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“MR RING-A-DING: A CHEERFUL INTRODUCTION WITH A SINISTER SECRET?”

The Doctor Who Magazine comic strip Mr Ring-a-Ding is a short, whimsical introduction to the character ahead of his on-screen debut in Lux. Designed to lull readers into a false sense of security, this bright and cheery one-page story presents him as a tap-dancing, rhyming do-gooder—without a hint of the sinister undertones that likely await us in the television episode.

A TAP-DANCING DO-GOODER?

The plot is as simple as it gets: Mr Ring-a-Ding joyfully sings and dances to wake up the Easter Bunny, ensuring they deliver the eggs on time. There’s an old-fashioned charm to it, embracing a cartoony, almost Looney Tunes energy that feels deliberately exaggerated. Given that Lux is set in 1950s America, this stylised, larger-than-life introduction could well be foreshadowing the aesthetic and tone of the episode.

What’s most interesting is how Mr Ring-a-Ding is portrayed as an outright hero here. There’s no villainous intent, no creeping menace—just pure, unfiltered joy. This is almost certainly a deliberate misdirection, allowing his true nature to remain a mystery until Lux reveals the reality. If he maintains this rhyming, sing-song manner on-screen, he could be a memorably theatrical villain—or an insufferable one, depending on how well it’s handled.

SUNSHINE SALLY – LOVE INTEREST OR SIDEKICK?

The strip also introduces Sunshine Sally, whose role remains ambiguous. She could be a love interest, a next-door neighbour, or simply a supporting character unique to the comic. Whether she will appear in Lux is unclear, but her inclusion adds another layer to Mr Ring-a-Ding’s world, reinforcing the idea that this is his natural domain before something—possibly some malevolent influence—twists him into the villain we’ll see on-screen.

A NOD TO CLASSIC COMICS

The vibrant, nostalgic art style evokes classic newspaper comic strips, reinforcing the period aesthetic of Lux. It’s a clever touch, subtly aligning this brief adventure with the tone of the upcoming episode. If Lux leans into the era’s pop culture and animation influences, this comic could serve as a thematic prologue, giving us a glimpse into the fictional world Mr Ring-a-Ding originates from before things take a darker turn.

📝VERDICT 6/10

As a standalone comic strip, Mr Ring-a-Ding is a light, inconsequential read, but its true value lies in how it sets up expectations for Lux. The cheerful, heroic portrayal of its title character suggests we may be in for a stark contrast when he makes his on-screen debut, with his friendly persona possibly masking something far more sinister.