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“THE BOY WITH THE DISPLACED SMILE: A TRIPPY DETOUR FOR THE TWELFTH DOCTOR”

This one-issue story, The Boy With the Displaced Smile, takes the Twelfth Doctor to small-town America in the 1950s, where perception-altering parasitic aliens have triggered a bizarre reality storm. The setting is vividly realised, capturing that mid-century American feel surprisingly well. The diner waitress, Penny, makes for a likeable side character, while the town’s police officer is the usual gruff, no-nonsense type.

The art style is noticeably different from the usual Twelfth Doctor comics, featuring a rougher, more traditional aesthetic. While this gives the story a distinct identity, it also makes some of the reality-warping moments feel more chaotic than surreal.

A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF AN INTERESTING THREAT

The parasitic aliens at the heart of the crisis ooze potential, but the one-issue format doesn’t give them much room to breathe. Their abilities are intriguing, and the story does just enough to explain their presence and how they manipulate perception, but there’s a sense that this idea could have been explored in greater depth across a longer story.

A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR THE DOCTOR

Despite its brevity, The Boy With the Displaced Smile ends on a crucial note for the Twelfth Doctor’s character arc. Penny’s heartfelt words—asking him to ensure his own happiness—resonate deeply, prompting him to end his solo travels. This leads directly into him taking on Bill Potts as his next companion, making this a quietly significant moment in his journey.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

A short but visually striking story, The Boy With the Displaced Smile offers a compelling setting, an interesting but underdeveloped alien threat, and an emotional turning point for the Twelfth Doctor. While the concept could have benefitted from a longer format, its final panels ensure it has lasting significance within the Doctor’s timeline.