WHO WILL IT BE?

On Sunday the BBC will announce who the new Doctor will be. But it doesn't matter who they cast as the new star of Doctor Who.

Whoever the new Doctor is, I won't like him (or her).

I know this because it's always the same.

I know this because I've been through this before.

Seven times.

When Tom Baker regenerated into Peter Davison I thought that would be the end of the show. There was no way it could ever be as good as it was when Tom Baker played the Doctor. Tom WAS the Doctor.

I mean, sure, I had seen Jon Pertwee in the role. He was the first Doctor that I watched. But Somehow I missed his transformation into baker. I lost touch with the show, but then I heard so may great things about it I picked it up again.

Tom Baker was fabulous as the Doctor. It was like he was born to play this part. Of course, he was, because he was really playing Tom Baker. That's the beauty of Doctor Who, each actor puts his own personal stamp on the role. His time as the Doctor becomes inextricably linked with who that actor is and vice versa.

And when Baker left it wasn't the end of the show. It was never as popular, of course, as it was during the Baker years. That kind of popularity wouldn't come until later with the show's return.

Peter Davison because the Doctor. I knew him from his role as Tristan on the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small. He was different. He was contained and sincere.

He won me over, so much so that when it was announced that he was leaving I was sure that the show was coming to an end. It could never be the same.

It wasn't. Colin Baker took over the role and I didn't like him. Until he won me over as well.

I met Baker at a convention in Bellingham, Washington shorty after he was fired from the role by the BBC controller. It was an awful situation. The producer, John Nathan Turner, wanted to move on. Baker wanted to stay. BBC controller at the time, Michael Grade, hated the show. He did exactly the opposite.

Baker was bitter about it, to say the least. he'd heard that they'd cast some actor named Sylvester McCoy. "I don't know who he is," he said. "I only know that he does a comedy act where he puts ferrets down his trousers."

Baker wanted the show to fail. I didn't, but I still didn't like Sylvester McCoy.

But then he grew on me.

So that when the show was finally cancelled I thought; that's it. That's the end.

I introduced my daughter to Doctor Who -- to the Sylvester McCoy Doctor. She loved it.

Then it came back with Paul McGann. I remembered McGann from the movie Withnail and I. My daughter and I watched the movie. We watched as McCoy regenerated into McGann.

I didn't like him.

He was too young, too handsome, too pandering to American audiences.

Then it was over and I thought; well, that's it, Nice try but its done.

Then, years later, they brought the show back. My daughter and I were excited. I saw pictures of the new Doctor, Christopher Eccleston with his short hair and leather jacket and I thought; when are they going to show him dressed as the Doctor?

So the show premiered and I didn't like him. His hair was too short and his clothes were contemporary.

But he grew on me.

He only lasted one season.

So we watched as he regenerated into David Tennant. And may daughter said to me; "I don't like him"

So now Matt Smith is leaving and everyone who criticized him when he took over (myself included -- He's too young, not forceful enough) are sad to see him go.

So when they announce the new actor on Sunday I will not like him.

Until the new season is well underway, then he (or she?) will grow on me.

And when this actor announces that he or she is leaving the role I will be sad and when they cast his or her replacement, I can guarantee that I won't like him.

Until he grows on me.

UPDATE: I just had a sudden certainty that the new Doctor Who will be Julian Rhind-Tutt. I'm probably wrong. I was absolutely certain that actor Rhys Ifans would replace David Tennant and I was completely wrong about that, so take this for what its worth. (Nothing)

If I'm right no one will be more surprised than me. (Of course I'll act all cool about it, like I knew all along, but inside I'll be gobsmacked).

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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THE NEXT DOCTOR?

I think it should be this guy... 'cause I hear he's not doing anything right now.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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DOCTOR WHO: SEASON 7

It's coming soon and I can't wait!

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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Amazing Stories to Publish David Gerrold Comic Script: Star Trek & Dr. Who Fans Might Collide with a Bang! Theoretically of Course

As you know I am part of the AMAZING STORIES blogging team. It's something I am very proud of, so this news, announced this morning, makes me very excited. It combines one of my all-time favorite authors with two of my all-time favorite shows, plus a new favorite:

Ok, I’ll say it, if only to keep up with the current trend on the site: The Experimenter Publishing Company is pleased to bring you an Amazing First!

Our first piece of new fiction, and a graphic story to boot! But wait, it gets even better!

Several weeks ago David Gerrold (yes, the Tribbles guy*) announced on Facebook that he’d written a comic book script that had become orphaned through no fault of its own. Amazing Stories jumped on this potential opportunity and obtained a copy of the script for review.

Unbelievably hilarious. Totally nerdy.

From the opening panel to the very last David Gerrold has spun a tale of historic, inside jokiness and has extended that joke to encompass contemporary fare.

Arrangements were made for Amazing Stories to publish the story and, in conjunction with David’s DG Publishing imprint, produce a limited dead-tree edition.

Several comic artists were approached for the honor and Troy Boyle has been given the go-ahead. Troy has already begun preliminary character sketches and page layouts.

Amazing Stories will be publishing a few teaser excerpts from the script, as well as some of Troy’s preliminary artwork here over the next few weeks.

What is it about? Let’s just say that Star Trek fans and Dr. Who fans (or should that be Dr. Who fans and Star Trek fans?) are going to have something to talk about for at least the next century. And yes, there are Tribbles in there too. Soft Tribbles. Warm Tribbles. Tribbles no one would want to Exterminate.

This Fannish Friday we will be releasing a few of Troy’s illustrations and a few scenes from David’s script, so mark it on your calendars and don’t miss a single reveal as we all work our way towards publication!

The script will appear here exclusively on Amazing Stories and will also be made available in a limited print edition that will be available from the Experimenter Publishing Company and DG Publishing.

Images Copyright Troy Boyle, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

That’s your first clue: who are those guys and what are they doing in a graphic story together?

*David is we known for many other things besides his The Trouble with Tribbles Star Trek episode. His award winning novelette The Martian Child (Hugo, Nebula, Ted Sturgeon, Locus and HOMeR) was turned into a movie in 2007; he has several popular series including The War Against the Chtorr and Star Wolf; an earlier novel written with Larry Niven – The Flying Sorcerers – remains one of Science Fiction literature’s best inside jokes.

Troy Boyle is an American comic book artist and writer. Boyle is best known for his gritty revenge fantasy, The Return of Happy the Clown, written by Gary Francis. He has worked for Image Comics, Desperado Publishing, Caliber Press and Boneyard Press. Troy is currently working on pin-ups and covers for Main Enterprises.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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ASYLUM OF THE DALEKS

I've come a bit late to this. I spent the weekend getting my daughter settled into University (and then trying to deal with the resultant "empty nest") that I didn't get a chance to sit down and watch the first episode of the new season until Monday night.

So many others have reviewed it so I'll just say that I mostly liked it but had some quibbles. First off, for a planet that was supposedly populated by the most wacked out, crazy Daleks filled with "such divine hatred", it seemed pretty lame. I expected a full-on Dalek madhouse but all I got was a few run down Daleks in a basement and a few in chains. I know there's only so much you can do in such a short time and the episode was pretty full, but still it was a bit of a disappointment.

Also, and this is my biggest quibble,: How did the TARDIS get into the Dalek ship at the end for the Doctor to teleport into? That whole thing wasn't explained very well at all.

I liked Oswin but I knew there would be something up with her as soon as the Doctor asked how she got the milk. The reveal at the end was not unexpected but still satisfying.

Looking forward to the next episode, as always.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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THE ROAD TO REBOOT

Two properties have been announced as headed towards Remake Central.

Disney execs are apparently looking to revive The Rocketeer. Disney adapted Dave Stephen's graphic novel as a film in 1991. Despite being a decent film the movie tanked at the time. It's worth a second look, apparently. I say: Let it be. The film wasn't perfect but, what more could you do? Anything else will just get you further away from Dave STephen's original comic which was damn near perfect.

And Syfy announced that they have commissioned a script for a remake of Terry Nation's classic BBC 1970's sci-fi series Blake's 7. Nation is best known as the creator of the Daleks from Doctor Who. Blake's 7 was his own foray into TV series and although it has a cult following it never had quite the same visibility as Doctor Who. That may now change

This one I'm a little more excited by, probably because I don;t have as much emotional investment in the original. I've seen the first season and a handful of episodes after that. The overwhelming impression I have of the show was cheese special effects, funky 1970's costumes and hairstyles and tinny music.

However, a reboot will have to really kick it up, because since Blake's 7, several other series have taken the basic idea and ran with it -- Stargate Universe, for example, and, of course, Farscape. The producers of this new version will really have to give it their all to top those two shows.

So which one has you more excited and/or dreading the prospect of a retread?

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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FIRST LOOK AT SEASON 7

YEAH!!!!!!!!


I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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WOMAN WITH A SWORD. DON"T PUSH IT.

THE GIRL WHO waited was heartbreaking and that is something that Doctor Who has rarely been in its long history. Steven Moffatt has written an episode that can stand up alongside some of the series' best -- Father's Day, Turn Left, Love and Monsters -- as well as standing up against scripts written for other fantasy series.

It works because the idea is simple, yet it is an idea that could only be told in a science fiction context: What happens when you can rescue someone you just lost and another version of that person left behind for thirty six years?

The decision is made doubly heartbreaking because it is Rory who has to make the decision about someone he loves deeply. How do you choose between two versions of someone you love? Someone you just lost mere moments ago and one who has stayed lost for years and has accumulated a wealth of experiences? Rory wants to save both and the Doctor makes him believe that he can do it, but I don't think many longtime watchers of the program didn't know that he was lying about that. There could only be one who would survive.

The younger version of Amy lives and the older version fades out of existence. A woman who had spent the better part of her life surviving in a gilded hell, a woman with so much life experience -- memories, emotions, scars physical and mental -- must never have come into being.

It's a trope that is not new to science fiction, but it has rarely been played out with such gut-wrenching earnestness. Rarely is it played out with characters that the audience has so much emotionally invested in.

I cannot help but applaud Moffatt for the script and the actors for performances that hit all the right notes right up to the end. The make-up for older Amy also deserves a mention. It was so subtle yet incredibly effective. The make-up and Karen Gillian's performance were so spot-on I had no trouble believing that I was looking at a 56 year old Amy.

The only real quibble I have was with the emotional "blunting" at the end. Amy tells Rory not to open the door, taking some of the heartbreaking decision away from him. That was unfortunate because Arthur Darvill had given such an incredible performance I would have like d to have seen his character actually have to make the choice on his own.

Altogether a masterful episode, one that they will have trouble topping in the few remaining hours the series has left until the season finale.

9-and-a-half Rory Cams out of 10.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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HAVE WE DONE JIM THE FISH?

DOCTOR WHO has been a British institution since the 1960's. Across the pond (especially in Canada) and around the world there was always a small core of fans that followed the show as well. Americans, for the most part, have always been rather cool on Doctor Who. It was always regarded as a "cult thing". Then it went away.

When it came back many more Americans began to sit up and take notice. Like a girl who goes away and then returns, blossomed into a great beauty that suddenly catches all the boys' eyes, Doctor Who came back and America began courting.

Now Doctor Who seems to have become receptive to America's advances. From Daleks in Manhatton (small bits of which were filmed in America) to The Impossible Astronaut which saw the main cast travel to Utah for extensive location filming, Doctor Who has fully embraced America.

Which leaves those of us who have been watching from the early days, Doctor Who's former suiters, standing around holding withered flowers, having been passed over for the captain of the football team. And we wonder, is our girl dressing differently for her new beau? Has she changed her style? Is she pandering to his tastes? Is she giggling overmuch and acting the coquette? Is she widening her eyes and playing the dumb blonde for her flashy new suitor with lots of cash?

In other words, is Doctor Who changing to try to appeal to the American Market?

The first episode of the new season seems to be heading in that direction, from the frenetic, action packed beginning to the ubiquitously American setting, the gushing emotions, even a little recap at the beginning to catch new viewers up to speed.

It's hard for me to watch Doctor Who tart itself up and dumb itself down to appeal to the new suitor. I stand here with my wilted flowers and my soggy jelly babies and my moth-eaten scarf and battered hat and I can't help feeling passed by.

Maybe this will just be a flavour of the week? A passing fancy? Will Doctor Who take back its mantle of Britishness that made me love it in the first place? Or will this new look, stetsons, jeans, and the American Flag be its new clarion call?

I guess, just like everybody else, I'll just have to wait until next week to see.

After all, ther's always Jim the Fish to look forward to.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
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I LOVE THE SPACE CHANNEL

SPACE: The Imagination Station is the Canadian equivalent of the Syfy channel. Now, when I say "equivalent", what I really mean is that SPACE is the superior. What they do not have in $$$ they more than make up for in getting things right.

I'm home today with a terrible cold. I had to leave work early yesterday and today I'm spending most of the day in bed. I have kleenex and I have tea and a lot of over the counter medication.

Fortunately the SPACE channel is showing an Easter marathon of Doctor Who episodes, leading up to the premier of the new season tomorrow.

So, as long as I'm laid up, I might as well enjoy watching one of my favourite shows all day long. Thank you, SPACE!

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
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GEEK OUT FRIDAY: DOCTOR WHO FAN FILMS

My friend Frank Garcia, author of the amazing Science Fiction Television Series: 1959-1989 and Science Fiction Television Series: 1990 - 2004, pointed out a new Doctor Who fan film made by british fans. The film looks almost professional. You can check out their website.

I have dubious feelings about fan films despite having directed a Doctor Who fan film years ago (I'll blog about it one day. The wounds are still too raw.)

This, however, has to be my absolute favourite Doctor Who fan film.

Dalek invaders 2008ad

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio