A Mad Man with a Box
- Description:
- A Doctor Who podcast in which whovians both famous and not so discuss their favorite or possibly least favorite episodes of the show with host Stephen Prescott.
Homepage: http://www.amadmanwithabox.com
RSS Feed: http://www.amadmanwithabox.com/feed/
- Episodes:
- 141
- Average Episode Duration:
- 0:0:14:17
- Longest Episode Duration:
- 0:1:17:13
- Total Duration of all Episodes:
- 1 days, 9 hours, 33 minutes and 13 seconds
- Earliest Episode:
- 1 May 2012 (7:55pm GMT)
- Latest Episode:
- 30 August 2016 (11:35pm GMT)
- Average Time Between Episodes:
- 11 days, 5 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds
A Mad Man with a Box Episodes
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EXCLUSIVE: Long Beach Comic-Con Announces Day of Doctor Who
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Long Beach Comic-Con is one of our favorites conventions here at AMMWAB and not just because of the great Irish pub across from the convention center. LBCC tends to be one of the more relaxed conventions that we have the pleasure of attending. The crowds are nice, the dealer room is great, and there are lots of places to take costuem photos. So we were already happy to be attending the next convention taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday 17 Sept from 10-7 and Sunday 18 Sept. from 10-5. Now though we are excited.LBCC has announced that the in addition to the usual programming at the Long Beach Convention Center they will also be taking over the (very appropriately named) Cardiff, Long Beach Public Library Auditorium for all of it’s Doctor Who programming on Saturday. Here is the rundown of panels:
"You May Also Enjoy…"
Panelists: Dino Andrade, Marcus Beer, Kim Romigh
Moderator: Ben Paddon
Saturday, 11:30am-12:30pm
There's more to British science fiction than just Doctor Who, and if you're interested in seeing what other scifi and fantasy TV series that damp little island has to offer we'll be discussing and recommending shows that'll be right up your alley - AND telling you where you can watch them!
History of TARDIS propsSaturday, 12:30pm-1:30pm
A discussion of the history of Tardis props, including the restored 1996 TV movie TARDIS console (the only original TARDIS prop in the united states!).
Doctor Who LIVE!Panelists: Robert Chan, Peter Fluet, Aaron Ganser, Gina Ippolito, Markeia McCarty, Gian Molina, , Frank Moran, Andrew Pish, Lauri Roggenkamp, Chris Thompson, Clint Verner, Andrew Wollman
Saturday, 1:30pm-2:30pm
Doctor Who Live is a group of comedic actors that improvises a complete, 45minute episode of "Doctor Who" with madeup, noncanon Doctors, companions, and enemies. The only thing we know before the show starts is who's playing the Doctor and companion -- that's it! We begin bytaking a suggestion from the audience to create a title that will inspire our fully improvised episode of "Doctor Who" - never before seen on TV or stage and never to be seen again!
The Pseudoscience of Doctor WhoPanelists: Justin Daube, Claire Berry Gardner
Saturday, 2:30pm-3:30pm
Is Time Travel possible? How can you fit an infinite space inside a Police Box? How would humanity actually respond to an invasion of shop window dummies? Join Order of Gallifrey's roundtable of engineers, psychologists, and mad scientists to discuss where the science ends and the fiction begins for the good Doctor.
"My Nerdy Year" Live!Panelists: Lauren Peck, Bridget Bowes, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Ben Paddon
Saturday, 3:30pm-4:30pm
For the first time ever, the podcast "My Nerdy Year" will be recorded in front of a live audience! Join Dan Peck as he hosts his very first convention panel, where he and his panelists revisit one of their favorite topics, "Doctor Who!" Not only will this be a celebration of our favorite Time Lord, but it will also serve as the basis for a future "My Nerdy Year" episode, "Our First Panel!" That's like being in two panels at once - how appropriately timey-wimey! Plus, as always, there will be a "Big Question," but this one is so big, we're going to let the audience answer it as well!
The MadMan crew and Team TARDIS will be there in full force. If you see us be sure to say hi!
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EXCLUSIVE: Long Beach Comic-Con Announces Day of Doctor Who
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Long Beach Comic-Con is one of our favorite conventions here at AMMWAB and not just because of the great Irish pub across from the convention center (The Auld Dubliner). LBCC tends to be one of the more relaxed conventions that we have the pleasure of attending. The crowds are nice, the dealer room is great, and there are lots of spots to take costume photos. So we were already happy to be attending the next convention taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday 17 Sept from 10-7 and Sunday 18 Sept. from 10-5. Now though we are excited.LBCC has announced that in addition to the usual programming at the Long Beach Convention Center they will also be taking over the (very appropriately named) Cardiff, Long Beach Public Library Auditorium for all of its Doctor Who programming on Saturday. Here is the rundown of panels:
“You May Also Enjoy…”
Saturday, 11:30am-12:30pm
Panelists: Dino Andrade, Marcus Beer, Kim Romigh
Moderator: Ben PaddonThere’s more to British science fiction than just Doctor Who, and if you’re interested in seeing what other scifi and fantasy TV series that damp little island has to offer we’ll be discussing and recommending shows that’ll be right up your alley – AND telling you where you can watch them!
Saturday, 12:30pm-1:30pm
History of TARDIS props
A discussion of the history of Tardis props, including the restored 1996 TV movie TARDIS console (the only original TARDIS prop in the united states!).Saturday, 1:30pm-2:30pm
Doctor Who LIVE!
Panelists: Robert Chan, Peter Fluet, Aaron Ganser, Gina Ippolito, Markeia McCarty, Gian Molina, Frank Moran, Andrew Pish, Lauri Roggenkamp, Chris Thompson, Clint Verner, Andrew Wollman
Doctor Who Live is a group of comedic actors that improvises a complete, 45minute episode of “Doctor Who” with madeup, noncanon Doctors, companions, and enemies. The only thing we know before the show starts is who’s playing the Doctor and companion — that’s it! We begin bytaking a suggestion from the audience to create a title that will inspire our fully improvised episode of “Doctor Who” – never before seen on TV or stage and never to be seen again!Saturday, 2:30pm-3:30pm
The Pseudoscience of Doctor Who
Panelists: Justin Daube, Claire Berry Gardner
Is Time Travel possible? How can you fit an infinite space inside a Police Box? How would humanity actually respond to an invasion of shop window dummies? Join Order of Gallifrey’s roundtable of engineers, psychologists, and mad scientists to discuss where the science ends and the fiction begins for the good Doctor.Saturday, 3:30pm-4:30pm
“My Nerdy Year” Live!
Panelists: Lauren Peck, Bridget Bowes, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Ben Paddon
For the first time ever, the podcast “My Nerdy Year” will be recorded in front of a live audience! Join Dan Peck as he hosts his very first convention panel, where he and his panelists revisit one of their favorite topics, “Doctor Who!” Not only will this be a celebration of our favorite Time Lord, but it will also serve as the basis for a future “My Nerdy Year” episode, “Our First Panel!” That’s like being in two panels at once – how appropriately timey-wimey! Plus, as always, there will be a “Big Question,” but this one is so big, we’re going to let the audience answer it as well!The MadMan crew and Team TARDIS will be there in full force. If you see us be sure to say hi!
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First Four Series 10 Writers Announced
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
In addition to the news of Matt Lucas’ return, the BBC have announced the writers for the first two filming blocks.
The first episode of series 10 is being written, as is usual, by show runner Steven Moffat. The second episode is penned by returning writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Block two features returning writer (and MadMan favorite) Sarah Dollard and new-to-Who Mike Bartlett who is best know for writing another Doctor, the multi award winning Doctor Foster.
The BBC announced the start of production on twitter with a lovely picture taken at the recent read through.
NEW PIC!
Brought to you fresh from @Pearlie_mack‘s first read-through with Peter Capaldi for #DoctorWho series 10
pic.twitter.com/ab2D70LtH9-- Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) June 14, 2016
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First Four Series 10 Writers Announced
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
In addition to the news of Matt Lucas’ return, the BBC have announced the writers for the first two filming blocks.
The first episode of series 10 is being written, as is usual, by show runner Steven Moffat. The second episode is penned by returning writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Block two features returning writer (and MadMan favorite) Sarah Dollard and new-to-Who Mike Bartlett who is best know for writing another Doctor, the multi award winning Doctor Foster.
The BBC announced the start of production on twitter with a lovely picture taken at the recent read through.
NEW PIC!
Brought to you fresh from @Pearlie_mack‘s first read-through with Peter Capaldi for #DoctorWho series 10
pic.twitter.com/ab2D70LtH9— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) June 14, 2016
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Matt Lucas to Reprise Role in Series 10
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
In what will come as a big surprise to anyone who watched “The Husbands of River Song” (because he was reduced to a talking head inside a robot body by the end), Matt Lucas will be returning as the bumbling but lovable Nardole for series 10. Based on comments made by Steven Moffat it sounds like it will be for multiple episodes throughout the season. Here’s what Moffat had to say:
"Delighted and slightly amazed to be welcoming Matt Lucas back on to the TARDIS – and this time it's not just for Christmas, he's sticking around.
One of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space."
Filming for series 10 is set to begin next week on 20 June.
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Matt Lucas to Reprise Role in Series 10
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
In what will come as a big surprise to anyone who watched “The Husbands of River Song” (because he was reduced to a talking head inside a robot body by the end), Matt Lucas will be returning as the bumbling but lovable Nardole for series 10. Based on comments made by Steven Moffat it sounds like it will be for multiple episodes throughout the season. Here’s what Moffat had to say:
“Delighted and slightly amazed to be welcoming Matt Lucas back on to the TARDIS – and this time it’s not just for Christmas, he’s sticking around.
One of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space.”
Filming for series 10 is set to begin next week on 20 June.
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Episode Commentary: Hell Bent
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
This is it dear listeners, the incredible series 9 finale. We find it difficult to make any criticisms about this episode, but we still had a lot of fun talking over it!
Also, series 10 news and Stephen eats crow on a touchy subject.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
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Episode Commentary: Heaven Sent
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsThis is it dear listeners, the penultimate episode of series 9. What say Lauren and Stephen of Peter Capaldi’s single-handed tour de force that some are calling the best episode since the series reboot? I think you can probably guess what they thought, but give it a listen anyway!
Also, stay for the end where Lauren reviews Stephen’s latest Doctor Who related purchase.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
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Episode Commentary: Heaven Sent
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 6 minutes and 41 seconds
This is it dear listeners, the penultimate episode of series 9. What say Lauren and Stephen of Peter Capaldi’s single-handed tour de force that some are calling the best episode since the series reboot? I think you can probably guess what they thought, but give it a listen anyway!
Also, stay for the end where Lauren reviews Stephen’s latest Doctor Who related purchase.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
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Episode Commentary: Face the Raven
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
As our episode commentaries continue it is finally time to visit Mayor Me on Trap Street and face the raven, but not before we have some snacks!
In this episode we also discuss Lauren’s upcoming birthday, Stephen’s plans to become friends with peter Capaldi, and the absolute brilliance of Sara Dollard.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian Complex
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Episode Commentary: Sleep No More
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWe all knew this was coming…Lauren and Stephen sit down to tackle a commentary on the latest Mark Gatiss script, “Sleep No More.” There’s been lot of talk about the quality of this episode. Listen in to find out if the host’s feelings have changed at all on this new re-watch. are there any new revelations? Does the plot make more sense this time around?
Also, the hosts finally get to catch up and talk about the new companion announcement while Stephen makes some hopefully not too controversial comments.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian Complex
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Episode Commentary: The Zygon Inversion
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsIt’s part 2 of the return of the Zygons! Listen in as Lauren, Ewan, and Stephen watch intently and try and only talk through the parts where Peter Capaldi or Jenna Coleman are not completely owning the scene with their masterful acting skills (they own it lot). This episode is one of our favorites of series 9 and you’ll hear why.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian ComplexFollow Ewan on the internets:
Twitter: @ewanjanderson
Instagram: @TeamTardisOfficial
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Episode Commentary: The Zygon Inversion
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsEwan is back in the studio with Stephen and Lauren to watch and comment on the epic Zygon 2-parter. Does it still hold up as one of the best 2-part stories of the modern series? What was it like watching them film scenes for this episode? Listen to part 1 here now!
Enjoy
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian ComplexFollow Ewan on the internets:
Twitter: @ewanjanderson
Instagram: @TeamTardisOfficial
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The New Companion Is...
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsPearl Mackie as Bill. We really don’t know much about her character yet, but the video introducing her is pretty fab. Watch it below!
Introducing...
The #NewCompanion!!!#DoctorWhohttps://t.co/rkuSXbGbZb-- Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) April 23, 2016
Pearl Mackie is Bill, the #NewCompanion!!#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/7i3IF4piap
-- Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) April 23, 2016
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Episode Commentary: The Woman Who Lived
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsKyle and Ewan stick around for the second part of the Ashildr/Me two-parter(?). How do the adventures of the Doctor, The Nightmare, and Sam Swift hold up to the critical eyes of these four Whovians? You’ll just have to listen and find out. Hint: the lion guy isn’t our favorite thing.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian ComplexFollow Kyle on the internets!
Twitter: @functionalnerd
Nerdist.com
Doctor Who: The Writers’ RoomFollow Ewan on the internets:
Twitter: @ewanjanderson
Instagram: @TeamTardisOfficial
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New Companion Announcement This Saturday!
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsThe new companion will be announced this Saturday, 23rd April, on BBCOne during half time of the Everton v Manchester United FA Cup semi-final match. The match starts at 5:15PM.
Is this an attempt by Auntie Beeb to bring together football fans and Whovians? Probably not, but the jokes on Twitter about a Doctor Who announcement taking place during a football match have been pretty funny.
Who do you think the new companion will be? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or in the comments below!
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Episode Commentary: The Girl Who Died
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsLauren and Stephen are joined for this week’s commentary by our very good friends; associate editor of Nerdist.com and co-host of Doctor Who: The Writers’ Room podcast, Kyle Anderson, and co-host of the MadMan Console Room Chats, Ewan Anderson!
Learn how this group feels about the introduction of Masie Williams’ Ashldr. As well there is discussion of the recently revealed cast of Class, the start of filming for Sherlock series 4 and GallifreyOne tickets.
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on the internets!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian ComplexFollow Kyle on the internets!
Twitter: @functionalnerd
Nerdist.com
Doctor Who: The Writers’ RoomFollow Ewan on the internets:
Twitter: @ewanjanderson
Instagram: @TeamTardisOfficial
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Episode Commentary: Before the Flood
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsIn the fourth episode of our continuing commentary series we get to know a little bit more about Lauren and The Whovian Complex, discuss how Stephen spends his free time and of course take a look at the excellent “Before the Flood.”
Enjoy!
Follow Lauren on social media!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian Complex
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Episode Commentary: Under the Lake
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsStephen and Lauren have their wellies on and are ready to wade through the exciting waters of the third episode of series 9 “Under the Lake.”
Before that though, there is a little bit of chat about last weekend’s Wondercon in Los Angeles and Stephen tells the story of how he received a care package from the Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi!
Enjoy!
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AbbyShot Twelfth Doctor Coat Review
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
The long awaited 12th Doctor coat from AbbyShot has finally been released. Is it worth the price tag? Read on to find out.
I believe the first mentions of AbbyShot selling a replica of the Twelfth Doctor’s coat started way back before series 8 even began to air. The simple lines of the coat made it seem like a no brainier to most. But the very expensive and unique lining of that coat did cause some hesitation. Could AbbyShot replicate the delicate 100% silk lining in a way that they could make their price affordable and the product durable? We may never know the answer to that question because luckily for AbbyShot that all changed with series 9.
I need to preface this review with a few things that if you’ve never had a custom garment made you may not know. Custom clothing is not cheap. It is also not a simple process and it is not a cheap process. First, 19 to 20 different measurements are taken of you and a pattern based on your specific measurements is created. Then the cloth is cut and basted together into it’s basic shape and tried on. It is then taken completely apart and sewn together more permanently before being on again. This last step could continue 3-4 times until you and the tailor agree that the garment finally fits you perfectly. As you can imagine a process like this can range in price from $1000 – $3000 (which incidentally is about how much it cost to make just one of Peter Capaldi’s coats)
I’m telling you all of this because I feel a lot of people purchase a coat off the rack in a standard size and expect it to fit just like it does on Peter Capaldi. Sure for some people their body might be the perfect measurements. But for most there will be some tailoring required to get your coat to fit how you want it to fit. That’s just how it is.I can’t stress enough that if your serious about your costumes, find a good tailor in your area who you can trust and who will help make you look good.
All that being said, the sizing chart on the AbbyShot website is very accurate. If you follow it closely you will be able to purchase a coat in your size. My recommendation, if you were to buy one, would be to purchase a size that seems a bit bigger than you would normally buy to give you room to have it sized down to a perfect fit by a tailor in your area.
When making comparisons to this coat and the real deal you have to be sure that you are only comparing it to pictures from series 9. The series 8 coat is very different in shape and construction (see below). The overall shape of the AbbyShot is fantastic. The lapels are cut really well. The sleeves have the correct shape so that when two cuff button are undone the cuffs bell out slightly. The pockets are also perfect. My one niggle is the construction of the shoulders. One of the reasons new coats were made for series 9 was that costume designer Ray Holman wanted coats that were more fitted in shoulders achieved by adding inset sleeves and shoulder pads. Unfortunately there is no padding in the AbbyShot shoulders which causes them to droop instead of having a crisp corner at the end. It’s a minor issue but one that a perfectionist like myself will notice.
One area that AbbyShot really nailed it was on their choice of fabric for the outside of the coat. The screen accurate wool is 100% camelhair at $345 a yard. Yes, you read that correctly, a single yard of the actual fabric used costs more than the AbbyShot coat with shipping. Really I should stop this review right there. That cost savings alone should be enough to convince would be buyers. I will continue though because despite the price disparity, the AbbyShot wool blend looks incredibly similar to the actual wool used on the show. When I was able to see the coat in person in London in November the one thing that stood out in my mind was the nap of the wool and AbbyShot have done a wonderful job of recreating that.
As mentioned earlier the series 8 coats had a very expensive and rare 100% silk lining with a unique pattern and texture to it. Unfortunately this lining proved to be incredibly troublesome. It was constantly catching on things like the sonic screwdriver and really didn’t last the length of filming. There is a story of Peter Capaldi reaching into his pocket to pull out the sonic screwdriver and the lining had ripped all the way through and the sonic was at the bottom of the coat. So for series 9 a simpler lining was chosen by the tailor making the coats. While they did a very good job of recreating this new lining, AbbyShot still misses the mark a bit. The actual lining is a red shot with black giving it an iridescent quality. While the AbbyShot lining has a bit of the iridescent quality it is much duller and has less depth of color.
The last detail I want to write about is the buttons. As mentioned in my previous article covering the history of the Twelfth Doctor's coats, the black buttons are very simple matte horn buttons purchased by the tailor down at a haberdashery shop located a few doors down from his shop. The red cuff buttons are shaped very differently from the black buttons, but were purchased at the same shop. Sadly the stock of red buttons is now long gone.
As you can see from the photos below, the buttons on the AbbyShot coat are vastly different in both shape and size. The red cuff buttons are exactly the same as the black except red and the color doesn't quite match the color of the screen used buttons. Fortunately though, the screen accurate buttons are readily available and I've heard rumblings that red buttons molded off originals will also be available for purchase soon as well.
All in all I can honestly say that the AbbyShot Twelfth Doctor coat should be an instabuy for any Twelfth Doctor cosplayer. The minor visual details that don't match the screen used coat are fairly trivial to fix and for a price that is 1/10th the cost of a production made coat you genuinely can't go wrong. This is a great piece for any collection and I give it 4 out of 5 sonic screwdrivers.
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The Witch's Familiar Episode Commentary
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
It is time once again to watch along with Stephen and Lauren as we talk over the second part of the series 9 opener. “The Witch’s Familiar.”
We also discuss some of the week’s news headlines and Lauren gives us a quick run down on the inaugural Silcon Valley Comic-Con.
Enjoy!
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The Magician's Apprentice Commentary
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes and 28 seconds
Welcome to the very first in the MadMan series 9 commentaries! I am joined by the very funny and lovely comedian, cosplayer, and Whovian extraordinaire Lauren Bancroft of The Whovian Complex who will be partaking in this weekly adventure with me as we look back at all of series 9.
Keep in mind this is a commentary episode so you should definitely listen to it while watching the episode. Otherwise there are just going to be gaps in the conversation as we watch and listen to some of the wonderful dialogue expertly delivers by Capaldi, Coleman and Gomez.
Let us know what you think of this comments and criticism is always welcome.
Follow Lauren on social media!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian Complex
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The Magician's Apprentice Commentary
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsWelcome to the very first in the MadMan series 9 commentaries! I am joined by the very funny and lovely comedian, cosplayer, and Whovian extraordinaire Lauren Bancroft of The Whovian Complex who will be partaking in this weekly adventure with me as we look back at all of series 9.
Keep in mind this is a commentary episode so you should definitely listen to it while watching the episode. Otherwise there are just going to be gaps in the conversation as we watch and listen to some of the wonderful dialogue expertly delivers by Capaldi, Coleman and Gomez.
Let us know what you think of this comments and criticism is always welcome.
Follow Lauren on social media!
Twitter: @bancroffed
Instagram: @bancroffed
Also check her out at The Whovian Complex
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Doctor Who to Stream Amazon Prime!
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
It was quite disheartening last month when Doctor Who was removed from all online streaming services. Especially now when cord cutting and cancelling cable subscriptions is becoming more an more commonplace. Some speculated that the BBC was planning on launching its own streaming service where the show would be exclusively available, but there has been no hard evidence for that being the case.
Now news comes in this morning that Amazon and BBC Worldwide have entered into a multi-year content licensing agreement to make Doctor Who available for streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime.
Season 1-8 will be available on for US Amazon Prime subscribers starting on 27 March. Series 9 will be made available in the fall of 2016.
To be honest this still seems like a strange move. I’m guessing some bigwig somewhere decided to hold off giving Series 9 out for free in the hopes that they would sell a few more Blu-rays or copies on iTunes. But in a year where there will be no new Doctor Who until Christmas it makes more sense to promote the hell out of the show being available everywhere to watch and get caught up before series 10 airs.
Also, the press release makes no mention of classic Doctor Who most of which was previously available on Hulu and is now only available as a limited selection both on DVD and iTunes. We can only hope that iTunes starts expanding its selection to include the entire classic catalog soon.
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Big Finish announces "Diary of River Song: Volume 2!"
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
In a move that probably surprises no one, Big Finish has announced today that Alex Kingston is returning for a second volume of her audio adventures as River Song to be released in 2017.
Even more exciting though is that joining her on these adventures will be the Sixth and Seventh incarnations of the Doctor as played by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy!
From the press release:
"We're thrilled to have both Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy appearing alongside Alex in this box set," says producer David Richardson. "I can promise that River and the Doctor might not necessarily be working to the same agenda. In fact, the two Doctors might not be working to the same agenda either…"
The four hour-long adventures are The Unknown by Guy Adams, Five Twenty Nine by John Dorney, World Enough and Time by James Goss and Eye of the Storm by Matt Fitton. The impressive guest cast includes Anna Maxwell Martin (Midwinter of the Spirit, And Then There Were None, The Bletchley Circle), Jessie Buckley (War and Peace), Ann Bell (Tenko, Wallander), Robert Pugh (Game of Thrones, Mr Selfridge, Doctor Foster), Dan Starkey (Doctor Who, Wizards vs Aliens) and Barnaby Edwards (Doctor Who).
I throughly enjoyed The Diary of River Song: Volume 1 and thought it was pretty clever how they kept River and the Eighth Doctor at arms length, but still found a way to have her flirt with him. So, I very much look forward to seeing how they pull that off again this time with two Doctors!
Also, on tap for 2017 are The Churchill Years: Volume 2 and Classic Doctors, New Monsters: Volume 2. All of which can currently be pre-ordered individually or as a bundle at BigFinish.com.
River Song returns to Big Finish March 2016 along side Paul McGann, Nicola Walker, and Morahan in Doctor Who: Doom Coalition 2.
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"Class" to begin filming in April
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
According to the RadioTimes, the cast is still being finalized, but “Class” will begin filming this April ahead of the start of “Doctor Who” series 10 filming in May.
Also according to an unnamed source, the show will have a close connection to it’s parent show and viewers should expect the Doctor himself to pop-up at some point.
“Class” is rumored to air this fall on the web only BBC3 and most likely BBC1 following that. It is unknown whether the entire series will drop on the online service all at once or if there will be weekly releases.
Stay tuned to amadmanwithabox.com for more information as it becomes available!
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Twelfth Doctor Costume Breakdown Update
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds
The amazing help provided by Series 9 costume designer Ray Holman to costumers on Twitter and at the Doctor Who Festival, along with some detective work I was able to do when I was in London, has necessitated an update to my previous article on the Doctor's coats in series 9.
I was correct when I said that the Doctor's blue coats (and the new red velvet) were made by Chris Kerr of Berwick Street, the same tailor who also made all of Matt Smith's coats. I incorrectly said though that the coats were made of melton wool when in fact they are actually made from a much pricier pure camelhair in navy, purchased from W.Bill. Thanks to Doctor Who Magazine we know that the red velvet is a cotton/modal blend purchased from Holland & Sherry. The lining for all the coats was provided by Chris Kerr, but is also available through W.Bill.
One of the standout features of the red and blue coats in series 9 were the distinct red cuff buttons. Luckily I was able to get to see the buttons up close at the Doctor Who Festival and some important details were revealed. Firstly, the buttons on the blue coat are 4 hole 15mm buttons in red with a convex center and small rim. Unfortunately for us, the entire tube of these buttons was purchased by the costume department and they are no longer available. Keep your eyes posted on this site though as I may be able to provide some suitable replicas in the near future.
The buttons on the velvet coat are also 15mm and red, but only have 2 holes and, very interestingly, are different on each cuff! The right side cuff is shiny and the left side cuff is matte. These buttons were purchased from a tiny shop in Cardiff.
As I mentioned, the costuming area at Doctor Who Festival in November had a wealth of information. Each of the costumes displayed had with it a change form that listed out all of the items that comprised that costume. It was this way that I (and anyone else who saw it) learned that the Doctor's latest waistcoat was black 5 button purchased at TM Lewin. After comparing my own with the photos I took at the Festival I can say that I am 99% certain the waistcoat model name is the Palmer.
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New War Doctor Audio Series by Big Finish
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Big Finish has announced that they will be releasing a new series of audio adventures starring John Hurt as the War Doctor.
The stories will consist of 4 3-hour box sets. The first set Only the Monstrous is written and directed by Nicholas briggs and will be released in December of this year! It is followed in February 2016 by Infernal Devices Written by John Dorney, Phil Mulryne, and Matt Fitton.
Tucked in at the bottom of the press release was the news that in November of 2017, Big Finish will be releasing a new series of Eighth Doctor titled The Time War! Which will feature characters introduced in the War Doctor box sets and follow Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor as he navigates his way through the early stages of the Time War.
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Jenna Coleman Makes it Official
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Rumors have been swirling this week that Jenna Coleman will be leaving Doctor Who and during her appearance on Nick Grimshaw’s radio 1 show this morning she finally confirmed that she has filmed her final scenes. Of course she doesn’t give much away other than that she and Moffat have had her exit planned for a while and it will happen sometime during this season.
Jenna and Clara will be missed by the MadMan team and we wish her all the best.
Listen to the entire interview here:
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Series 9 Prologue Minisode
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsNot long now until the new series hits our TV screens so the hype machine is really ramping up. The BBC has posted a fantastic 2 minute prologue to the series that sees the return of a very familiar face. This video is not to be confused with the longer prequel titled “The Doctor’s Meditation,” that will premier at the US cinema screenings of “Dark Water/Death in Heaven.”
There’s also a nice behind the scenes with some minor spoilers for “The Magician’s Apprentice”.
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The Return of River Song!
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Looks like the Doctor will be spending Christmas with family this year as River Song, played by Alex Kingston, has been officially announced as the guest star for the 2015 Christmas special.
Of her return Kingston says:
"To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humour and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday's read through, we had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September? Why not!"
And from writer Steven Moffat:
"Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who – and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it's a matter of time…"
Opinions on River’s return are as always pretty split across fandom, but we here at MadMan are 100% excited to see Ms. Kingston and Mr. Capaldi play off each other. It is something we’ve been hoping for since Capaldi became the Doctor and can’t wait to see the sparks fly.
The as yet untitled episode written by Steven Moffat and directed by Douglas Mackinnon begins shooting this week and we can apparently expect more guest announcements soon.
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New Series 9 Trailer Screencaps
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsDon’t forget to click on the pics for larger sizes with captions
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New Series 9 Trailer!
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You’ve probably watched it 100 times already, but how could I not post it anyway?! It’s bloody brilliant!
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Paul Cornell
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 39 minutes and 17 secondsThe wonderful Paul Cornell is my guest this week and we discuss his upcoming Doctor Who comic book mini-series “Four Doctors” as well as what it’s like writing for the Doctor, how the show affected his life, and of course one his most beloved classic Doctor Who stories.
You can find out all about Doctor Who Comics Day here!
Follow Doctor Who Comics Day on Twitter
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New Big Finish! Jago & Litefoot & Strax!
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Big Finish continues to bring modern era Doctor Who characters into their audio range and their newest addition is Strax, as played by Dan Starkey.
In case you didn’t already know, Jago and Litefoot first appeared in the classic Fourth Doctor serial “The Talons of Weng-Chiang.” The characters played by Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter respectively, have been stars of their own Big Finish audio series for a while now.
I can’t wait to see what adventure these two get up two with our favorite Sontaran nurse as he takes a brief break from being part of the Paternoster Gang.
Dan Starkey had this to say:
"The Talons of Weng-Chiang was one of my favourite Doctor Who stories growing up, first in its form as a Target novelisation and then in the prized VHS I got for Christmas 1988. Spool forward nearly 30 years, and I've been lucky enough to encounter Jago and Litefoot in their audio incarnation already, with my turn as Mr. Tibbs in Series 9.
"Now it's a joy to bring Strax face to face with the characters who in many ways defined how Doctor Who "does" Victorian London. I hope the sonic thaumaturgy of those clever coves at Big Finish will excite the ears and invigorate the imagination, as Henry Gordon Jago might have put it!"
Jago & Litefoot & Strax will be released as a 2-disc special in November and will launch at the Doctor Who Festival in London on 13, 14 and 15 November and is available for pre-order here.
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Reece Shearsmith Announced for Series 9
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsLeague of Gentlemen member and Patrick Troughton impersonator (as you may remember from An Adventure in Space and Time) Reece Shearsmith has been announced for a guest starring role in series 9 episode 9 written by Mark Gatiss.
From the BBC:
'I am absolutely thrilled to be filming Doctor Who as Mark Gatiss has written a fantastic role for me in a very scary episode. It has been so exciting to be part of a very singular episode – which, I can say with authority will be unlike any previous episode of Doctor Who. It's a joy to play a part in the show – certainly a badge of honour.'
Mark Gatiss, writer of the episode, added:
'I'm delighted to be writing again for Peter and Jenna's brilliant TARDIS team and very excited about this particular story. It's been brewing in the dark recesses of my mind for a while now! I'm also chuffed to bits to finally welcome my old friend Reece Shearsmith onto the show. He's been badgering me for ten years!'
Here’s a video of Reece discussing his arrival to the production offices:
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjehlWBoGGE” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Christel Dee
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 42 secondsHost of Doctor Who: The Fan Show, Christel Dee joins me on the podcast this week to discuss San Diego Comic Con, Peter Capaldi being a true fan’s fan, and one of her favorite classic episodes of Doctor Who. Enjoy!
Subscribe to Doctor Who: The Fan Show on YouTube
Subscribe to the BBC Doctor Who YouTube channel
Follow Christel Dee on Twitter
Follow Doctor Who: The Fan Show on Twitter
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New Cinema Screenings Announced
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsDoctor Who will be returning to cinemas for special screenings of the series 8 finale 2-parter Dark Water/Death in Heaven on 15 and 16 September. The special screenings will be presented in 3D and (possibly most excitingly) will feature a brand new series 9 prequel titled The Doctor’s Meditation!
Tickets go on sale July 31st at FathomEvents.com. Note that according to the Fathom website while costuming is allowed, sonic screwdrivers are not so please leave them at home.
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Erika Ensign
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsErika Ensign from Verity! joins me for an all new episode of the podcast.
Editing this podcast felt like going back in time. It was recorded so very long ago, but it is a lovely conversation about a great Doctor Who story. Which story you ask? Well you’ll have to listen to find out!
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Erika Ensign
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsErika Ensign from Verity! joins me for an all new episode of the podcast.
Editing this podcast felt like going back in time. It was recorded so very long ago, but it is a lovely conversation about a great Doctor Who story. Which story you ask? Well you’ll have to listen to find out!
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Twelfth Doctor Costume Breakdown Part 2: The Shirts
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As production is well into filming for series 9, I thought I would take this opportunity to go through and break down the 12th Doctor's costume the best that I can.
Part 2: The Shirts
Series 8 sees the Twelfth Doctor wearing 5 different shirts. This does not include the "hole-y" jumper which I'll get to in a later installment.
Picture curtesy of BBC Worldwide
The first shirt was revealed in the very first promotional photo of the Twelfth Doctor's costume. It was discovered shortly after that the shirt was custom made for Peter Capaldi by Budd Shirtmakers in London. The shirt features slightly longer than average collar points, a slightly wide button stand and french cuffs. The white shirt is made from soyella cotton which gives it a gorgeous silk like shine and texture. Contact Budd Shirtmakers for further details. This shirt can also be seen in behind the scenes photos of series 9 being worn with the maroon velvet coat ensemble.
Picture curtesy of BBC Worldwide
The next shirt that we see in the series appears in the third episode "Robot of Sherwood." This shirt is a maroon slim fit shirt from the Paul Smith "Byard" line. The shirt features a lovely contrasting dark floral pattern on the inside of the cuffs which can be spotted at the beginning of the episode when the Doctor is writing on a chalk board. (Thanks to Christopher Sos who originally identified this shirt)
I don't believe that the "Time Heist" shirt has ever been 100% identified. Unfortunately the lighting in the episode and the lighting of pictures taken outdoors during shooting are so vastly different it is difficult to say exactly what color the shirt was. Though it was definitely a shade of blue, though some still think it was black. Paul Smith made two shirts from the same season that could be the one seen on screen. The first was a very dark blue-ish green shirt with a silky finish. The second was a dark blue shirt from PS by Paul Smith. The fit and cut of the two shirts are the same and are also the same as the maroon shirt seen in "Robots." As an owner of both shirts my money is on the second PS by Paul Smith being the one seen on screen.
Photo on left from Ryan Farrell on Flickr. Photo on right unknown photographer.
The next shirt is the polka dot shirt seen very briefly during the opening scenes of “Kill the Moon” inside the TARDIS. Fandom seems to be a bit split on this one with people either loving it or hating it. Personally I love it. This shirt is another custom made by Budd Shirtmakers and features the same collar and cuffs as the white Soyella cotton shirt. The fabric used is a dark blue silk twill custom printed for the show with a white polka dot and slub pattern.
Picture curtesy of BBC Worldwide
The last shirt is also a one off that we probably won't be seeing again. It is the shirt as seen in "Mummy on the Orient Express." I don't have a confirmation as to where this shirt came from, but there are two possibilities. The shirt has a small diamond pattern woven into it and french cuffs features that I have seen combined on shirts from both Paul Smith and Budd Shirtmakers. Because of the waistcoat and long bow tie worn with this costume it is difficult to pinpoint the exact manufacturer, but for cosplay purposes you can't go wrong with the option from Budd.
The “Night Bloom” and “Misty Mountain” t-shirts from Label Lab
Aside from the velvet coat, the Doctor has also been spotted wearing more casual outfits for series 9 featuring the blue coat paired with different colored hoodies, plaid trousers and t-shirts. Both of the t-shirts are from a brand called Label Lab and were available at House of Fraser until they were identified online which caused them to promptly sell out. The first shirt was discovered by an unnamed reader of a different blog which made identifying the second pink one pretty easy for an astute fashion hound like myself.
Eagle eyed costumers will notice that Capaldi wears a henley underneath the Misty Mountain t-shirt. The “Rose” intro video only gave a hint of the shirt under the shirt, but after a bit of a search I was able to identify it as the grandad shirt from H&M in a dusty pink color way which is, of course, sadly no longer available.
I hope this helps some of the costumers out there and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I'll answer as best as I can.
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Peter Capaldi on Doctor Who: The Fan Show
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsI’m not going to lie I am super jealous right now, but also incredibly stoked. Christel Dee and The DW Fan Show crew got to spend a few minutes geeking out with Peter Capaldi during San Diego Comic Con and the superb episode is now live. This is what it looks like when two fans geek out together and this is the reason I started A MadMan with a Box.
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Twelfth Doctor Costume Breakdown Part 1: The Coat
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As production is well into filming for series 9, I thought I would be fun to go through and break down the 12th Doctor's costume the best that I can.
Part 1: The Coat
The Twelfth Doctor's coat is a classic 3/4 length Crombie-style wool coat. The reason why I say Crombie-style is because technically Crombie is a brand name. It's like when people use the word Kleenex when they mean a tissue. This distinction is important because, while the Doctor's coat shares similarities with coats made by Crombie, the red lining being the most obvious, it is actually quite different. The coat was made by an independent tailor based on designs by then Doctor Who costume designer Howard Burden. According to both Burden and Peter Capaldi, they tried quite a few different costumes for the Twelfth Doctor but came back to this dark coated silhouette that they had originally used during the Capaldi's brief appearance in "Day of the Doctor.”Howard Burden purchased an entire bolt of a dark blue wool/cashmere blend from W.Bill, the same place that the Eleventh Doctor tweeds were purchased. Burden also purchased an entire told of very unique red and blue silk from a small fabric shopping Shepard's Bush.
There were several coats commissioned initially. As it turns out, and I can tell you from personal experience, the high cashmere blend of the first batch of coats didn't hold up well to the rigorous action it would see on set and a second batch of coats were commissioned. This batch would be made of lower cashmere to wool ratio and would be significantly darker in color. Late in the filming it was decided that the Doctor needed a waistcoat under his coat, the fabric chosen for the second set of coats would be used for this as well with the remaining lining fabric being used for the backing of the waistcoat.
The coat itself features a single back vent, 3 button front closure, slant pockets, a very high gorge and high set lapels with a single un-opened boutonniere hole. There are 5 buttons on each non-functioning cuff and a single inside pocket on the left side. The buttons on the coat (and waistcoat) are matt black horn available at several London fabric shops. The waistcoat buttons are one size smaller than the buttons on the front of the coat.
Series 9 sees a very similar but different coat being worn by the Twelfth Doctor. These new coats, tailored by the same shop that made all of the jackets worn by Matt Smith, are made from a much sturdier Melton wool. The lining is also a much sturdier basic red satin lining that is shot with black as opposed to the previous woven in blue. The new coat also features a very distinct red 2-hole cuff button and working cuffs which the Doctor wears with the first two buttons undone. It will be interesting to see whether or not any of the series 8 coats appear at all in series 9 as it did seem that they were being worn at some point during filming.
There is also a brand new look for the Doctor in series 9 that we have seen in filming pictures and has already proven to be quite popular with the fans. Of course I am talking about the red velvet coat. At first glance the coat looks to be very much the same as the previous coats aside from the material, it even has the red cuff button. But on closer inspection this new coat has a slightly different shape, tapering in at the waist a but more and flaring out a bit at the skirt.
I hope this helps some of the costumers out there and if you have any question feel free to leave a comment or shoot me a message at stephen@amadmanwithabox.com and I'll answer as best as I can.
Coming Soon! Part 2: The Shirts
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Series 9 Trailer Screencaps
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsI really wanted to do a post breaking down all the awesome things in the series 9 trailer, but I realized after watching it several hundred times I have zero clue what is happening in it. I thought I had a pretty good handle on series nine but it turns out I know less than Jon Snow. So instead of trying to analyze it all I screen capped what I thought were the best parts and assembled this gallery for you my dear readers. Enjoy!
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NerdHQ 2015 Doctor Who Panel
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsSadly the MadMan team were not able to acquire tickets for any of the Nerd HQ panels we had hoped to attend at SDCC this year. Luckily though they are all being posted on the YouTubes. Here’s the one I’m sure our readers are looking forward to seeing the most!
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Titan Comics Announces Eighth Doctor Miniseries!
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You dear readers know that we here at MadMan are huge fans of Paul McGann and the Eighth Doctor. So it goes without saying that we are incredibly excited that Titan Comics has announced a special 5-issue Eighth Doctor comics book miniseries!
Released on October 28th, the series will be written by George Mann, writer of the bestselling Doctor Who novel Engines of War with art by Emma Viecel. It will feature 4 variant covers including one by MadMan favorite Alice X. Zhang. Here’s the full release:
DOCTOR WHO:
THE EIGHTH DOCTOR #1
Writers: George Mann
Artist: Emma Vieceli
Publisher: Titan Comics
Frequency: 1 (of 5)
Page Count: 32pp
Price: $3.99
On sale Date: October 28, 2015“I’M THE DOCTOR, AND I’D VERY MUCH LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN MY HOUSE…”
Get ready for an all-new season of comics adventures featuring the Eighth Doctor, as played by Paul McGann in the Doctor Who movie, fan-favorite minisode Night of the Doctor… and over fourteen years (and counting!) of astounding Big Finish audio spectaculars!
Five amazing, interconnected new stories take the Doctor on a rollercoaster of threat and misadventure, as he investigates the mysteries surrounding his new companion Josie. Victorian magic shows, murderous trees, lost books, crystalline life-forms, barges in space crammed with the undead… and the grand journey all begins in a sleepy Welsh town… besieged by living paintings!
Buckle up for a wild ride that embraces all the Gothic Romance and interstellar terror of the Doctor’s eighth incarnation!
Issue #1 comes with four covers to collect:
COVER A: REGULAR COVER: Alice X Zhang
Order code: AUG151711COVER B: PHOTO COVER
Order code: AUG151712COVER C -1:10 INCENTIVE VARIANT: Warren Pleece
Order code: AUG151713COVER D - BLANK SKETCH COVER INCENTIVE VARIANT
Order code: AUG151714
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Rachel Talalay Talks Series 9 Finale
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsReturning director Rachel Talalay has spoken to the BBC about directing the series 9 finale and it sounds like a doozy. Good thing she’s got the next two weeks to figure it all out while the cast and producers are traveling to San Diego and Germany!
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MadMan #51: Con Men
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 16 minutes and 1 secondThe podcast is back!
With San Diego Comic-Con looming the mad man team decided to get back in front of the microphone to share with all the details of the Doctor Who goings on at the convention. As well as spending a bunch of time talking about lines and exclusives, we finally air the long lost interview with the creative teams behind Titan Comics’ Doctor Who titles from SDCC 2014.
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New Series 9 Image and Story Hints
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 secondsEntertainment Weekly in the midst of its usual run up to San Diego Comic-Con has released a brand new image of the 12th Doctor and the Tardis from the series 9 opening two-parter, “The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar,” which you can see below. Click to see the gigantic version.
They have also posted a brief interview with Peter Capaldi where he teases what we can expect from the next series. The quote that will get passed around the most “some subtle tributes to the 60’s.” Take that as you will. You can read the whole article here. All I’ll say is that I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for a menoptra in San Diego next week.
