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“THE GHOST SHIP: A MISFIRE WITH FLIMSY FRIGHTS AND FLAT FRIENDSHIPS”

The Ghost Ship, part of Titan Comics' Road to the Thirteenth Doctor series, promises a spooky detour with the Tenth Doctor, Gabby, and Cindy—but what we get is a skeletal story that tries to do far too much in far too little time. The concept has potential: a mysterious spaceship in the middle of a weapons test gone wrong, where strange glowing beings emerge from the wreckage of humanity. Unfortunately, the execution lacks both clarity and charm.

THE DOCTOR AND HIS (ODDLY MOODY) FRIENDS

David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor feels his usual self here—quippy, curious, and energetic—but the chemistry between him and his companions is oddly off. Gabby and Cindy, usually warm and loyal, come across as dismissive and even a little impatient with him. It’s jarring, especially since there’s no real narrative reason for the tension. There’s also no sign of Gabby’s time-sensitive abilities, which have been such a defining part of her arc—making the story feel oddly disconnected from her character development.

Still, one bright spot is the Doctor’s introduction of Gabby and Cindy as “Artoo and Threepio,” only for the pair to roll their eyes, shove him aside, and introduce themselves. It’s a fun moment of character-driven comedy that unfortunately stands out mostly because the rest of the dialogue is so flat.

A CREW TO FORGET

The spaceship’s supporting cast consists of three crew members who are so forgettable you might miss them entirely if you blink—or care. They serve their purpose: one backstabs, one dies, one exposits. None are likeable, none are developed, and all feel more like plot furniture than people.

As for the setting, the spaceship's interior is a garish red that does little to evoke the eerie mood the story seems to aim for. Rather than creeping dread, we get a clunky aesthetic that feels more “unfinished asset” than “haunted vessel.”

WHAT’S THE POINT, EXACTLY?

The central threat—glowing energy beings created by weapon tests—should be terrifying, but instead, it comes across as vague and undercooked. The resolution arrives abruptly, lacking any real tension or cleverness. It’s hard to tell what this story is actually about, thematically or emotionally. There’s no sense of a deeper message, just a setup-and-payoff that fumbles both.

There’s a sense that the weapons tests might be a seed for future stories in the Thirteenth Doctor’s run, but if that’s the case, The Ghost Ship still needs to work as a self-contained story—and it doesn’t.

📝VERDICT: 5/10

The Ghost Ship is a ghost of a story—brief, bland, and lacking in both cohesion and character. The TARDIS team feel strangely out of sync, the supporting cast are forgettable, and the plot evaporates without leaving a trace. A few witty lines and some potential setup for later arcs can’t save this spectral misfire.

Simple enough plot, cool concept but too short to really get a proper taste of how it could've been expanded on. Cool to meet some 10th Doctor comic companions!