Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“VORTEX BUTTERFLIES: A TIMEY-WIMEY GOODBYE”

This story immediately follows on from the previous arc, dealing with its lingering consequences—most notably, Cindy’s clones being freed, effectively making her own ancestor. It’s one of those delightfully paradoxical, timey-wimey twists that Doctor Who excels at.

Amidst the chaos, Gabby’s concern for Cindy and the Doctor is at the forefront. She worries about Cindy’s survival and frets over the Doctor when he leaves them behind for a solo excursion. Her dialogue even references earlier companions, including extended universe names like Fitz and Liv, which is a nice nod for dedicated fans. There are also well-crafted moments between Gabby and Cindy as they try to make sense of their relationship with the Doctor.

WHEN TEN MET TWELVE

One of the more intriguing sequences is the brief but impactful encounter between the Tenth and Twelfth Doctors. Twelve plays an almost fatherly role, offering cryptic guidance to his past self on an alien world. Unlike most multi-Doctor interactions, this one leans into a more serious, lecture-like dynamic, making it feel fresh and unique.

SLOW START, SINISTER TURN

The early parts of the story meander, leaning heavily into character interactions that don’t initially form a coherent direction. The dialogue, particularly in the first half, can be bogged down by heavy technobabble, making it a slog at times. However, as Gabby begins experiencing strange phenomena—spouting psychic butterflies, for instance—the narrative takes on a darker tone. The Doctor starts piecing together the links between Gabby’s powers, the TARDIS’s instability, and peculiar cosmic disturbances.

What this ultimately builds to is an ambitious and emotional companion exit, closing out Titan Comics’ third year of Tenth Doctor adventures. The final issue delivers long-awaited answers while ramping up to a grand finale. As the Doctor works alone to save Gabby, Cindy and Sarah Jane try to contain the crisis in London. But then, just as the tension reaches its peak—the story abruptly ends, crashing into a metaphorical wall, with the next, even bigger crisis looming in the concluding collection.

GABBY'S UNEXPECTED FATE

Gabby’s transformation into a time-sensitive individual, making her incompatible with the TARDIS, is a divisive development. It elevates her to the status of a larger-than-life companion, forcing the Doctor to eventually leave her behind. While this choice has a solid narrative foundation, tracing back to the beginning of the series, it does risk overshadowing Gabby’s personal journey with cosmic significance.

The plot itself is split into two key threads: the Doctor’s investigation into the TARDIS’s sickness, leading him to various locations—including an alien scrapyard where he’s already famous—and Gabby and Cindy navigating their own relationship while Gabby endures disturbing visions and power surges. Unfortunately, this all unfolds at a drawn-out pace, weighed down by dense exposition, making some sections a chore to get through.

CAMEOS AND VISUALS

Sarah Jane Smith makes a welcome, if somewhat unnecessary, appearance, offering Cindy and Gabby wisdom from her own days as a TARDIS traveller. It’s a sweet inclusion, even if her presence doesn’t directly impact the plot. Meanwhile, Noobis appears briefly but does little more than wait for the Doctor to retrieve him.

Visually, the comic is a mixed bag. The general art style is fairly basic, but the large splash pages—showcasing the TARDIS in space or the time vortex—are stunning. The blend of the classic Doctor Who title sequence aesthetics with the comic’s art style creates some breathtaking imagery. Gabby’s diary narration and illustrated journal entries also return, adding a personal and intimate touch to parts of the story.

📝VERDICT: 6/10

Vortex Butterflies is an ambitious, character-driven arc with high stakes, emotional farewells, and an intriguing Doctor-on-Doctor moment. However, it struggles with pacing, overindulgent dialogue, and a finale that feels like hitting a brick wall rather than a satisfying resolution. While Gabby’s fate is handled with care, her transformation into a time-sensitive risks making her feel less like a grounded companion and more like a cosmic anomaly. The art shines in key moments, but overall, the story is drawn out longer than necessary. It’s a mixed bag—brimming with ideas but occasionally weighed down by them.