Timeslip (comic story)

Summary
The Doctor and K-9 drift into contact with a deep space entity that feeds on time itself. As time begins to move backwards, K-9 reverts to the components in which he was made and the Doctor moves back through his regenerations, regressing to the point where he first throws the switch to bring life to the TARDIS. As the power reversal switches the power off, the entity weakens and time moves forward enough to throw the switch on, then back off, then on and so on. Each time the switch is changed the entity experiences indigestion and eventually weakens. As time rolls forward once again all that is left of the entity is a puddle on the TARDIS floor.

Characters

 * Fourth Doctor
 * First Doctor
 * K-9 Mark II
 * The Second Doctor and Third Doctor appear briefly
 * Space amoeba

Original Print Details (Publication with page count and closing captions)

 * 1) DWM Issue 17 (4 pages)  Next Week: Bid Time Return
 * 2) DWM Issue 18 (4 pages)  Next Week: The Star Beast

Reprints

 * 1) DWMS Summer 1981
 * 2) Doctor Who (USA) Issue 18 Reprinted in colour.
 * 3) Doctor Who Classic Comics Issue 27 Reprinted in colour.
 * 4) The Tides of Time Reprinted in black and white, with closing captions. (Unlike the rest of the stories, printed in full colour).

Continuity

 * Reference is made to the Randomiser being operative, placing this story after the events of DW: The Armageddon Factor (and therefore quite a bit later than the preceding strip, DWM: City of the Damned). Romana is said to be absent, but the presence of K-9 and absence of Adric indicates this story (as well as those immediately following in which the Doctor travels with K-9 and Sharon) has to occur prior to the TARDIS entering E-Space in DW: Full Circle.
 * The reason for Romana's absence is not explained. The Doctor expresses a wish that he could contact her, suggesting that where ever she is (or perhaps due to the randomiser) that communication is difficult.

Timeline

 * This story occurs after: DWM: K-9's Finest Hour
 * This story occurs before: DWM: The Star Beast