DOCTOR WHO: EMPIRE OF THE WOLF #4, from Titan Comics on February 9th, 2022, concludes the arc with timey wimey Tardis shenanigans to stop a despotic robot from coordinating a Sontaran attack.
The Details
- Written By: Jody Houser
- Art By: Roberta Ingranata
- Colors By: Warnia Sahadewa
- Letters By: Comicraft’s Richard Starkings
- Cover Art By: Skylar Partridge (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: February 9, 2022
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Was It Good?
DOCTOR WHO: EMPIRE OF THE WOLF #4 is as good of an ending as you could expect from this paradoxical adventure, and in truth, it’s the strongest issue in the series. Why? In a word “charm.”
After the penultimate issue where Good Rose impersonated Evil Rose to stop D’Pau and Evil Rose was shown the error of her ways by the Eleventh Doctor, the finale is all about the clever Doctor(s), the charming way they solve problems by working in perfect sync, and of course, saving the day.
For a Rose-centric series, it’s unclear why the strongest and most entertaining issue focuses on the Doctor(s) with the Rose(s) taking a back seat to the action. Regardless of the reason, there’s high-paced energy to the proceedings that will have you turning pages at record speed. D’Pau’s destructive plan raises the stakes massively to add an urgency that increases the pace further. And the Doctor(s) have to think fast with nary a margin for error to win the day.
Houser does a fine job of keeping the energy up all the way through, interlacing charming dialog between the Doctors, and ending on a happily ever after note that feels earned.
Ingranata’s has been strong through the series and this issue is no exception. The characters maintain their familiar appearance, there are quite a few high-detailed scenery set pieces in this issue, and the overall flow of the action moves nicely.
In terms of both writing and art, this issue feels most likely a Doctor Who episode.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you want to se how Evil Rose learned her lesson, first read our DOCTOR WHO: EMPIRE OF THE WOLF #3 review.
We begin with the Eighth Doctor and Good Rose (disguised as Evil Rose) under arrest by D’Pau and his loyalists. Before they can be led away, the Eleventh Doctor and Evil Rose (now sorta okay Rose) arrive for a brief fight to save their allies. Before they can get too far, D’Pau and his Sontaran army lift off in a fleet of spaceships to begin their power grab.
The Doctors put their heads together and come up with a plan to send the Sontaran’s back where they came from, stop the attacking fleet, and send Good Rose back home. All it takes is precision Tardis piloting, the element of surprise, and a lot of technical explanations that sound like they were made up. We conclude the issue with every in their respective Happily Ever Afters.
Final Thoughts
DOCTOR WHO: EMPIRE OF THE WOLF #4 ends the current arc with high-energy pacing, charming Doctor-ing as only the Doctor(s) can, and a sufficiently timey wimey plan that should make Whovians happy. The art is excellent, and the ending has all the feel-good elements you could wish for.
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