Gnome Guard (comic story)

 is a Doctor Who Adventures comic strip published in 2013.

Summary
In the hidden gardens of the planet Iros the Doctor and Clara are attacked by giant robot gnomes who mistake them for weeds.

Plot
The Eleventh Doctor takes Clara to the hidden gardens on the planet Iros, which Clara admits to being one of the "most beautiful garden[s] in the universe". Their peace does not last long, though, as the "top-of-the-range" Robot Guardians of the garden — who resent being referred to as military garden gnomes by the Doctor — appear, and deem the two new arrivals as garden weeds. The robots attempt to spray them with poison, and pursue the Doctor and Clara while they attempt an escape. The Doctor tries to slow the robots down with fertiliser, which angers them further; this is deemed a waste.

Coming across a slightly more barren area of the garden, and the Doctor thinks to repair the sprinkler system, hoping the robots will malfunction or rust. The robots, however, are water-proof and remain unaffected. Just as the Doctor and Clara are about to be poisoned, the robots realise that the sprinkler system has been fixed, bringing life to a barren patch, therefore the new arrivals are a helpful presence in the garden, not weeds.

Now regarded as honoured guests, the Doctor and Clara are given a guided tour of the garden, with the Doctor wishing he could somehow turn the sprinklers off now — he's soaking wet!

Characters

 * Eleventh Doctor
 * Clara Oswald

Original print details

 * Publication with page count and closing captions
 * 1) DWA 325 (4 pages) More adventures next time
 * No reprints to date.

Continuity

 * The Doctor is able to effect repairs to the sprinkler system without resorting to his sonic screwdriver but through improvisation.