Back on the old Observation Deck, I once had something to say about Doctor Who comics and that got me thinking about the place it all started, TV Comic. Except it got a bit twisted and I've never had all the information available, so it went on a back burner and just fermented in the drafts.
The first ever Doctor Who comic appeared in TV Comic No 674, dated 14 November, 1964. The tv show had been on air for almost a year. Daleks were not available because City Magazines snapped up the rights for their upscale weekly TV Century 21 along with previous TV Comic stars Supercar and Fireball XL5. The two-page black and white feature was illustrated by Neville Main. John and Gillian go to see their grandfather who seems to live in a Police Box. And they are off on adventures ... This TARDIS team soon graduated to colour pages. This Christmas yarn was illustrated by TV Comic stalwart Bill Mevin who died in December last year.
Although Doctor Who was flagged as a new feature on the masthead, the cover spot was occupied by Popeye and the all-important centrespread was home to Roberta Leigh's Space Patrol. Other features included Mighty Moth, TV Terrors, Dickie Henderson, Telegoons, Foo-Foo and Gogo, Beetle Bailey, TeleVarsity, and The Milky Bar Kid.
Thing is, a significant anniversary is coming up. It was a moment, fondly remembered, that shook up the Doctor Who comic strip, so revisiting TV Comic seems a suitable prelude.
To be continued.
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