Eric Saward, former screenwriter and script editor for Doctor Who, has launched a Kickstarter to fund his idea for a spinoff comic series. The spinoff is set to focus on Gustave Lytton, a recurring character and former agent of the Daleks, appearing during Saward’s tenure in the 80s.
Known only as “Lytton” during his time on the show, the character first appeared in the season 21 story arc “Resurrection of the Daleks” as a mercenary in the employ of the titular villains. Later appearances saw him working for another alien race, the Cryons, to aid their resistance efforts, before ultimately meeting his end while fighting another powerful enemy, the Cybermen. This proposed 4-part comic miniseries, simply titled Lytton, will be a prequel of sorts, featuring Lytton and his companion Wilson in a noir-style 1975 setting as they, according to the Kickstarter page, “run the Jazz Soirée Club in London’s West End.”
The Kickstarter itself has already been quite successful, reaching almost triple its original funding mark only a single day after it was launched. But eager fans shouldn’t let that discourage them from contributing if they’re so inclined, as there are still plenty of rewards available for backers. For those interested but unsure if it’s something they’ll enjoy, the campaign page features a preview of the comic’s first 8 pages. They’ll likely give readers a taste of what to expect not just in terms of writing, but also from the visual style of artist Barry Renshaw.
Fans of the long-running British series are likely already familiar with the vast array of media the franchise has put out over the decades. From the massively popular show, to audiobooks, and even video games, Doctor Who has made its mark in more than a few ways. Aside from the show, comics are arguably one of the biggest mediums utilized by the franchises, so it’s no surprise that it’s the medium Saward chose to tell his story.
While this may not be the kind of story some fans would expect, these sorts of spinoffs tend to go a long way in fleshing out the world and lore of the series that spawned them. Granted, Doctor Who is arguably already one of the most fleshed-out fictional universes out there, but there’s also something to be said for simply telling a contained story. Besides, the world could always use another gritty noir tale. The fact that it’s based in the same universe as a race of time traveling, shapeshifting aliens is just a neat little bonus.
The first issue of Lytton is set to release in August 2020.
Source: Radio Times
