by Victoria Irwin
Senior Correspondent
In the conclusion to the story arc Sky Jacks, Doctor and Clara find themselves face to face with the Matrix, a computer representation of all Time Lord experiences and memories. As the Dalek race comes to their final blows with the residents of planet Gallifrey, the Time Lord race plan their master death stroke; ending time itself. The Doctor steps in, preventing the end of the time, but by doing so destroying his own people. The Matrix, however, uploads itself secretly into the TARDIS and lay in wait until the day it come create a tangible version of itself to end time. The story then fast forwards to the The Doctor realizes too late that the Matrix has been reading his thoughts and that in the process has already sent a version of itself to destroy time. Clara must defeat the Matrix alone and yet again save the universe.
Andy Diggle and Eddie Robinson find a way to fill in details regarding a period of history that the Doctor Who television show has been strangely secretive about. While only a few details are given regarding the Time War, it is a difficult job to stay in a cannon that has only been covered by radio dramas. While I have never really been a fan of Clara as a companion, her comic book persona is much stronger than her television show representation. Diggle and Robinson actually find a way to make the character stronger, but still struggle to make her likable.
Andy Kuhn’s representation of the Doctor is a bit more angular than most, giving the Time Lord an appearance similar to that of a ventriloquist dummy. The Matrix is represented much how Mister Freeze from Batman would look if given a red background. His machinery however, is well composed and a panel featuring Clara using an assault riffle is spot on. Charlie Kirchoff sticks to mostly red and blues in the issue, as well as earth tones that give the comic a sense of post apocalyptic style danger.
The ending for Sky Jacks seems a complete departure from the initial storyline. Starting with World War II pilots and ending with the stored collective memories of all Time Lords was unexpected. This story arc was enjoyable, but adjusting to Clara instead of the previously more vivacious companions is still a struggle.
