Titan comic covers issue 5 - photo cover variant

This week is issue five of Titan Comics’ New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor.
I didn’t report on last month’s issue as it didn’t have any covers worth mentioning, but this issue does have an image worth flagging up.

It has the usual graphic art cover, but for subscribers only there is a second photo variant.

The photo cover version has a nice picture of David in full costume, taken from the archive of publicity stills used for The End Of Time in 2009.
The pose is the same, but the hang of the coat and suit is ever so slightly different - and here we see it head to toe for the first time.

Other shots from this shoot appeared on the DVD packaging for the series four specials.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

Doctor Who Magazine: The 2015 Yearbook

Today sees a end-of-year special edition yearbook from Doctor Who Magazine.

I don’t usually mention stuff like this, but this contains something a bit special you’ll like to read - especially if you’re a regular reader of my blogs.

The magazine reviews an incredible year for the programme, its spin-offs and the licensed merchandise available.
Highlights include our first major interview with the show’s executive producer, Brian Minchin, in which he reflects on Peter Capaldi’s first year as the Doctor and looks forward to further adventures with the Twelfth Doctor.

ALSO INSIDE THE ISSUE

• Features on every episode in Peter Capaldi’s first series
• Interviews with the team that accompanied Capaldi and Jenna Coleman on the Doctor Who World Tour
• Fourth Doctor Tom Baker discusses his return to television and audio Doctor Who
• Eighth Doctor Paul McGann reveals what he thinks about Capaldi’s Doctor
• Orchestrator and conductor Ben Foster previews the 2015 Symphonic Spectacular
• Inside the new ‘making of’ show, Doctor Who Extra
• Behind the scenes at the new Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff
• Interviews with some of the key players behind recent books, soundtracks, audio dramas, DVDs, Blu-rays and action figures
• Highlights from the year’s newspaper and magazine reviews of Doctor Who
• A round up of Doctor Who’s awards and honours from the last 12 months
• Detailed tributes to the Doctor Who luminaries who passed away in 2014..., and much more!

Also included in the “much more” is an interview with me!

I was approached by Simon Guerrier, who as well as writing for Doctor Who Magazine has written adventures for Big Finish. We met in London a few weeks ago where we chatted about my work and some background information about how I do what I do.

We talked about a number of my projects, including making the Ultimate Tennant Suit from the genuine GAP trousers.

I provided a number of images for use with the article, including getting permission from Louise Page to share the picture of her with the Ultimate Tennant Suit.

I was hoping for maybe a half page, but in the end it turned out as a full page - which is awesome!

The magazine is available at
WH Smiths from
Thursday 18th December 2014

St George by Rip-off

Of all the original screen-worn ties that come up on eBay, the St George By Duffer tie from Utopia is one of the most common.

They often exchange hands for £75 to £100, so it’s raises some eyebrows to see a tie listed with a BuyItNow of £175.

Do read the update at the end of this posting.

I also noted it uses the very same photos (aside from the main picture) from a listing that closed in March this year, which I reported at the time. That was a listing that started at £3.99 before being pulled and relisted at £99. Hummmmm.

Mens ST GEORGE BY DUFFER 'Dr Who' Brown Floral Silk Tie

****Mens Beautiful Brown Floral ST GEORGE BY DUFFER Silk Tie****

As worn in Dr Who by David Tennant, the 10th Doctor, in episodes 'Utopia', 'The Sound of Drums', and 'The Last of The Time Lords'

There are no nicks, pulls or stains on the tie.

Sold as seen. No returns.

UPDATE

The tie has been repeatedly resisted over the past few days, for £175, £165, £15 (yeah, not sure what happened there), £135 (with the new photos below - I guess he’s a reader of my blog) and is now at £105.

Titan Comic covers issue 3 - nothing special

The thirds issue of Titan Comics’ New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor is out this week.

Aside from the two graphic art covers, and there is a subscription only photo cover to collect.

Unlike the previous issues it’s not an unseen image from the archive, but a cut out previously used in a composite picture used to launch series three with Martha Jones.

The colour has been played around with too, so it’s not great reference material this time. Pity.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

Titan comic covers - New York ComicCon special

Titan comics first two issues of New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor gave us a couple of previously unseen portraits of The Doctor.

This month, to coincide with New York ComicCon, they are issuing a number of convention exclusive variant covers, including one for The Tenth Doctor.

This exclusive cover uses a shot of David in his blue suit with the Nina Ricci tie from a round of publicity stills associated with mid series four.

The specific image used was previously composited with a portrait of Frema to publicise The Sontaran Stratagem.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

Titan comic covers issue 2 - another rare unseen image

Last month’s launch issue of Titan Comic’s New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor treated us to a previously unseen photo portrait.

Issue two is out this month, and aside from a number of alternative graphic art covers, there is another photo based version using another previously unseen image.

I think this image dates to a shoot done during the latter part of series four.
He is wearing the same shirt (though its hard to see the tie) and he’s holding his trusty sonic.
Also, if you look closely at David’s hair, there is a distinct single point to his fringe which seems to match.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

St George by Next

Last year I showed you a tie being sold at Matalan, which was the right colour combination and a similar design to the St George by Duffer as worn by David in The Day Of The Doctor.



The following month I also came across a tie being sold by Scott Allen which used the exact same loom-weave as the Thomas Nash from The Idiot’s Lantern, but again in a radically different colour way. It was thread-for-thread the same, just in an uninspiring grey and silver.

Well today, almost a year the the day later, one of my readers was out shopping and came across something quite surprising.

Next are currently stocking a tie which is a dead ringer for The Day Of the Doctor St George by Duffer, but in a striking pink colour scheme!

This was spotted in the Portsmouth branch. It’s only £8 (compared to the £14 of the original St George tie) with the flowers in pink and lilac on a navy blue background.

Looking at it closer, the flowers are really reminiscent of the St George tie.

I wondered if they did another colour that was closer to, or fingers crossed, the same as screen-worn.

So I went into my own local branch and found the tie - in a second colour choice, but still not the dark brown and sky blue. Damn.

Once I got it how I put it alongside my St George tie and realised it IS the exact same loom-weave.

As you can see from these photos, the flowers are IDENTICAL, it is purely the colour choice that differentiates them.

This, along with the Scott Allen version of the Thomas Nash tie, makes me think that manufactures in the Far East have designs on their books which they sell to retailers who then choose what colours they want them in.

Having now seen two versions, I’m wondering if there are further colour ways. Can you help?

Do you have a branch of Next near you? Does your branch stock a tie in a closer colour match? If so, drop me a line at tennantcoat@me.com 
and share what you have found.

As an aside, I also spotted a rather creepy tea-light holder in the form of a cherub which reminded me of those in The Angels Take Manhattan.

Don’t blink!!

Titan Comic covers - ComicCon specials

The launch of Titan Comics’ New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor graphic novels series seems to have gone into overdrive, with multiple cover variants to be had.

Last month’s San Deigo ComicCon often has convention exclusives, and Titan Comics jumped on the band wagon with not one but two sets are variants.
Both versions join with the New Adventures With The Eleventh Doctor to make a single panoramic image.

The first variant has The Doctor in his blue suit, worn with the burgundy shirt and Keno tie, wielding his trusty sonic in a pose I haven’t personally seen before.

This combination relates to the series four two part story Silence In The Library.

David’s hair seems to match the composites with Alex Kingston as River Song as show here.

I think the second variant (which was only available at the BBC Shop stand) originates from the photoshoot at the start of series four with Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble.

This too is an image I don’t recall being published before - probably due to its pose being so candid in nature.

Again, if you look at David’s hair it matches the photo shown here.

FOOTNOTE

Not to be out done, Forbidden Planet in the UK had their very own variant based on the BBC Shop version.

Using the same background, it has yet another previously unpublished image from the series four photoshoot.
Note again how David’s hair matches the sample shot above.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

Titan comic covers issue 1 - unseen 10th Doctor photo

I was reading some of the Doctor Who news feeds recently, and something caught my eye.

As cosplayers we are always on the look out for good quality, unembellished photo reference to get those costume details spot on.
The launch of each new series is accompanied by such images, and we pour over them for the insight they give.

Well, this month Titan Comics are launching a range of New Adventures With The Tenth Doctor graphic novels and the cover of issue one has a real nice image of David in costume - an image I don’t recall seeing before.

What we often forget is that for every image we did get to see, there is likely a dozen shots not for public view where the actor isn’t quite looking their best, or the pose just doesn’t fit with what the publicity people want us to see at that time.

The first issue has a number of alternative covers, which are all graphic based.



But for one of the covers it seems Titan Comics have gained access to some of these previously unseen photoshoot images. I hope we get some more gems on the coming issues.

Issue one has an image of David in the blue suit, with the Kenzo tie and burgundy shirt.

Aside from the glasses, this matches publicity portraits to accompany the series four two part story, Silence In The Library.

He’s in an unusual stance - maybe a little off the wall and not entirely in the style of David’s typical poses as the Tenth Doctor.




FOOTNOTE
No sooner has this first issue hit newsstands (and sold out) there is already an exclusive cover variant of the Tenth Doctor conjoining with the Eleventh Doctor to make a single, and very clever image.

Remembering that these poses are from photoshoots taken several years apart, they are very cleverly chosen to create what appears to be a single photocall with both actors together.

It has you wondering what David was leaning on to get this pose.

Again, check out his fringe and how it matches the sample shown here.

You can buy copies of the Titan Tenth Doctor range from their website

Graphic Novels @ Titan Comics

Rocha John Rocha - grab a bargain while you can!

Today I’ve got a little gem for you - if you’re a completist when it comes to the Tennant ties!

A reader has highlighted an eBay listing from a seller who trades in surplus stock.

They are selling a range of Rocha John Rocha ties, among them is the tie bought by costume designer Louise Page, but which ultimately went unused.
The unused tie then sold as part of a job lot at the Bonhams 2010 Doctor Who auction.

The tie was initially selling for £9.99 - an absolute bargain!

Mens Rocha John Rocha by Debenhams Tie - Pure Silk NEW RRP £22 - Bargain

They had a few for sale, and after being told of the Doctor Who connection, restocked with over a dozen of the ties - at the higher price of £17.99!

You can buy the tie through the original listing (above) or a new dedicated listing (below).

Mens Rocha John Rocha by Debenhams Tie - as worn by David Tennant

GAP trousers on eBay - trading up

One of my readers brought this to my attention, and we ended up doing a mutually beneficial deal.

He spotted a pair of GAP trousers on eBay and was already speaking directly to the seller to secure them.
However, they are waist 36 which is a size or two too big for my friend.
Ends up he needs a waist 32 - which I have half a dozen pairs of.
I’d be happier with a pair of waist 36 as these will give me just a bit more fabric once dissected to use to make an Ultimate Tennant Suit.

So we agreed a straight trade - his 36s for a pair of my 32s. He’s actually ended up a bit better off as mine are mint and still with labels, where as these are pre-worn.

Eitherway, we both won!

GAP Brown Men’s Trousers
with A Blue Pin Stripe 36 Waist

Gap men's trousers.

Dark brown with a blue pinstripe.
Cotton. Waist 36 length 34.
2 back pockets with buttons.
Waistband with 7 loops for a belt Zip fly with button and hooks to fasten.

Very good condition.

The Value of St George

It’s funny how a £3.99 listing can transform itself into a £99 listing overnight - when someone tells the seller the tie is desirable.

I’m sorry, but as a cosplay community, isn’t it about time we all agreed to just keep quiet?

St George by Duffer tie - £3.99 listing

****Mens Beautiful Brown with floral print ST GEORGE BY DUFFER Silk Tie****

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER DESIGNER TIES, I will combine postage (where applicable).

Sold as seen. No returns.

!!See my designer tie feedback!!

I send everything recorded delivery, so never any issues, thanks.

St George by Duffer - £99 listing