The
Basics - Issue 107, December 1985. The title reverts to Doctor Who
Magazine. The front cover has artwork of the Fourth Doctor by Andrew
Skilleter, taken from the 1986 Calendar. It is the first artwork cover
since the days of the Weekly. Sheila Cranna is the new Editor, with Steve
Cook the new Art Editor/Designer. For the first time, there is a regular
quick look at the following issue's contents.
News And Views - Robert Holmes will be writing six
episodes for the next season, but a story set in Singapore featuring both
the Autons and the Rani has been abandoned. Kate O'Mara will be joining
the cast of Dynasty. The planned documentary (see DWM 101) has been
cancelled. The letters page is now named To The TARDIS.
Reviews - The radio production, Slipback, is
reviewed - "well written, superbly acted and nicely produced
excitement." The Target novelisation of it will be published in spring
1986. Various items of merchandise are reviewed in the Christmas Gift
Review, including the 1986 Annual and The Five Doctors video ("the most
interesting thing about the video is the cover.")
Boxpops - Top of the pop charts in December 85 were
I'm Your Man by Wham!, Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston and
Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens.
Skaro Says - Nathan Cooke thought that Sheila
Cranna was an excellent Editor, and recalls enjoying all of her issues. As
far as he was concerned, the Cefn Ridout era was the pits! Logo Polish
liked the cover, although he was annoyed at the Doctor's hair being
coloured grey! He notes that the Archives now begin to show the month of
transmission, still light years away from the more detailed information
given in the later Andrew Pixley ones. Iain remembers a later letter
pointing out that To The TARDIS sounds like something Batman would say to
Robin! Jonno remembers being very impressed at the time with the early
Cranna issues, with the return of artwork covers and the regular, bigger
issues being a bit special, along with some very good Winter and Summer
Specials. Jon Masters notes that the four part comic strip came to an
abrupt end (Jonno was glad to see the back of it), and that for once all
the colour pages are used well. Si Hart really liked the cover - he even
got the poster of that print and Tom Baker signed it for him some years
later.