The Tides of Time was a story by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons which ran in Doctor Who Monthly Vol 1 #61-67 (February-August 1982), and the first comics appearance of the Fifth Doctor. It also featured the first appearance of the shadow man Shayde, who would become a semi-regular supporting character in Marvel UK's Doctor Who strip for many years. A somewhat surreal fantasy epic, it sees the Doctor teaming up with an Arthurian knight named Sir Justin to stop the demonic Melanicus, a creature who has been summoned from another universe, from destroying reality. They are aided by Rassilon and the Council of High Evolutionaries.
Notes[]
The story sees the first confirmed appearance of the village of Stockbridge, something of a spiritual home for the comics version of the Doctor in this incarnation (he both begins and ends the story playing Cricket there) and also features a rather odd and seemingly pointless cameo appearance from 1960s TV companion Zoe Heriot, as well as the return of Merlyn, who had previously featured in the preceding story, The Neutron Knights. The story has been reprinted several times.
Trivia[]
The opening to part six is a full colour centrespread, the first time the Doctor Who Monthly comic strip had ever been presented in colour. The colourist is uncredited, however.