Wednesday 24 February 2010

TV

24
7x20 3:00AM - 4:00AM

Argumental
3x04 (23/2/10 edition)

Tinga Tinga Tales
1x06 Why Hen Pecks at the Ground
1x07 Why Spider Has a Tiny Waist
[Watch episodes six and seven (again) on iPlayer.]

Magazines

Vworp Vworp! Vol.1

Excellent Doctor Who fanzine that sets its sights on Doctor Who Magazine and, by extension, Who comics. If your image of a fanzine is still an A5 black-and-white photocopy you might be in for a surprise -- full-size, perfect-bound and in glorious colour throughout, the design and content of Vworp Vworp! puts many professional magazines to shame. Torchwood's official mag, with it's consistently huge text and simple layouts, has nothing on this.

Features in this first issue are numerous, but include an interview with DWM's creator/first editor; a feature on the magazine's first comic strip (including an interview with its artist, the legendary Dave Gibbons); a behind-the-scenes look at the final Eighth Doctor strip, The Flood; a look at DWM's regular comedy illustrations/strips; plus three all-new adventures comic strip adventures for the Doctor, friends and foes; and several more features that I've entirely forgotten to mention. Plus, free transfers! No, really.

It's a brilliant magazine for anyone who's a fan of DWM or Who comics and, as I said, much better put-together than numerous pro mags you'll find on shelves in your local newsagent. Despite what might look like a high asking price for a magazine, all things considered -- from it design quality to its superlative content -- it's well worth every penny.

You can still order volume one from the fanzine's website. There's a second volume promised, and I for one can't wait.

Articles

Major SFX Doctor Who Exclusive by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
The next issue of SFX has a specially-shot 3D cover. Cool.

Serial Boxes by Jason Mittell
(from Just TV)
A rather academic (but very readable) essay about how the advent of DVD box sets has changed the way we perceive and consume television, as well as the way it's changed scholarly study of the medium. Very interesting, I thought, with lots of agreeable assertions.