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New Doctor Who comic celebrates silent film
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By Thomas Gladysz
SF Silent Film Examiner
Doctor Who has long been a Bay Area favorite. For years, even before its current revival, KTEH in San Jose broadcast reruns of the British sci-fi show on Sunday Nights.
As any fan of the long running series knows, the program depicts the adventures of a mysterious time travelling alien known as "the Doctor" who moves from adventure to adventure in a TARDIS, a space and time-ship which resembles a blue 1950’s police box. With his companions, he solves problems while facing a variety of foes and righting wrongs.
And, as any fan of the BBC series also knows, there have been numerous spin-off stories in the form of other television programs, stage plays, books, radio shows, webcasts, cartoons and comic books. One of its latest spin-offs is "Silver Scream," the first issue of a new comic book series.
Of interest to fans of silent film are the many allusions to the art form found in the new Doctor Who comic. In "Silver Scream," Doctor Who travels to 1920's Los Angeles where he encounters not only various Hollywood legends but aliens intent on doing harm.
Charlie Chaplin, or at least a Chaplin look-alike named Archie Maplin, figures prominently. As does, to a lesser degree, a Louise Brooks look-alike character – complete with a bob haircut - depicted on the cover of the comic.
The opening pages of "Silver Scream" depict a party scene where one can easily spot other silent films stars including Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Adolphe Menjou, Rudolph Valentino, Chester Conklin, Pola Negri, and Buster Keaton. One can see for themselves. Some sample pages from the comic can be found on this page.
"Silver Scream" was written by Tony Lee with art by Al Davison and covers by Paul Grist and Al Davison. The second installment in the series, titled "Film Lovers Almanac," has recently been issued.
Interestingly, "Silver Scream" is not the first intersection of Doctor Who and Louise Brooks, for example. Numerous websites report that in the late 1990s, BBC Books based their description of the third incarnation of the Doctor Who character Romana on Louise Brooks. And Paul McGann, who played the eighth incarnation of the Doctor, is widely known as a fan of silent film in general and Brooks in particular. McGann has even introduced Pandora’s Box at British screenings of the film in recent years.
More info: "Silver Scream" and "Film Lovers Almanac" can be purchased on line and in better comics stores.
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