Reeling In Rachael From The Lost Dimension

With the highly anticipated Doctor Who event, The Lost Dimension (JUN171932), hitting the shelves in August, Titan Comics sat down with superstar artist Rachael Stott to talk about how Doctor Who fits into comics, her love for the series, and her excitement for the new event.

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Titan Comics: As such an avid fan of the show, particularly the Twelfth Doctor, how would you encourage someone who loves the TV show to approach the comics? How do they fit into the mythos for you?

Rachael Stott: I think the writers who work on the comics do such a good job of capturing the feel of the show that it's really easy to come to them as a fan and immediately feel right at home. They perfectly tread the line between feeling very familiar whilst also exploiting the opportunity to do things that you just don't have the time or budget for on TV. Which could be gigantic crazy alien creatures, or the opportunities we get to show little character moments that flesh out the Doctor/Companion relationship a bit further.

Titan Comics: You're very public about your love for Capaldi's Doctor! What is it about him that makes him your favorite Doctor, and how did you work that into your portrayal of him in the pages of the comic?

Rachael Stott: I just think everything about him is fantastic. I love his performance, the way he seems so much less aloof and removed than other Doctors. His ever-changing costume is always rad as hell to draw, and I really like the guitar and sunglasses rockstar­Doctor angle.

One thing I've noticed is that sometimes when Capaldi delivers a line, if you imagine it written down then I think most people would deliver it in a totally different tone. Like in a recent episode he said "I knew a king made of algae ... he fancied me," and he said it in such a sombre, serious way that it was more hilarious than if you'd have said it all cheeky and with a wink and a strut. So I try to do that with the comics- take some of the lines and draw them being delivered in an unexpected way.

Also arm waving. Lots of arm waving.

Titan Comics: What are some of your favorite things you've been able to draw for the Doctor in your run so far? Is there anything that has made you really excited?

Rachael Stott: I love drawing things from classic Who. Robbie Morrison tends to give me really fun things to draw, like early on we did this really fun Third Doctor spread, or our most recent story where  [for timey-wimey reasons] I was able to slip in all sorts of cameos. It's pure nerdvana to be drawing Mondasian Cybermen, Menoptra, and Scaroth in his funky 70's duds.

Also punk Doctor. Punk Doctorrrrrr.

Titan Comics: The show just returned to our screens this weekend (at the time of this interview!). This season introduces brand new companion Bill. What did you think of the episode, and how do you feel about bringing Bill to life in the comics?

Rachael Stott: Bill is amazing. She and the Doctor have such fantastic chemistry together and I can't wait to put that down onto the page. It felt like Pearl really hit the ground running and has already established herself as one of the all-time greats for me. She's so likable and inquisitive.

Episode one was wonderful, and set up a lot of intriguing questions that I can't wait to see played out. Steven Moffat - I've give you twenty quid to put me out of my misery and tell me what's in the Vault!

Titan Comics: The Lost Dimension (JUN171932) is going to be our biggest Doctor Who event yet, full of danger, excitement, and timey-wimey action that will thrill ongoing fans — and be a perfect introduction for new fans of the comics. Is there anything you can tease about what's coming up?

Rachael Stott: No. LOL. Not even if you lock me in a confession dial.