DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #4, from Titan Comics on August 31st, 2022, concludes the current arc with a devastating attack on the colonies created by a member of the Gallifreyan Council. Will the Doctor be silenced forever to cover it up?
The Details
- Written by: Jody Houser
- Art by: Roberta Ingranata
- Colors by: Warnia K. Sahadewa
- Letters by: Richard Starkings, Jimmy Betancourt
- Cover art by: Jess Taylor (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 31, 2022
Is It Good?
DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #4 is a serviceable conclusion to the arc that sows seeds of doubt about the morality of the Gallifreyan Council and puts the Doctor on a new path to sort things out. The issue lacks energy and urgency, but since it ends on a “To Be Continued…”, you could consider this a mid-series finale.
The strong point in this issue is the heartfelt redemption arc for Taslo. We saw at the end of the last issue that Taslo was complicit in the conspiracy to destroy the colonies, but her better nature struggled against her orders. Now, we see Taslo’s moral dilemma play out to a satisfactory conclusion, possibly opening the door for a future partnership with the Doctor. Could Taslo become the Rogue Doctor’s companation>? We shall see.
The down point in the story is the overall lack of energy, urgency, and pacing. The current conflict comes to an end, but you never get the sense, even during the scenes where people have to hurry, that there’s much urgency to the plot. It almost feels like the characters are sleepwalking through what should be a frantic conclusion.
The art by Ingranata is fine. The characters look good. One of the criticisms we had about Ingranat’s work (too many copy/paste panels) is not as evident here, so that’s a trend in the right direction. And the visual look of the book’s colors is excellent.
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]
Read our DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #3 review to find out how the Doctor found herself in a genocidal conspiracy.
We begin with the Doctor held at gunpoint by Taslo after Taslo denoted the bombs that wiped out the Time Lord colonies. Taslo is clearly conflicted over following orders, and her anxiety increases when the Councilman orders her to shoot the Doctor.
Suddenly, a security detail breaks through the door and arrests both Taslo and the Councilman for their crimes. Turns out the Doctor was secretly broadcasting their meeting the whole time. Before she’s taken away, Taslo hands the Doctor a recording for her eyes only.
Aboard the Tardis, the Doctor watches Taslo’s recording, which includes the coordinates for all the bombs. We conclude the issue with a time-wimey rescue, a secret location, and a troubling admission that the council sometimes sees crimes as mistakes.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #4 is a serviceable end to the current conflict with good dialog, a generally solid way to save the day, and excellent art. That said, the overall issue lacks urgency and energy, so your satisfaction level may be underserved.
Related Information
Who is the next Doctor Who 2022?
Jodie Whitaker plays the Doctor through the majority of 2022. However, the 14th Doctor will appear in 2023, played by Ncuti Gatwa.
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