While fans await the resolution of the shocking Ncuti Gatwa/Rose Tyler cliffhanger (myself included), a major new ‘Doctor Who’ story arrives this summer. Jo Martin is officially returning as the “Fugitive Doctor” in ‘Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker’. This is a massive multimedia crossover event, and we’re all over the moon.
This project spans comics, audio dramas, games, and prose, but even that feels like putting it lightly. If you’re a completionist, you’re looking at buying a magazine, two comic books, two audiobooks, and two novels. The story follows the mysterious past incarnation of the Doctor as she teams up with UNIT to face her most iconic ene. mies. The event officially kicks off on June 25 via the UNIT website and will continue with new content updates throughout the summer.
Yes, this new chapter of Doctor Who sounds exciting, but here’s the “catch” mentioned in the headlines: This isn’t a new season of TV. Instead, *Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker* is a “multimedia event.” To me, it sounds like a dream for lore-hunters. For you, it means if you want the full story, you’re going to have to do some serious homework across comics, audiobooks, and even mobile games.
The Premise
The story centers on Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor being recruited by UNIT’s Petronella Osgood (Ingrid Oliver) to investigate the Black Archive. The hook? She’s going up against the “Big Four,” who are the Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, and Weeping Angels. However, because this is a prequel/past-life scenario, she hasn’t actually met them yet, even though they already hate her.
What It Means For You
If you’re a purist who only watches the show on a screen, you might feel a bit left out. To get the “full” experience, you’ll be bouncing between these things I’m listing here:
- Titan Comics: for the visual action.
- Big Finish and BBC Audio: for the voice-acted chapters (with Jo Martin herself narrating).
- East Side Games: for mobile tie-ins.
- The UNIT Website: for the “free” lore drops.
My Take At CineBusted
It’s awesome to see Jo Martin get the spotlight she deserves. But her Fugitive Doctor was a highlight of a very messy era. Not to mention that this “fragmented storytelling” can be exhausting. It feels a bit like Disney’s Star Wars strategy of “if you don’t read the comic or play the game, you’re missing half the plot.” Great for the “super-fans,” but a bit of a hurdle for the casual viewer who just wants a good sci-fi yarn.
I love the ambition, but this “pay-to-play” storytelling can feel like a cash grab. However, the fact that Jo Martin is writing her own book (The Kaleidoscope) is genuinely exciting. It’s rare for an actor to get that level of creative input, and for a character as mysterious as the Fugitive Doctor, that might be the one piece of media actually worth the price of admission.
The “Circuit Breaker” Roadmap: Where (and When) to Follow the Doctor
If you’re planning on keeping up, you’re going to need a calendar. The event is spread across three months, starting with free online content and moving into paid media.
The June/July Kickoff: The Setup
- June 25: The adventure begins for free on the **UNIT website** with “Calling the Doctor” by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson.
- July 8 & August 4: Titan Comics takes over with a two-part Dalek story, “Adversary of the Daleks” and “Dawn of the Daleks.” (Warning: You’ll need to hit your local comic shop for these).
- July 23: Doctor Who Magazine (Issue 632) features a story titled “The Honourable Society.”
- July 30: A major highlight, Jo Martin narrates a Cyberman audio story, “The Deadliest Weapon,” via BBC Audio. This is likely the “must-listen” of the summer.
The August/September Heat: The Deep Dive
- August 6 & 27: The story moves to mobile screens via East Side Games (Castling and Moment Mori).
- August 17: Another free drop on the UNIT website involving the Weeping Angels (“Don’t Blink!”).
- August 20 & September 3: Traditional readers get two books from Puffin and Penguin Random House, the latter written by Jo Martin herself.
- September 22 & 24: The event wraps up with Big Finish, the gold standard for Doctor Who audio dramas, with “Full Circuit” and “Short Circuits.”