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"The Organ Grinder: Diving Deep into the Time War"

The Organ Grinder kicks off the Malignant Truth collection by plunging Alice and the War Doctor into the chaos of the Time War, introducing the enigmatic Volatix Cabal. These fanatical Daleks, a death cult born of the Daleks' desperate innovations during the late stages of the war, bring a fresh and intriguing dimension to their race. Each member of the Cabal boasts a unique design and personality, setting them apart from the usual Dalek archetype.

This story offers significant revelations, including the truth behind the Cyclors and the origins of the Malignant. A particularly exciting moment is the appearance of a young and dashing Squire, proving her earlier involvement in the war. This adds depth to her character and ties her more firmly into the larger narrative.

The ensemble cast shines here, with Alice, the War Doctor, and the Squire joined by the Master—reimagined as a paradox-loving, sarcastic young figure who brings a sharp edge to the team dynamic. The War Doctor is written with spot-on accuracy, and the interplay between him and Alice remains a highlight. Their use of the psychic paper to unmask one of the Volatix Cabal’s undercover Daleks is a clever and satisfying moment.

The story crescendos with the dramatic cliffhanger reveal of the godlike Cyclors, setting the stage for the unfolding conflict.

📝Verdict: 8/10

The Organ Grinder is a richly layered dive into the Time War’s complexities, delivering compelling character work, innovative takes on classic foes, and a tantalizing setup for what’s to come.

I love a good time war story and this definitely is that. I can understand some people saying that the time war gets overused or isn't interesting, but I think it can be used to explore some really out there sci-fi concepts, and it's put to great effect here.

I have massive nostalgia for The Cult of Skaro, but in just two pages, the Volatix Cabal grabbed me in a way they could never. Their insanity combined with intelligence is brilliant and chilling. They know they've made themselves into madmen, but they've done it for a reason "madmen win wars". Their quoting of Alice in Wonderland also makes them seem more threatening than most other daleks I've seen, and that's before you even see their designs. The basics are there, you can tell they're Daleks, but they're so perfectly twisted. One looking almost like a biblical angel, one with animals tied to it, almost a mockery of clothing, and one with humanoid limbs, all horrific.

The reveal that the child is The Master has less weight put on it than I'd expected, but with the reveal done we now get to see him as The Master which is brilliant, his relationship with War and Squire here is just great to see. It's also nice to finally see a young Squire, knowing she's actually from here and was a companion (though have a feeling there's more to it)

And lastly, the main threat being gods that sided with The Daleks just to experience genocide. It's great, more of that please!