DWM COMICS: STORY 125 (Ninth Doctor: Story 3)

The Cruel Sea, a Ninth Doctor DWM strip by Rob Shearman (of The Chimes of Midnight, Scherzo, Jubilee, and Dalek fame), is a very weird, and very good, comic.

Set on the artificial seas of 22nd century Mars, the comic has stunning artwork by Mike Collins, which I could just gaze at for hours.

The Cruel Sea is strange and psychedelic. It's unusual visuals and body horror are what really make this comic work.

The story itself, while a little faulty, is mostly very solid, with intriguing alternate realities, and terrifying villains.

All in all, this is the best Ninth Doctor comic and could easily be up there with the best DWM comics in general.

It’s almost a masterpiece.

An extremely good story, and a must read for those wanting to get into Doctor Who comics, as this is exactly how to use the format.

Robert Shearman delivers something far reaching, psychedelic and truly demented here. There is an abundance of creativity and ambition which is missing from most Doctor Who comics. I appreciated seeing moments from the TV show folded into events, the evil versions of The Doctor and Rose, and Rose’s disappointing alternative realities.