Herald of Madness (comic story)

 was a comic story published in Doctor Who Magazine in 2019, starring the Thirteenth Doctor.

Part one
Two men are riding on horseback through a forest in bohemia 1601. They are discussing a party they are heading to when they hear a strange grinding noise. A few seconds later they come face to face with The Doctor, Graham, Ryan and Yaz. The Doctor asks where they are exactly, and is informed they are in Kokorin forest. The Doctor remarks she will never trust that celestial sat-nav again, and the two men introduce themselves as world famous astronomer Tycho Brahe and the other, Johannes Kepler. The Doctor is way more enthusiastic about Johannes much to Tycho's disapproval. The Doctor says they will tag along with the duo. On the way, the Doctor and the others whisper about Johannes, with the Doctor explaining he is still just Johannes student. They arrive at a castle which looks more like a prison. Elsewhere, the new baroness Dagmar, is doing archery when she is informed Galileo Galilei and Dr. John Dee will not attend. She is furious as she 'needed those men' while a monk named brother Dominik remarks a new mind is coming which will suit there needs. The Doctor, Tycho and co arrive at a celebration full of astronomers. The Doctor tells her compnions to mingle.

Ryan walks past 2 people arguing about viewpoints, while Graham finds Tycho signing autographs. They head off. Ryan finds the Doctor who says she doesn't remember this meeting which is very bad news. Yaz chats to Johannes, and Tycho tells Graham how he got into astrology. Dagmar arrives and the Doctor asks her some questions and Dagmar excuses herself. The Doctor tells Yaz that she and Ryan will go snooping. When down there, Ryan and the Doctor find hooded figures with masks on that have a sword painted on them. Ryan asks the Doctor what's going on when Dominik arrives and his eyes glow and tells them to perish in the fires of his mind while the Doctor and Ryan scream in pain.

Characters

 * Thirteenth Doctor
 * Graham O'Brien
 * Ryan Sinclair
 * Yasmin Khan
 * Tycho Brahe
 * Johannes Kepler
 * Dagmar Ruskovitch
 * Dominik
 * Olaf

The Doctor

 * The Doctor tells Baroness Ruskovitch that she obtained her doctorate from the University of Gallifrey.

People

 * Tycho Brahe is the court astronomer to Emperor Rudolf II.
 * Brahe lost his nose in a duel with his cousin, that began from an argument over an equation.
 * Johannes Kepler went on to have a satellite, a moon crater, a star system, and an ice lolly named after him.
 * Kepler has a wife. They had two children who died: Heinrich and Susanna.
 * Dagmar Ruskovitch practices archery.
 * Galileo Galilei and John Dee refused Ruskovitch's invitation.

Locations

 * The Doctor and Team TARDIS got lost on their way to the Ninth Moon of Quezzeltrax.
 * Team TARDIS run into Brahe and Kepler in Kokorin Forest.
 * Astronomers from Europe, Persia, India, Turkey and Nigeria attend the gathering.

Technology

 * The Doctor used a celestial sat nav.
 * The telescope had not been invented yet.

Popular culture

 * Yaz likens the gathering inside Castle Houska to Hogwarts. Ryan likens the dark hallways to Resident Evil.
 * Ryan hopes he and the Doctor don't run into Dracula when entering the secret passage.

Foods and beverages

 * Tycho and Graham drink ale.

Astronomy

 * A man at the gathering believes the whole universe revolves around the Earth.

Miscellaneous

 * Tycho gives out autographs at the gathering.

Original print details

 * (Publication with page count and closing captions)


 * 1) DWM 535 (8 pages) Next: The Pit of Hell!

Continuity

 * The Third Doctor previously unearthed Tycho Brahe's body in the 24th century while searching for the Tipping Device. (PROSE: Midnight in the Café of the Black Madonna)
 * Graham reminds the Doctor of their track record with "big names in history". (TV: Rosa, The Witchfinders, PROSE: Combat Magicks)