In DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #2, available from Titan Comics on May 12th, 2021, Missy helps the Master escape from prison in exchange for his help retrieving a valuable artifact.
The Details
- Written By: Jody Houser
- Art By: Roberta Ingranata
- Colors By: Enrica Eren Angiolini
- Letters By: Comicraft’s Richard Starkings
- Cover Art By: David Buisán (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: May 12, 2021
Was It Good?
It was okay. Not great, but okay.
The art is very strong for rendering familiar, real-life actors within a comic setting without looking out of place in a comic. Good art, good action, good pacing.
See for yourself in our DOCOTR WHO: MISSY #2 preview.
The story has some rough spots, especially with dialog and character reactions that strain credibility. For a maximum-security prison holding one of the most dangerous villains in the universe, their security protocols are laughable. The lack of security was noticed in the first issue. It’s more pronounced in the second, and it drastically pulls you out of the story.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We pick up where we left off at the end of issue #1 with Missy pretending to be Doctor Who to break the Master out of prison. Find out why she would do such a thing in our DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #1 review.
We concluded the last issue with the Master drawing his sword in a backstab, double-cross move, and we pick up with Missy and the Master in mid-duel. Eventually Missy talks the Master into a temporary truce as he needs her help to get to an escape ship.
Before their temporary truce is fully agreed upon, alarms sound and armed guards approach them for questioning. Missy simply explains she’s Doctor Who and she has everything under control.
Both in her back-and-forth conversation with the Master and the prison guards, it’s incredibly difficult to believe the universe’s greatest evil mastermind and highly trained guards at a maximum-security prison simply take Missy’s word that she’s Doctor Who. Regardless, everyone magically takes her word for it and allows her a wide birth. This was an odd problem pointed out in the first issue, and it’s exaggerated tenfold in this issue.
Breaking such a dangerous criminal out of prison should be a major feat, but here, it’s treated almost like a silly joke, and it kills any dramatic tension in the story.
Missy and the Master join forces with their swords to make quick work of the guards’ laser rifles. Yes, that’s right. Highly trained guards at a maximum-security prison were beaten by two humanoids using swords. Again, more credibility problems.
When all seems clear, one last guard gets the drop on the escapee duo, but suddenly, the guard is stunned by a laser blast from the out-of-nowhere appearance of River Song. River playfully scolds the Missy/Doctor for not calling her for help, and she decides to escort them to the Tardis. Yet again, River is another character who simply accepts Missy is the Doctor and attacks a guard seemingly without question or concern.
The trio makes it to the Tardis, and Missy and the Master hastily say goodbye to River as they transport to their destination. We conclude the issue with their arrival at the vault containing a fragment to the Key to Time.
How Does It End?
The Master is impressed. Time is running out, and that means it’s time for Plan B.
Final Thoughts
DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #2, available from Titan Comics on May 12th, 2021, looks and feels like a modern Doctor Who adventure, but the lengths a reader will have to go to suspend disbelief to accept the prison break makes this a tough issue to swallow.
Score: 6.5/10
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