OK, last post I reviewed a TV episode which now exists only as a recon
but has been adapted into a comic; next I am journeying 8½
months earlier in 1965, to review a comic which has been given an
animated "recon" of its own. Which, I suppose, requires some context;
but since I've got 17 of these reviews to fill, I'm going to space that
out. And, since everything is new here - which means I've so much
to say I'm splitting it anyway - I'm just going to concentrate on the
content. With major spoilers!
The Comic
Genesis of the Daleks this isn't: rather than six slightly
bloated 25-minute TV episodes we have three single-page comics. The
economy of storytelling on display is impressive, with the entire war
happening on page 1 and feeling surprisingly unhurried. Unfortunately,
this instalment also has enough space to be rather problematic.
Those of you with total recall may remember that when I reviewed serial
B, back near the beginning of this marathon, I complained about the
racist and (particularly) ableist themes, with the idea of the Daleks as
Nazi analogues being undercut thanks to them being the horrifying
mutants and the Thals being noble, physically-perfect Aryans.
Unfortunately the beginning of this story is, if anything, even worse,
with the "tall, handsome" Thals petrified of being assaulted by the
"short, ugly" Daleks - even though the current Dalek leader, Drenz, is a
pacifist! And, of course, the Thals are right, because nature will out:
the Dalek Minister of War Zolfian assassinates his ruler and takes
control once his ultimate weapon is prepared. You can't trust nasty
little blue trolls like these even to get war right, though, and a natural disaster sets off their neutron bombs early, wiping out all civilisation on Skaro.
I'll tell you what's short and ugly: this instalment of this comic. But
you know what? When I was a child I wouldn't have blinked an eye at
that. So I'm going to swallow my privileged, righteous 21st Century
anger and move on. 'Nuff said, in the words of an unpleasant character
who I used to really admire.
Ahem. Anyway, there are a couple of continuity issues you might have
noticed mentioned in passing. Yes, the Daleks (not Dals, not Kaleds) are
blue, and humanoid but not quite human in shape. Fair enough; nobody
has to pay for makeup here, so why not turn them into a cross between
the Mekon and the Smurfs? And I'll tell you what else is different: the
machines that will house them are built by chief scientist Yarvelling.
Not Davros. The other Genesis is a long way in the future.
I've only covered one-third of the story, so let me plough on. The
second instalment opens two years later, with the only two Dalek
survivors (Zolfian and Yarvelling, naturally) coming out to explore
their dead world. The phrases 'neutron bomb' and 'cobalt bomb' probably
don't have the same resonance with people of younger generations that
they do with me, but this doesn't strike me as an unrealistic image - it
feeds into a fear that most of us had growing up in the 60s and 70s.
This was quite possibly how the world would end.
Life hasn't quite ended, though, because there's the traditional
final-panel reveal of a "proper" Dalek, encased in a travel machine
(sorry, "war machine"). Well, I say proper; the artist hasn't got it
quite right. It's too tall and thin. Perhaps it's a Mark I.
Nevertheless, this is what we have been waiting for - and in the third
instalment Zolfian and Yarvelling work hard to fulfil their sick
ambitions before dying of radiation sickness. And we get to witness the
creation of the golden emperor!
So: well-written, well-painted, with some unpleasant politics. Oh, and a
continent called Darren: that has to be worth something.
Published:
Dates: 23rd January to 6th February 1965
Rating:
Comic: 6/10.
Next Time:
Genesis of Evil revisited.
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