Episode 8: "The Daleks Destroyed Their First Planet" - Classic Doctor Who Comics Double Feature - Patreon Exclusive

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #1: "The Gyros Injustice" (May 3 - June 7, 1965) TV Comic, Six Parts Writer/Artist: Neville Main

Jim's birthday comic! Born right in the middle of this strip's run, Jim celebrates with poetry: "Through space and time, through a million nowheres, past a billion whirling unnamed starlights across the darkness that holds the mysteries of science and life, travels Doctor Who's spaceship, the TARDIS." The First Doctor, John, and Jillian encounter the Gyros (or Euros?) - robots who've taken control of their world after their organic creators fell ill. The planet's unique position leaves only the equator habitable, with one side in perpetual darkness and the other scorched by constant sunlight.

Call for Listener Feedback - The hosts request Patreon subscriber opinions: Is this strip engaging or merely a curious artifact? They receive regular feedback on main episodes but silence on comics, despite releasing complete stories before recording.

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #2: "The Emerald Challenge" (May 22 - July 3, 1965) TV Century 21, Seven Parts Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's plot) Artist: Richard Jennings

Jim's favorite Dalek story yet! The Daleks achieve faster-than-light travel after 13 failed test flights (destroying numerous Daleks in the process), then encounter their first truly alien opponents - sentient plant creatures on an emerald world. This isn't humanoids vs. machines but mechanized beings versus nature itself, with the planet rejecting the invaders through biological warfare. Plants infest Dalek casings in gorgeously rendered sequences before the ultimate confrontation with the planetary consciousness at the world's heart.

Rooting for the Bad Guys - Jim explores the fascinating psychology of villain-centric storytelling: "Who are you rooting for? Because I found myself going 'Yeah, go Daleks, conquer space!' and then stopping to question my own psyche." The strip maintains perfect tension between wanting Daleks to succeed (achieving their goals is narratively satisfying) and recoiling from their monstrous actions.

Comic Daleks > TV Daleks? - Jim declares at this moment he prefers comic strip Daleks to TV Daleks, wanting the "weighty, bigger stuff" on screen. The budget-free medium allows grander concepts. John notes the TV show won't feature named individual Daleks like Zeg for a long time, which some fans lament.

Humanizing Villains Debate:

• Jim's position: Doesn't need mustache-twirling villains humanized (cites overexplained Klingons in Next Generation)
• John's caution: Naming individual Daleks risks making them relatable when their core concept is absolute otherness
• Future preview: The Doctor eventually becomes "the Predator" in Dalek mythology - their species' natural enemy

Terry Nation's Golden Ticket: The hosts explore how Nation retained Dalek rights (opposite of American work-for-hire practices). His 1963 script seemed like just another job, but lucky ownership meant the BBC must negotiate with Nation's estate for every Dalek appearance even today. "The Daleks bought me a manor" - actual British newspaper headline about Nation's wealth. The proposed 1960s Dalek TV series (with ABC showing interest) led to a five-year gap in Dalek TV appearances as Nation pursued American deals.

LOOKING AHEAD: Next strip: "Challenge of the Piper" - a fantasy-oriented story that has both hosts concerned about more sameness, though Jim's interest is piqued by the format change.

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Share your thoughts on Jillian's tragic marginalization and rooting for planet-destroying pepper pots by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our passionate Facebook and BlueSky communities.

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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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Episode 6: "Throw Your Spuds" - Classic Doctor Who Comics Double Feature - Patreon Exclusive

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #1: "The Hijackers of Thrax" (March 1-15, 1965) TV Comic, Three Parts Writer/Artist: Neville Main

The First Doctor, John, and Jillian investigate disappearing supply ships bound for Earth's Venus colony in 2075. Pirates operating from a hidden space station obscured by artificial clouds have been stealing shipments. The Doctor disables the cloaking device, exposing the hijackers' base and saving Earth's colonial supply line.

Jim declares this his favorite of the three strips so far due to the Earth connection and clever cloud-station concept, while John finds all three equally unremarkable. The hosts remain baffled why the strip doesn't equally target boys and girls when the TV show clearly features prominent female characters like Barbara alongside the male cast.

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #2: "Power Play" (February 13 - March 5, 1965) TV Century 21, Three Parts Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's plot) Artist: Richard Jennings

The Daleks face their next evolutionary step - getting off Skaro! After the radioactive devastation, two warring human factions on Skaro seek allies. The Daleks strategically align with one group against their aggressors, not out of compassion but calculated self-interest. By story's end, the Daleks possess plans for flying saucers - directly setting up their appearance in "The Dalek Invasion of Earth" TV serial.

John liked this installment as much or more than "Genesis of Evil," appreciating how it serves TV continuity while telling compelling standalone stories. Jim loves the symbiosis between source material and offshoot when done correctly.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Next Doctor Who comic: Sequel to "The Web Planet" featuring the Zarbi! The hosts are curious whether this represents BBC pushing the Zarbi as "the next Daleks" after their expensive costume investment, or editorial response to reader demands for more TV show connections
• Next Dalek comic: "Duel of the Daleks" promises intrigue
• Jim has started reading a First Doctor prose novel for future Patreon discussion

The hosts debate whether kids recognized the strips' disconnection from the TV series, and wonder about the demographics of British comics magazines in 1965. Was it primarily boys despite Doctor Who's mixed-gender appeal?

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Share your thoughts on potato weaponry and Jillian's marginalization by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our passionate Facebook and BlueSky communities.

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Episode 5: "Wham, Bam, Thank You Dalek" - Classic Doctor Who Comics Double Feature - Patreon Exclusive

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #1: "The Therovian Quest" (January 18 - February 22, 1965) TV Comic, Six Issues (Two Pages Per Week) Writer/Artist: Neville Main

The First Doctor's TARDIS crashes on an alien planet where he and grandchildren John and Gillian encounter Grigg, a spaceship pilot whose vessel is also stranded. Grigg desperately seeks a cure for a plague that has incapacitated everyone on his homeworld of Theros except himself. In a shocking decision, the Doctor repairs Grigg's ship and abandons the still-damaged TARDIS on the planet to help this stranger - a moment of tension as they literally leave the time machine behind and never mention it again until the story's end!

The quest takes them to the ice planet Ixon to harvest medicinal moss, where they're captured by Ixon warriors. King Ixa provides equipment including a sled to reach the dangerous caves, but secretly plans to steal the moss and sell it at exorbitant prices to the Therovians. After Grigg battles a furry cave monster (throwing it into an ice ravine), they retrieve the moss but are captured again. The Doctor sets fire to something (possibly the moss itself?) creating chaos and smoke that allows their escape back to Grigg's ship, returning to Theros to save the plague victims before finally returning to repair the mysteriously-fixed TARDIS.

John and Jim's Analysis:

• Jillian's disappearing act continues - The female companion has maybe two word balloons throughout the entire six-issue story, to the point where the Doctor and John briefly forget she exists. The hosts lament this "all-he-man, no-girls-allowed club" mentality in a strip based on a show meant to be all-inclusive.
• Neville Main's artwork shines - Both hosts appreciate the visual presentation, particularly the spaceship designs and background details. Main clearly uses Hartnell photo references, though his TARDIS-in-flight depiction (a corkscrew swirly line suggesting rapid spinning) amuses the hosts.
• The Doctor as spaceship engineer - Jim questions when the Doctor became qualified to repair alien spacecraft faster than their actual owners.
• Grigg's suspicious appearance - Designed to look villainous initially, subverting expectations when King Ixa becomes the actual antagonist.
• John's bloodthirsty evolution - The grandson appears drawn older in close-ups, as if maturing into a violent young man over time.
• "Doctor Who" naming persists - The strip continues calling the protagonist "Doctor Who" rather than "the Doctor."

Jim declares this "on the same level as the first storyline" - straightforward space opera that doesn't connect much to the TV series, though the art remains enjoyable.

COMIC STRIP REVIEW #2: "Genesis of Evil" (January 23 - February 6, 1965) TV Century 21, Three-Part Story (One Page Per Issue) Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's plot) Artist: Richard Jennings

Jim's immediate reaction: "Gorgeous."

This landmark Dalek origin story appeared in the back pages of TV Century 21 magazine, forcing young fans to buy multiple publications for their Doctor Who fix. Set on the planet Skaro, the strip reveals how the robotic Dalek shells came to exist following a catastrophic event that irradiated the planet (here depicted as a meteor storm hitting nuclear stockpiles, contradicting the TV series' neutron bomb).

Two blue-skinned humanoid Daleks (members of the original Dals/Kaleds race) crawl from the rubble and encounter a horrifying sight - one of their own people, so mutated by radiation that he's encased himself in a mechanical pepper-pot shell. This robotic Dalek reveals he created the protective casing and now the survivors must build more shells for the remaining Daleks. The story establishes the Dalek Emperor character (gold and ruby-plated) who will feature in subsequent strips, creating a hierarchy absent from early TV stories.

John and Jim's Analysis:

• Stunning artwork - Richard Jennings delivers detailed, beautifully colored pages that exceed the Doctor Who strip's quality. Jim calls it an "eye opener."
• Terry Nation's contractual power - Nation receives prominent billing despite David Whitaker doing the actual scripting, showing the Dalek creator's early leverage (eventually buying a manor with Dalek profits).
• Canon contradictions - The strip doesn't contradict the first TV Dalek serial and actually fleshes it out nicely, but future TV story "Genesis of the Daleks" will completely reimagine the origin. The hosts discuss how ancillary products are always subordinate to on-screen canon.
• Perfect pacing - The compact one-page-per-issue format keeps the story moving efficiently without lingering, unlike the sometimes padded Doctor Who strip.
• Thals connection - The strip references the Thal people from the TV series, maintaining continuity while expanding the mythology.
• The Emperor's absence - John wonders why this gold Emperor wasn't in "The Daleks" TV story, speculating future strips might explain it.

Jim enthusiastically declares: "I enjoyed this way more than the Doctor Who strip" and looks forward to continuing Dalek adventures.

LOOKING AHEAD The hosts preview their upcoming Friday Patreon release covering "The Web Planet" - John approaches it fresh without having started watching, hoping for better appreciation than his initial expectations. Jim looks forward to eventually finding a story where John declares "this is horrible" so he'll "feel justified."

Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Share your thoughts on disappearing companions and gorgeous Dalek artwork by emailing us at [email protected] or joining our passionate Facebook and BlueSky communities.

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"I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek" & "Landing of the Daleks" - Vintage Doctor Who Music Review (1964-1965) - Christmas Patreon Exclusive

Dalekmania swept across the United Kingdom in 1964 with the same cultural fervor that Batmania would capture America two years later. The BBC's terrifying Dalek creatures became a merchandising phenomenon, spawning an explosion of toys, comic books, feature films, and even novelty music records capitalizing on the pepper pot-shaped villains that had captured the nation's imagination.

The Go-Gos - "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek" (December 1964)

As "The Dalek Invasion of Earth" serial reached its dramatic conclusion in December 1964, the musical group The Go-Gos (completely unrelated to Belinda Carlisle's 1980s American new wave band) released this bizarre Christmas novelty record. The song features a 17-year-old female vocalist unconvincingly portraying a young child gleefully declaring her holiday wish to spend Christmas with a genocidal alien killing machine - a marketing decision that seems baffling by today's standards.

The Earthlings - "Landing of the Daleks" (February 1965)

Two months later, The Earthlings contributed to the Dalekmania craze with "Landing of the Daleks," an instrumental surf rock piece that surprisingly features zero Dalek voices and not a single iconic "Exterminate!" catchphrase throughout its entire runtime.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and writer/editor Jim Beard for this hilariously critical Patreon exclusive episode as they dissect what both songs have in common beyond the Dalek theme - they genuinely irritated Jim! Experience their entertaining analysis of 1960s Doctor Who merchandising excess, questionable musical choices, and the wild cultural phenomenon of Dalekmania at its peak.

This December, enjoy exclusive Patreon episodes every weekday celebrating Doctor Who's 60th anniversary! We're exploring the complete multimedia history of Doctor Who across television, comics, music, and more.

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"Two Is Too Few, Four Is Too Much" - Production 6M: "The Awakening" (January 19-20, 1984) - Classic Doctor Who Season 21 Review

The Fifth Doctor brings Tegan to 1984 Little Hodcombe so she can visit her grandfather, Andrew Verney. But the TARDIS materializes in an unstable church during an English Civil War reenactment organized by the local magistrate, Sir George Hutchinson. When Tegan's grandfather goes missing and they encounter Will Chandler—a genuine 17th century peasant pulled through time—the Doctor discovers something sinister beneath the village: the Malus, an alien war machine feeding on psychic energy from the staged battles.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 21 analysis, they debate whether three episodes would be the perfect Doctor Who story length, discuss the rushed pacing versus Jim's feeling it dragged, and explore themes of companion family visits and the show's grounded Earth-based budget-cutting era.

Cast Fatigue: By this point, both Peter Davison and Janet Fielding had announced departures (Mark Strickson would follow soon). Jim declares: "I am totally ready for a new Doctor and new companions." The energy has drained after 20 years, with JNT himself seeking other opportunities but trapped by industry circumstances.

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Check out Jim Beard's creative work and visit thedoctorsbeardpodcast.com for John's new Target novelization review blog series starting with "An Unearthly Child"!

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"The Klepton Parasites" - Doctor Who TV Comic Strip Review (November 9, 1964 - January 11, 1965) - Christmas Patreon Exclusive

TV Comic Issues 674-683 Writer & Artist: Neville Main

In 1964, the BBC made television history by launching the first weekly Doctor Who comic strip in the pages of TV Comic- a surprising choice given the magazine's focus on ITV programming. This groundbreaking comic adaptation took bold creative liberties, featuring the First Doctor and his TARDIS in adventures that barely resembled the television series, introducing controversial changes including the Doctor's mysterious grandchildren John and Gillian.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard for this special Christmas promotion episode as they launch their comprehensive journey through classic Doctor Who comics, celebrating the show's 60th anniversary. In this inaugural comic strip review, they analyze Neville Main's distinctive artwork style, debate the absurdly literal naming convention of the villainous Kleptons (who steal everything), examine the controversial introduction of the Doctor's grandchildren companions, and explore how these early comics diverged wildly from established TV canon during William Hartnell's era.

This December, we're releasing exclusive Patreon episodes every weekday to celebrate Doctor Who's 60th anniversary and showcase the premium content available to our supporters. Experience the complete history of Doctor Who across all media formats!

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John and Jim sit down to review their time watching the first series of Doctor Who, the good and the bad. In addition, Jim shares his thoughts on what he would like to see in the second series. John plays Spoiler Cards with Jim, offering him a pick of one of three cards revealing a spoiler for the second series. Of the Doctor, Barbara and Ian, and the Daleks - which one did he choose?

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"There Should Have Been Another Way" Production 6M: "Warriors of the Deep" (January 5-13, 1984) Classic Doctor Who Season 21 Premiere Review

In the year 2084, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough materialize at Sea Base Four, a military installation staffed with personnel on high alert due to tensions that could trigger World War III. An unknown object lurking in the waters proves to be a Silurian battlecruiser seeking to revive suspended animation Sea Devil warriors stored in underwater chambers. The reptilian cousins plan to manipulate the base's weapon systems to start a nuclear war, wiping out humanity so they can reclaim Earth as their ancestral home.

Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 21 premiere analysis covering this notorious production, they discuss:

Production Nightmare Behind the Scenes:

• Margaret Thatcher's election sabotage - The 1983 UK general election announcement created BBC studio space demands, costing Doctor Who two weeks of production time and forcing rushed filming with minimal rehearsal

• The infamous Myrka disaster - The creature costume was still being sculpted and painted an hour before shooting, with wet paint and adhesive fumes getting one operator high. The poorly-fitted suit left performers uncomfortable and unable to rehearse, resulting in slow-motion movements that destroyed any sense of menace

• Johnny Byrne's disappointment - The writer envisioned dark, Alien-inspired sets with the Myrka glimpsed briefly in shadows, not brightly-lit corridors showcasing every flaw. He vowed never to work for Doctor Who again

Character and Story Analysis:

• The Doctor's uncharacteristic violence - Jim questions Byrne's characterization showing the Fifth Doctor as naive, foolish, and suddenly engaging in unnecessary hand-to-hand combat

• Tegan and Turlough's evolving dynamic - The companions finally bond over eye-rolling about the Doctor, though both still don't want to be traveling in the TARDIS. Tegan suffers through another story of being trapped, taken hostage, and reduced to damsel-in-distress after her previous action hero moments

• The moral dilemma arrives too late - Part 4's ethical debate about genocide feels rushed when it should have been developed earlier. Jim controversially argues the Doctor was wrong to hesitate using the hexachromite gas with billions of lives at stake

• Base Under Siege formula exhaustion - After 21 years, this well-worn plot structure offers no surprises: the paranoid commander, the likable female officer, the traitors within, the invaders, the giant creature. Viewers who've watched for two decades have seen it all before

Design and Direction Problems:

• Moon Base Alpha aesthetic - The overly-bright, sterile sets fail to convey an underwater atmosphere despite occasional model shots of the Silurian ship

• Dr. No radiation suits - The guards' helmets appear identical to the 1962 Bond film's radiation gear (the wiki claims they're the actual costumes, though Jim remains skeptical)

• Laughable battle sequences - No muzzle flashes or laser beams, just actors pointing rifles in extreme slow motion. Quick cuts could have salvaged excitement, but Roberts' clumsy direction makes conflicts feel like rehearsals rather than life-or-death struggles

• Skirt Gate - The famous blooper where a falling door clearly weighs nothing as Janet Fielding's every tiny movement lifts it

• Ingrid Pitt's karate vs. the Myrka - The former Hammer horror star (playing Dr. Solow) deliberately aged herself up and performed unconvincing martial arts against the creature in an obvious first-take

Reptilian Reunion:

• First team-up of Silurians and Sea Devils - Despite being "cousins," the two reptilian species look nothing alike, with Sea Devils acting as subservient warriors to Silurian scientists

• Redesigned Sea Devils - New helmets with Asian-influenced design reminiscent of Buck Rogers' Draconians, with illuminated third eyes solving the mouth-movement problem

Jim argues this represents Doctor Who's aging fanbase problem - like 1980s comics, the show wasn't attracting new young viewers, leaving only "cranky old fans" who'd seen every trope before. The hosts debate whether the Doctor's final moment of regret will carry into the next serial, with John insisting it must affect the character going forward.

Extended Listener Mail Segment: The episode features six emails discussing The Five Doctors, providing retrospective thoughts on the anniversary special, Tom Baker's absence, Richard Hurndall's performance, and various behind-the-scenes details.

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