The Doctor and Gabby have arrived in ancient prehistory, only to be attacked – and dropped! – by giant, sentient, flying metal discs. The pair were lucky enough to be found by a Neanderthal medicine man called Munmeth and, having nursed the Doctor back to health, the group set out in search of the metal discs, which have been abducting groups of humans – Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons alike! Can they save the future by rescuing the past? Or is the human race doomed to an early extinction…?

Illustrator Elena Casagrande returns (with layout assistance from Simone Di Meo and Luca Maresca) for Part 2 of 2 of Medicine Man. I had assumed that last issue’s artist, Leonardo Romero, would be able to stick around for the whole story, but as it happens I didn’t notice the changeover until after I had finished reading the issue – which is a credit to the entire art team for giving a consistent overall look to the Tenth Doctor series.

The fascinating character of Munmeth isn’t as prominent a presence in this instalment, which instead turns its attention towards the mysterious metal discs and the faction that is fighting them – which includes a Terileptil among its ranks!

Together with writer Nick Abadzis, Casagrande makes the newly revealed alien slave-traders the Monaxi a force to the reckoned with. They resemble giant, flying jellyfish in tin hats – but what are those intriguing symbols on their helmets…? They glow with energy, have numerous eyes and possess nasty pointed teeth. Abadzis clearly takes pleasure in filling their mouths not only with vicious teeth but also some delightfully overblown dialogue: “Cretinous anthropoids! You think that’ll keep the Monaxi Guild away?” Boo, hiss!

Casagrande also provides this issue’s charming front cover illustration of the Doctor with an affectionate Gabby – though the inclusion of the New York skyline in the background is somewhat misleading, since this episode takes place entirely in the prehistoric past (contrary to some online synopses).

Though this is billed as Part 2 of 2, the Doctor, Gabby and Munmeth aren’t out of the woods yet. As the comic draws to a close, the plot seems about to be all tied up, but then a new danger presents itself…

To be continued!

7

Richard McGinlay