The Twelfth Doctor: Year Two: The Twist

Twelve can never resist a good rock concert, and the planet Twist serves up the best punk rock this side of the 40th century. He sneaks backstage after the show to say hi to the band, then he and the bassist, Hattie, end up becoming swept up in a hunt for a wanted murderer and discover a secret about the very planet itself. Later, he and Hattie track some bizarre readings to a haunted house with ghostly apparitions, extra rooms, and monsters knocking at the door.

I enjoyed the stories themselves, mainly because I love when Twelve gets to indulge his musical side. Hattie made a good travelling companion too, especially because she and Twelve could jam out on guitars together. And it was neat to have two stories that followed each other so seamlessly; the other volumes had two very different stories (or more) per volume. But overall the collection was just OK, because it wasn’t Robbie Morrison writing (I feel he has a better handle on Twelve’s voice) and the art didn’t look that much like Twelve (or at least there are others that look more like him). So it was good, but could have been better. ( )

Two rollicking good Twelfth Doctor adventures made all the better, imho, for not having Clara in them.

The first story finds the Doctor attending a rock concert on a space station where he meets Hattie, the band's bass player and his companion for the book. Soon the two of them are trying to solve a murder and uncover the hidden secrets of the station. Story two has the Doctor and Hattie trying to help a family with a house that has suddenly become bigger on the inside...

I enjoyed this one much more than I have the previous Twelfth Doctor graphic novels--and not just because it is Clara-free. The first story has the Doctor fighting to protect non-humans from humans, something that isn't seen often enough; the second story, while hardly mind-blowing, is a well told tale with characters who actually do more than sit around and let the Doctor save them. Hattie is an intelligent and thoughtful companion whom I wouldn't mind seeing again. And on top of all that, the art is fantastic. ( )