It’s so refreshing to be introduced to such a Bol, brand-new character within the familiar Doctor Who universe, without worrying about how they fit into TV canon. While comics in general have characters like Abslom Daak, he feels totally fresh and exciting in this setting. He’s bursting with energy—extreme, dark, brooding, but in a way that’s super camp and distinctly comic book-like. I just want to see more of him.

The love story at the center of this story is great, especially seeing Abslom being a simply terrible boyfriend. I wish they hadn’t killed off the love interest so quickly after establishing their relationship. Their dynamic had real potential. Her death is to provide a strong foundation for Daak’s origin story and give him a clear motivation, so she isn’t a deeply nuanced or feminist character.

As a “boy’s adventure” comic book hero, Daak is fascinating—relentlessly focused on destroying the Daleks, beyond saving himself, and willing to take outrageous risks no one else would. He’s compelling to read and brimming with narrative possibilities. I really hope there’s much more to come from Abslom Daak, as it would be disappointing if this was one of the last stories I read about him.

To be honest I can really not tell if this comic is trying to be funny or if it’s intended in earnest. Given the context it was released in, Im guessing probably the latter, but it’s so genuinely funny and entertaining it’s hard to dislike Abslom Daak.