DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #4 – Review

In DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #4, available from Titan Comics on July 14th, 2021, Missy and the Master find the key that accesses the Key of Time just in time for one more double-cross.

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The Details

• Written By: Jody Houser
• Art By: Roberta Ingranata
• Colors By: Enrica Eren Angiolini
• Letters By: Richard Starkings
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: July 14, 2021

Was It Good?

Normally, it’s not a good thing when you finish a comic and say to yourself “That’s it?!?”. This issue was no exception.

The whole premise of this mini-series was about convincing the players in this story that Missy was in fact a future version of the Doctor. The goal was to trick everyone into believing she needed to bend (or break) a few rules in order to free the present Master to help her free the Key of Time.

Well, it worked but not entirely. The nagging problem with the entire premise is that Missy’s lie made no sense or was in any way believable. The supporting characters would have to be complete idiots to go along with it in the first place or be part of some grand conspiracy.

Now that we see the end and learn exactly what Missy is up to, still, none of it makes sense. Why would the real Doctor need Missy’s help to pull off a lie that the Doctor could have easily done himself without the risk of including Missy in the first place?

The saving grace for this mini up to this point has been the art, but unfortunately, the art in this issue dropped significantly in quality. Several of the panels look sketchy and rushed. We praised the previous issue for capturing the likenesses of the real-life actors but finessed in such a way as to translate them well to the comics format without looking overly referenced.

Here, the backgrounds look great but the character work is rough; almost sloppy.

All in all, the story premise turned out to be nonsensical and the art in this issue dropped in quality. This is not the way to end a mini.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

When last we left Missy and the Master, they were on the way out of the facility with the key. However, the Master decided to slip away for a little revenge assassination of an old foe. Read our DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #3 review to get caught up on the who’s the wherefore’s.

Before the Master can “execute” his plan, Missy intervenes and they decide to return to the TARDIS rather than risk detection. On their way through space and time, the Master reveals he knows who Missy really is but doesn’t know why the charade.

Missy explains she’s been working with the 12th Doctor, who suddenly appears from the shadows, the whole time. Together, they return the Master to prison and Missy turns over the key to the 12th Doctor.

And that’s it. Again, why was any of this overly complex deception necessary if the whole point was to get the key? Why engage a younger Master when Missy is older, wiser, and smarter?

In her own words, “it’s all for fun.” Sadly, the only way this could have been “fun” is if you completely turn off any sense of logic and reason

Final Thoughts

DOCTOR WHO: MISSY #4 ends the mini with a pointless whimper instead of a bang. The conclusion reveals the entire premise made no sense, and the last issue worsens with a significant downturn in the art.

Score: 6.5/10