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"Computer-generated" mockup from the Sirius Miniatures website.
Enworld reports that a set of metal miniatures based on David Sutherland's cover for the Holmes Basic Set cover is coming soon from Sirius Miniatures, a company that I am not otherwise familiar with.  

Rogahn and Zelligar, perhaps?
The Sirius pre-order webpage can be found here, with the set titled "1977 D&D Holmes Boxed". Glad to see the correct year. Ignore the "Sold Out" button; I read on EnWorld that is what their page says until pre-orders open up. The retail price is $49.99 for the set of three miniatures, and the set will also be available in stores. The Sirius product description:
"Step back into the golden age of tabletop roleplaying with the Sirius Metal Miniatures: 1977 D&D Holmes Boxed Set—the first release in the Sirius Miniatures line. Inspired by the iconic artwork of David C. Sutherland III, this collector’s edition miniature set faithfully recreates one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most legendary battles in a durable Zinc alloy.

This boxed set includes three finely crafted miniatures:

●        Red Dragon (Huge, 75mm base) 

●        Wizard 

●        Fighter 

Designed for collectors, dungeon masters, and tabletop RPG players, this set comes in premium collector’s packaging, making it a striking display piece as well as a playable set of miniatures.

Whether you’re reliving the nostalgia of early D&D or adding a unique collectible to your miniature collection, the 1977 D&D Holmes Boxed Set is a must-have for fans of fantasy miniatures, D&D history, and tabletop gaming."

Last year saw Wizkids release plastic miniatures of the same figures. While the dragon was sold separately, and retailed for about $30, the wizard and warrior were only available as rare figures in blind boxes, and loose ones now run upwards of $50 each on Ebay, so I'm happy to see this set avoid the blind box nonsense. Perhaps it's time I finally learn to paint minis.

"RRRROOOOAAAARRRR!!!!"

Welcome to the Last Days of the Powell Estate, where the worst is behind you. Literally.

 

Time travel is real. And if you need proof then look no further than Big Finish’s current series of Ninth Doctor Adventures. These new Doctor Who episodes, released bimonthly, contain so much unfiltered joy and wit, it’s almost impossible to believe their vintaqe is 2025, not 2005. Even Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper, and Camille Coduri all sound two decades younger, as if nostalgia itself is the real fountain of youth. In Piper’s case it seems particularly impressive, given her slight struggle to recapture Rose’s voice even in her 2008 return. Indeed, there’s so much love and fun audible behind the microphone, The Last Days of the Powell Estate would still be a delight even if was just the Doctor, Rose, and Jackie having a natter over a cuppa for an hour.

As the title suggests, though, there’s something much more ominous afoot than too much milk in the tea. This second episode in Big Finish’s loose Powell Estate trilogy brings the TARDIS to the 2030s where Rose discovers her home utterly dead. Meanwhile, back in the mid 2000s, Jackie and her friend Brainy Betty check up on a neighbour on the fourth floor that nobody’s seen for a while. Soon all four, as well as urban explorer content creator Ellis, are being stalked across two time zones by the horrifying Mr. Fingers.

 

The sinister Mr. Fingers is a great Moffateque terror

Set not long after Series One’s Father’s Day, this story probably winds too close to many of its ideas and themes to ever have aired on screen in 2005. But, as a Big Finish episode, it forms a perfect complement to it. The Doctor is still understandably skeptical of Rose’s ability to follow basic time travel etiquette. With good reason too, given that his companion immediately sets Jackie’s safety above a little thing like preventing the collapse of time and space themselves. Meanwhile, a monster from out of time, beyond reason or understanding, similarly calls to mind the earlier story’s Reapers.

However, in other ways Mr. Fingers couldn’t be further from a CGI beastie. Instead he hails from the same corner of Doctor Who as the Weeping Angels, the Silence and The Well. As unseen as he is unknowable, all you need to know about this particular eldritch terror is that if you feel a tap on your shoulder, don’t turn around. Never turn around. Because you might find nobody there at all. Until you do…

 

Timothy X Atack’s script makes clever use of its two time zones

It’s a threat built for audio, when even on television Mr. Fingers would never be seen, only discussed by his prey as they desperately seek a way out. Writer Timothy X Atack also mines the time-split narrative to its full potential. Jackie having to face a monster alone except for Betty –  the Doctor a phone call, yet also two decades, away – is a great move. Brainy Betty is a wonderful companion’s companion too, drawing on the same archetype of a wise and witty auntie as Cherry Sunday. Sharp as a pin, and just as funny, you’ll spend a significant part of Last Days crossing your fingers that she beats the odds for this type of Who character and survives to get into more mischief with Jackie another day.

 

Much more than just nostalgia bait for its own sake, the re-energised Ninth Doctor Adventures recapture the quality, terrors, and fun, of one of Doctor Who’s greatest eras

Big Finish’s new strategy of releasing these new Ninth Doctor Adventures an episode at a time, alternating with the Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, is already shaping up to be a success. It’s not just easier on many fans’ wallets, but somehow feels more true to modern Doctor Who on television. Every episode gets longer to sit in your thoughts, easier to digest than when it disappears into the rearview mirror as you plunge on to the next in the boxset.

This series continues to be the perfect way to make yourself feel young again. (Or younger, at least, for some of us.) The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler. Long may they run.

 

Doctor Who: The Last Days of the Powell Estate. Cover by Soundsmyth Creative (c) Big Finish Doctor Who: The Last Days of the Powell Estate

South London, 2036. The Doctor and Rose team up with an urban explorer to investigate the case of Mr Fingers, an invisible killer haunting an abandoned corner of the city. If you feel a hand on your shoulder: don’t look around…

 

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: The Last Days of the Powell Estate is now available to purchase for just £9.99 (download to own) or £11.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be repressed. 

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MooglyCAL2025 Block 22 is a gorgeous new design by Kim Guzman on Make It Crochet! The Blueberry Pie Granny Square is a beautiful piece that's suitable for all skill levels. Get all the details for this free crochet along, and the free pattern link below! Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Yarnspirations. […]

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The Corner Window Rectangle was designed for Warm Up America! This 7” x 9” piece is perfect for their Section Drives. Made with warm and durable Red Heart Super Saver, this corner to corner piece is a great way to give of your time, and use up your yarn odds and ends for a good […]

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Counterstrike presents the Doctor and Belinda with a classic SF dilemma in a lively and fun adventure

Una McCormack’s latest entry into the Doctor Who universe bears some superficial similarities to her recent novel Caged. Both it and her new audiobook Counterstrike feature colonisation efforts by civilizations far enough off the galactic beaten path that they don’t seriously expect to stumble across any new life or new civilizations on these strange new worlds. Both also feature a largely automated program of drones preparing the ground. Meanwhile, each features a plucky, if introverted, low level researcher. One soon grappling with the live grenade the Doctor’s very presence throws into their plans.

For all that, though, Counterstrike quickly goes its own way. If nothing else, its brisk hour long runtime means there’s just no space for the political and cultural ramifications that came to dominate the earlier novel. There’s also no space to introduce an entirely different, second culture. Rather than a meditation on how colonisers can dehumanise indigenous people, it’s a story of technology doing exactly what you asked it to, in the worst possible way.

 

Una McCormack continues to be one of the best authors at capturing the Fifteenth Doctor’s distinctive energy

McCormack continues to prove herself one of the few authors who can authentically capture the Fifteenth Doctor’s voice and energy. It’s been a recurring minor issue in this Doctor’s prose adventures that, without Ncuti Gatwa’s charismatic performance, he can sound a little generic, apart from a random sprinkle of “babes” and “honeys.” But Counterstrike has that sense of a smile that’s never far from his lips. While there’s the laugh that can mean joy, sadness, or anger depending on the moment.

He also proves very well suited to this sort of story where, like an escape room, there’s a series of logical problems to solve, leading one into the other, rather than an evil force to vanquish. The Fifteenth Doctor loves a puzzle, it turns out. There’s a real pleasure in seeing him work it out, too, like a detective collecting suspects in an interstellar library.

 

Belinda’s characterisation skillfully walks the line between her continued quest to just go home and being an enthusiastic partner for the Doctor

The script mainly succeeds in finding that awkward balance necessary to Belinda’s companion role. On television she had five brief stops along the way home from Missbelindachandra I. But the more novels, comics, and audios, that are slotted in between, the greater the challenge in maintaining her singular drive to get back to Earth while not making her a complaining drag on the adventure. Counterstrike presents the nurse as by now quite enjoying her journey. Although, she’s not quite willing to give the Doctor the satisfaction of hearing her admit it yet.

Similarly, it’s nice that McCormack picks up on the oddity of The Robot Revolution, establishing Belinda is prickly about her name being shortened, though she never complains about the Doctor calling her “Bel” all the time. It’s here that they have it out, as Belinda learns to like the nickname. (Though what that does to Revolution’s themes of resisting the presumption and condescension of men is a more complicated question.)

 

The hour long drama passes quickly with its short duration made up for by its

While many Doctor Who audiobook readers come from the show itself, Counterstrike’s Claire Corbett is a highly respected veteran of the form. She’s previously read bestsellers like The Girl on the Train and The Hunting Party. Corbett approaches Counterstrike with the same measured, clear, style. There’s no attempt to make either the Doctor or Belinda sound like Gatwa or Sethu, but this allows the focus to remain solidly on the text.

Like all these hour long BBC Audio originals, the runtime makes for a fast paced, relatively uncomplicated story. Given the greater need to describe everything from the jungle covered landscape, to Belinda’s facial expressions, there’s even less room for plot than in an hour of television. However, whether accompanying your gym session or your commute to work, Counterstrike will help the time pass quickly.

 

Doctor Who: Counterstrike. Cover by Lee Johnson (c) BBC Audio Doctor Who: Counterstrike

Landing on an unnamed planet, the travellers find themselves besieged by a swarm of drones. They shelter in a cluster of hi-tech buildings, inside which lie living quarters and a control base. The only thing missing is any sign of life. While the Doctor puzzles over a base without people, Belinda finds herself whisked off by teleport.

Meanwhile, three thousand light years away, project manager Hazzet is puzzled by unusual systems activity on the uninhabited Colony 5. An automated probe was sent there months ago – so why are there now apparently two bases on the planet, each poised to attack the other?

With the Doctor in one base and Belinda in the other, a race against time begins to avoid mutually assured destruction…

You can order Counterstrike now from your preferred retailer with the links from the official Penguin Books page.

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My mission: to read DC Comics' output from January 1980 (cover date) to Crisis. This week, I'm looking at the comics that were at newsstands in the week of November 1, 1984. 
The "Meanwhile..." column in this month's comics eulogizes Don Newton who had died August 19.

Superman: The Secret Years #1: Nice Frank Miller cover on this one, though the interiors by Swan/Schaffenberger mark this series as part of this era's "stuck in the Silver Age" version of Superman. It's a continuation of the "In-between Years" backups that ran in Superboy. Rozakis' story, though, has some surprises. Sure, Clark is mostly acting like Superboy Clark, and Lex has just escaped reform school for the last time using bedsprings on his feet, but in-between all of that Clark is still dealing with his grief over the loss of his adopted parents, and his roommate Ducky has developed a drinking problem, culminating in a drunk driving accident that leaves him seriously injured.
It's an odd mix! One foot in the more Teen Titans-style character drama, and one foot in the old Superboy schtick. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

Jonni Thunder #1: The Thomases and Giordano develop an idea initially conceived by Thomas and Conway. The brand-new character utilizing the name of an old one is a long-used tactic in comics (it's the root of the Silver Age, after all), but it's really going to take off post-Crisis. This Jonni Thunder is a hard-boiled P.I. in Los Angeles. She returns from her father's funeral to find a dead man in her office and then an insectoid robot out to kill her. It all seems to relate in some way to statue of a woman, apparently looted from South America, that her father had received and had had turned into a lamp. What's so important about the statue isn't clear, but it does impart the power to Jonni to generate a being of energy out of herself, which comes in handy stopping a guy trying to kill her.

Atari Force #14: The Scanner One is out in the multiverse, trying to figure out if there's some place they can return too. Dart has been convinced by a dream that she has to give Blackjack another chance, though she is being cautious about it. Pakrat discovers Taz has been beat-up by a stowaway: Kaarg. He runs for his life and escapes to an airless planetoid in a shuttle, only to be rescued by his brother Rident who has been (I guess) hidden in the landing bay all this time? I suspect Conway forgot about him, and Baron is tying up that loose end. Anyway, Rident announces his intention to take them all in to face justice while Martin tries to convince him New Earth was destroyed.

In the backup by Manak and Klaus Janson, we get a solo Babe story from before he left Egg. He wonders away from Mama briefly and gets involved in a conflict with an alien and the alien's diminutive foes intent on eating him.

DC Comics Presents #78: This is an issue my brother and I had as kids. The obscure (in real world terms) villains from last issue unite to form the Forgotten Villains, though they don't really use that name in story. Superman beats the Faceless Hunter, but Immortal Man is killed saving Dolphin. It's ok, though, because he just returns for another life in a kid's body. Kraklow and the Enchantress have a third member of their sorcerous cabal on a distant world, and the Heroes must travel their to defeat them. Space Cabbie gives them a ride, but the magical villains make them crash on an unstable world, necessitating another helping hand from Chris KL-99 and friends. Now, both of these characters are technically from the future, but Wolfman and Swan don't let that stop them.
When the Heroes arrive at their destination, they find the planet is the third sorcerer--Yggardis. Things aren't going well for the good guys, until Atom-Master and Mister Poseidon realize the Enchantress' plans don't leave much run for them, and use Ultivac to attack her, providing room for the Forgotten Heroes to save Superman and the day.
In the coda, the Monitor says he can't find Kraklow or the Enchantress, but he can't waste time on that now. There's something happening on Earth-Three that needs his attention. He informs Lyla that he's dropping his connection to the villains; he's studied them enough in the guise of helping them. The blurb promises this will be continued in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Fury of Firestorm #32: Randy and Jean-Marc Lofficier step into writing duties this issue, and Alan Kupperberg is on art. The ghost of "Shoe" Shine, the gangster that tried to kill Ed Raymond, ousts Stein from Firestorm so he can live again in Stein's body. When the Phantom Stranger shows up and explains to Ronnie what's going on, Ronnie again forms Firestorm, but that allows Shine to take over their hero-form. Phantom Stranger has to take more direct action to help the young hero out. I guess this was a seasonally appropriate story, but not much to recommend it otherwise.

Justice League of America #235: Conway and Patton continue from last issue with Vixen sought by the police, and Aquaman and the new members of his team at odds about what to do about it. After a couple of panels that make it look like Aquaman somehow used his aquatic telepathy to de-escalate Steel, the young hero storms off. He meets up with Gypsy outside, and they are attacked by Fastball of the cadre. The villain disappears as quickly as he came, and the team heads off to New York where they hope to stop Vixen at the M'Changan Embassy. They show up in time to save Vixen from her uncle and his men. The cops arrive, but Maksai refuses to press charges, and Aquaman won't let the cops take Vixen in for what happened in Detroit. That move, Zatanna tells Steel, was likely the wrong one and will have consequences. On the flight back to Detroit, their transport plane is teleported to a mountain in the Arctic, where the team encounters the Overmaster and his Cadre.

Wonder Woman #323: Feels like after putting off the mandated inclusion of the Monitor (mentioned in the editorial column this issue), Mishkin and Heck go all in because that mysterious observer is all over this issue. Dr. Psycho calls him to get a new ectoplasmic extractor, which the Monitor asks Cheetah to steal. Silver Swan calls him wanting to find Captain Wonder, and the Monitor directs her to Dr. Psycho's hideout. Etta Candy and Howard Huckaby are caught in the middle of this villain drama, as Cheetah happens to capture them, then they are at Psycho's hideout when Silver Swan shows up and thinks Captain Wonder is cheating on her with Cheetah. Then, Angle Man is calling the Monitor wanting to power up a new Angler. These Wonder Woman villains are a needy group!
Anyway, thanks to Howard's crazy idea, they are all convinced Etta is Wonder Woman which puts the two in even more danger. Etta uses Psycho's ectoplasmic device to power herself up into an ersatz Wonder Woman. She fights the good fight, but it's the arrival of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor that sees the villains defeated. Howard proclaims his love for Etta, Steve and Wonder Woman are back together--and Griggs is interested in exploring his and Diana's connection, with drama sure to ensue.

Vigilante 14: Von Eeden is on art this issue. While Adrian Chase waits to see if he is appointed a judge and what that will do to Vigilante's career, the businessmen Hammer and Hammett, actually brothers, have been engaged in an escalated game of one-upsmanship. Hammer, with the aid of a high-tech shadow suit, is about to commit murder to win. Vigilante tries to get in the man of his plans, but the new tech gives Hammer such an advantage that Vigilante is forced to kill him. Later, Hammett reveals that he had orchestrated the situation to lead to Hammer's death by his own hand, but Vigilante proved a convenient substitute. 

New Teen Titans #5: Wolfman and Perez come to the end of Trigon/Raven storyline, but as this issue opens, things look bleak for the Titans. They are all that's left of a transformed Earth and staring down a giant Trigon. They attack but are swatted like gnats and appear to be killed. Lilith is all the while making portentous but vague statements and trying to get Arella, grieving over her dead daughter, to help her with Raven's rings. As Trigon opens a portal to his home dimension, and the Titans mount a desperate delaying action, the power of Azar manifests through Raven's soul-self and grows large enough to envelope and destroy Trigon. Everything returns to the way it was, with only the Titans, Lilith, and Arella remembering what happened.  This was kind of Wolfman/Perez's "Dark Phoenix" story, so it will be interesting to see what comes after.

  Let's talk about House of the Rising Sun there's some of the great Arduin world building in this Arduin supplement. I've been working with Mathew Tapp's Barrows & Borderland rpg and I wanted to add a section of the Dragon's Graveyard too the wilderness. Now in the past I've looked into Arduin's House of The Rising Sun back in Jan 13th in 2024. Now this is based on Needleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11243274667834930867noreply@blogger.com0

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Doctor Who’s future is secure, with a new Christmas Special next year and a new season to follow

The BBC have confirmed that there will be new Doctor Who on BBC One in 2026. The next episode will be a Christmas Special next year, written by Russell T Davies. While the announcement doesn’t include a date for the next full run of episodes. However, the BBC Director of Drama made sure to be clear it was on the way, saying “We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.” Davies has previously told Doctor Who Magazine that he already has early drafts of some scripts for the new season.

The BBC has finally ended months of speculation and, in some cases, open doom-mongering among fans. Their ability to do so is due to Disney+ at last making a decision. Their current co-production deal with BBC Studios and Bad Wolf ends with the upcoming mini-series The War Between the Land and the Sea. They’ve decided not to renew the deal beyond that. Therefore BBC Studios and Bad Wolf will make the 2026 Christmas Special alone. Whether they’re actively seeking a new co-production partner for next season is still unknown for now.

As recently as last week the official stance was that there would be no decision until after The War Between the Land and the Sea aired. However, it’s possible Disney came under increasingly pressure to clarify their position so work on Doctor Who’s future could begin.

 

The Christmas Special will probably answer the question: “Is Billie Piper the Doctor?”

No cast is included in the statement, but the 2026 Christmas Special will likely star Billie Piper and clarify whether she actually is the Sixteenth Doctor or not. Though Blogtor Who strongly suspects that by the end of the episode we’ll have our first glimpse of the new lead for the following season. (Whether that’s dubbed Season 42, Series 16, Season 3, or even Season 1 again.)

 

But for now it feels good to be able to finish Blogtor Who articles once more with the customary sign off…

 

Billie Piper returned to Doctor Who at the end of the 2025 season.. But is she the Doctor? DOCTOR WHO WILL RETURN on BBC One and iPlayer at Christmas next year

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Reversible Crochet Sweaters by Ana-Maria Babanica is a fabulous new book that features interlocking crochet in sweaters and accessories! With two-sided designs in XS to 5X, you'll want to take a peek inside below, and then enter to win your own copy, right here on Moogly! Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book […]

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Bridge Planet Nine (2025) Writer/Artist: Jared Throne Rating: 8.5/10 This week, I’ll review Bridge Planet Nine, a gritty sci-fi heist story by Jared Thorne. Once a thriving outpost, Bridge Planet…

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Before Dr. Doom, there was Dr. Droom, a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby creation from 1961 who was really kind of a trial run for Marvel Comics’ Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Strange. Dr.…

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Tired of spinning the same old slots and walking away with pocket change? You’re in luck. Our team waded through hundreds of the highest RTP slots across top casinos to…

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I’ve been a fan of Speed Racer for over 50 years, since I first saw his show. I’ve read his comics since the first comic by Now Comics. This has…

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SRCC Press announces the release of The Blade of Miracles #8, scheduled for October 29. As with the entire 12-issue run of The Blade of Miracles, the eighth issue is written,…

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Mark, Filmmaker Lee Kolinsky, and Hassan Godwin cover the news, Mark’s NYCC coverage, plus an exclusive with Reed Pop’s Kristina Rogers

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Available on Kickstarter Now! October 27, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) announce a thrilling limited time offer for collectibles of all stripes! The…

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Title: The First Guard # 1 Publisher: G-Man Comics Words & Letters: Eric N. Bennett Pencils & Inks: Fernando Damasio Colors: Teo Pinheiro Cover Art: Fernando Damasio & Teo Pinheiro…

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