With Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor writer Al Ewing (Loki: Agent of Asgard, Mighty Avengers) gives us new comic book adventures starring the previous Time Lord played by Matt Smith.
It’s one of expanding Doctor Who series from Titan Comics starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors.
New companion Alice was a sad library assistant in London feeling empty and gray after a family tragedy when the Eleventh Doctor burst into her life with a colorful, strange entrance. Instead of falling into Wonderland, the wonder and spirit of the Eleventh Doctor series falls into her world and before our eyes.
Writers Al Ewing and Rob Williams reignited the playful yet emotional tone of the show. I asked Ewing about capturing the energy of Matt Smith’s Eleventh.
If you’re recommending Doctor Who to a Who-Virgin what Matt Smith episode would you recommend or is there an episode that stands as a basis or inspiration for your portrayal?
“I’d recommend starting at the start, with “The Eleventh Hour”. That was everyone’s introduction to Matt Smith, and it’s one of the best – it really served beautifully as an introduction to the character and how he worked, although there were a couple of things (like the brief flirtation with Sherlock-vision) that didn’t stick. But that one episode made me more excited about a new Doctor than I have been before or since – Capaldi’s first episode wasn’t nearly as good, in my humble opinion.”
The Doctor’s adventures with Alice follow the tragic exit of Amy and Rory and before the arrival of Clara. I asked how he captures Smith’s voice in the comic.
“Because our series is set between Season Five and Season Six, I mostly watch old episodes of Season Five to get the voice.”
With Alice you captured how the Doctor can help us escape and rediscover…fun, wonder. How did she develop and why was she the companion he needed for this story?
“I’m casting my mind back in time to when we started work on the project – this is all the way back to the very earliest days, when Si Spurrier was briefly involved. We had an idea for a very timey-wimey sort of story, which I won’t get into because someone may end up doing it yet, but it was very, very dark indeed, and concerned with grief and the desire to recapture the past. And we ended up losing a lot of that – just too dark – but we kept enough of it to make Alice who she is today.
But the story and Alice pretty much evolved together, so in that sense she’s the perfect companion for this series!”
Winston Churchill, Adolph Hitler and Vincent Van Goethe appeared in the Matt Smith television and a rock star who played an alien appeared in the most recent comic book adventure. David Bowie formerly known as Ziggy Stardust join the adventure in time and space.
Bowie in the Tardis was brilliant – can we get Bryan Ferry in the next arc? I can see Matt Smith in “Velvet Goldmine!” Now that you’ve reintroduced our Eleventh can you preview the next story?
“Bowie as a companion was Rob’s idea, so you’ll have to ask him if he’s a Bryan Ferry fan! As for the next story – I can’t say anything about that right now, I’m afraid.”
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #11 by Ewing and artist Boo Cook is available now.
Here’s the official description:
“The Doctor, Alice and Jones were getting used to having ARC around. A shapeshifter whose origins are shrouded in mystery, ARC still saved their lives time after time.
So why has ARC suddenly commandeered the TARDIS, crossing back over its own timeline in one of the most dangerous stunts a time traveler can pull?! Has ARC been a sleeper agent all along, or are there deeper motives at work?
It’s up to the Doctor and his companions to find out – if ARC doesn’t wipe them all out first!
PLUS: the secrets of SERVEYOUinc’s assault on the timeline revealed!”
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor: Volume One: After Life, and Volume Two: Serve You are available for order.
By Editor