Allons-y to the library!
Creative Staff:
Story: Robbie Morrison
Art: Mariano Laclaustra
Art Assistants: Fer Centurion and Agus Calcagno
Colors: Carlos Cabrera with Juan Manuel Tumburus
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
What They Say:
The Terror of the Cabinet Noire continues, as the Doctor finds himself teamed with a rebellious French swordswoman to battle the infamous Cardinal Richelieu and his secret police! But it’s not just the Cardinal they have to worry about – it’s his allies, who definitely aren’t from around here…!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
I swear, if I didn’t know better, Robbie Morrison was writing this story arc just for me. It’s got everything I love: libraries, secret libraries, gargoyles, Lovecraftian nightmares, a beautiful and sassy redhead, Cardinal Richelieu, and libraries.
Having escaped the Cardinal’s Red Guard, the Doctor and Julie travel to “[A] place of wit and wonder and infinite possibilities. To a Phantasmagoria of knowledge and adventure, philosophical debate and scientific discovery. To the greatest place on any world in any galaxy. The library.” There they discover the secret of Richelieu’s extended life (the man should have died fifty years ago) and the Cardinal’s plans for France and the world.
They don’t have much time to browse, unfortunately, as a gaggle of gargoyles (garrulous gargoyles in fact) descend upon them. Through quick wit and bravery, the Doctor and Julie manage to avoid being barbecued and zip off to warn the King of the Cardinal’s plot.
Did I mention how much I enjoyed this issue? Once again, it has so many elements I love, but more than that, it’s a fun, exciting story told exceedingly well. This creative team works together like a well-oiled machine, illustrating how the right collaborators working together can create something great.
And damn if this enemy isn’t frightening. The darkness that consumed Richelieu and his men is creepy and terrifying—Lovecraftian creatures of the Elder Dark attempting to make a new home in our world. The monsters in Doctor Who are famous for frightening British children, but this is frightening no matter your age. Kudos all around to this creative team for crafting something truly terrifying that serves as a credible threat to the Doctor.
In Summary:
Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor 2.12 hits all the right marks for me. It’s scary and exciting, fast-paced but packed with great moments of character, plot, and world building, and it’s just an all-around excellent piece put together by a top-notch creative team. Dr. Josh gives this an….
Grade: A+
Age Rating: N/A
Released By: Titan Comics
Release Date: November 30th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
