You Rang, M'Lord?

After a couple of hectic weeks of writing reports and preparing for exams, I am still without a fully-functioning home computer. My mother is out of hospital again, however, so I felt there was time to jump back on to the library pc for a quick post on the pop culture items I picked up over the midterm.

Marvel Now! While I was amused to note the grandfather of new member Smasher was a Dan Dare, I'm finding Hickman's Avengers a little pretentious so would recommend Hawkeye as the most entertaining title in the Assembling franchise. Neal Adams' First X-Men ended on a very predictable note but despite the hackneyed storyline, I have to say it was a guilty pleasure.

New 52: I was dismayed to see the Knight killed off in Batman Inc since Paul Cornell's Knight & Squire was a charming miniseries.
 I understand that Keith Giffen has left the LSH after only two issues and I am dubious whether that title has a future ( no pun intended). I want to try the new JLA since it sounds like the direction I've been anticipating for that particular series.

Doctor Who: the missing episodes of the 1964 William Hartnell serial The Reign of Terror have been animated for dvd release. It's a complex spy thriller set during the French Revolution, with jarring elements of black humour. Too long by two episodes, it's very slow but the darker tones of violence and horror are a contrast to the current model, which seems to be Mr. Poppy from Nativity! in Space. 
I enjoyed the 1975 parody of Forbidden Planet, Planet of Evil on dvd much more. Meanwhile, in the world of  Big Finish audio:

1001 Nights: the annual anthology release features the fifth Doctor and Nyssa in a Scheherazade setting. There's an Original Star Trek-style episode on a prison planet; a parody of The Exorcist; and a society where stories are currency- which is interesting but feels constrained by the limitations of the format. 2/5 Talmars . 

The Flames of Cadiz: a Companion Chronicles tale of the First Doctor's granddaughter Susan and her teacher Ian Chesterton. This story of the Spanish Inquistion also features Cervantes and is a wonderful evocation of the early years of Who. Atmospheric and dramatic. 5/5 Talmars.
The Wrong Doctors: a confusing and trivial introduction for Bonnie Langford's Melanie Bush, in the Moffat "timey-wimey" vein. Tragedy rubs uncomfortably against a satire on middle management but Langford herself brings pathos and charm to the one-dimensional role. 1/5 Talmars
The Auntie Matter: a lightweight parody of PG Wodehouse introduces the latest series of Tom Baker episodes. Sadly, these were the last adventures recorded by the late Mary Tamm but Romana and the Doctor barely appear in the story. The supporting cast tackle the frothy script with gusto however. 3/5 Talmars.

The Butcher of Brisbane:a prequel to the Talons of Weng-Chiang, this Fifth Doctor adventure is set in the 51st century where Magnus Greel is performing illegal time experiments. This story of intrigue and war reminded me a little of the 60s thriller Enemy of the World but with unsettling suggestions of offstage horror. Tegan, a companion I never cared for on tv, provides an emotional barometer for the story and the 1983-84 music cues are incredibly authentic. 4/5 Talmars

I would advise all fans of the classic series to try Cadiz and Butcher. Coming soon: The First Sontarans!

All images are presumed copyright of their respective owners