Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf #1 [Review]

Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf brings together an unexpected trio of fan-favorite characters: Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, and Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler.

(Actually, there’s two different Roses. But more on that in a minute.)

The first issue of Empire of the Wolf releases November 17. You can check out the variant cover options and our review of issue #1 below.

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Empire of the Wolf #1 Review

This comic arc is presented as an Eighth and Eleventh Doctor story, but Tenth Doctor fans get a little bit in this first issue, too. The story opens with Rose and TenToo living their best domestic lives in their parallel universe. The pair even have a daughter together, Mia. (Who is already a teenager, so it’s been some time since Rose was zipping around in the TARDIS.)

But everything in Rose’s life isn’t domestic bliss. She’s been having visions of another life—a dangerous life, full of alien threats and oncoming war. Visions that correspond to the life of another Rose Tyler, who’s taken on the title “Bad Wolf Empress”. 

(For those keeping track, Empress Rose is the same alternate timeline Rose from the recent Tenth/Thirteenth Doctor crossover comic, Alternating Current. Though Empire of the Wolf expands on her story, you don’t necessarily need to read Alternating Current to keep up with this plot.)

When Rose concentrates on her visions, she’s pulled out of her time—and apparently, her universe—where she meets the Eighth Doctor. Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor receives a summons from Empress Rose. And well… you can’t expect the Doctor to turn down a summons from Rose Tyler, can you?

This first issue of Empire of the Wolf focuses on getting all its characters lined up and in the right places. We don’t get much more than a tease of the plot to come; this story is playing its cards close to the chest. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good setup. As author Jody Houser said, it will definitely be interesting to see Rose interact with regenerations of the Doctor before and after her time traveling with him.

I also have high hopes for seeing Empress Rose take on the villain role in the story, and the conflict that will come from that when she goes up against the Doctors (and a different version of herself). Plus, her brand of villainy will probably be “good motive, bad execution,” which is always more compelling than being evil for the sake of being evil. (Okay… almost always more compelling.)

I’m excited to see more of this unexpected trio (quartet?) and what adventures they have in store. You can get your first look at Empire of the Wolf with the preview pages below.

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Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf #1 is available from Titan Comics now.

You can also learn more about the story from our interview with series writer Jody Houser.

Series Info

Description: Trapped in a parallel universe, Rose Tyler believed her adventures with the Doctor were over. Now, pulled by a mysterious energy into this reality, she must work with the Doctors (Matt Smith and Paul McGann) to end the tyrannical rule of the warmongering BAD WOLF EMPRESS! 

Author: Jody Houser

Artist: Roberta Ingranata

Release: Issue #1 November 17, 2021