A review of The Thirteenth Doctor #0: The Many Lives of Doctor Who

Here’s a mystery. How can it be that Titan Comics have released a Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor story before Jodie Whittaker has even aired on the BBC?

The answer is to manage your expectations. This entire issue – not number 1, number 0 – is set in the few seconds of the Thirteenth Doctor that we have seen on TV. This adventure is a montage of Doctor Who adventures set in the few seconds it takes 12 to regenerate into 13.

And it’s just the ticket.

Sure, it’s disappointing to have to wait a bit longer to see the new Doctor Who, but The Many Lives of Doctor Who is an excellent teaser. We’re reminded of all the different characters and personalities the time lord has had in the past.

There’s a ton of different illustration styles in this 69-paged book, but each story sticks to one. There’s a lot of stories to tell, often just a few key moments with the Doctor and iconic companions. I found the art change more disconcerting than the quick pace of the adventures to begin with but soon began to appreciate it and try and predict which style would be picked for which Doctor.

Oh, and the Doctors! There’s an adventure here for all the Doctors (that we know about). That includes the Eighth Doctor and the War Doctor.

Artists Giorgia Sposito, Mariano Laclaustra, Pasquale Qualano and Claudia Ianniciello worked on The Many Faces of Doctor Who but there was only one author. Richard Dinnick weaves a steady path and even though there’s barely time to solve one crisis before we’re with a new Doctor and a new drama the message grows until it is crystal clear.

Change is scary, despite being constant. You don’t know what the future holds so all you can do is embrace it warmly.

I’m sure there’s some who might feel there’s a little bit of preaching going on in issue zero of the new Doctor Who. I don’t. I think it’s a reminder of what the Doctor has always been about. This is an older Doctor and one who has come about because of a mind determined to have a fresh start.