Time for the collection: Arena of Fear
Please discuss below - no need to finish it first, discuss as you go along but please add spoiler tags for anything that could be considered a spoiler!
If you’ve previously read the book and want to join in the discussion, that’s great too!
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Arena of Fear
That was pretty fun, I liked getting more of Cindy’s perspective, and while the alien aspect of Medicine Man didn’t quite work for me, bringing it together here with the team from Cleo and the Magic Sketchbook did. It’s got good emotional weight, I love Cleo’s character, and honestly I’m just a fan of Jack.
7/10
The Wishing Well Witch
Definitely interested to see more of what’s going on with Gabby. The conflict between Gabby and Cindy doesn’t really feel like it gets enough focus here, and Cindy doesn’t enough for her first adventure. Generally it’s just a bit weaker. There’s some hints at future events though which I’m definitely interested in with the fortune teller and origin of the witch.
6/10
The Infinite Corridor
Again, this feels like just more setup, and I don’t think the main plot is enough to really justify it here. It not only is short, but it feels short, in a way the other single issue stories haven’t really so far. Also not sure where the end is going given the end of 10’s first year, but we’ll see I guess, it’s just more setup for now.
5/10
Arena of fear: Works pretty well in terms of pulling a lot of different story threads together. Good on the emotional stuff, and nice to have another story narrated by Cindy.
The wishing well witch: I like Cindy and Gabby’s interactions and that they clearly care about each other while not always getting along. It makes them feel more real. I also think it’s cool that Gabby continues to be affected by the stories before this with her abilities. Lastly, I think the origin of the witch seems super interesting and really hope we get to see that explored further.
The infinite corridor: Not a lot to this one, we’ll have to see where it goes next.
And, as a bonus:
Lady of the blue box: This isn’t in the post but is in my volume, so I’m adding it too (it’s one of the free comic book stories). I liked seeing some more daily life stuff on the tardis, and how the tardis acts to people not used to her.
I have almost completed this collection and only have the last story left. I also read the FCBD story, because it was part of the collection.
Spoilers, sweeties!
The Arena of Fear picks off where the previous story left off. Our friends have been transported somewhere and can’t remember who they are or why they’ve ended up where they are. I like the setup of a bunch of different characters thrust into an alien world to fend for themselves while slowly figuring out what’s going on—it’s like in the original Secret Wars event in Marvel.
There are a lot of characters here, and the entire thing ends up being rather underwhelming. It’s over before it really starts, and it’s never very exciting.
They go over this last of the Neanderthals thing again, like in Ghostlight and Timewyrm: Genesis.
I love the new nickname for Captain Jack: Jock Hotness.
Another short Free Comic Book Day issue. It’s TARDIS-bound, and there’s a hint of a danger that comes and goes with little impact. It’s mostly interested in welcoming Cindy on board the TARDIS.
Cindy joins the TARDIS properly, and I don’t know what to think about it because I don’t particularly like her.
I love how the TARDIS interior is explored more. We see the gallery with pictures of past Doctors and visit the wardrobe again.
It’s charming to have a modern-day story set in a small English town during a supernatural book fair. The witch-cult stuff brings in a classic horror element.
We see some cracks form between Gabby, the more experienced companion, and Cindy, who wants to do things her own way. We also meet an old local named Randall, who becomes quite a useful guide.
The wishing well monster is effectively scary, and it’s made more so when the Doctor’s misdiagnosis sends it into town on a feeding frenzy.
The little scene of the fortune teller warning Cindy of Sutekh’s imminent arrival is just like the foreshadowing scenes RTD used to insert into his episodes.
The second half is a very traditional run-around with the alien, and the Gabby/Cindy stuff is sidelined before we reach a forgettable conclusion.
The art style is hit-and-miss. It mostly works but messes up Tennant’s face big time.
And that’s the collection finished. I’m all caught up!
Yet another TARDIS-bound story, and I generally like how Titan explores the inner workings of the timeship or plays around with time and dimensions in these stories. This one is all about bubble universes, but the idea is never explored in depth. It makes for a simple but fun adventure with great art. Cindy gets into trouble again, and we get a little setup for the next collection at the end.
Time for Dooms Day!!!
An adequate enough anthology.
An interesting enough story. The Neanderthal character is probably my favorite part of this and the proceeding story. It’s okay, I guess, definitely an action piece. Hard for me to keep track of all of the side characters.
I enjoy going to this setting, and I’m intrigued at the portrait of the town. I’m curious about what the developments of Gabby’s powers means for the narrative.
This story seems to just exist to take up space in the publishing schedule. It doesn’t feel like it is doing anything original. Some nice art, though.
The Free Comic Book Day stories must be somewhat difficult to write, having a small page count and assuming a more unfamiliar audience. I still wish they could have a better average, though.
Arena of Fear - Did not care that much about the story but it was nice to see all the pieces come together. I am excited about the new team with Cindy joining.
Lady of the Blue Box - I missed adding this in the original post. I love this kind of in-between story. Reminds me of a minisode. 8/10
The Wishing Well and the Infinite Corridors were all alright. Nothing special but not bad. I feel like year two is much weaker than year one thus far. On to the next collection.
I keep forgetting to come in here and post my thoughts.
I liked Arena of Fear - quite like those stories where a ragtag bag of misifts band together to fight a common enemy.
The Wishing Well Witch was good too but the ending seemed a bit abrupt with everyone suddenly better.
Still need to read the other two.
I will add though that it felt like I’d missed a story between Medicine Man and Arena of Fear in terms of how Gabby ends up possessed by Mr Ebonite. That cliffhanger really seemed to come out of nowhere.
One thing that struck me though with The Wishing Well Witch - does it change artists between parts 1 and 2? The depiction of the Doctor seemed very different (and hardly anything like Tennant). Also, why is Cindy occasionally drawn in a very anime way?
I can’t find Lady of the Blue Box in either of the versions of this collection I have from Humble Bundle. Am I being dense?
Yeah it is not in that for some reason
It was in my collection, from Humble Bundle. The story that is completely TARDIS-bound.
Sorry, I thought of something else. Yes, this was in my bundle.
Judging by your reviews, both my volumes jump from the end of The Wishing Well Witch to The Infinite Corridor. Boo.
Huh, that’s weird!