The
Basics - Issue 179, 30 October 1991. The front cover has a photo of
Tom Baker, who is the subject of a three part interview beginning this
issue.
Indicia - "Listen, I didn't mount an invasion
just to whisk some flippin' eggs!" protested the Black Dalek from the
TARDIS kitchen. "This is so humiliating..."
News And Views - Any new production for the show
has been delayed again, with a full series probably not screened until
1993. One group of fans, fed up with the long delay, are considering a
£30 million lawsuit against the BBC. Nathan Cooke has two replies
published for this issue's Continuity Queries.
Reviews And Previews - Off The Shelf reviews The
Pescatons ("a bit of a damp squib"), The Sontaran Experiment
("a great two-parter"), Genesis of the Daleks ("one of the most
perfect DW stories ever committed to tape") and The Deadly Assassin
("a masterpiece"). Timewyrm : Apocalypse is previewed.
New Fiction - In a complete comic strip, the
Seventh Doctor and Ace encounter A Glitch In Time.
Notables - There is a tribute to Gerry Davis, and
the annual look at merchandise in TARDIS Fillers.
Boxpops - Remaining top of the pop charts
throughout October 91 was the continuing Bryan Adams.
Skaro Says - Logo Polish recalls one of the
readers' memories on the Genesis of the Daleks Nostalgia article being
that of Daleks "all over the place" which surprised him, given their
limited screen time. He recalls that the Tom Baker interview was a good
one. Andrew Curnow vaguely recalls this issue, notably the front cover
with Tom Baker in his pinstripe suit, and is surprised to find that Gary
Russell is still doing the reviews, as the quotes above are quite normal
and uncontroversial! Sidesk describes the comic strip as cheesy and
ropily drawn, and notes that this issue is the end of an era.
Critique - As Sidesk says, this issue does mark
the end of an era - the last of the 44 page issues (which looking back
now do seem quite thin) and the last time you could get change from two
pounds! It's a great issue if you're a Tom Baker fan - the major three
part interview being of particular note, along with Off The Shelf
reviewing solely Fourth Doctor items of merchandise, and Nostalgia
covering Genesis of the Daleks. I believe that this issue came out just
a few days before the video release of the story, so would have reminded
me of the repeat screening nine years earlier and whetted my appetite. I
particularly liked the inclusion of the Radio Times listing and
accompanying Frank Bellamy artwork relating to the Christmas 1975
omnibus edition (it does look odd seeing Doctor Who listed at 3pm
though!). Collectors' Corner includes an item that I used to have - the
1983 Invasion of the Daleks Easter Egg. The comic strip however was a
poor story and has to have the worst artwork that I can think of in the
history of the strip.