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"First Rule: A Setup for the Finale"

First Rule serves as the conclusion to The One, paving the way for the climactic third volume of the Eleventh Doctor's second year in the Titan comics. While it offers significant moments for the characters, it ultimately feels more like a transitional piece than a standalone story.

Alice's breakthrough into the Time War is a key development, marking her meeting with the War Doctor and bridging her journey into the larger mythos of Doctor Who. However, this pivotal moment is somewhat overshadowed by the more immediate drama between Abslom Daak and the Eleventh Doctor. Abslom’s violent confrontation with the Doctor, fueled by frustration at his scheming and manipulation, provides an intense character-driven scene but feels like retreading old ground in terms of the Doctor’s relationships with his companions.

📝Verdict: 6/10

As a setup for the next volume, First Rule does its job but lacks the excitement or memorability to stand out on its own. It teases larger developments to come, but as a closing chapter for this arc, it feels underwhelming in its execution.

The artists just didn't communicate about what the Time War Wall was meant to look like apparently. It's not a big thing, but it's an inconsistency on something that's meant to be a big part of this story.

That said, I'm not complaining about the art here at all, there's some horrific imagery in there that I love.

It's just a shame the story is oh so very 'meh' again.

I enjoy the idea of looking at the time war, I like War showing up at the end, I like the idea that Eleven set up Abslom to be Alice's bodyguard in the time war... But again I don't think that that's how Eleven would go about all of this, I don't think he'd be mean to her to get her to do what he's planning, I think he'd just ask, and honestly I'm cheering Abslom on as he beats him up this issue.

More hints at the child, Alice's flashes, The Then And The Now, but I honestly just kinda don't really care at this point. Lets hope the final volume of year two brings me back.