The Goats of Christmas Past (comic story)

Summary
The The Doctor has taken Heather McCrimmon to buy a Christmas tree for her gran. But according to a local Norwegian forester the trees are vanishing without trace – they aren’t being pulled up or chopped down! Investigating a sound nearby, the Doctor is surprised to find a Capranom (a kind of goat that consumes a massive amount of food by shrinking it down first and storing the energy). When Heather sees more of them, they worry about the whole forest and the Doctor returns to the TARDIS to set a trap. Setting up a plastic Christmas tree the Capranom are soon trying to shrink it, not realising its artificial. As the other Capranoms gather round to help, the Doctor rounds them up. But as soon as they are rounded up the Doctor and Heather are rounded up by a goat herder from space, who after having travelling across half the galaxy mistakes them for rustlers. The Doctor assures him that they were only protecting the trees and once the animals are safely penned, the herder agrees to wait until after Christmas so that they can feast on all the dead unwanted trees. The Norwegian forester they met when they arrived is grateful the trees have been saved and lets Heather pick any tree she wants for her gran.

Characters

 * The Doctor
 * Heather McCrimmon
 * Capranom Herder

Original print details (Publication with page count and closing captions)

 * 1) DWA Issue 145 (4 pages) NEXT WEEK! Christmas Crisis!

Reprints

 * None to date

Continuity

 * the Tenth Doctor is featured wearing his brown suit and brown coat in this strip

Timeline

 * This story takes place after DWAM: The Garden Rebellion
 * This story takes place before DWAM: A Merry Little Christmas