Autopia (Doctor Who comic)
Encyclopedia
Autopia is the name of an IDW
one-shot comic that based on the British
science fiction television
series Doctor Who
. It is written by John Ostrander
and illustrated by Kelly Yates. It was first printed in June 2009 and features the Tenth Doctor
and companion Donna Noble
.
on the planet Autopia, however he has difficulty in passing the barrier that is protecting the planet. After breaking through the barrier, he and Donna decide to take a look.
The planet is perfect and the Doctor starts to wonder about a mission referred to as the Chronos Mission. He explains to Donna that the mission included five sentients who, like them, passed the barrier to invite the Autopians to rejoin the Universe. Inside, they discover robots everywhere. They perform all tasks.
After forcing a robot to take the two of them to its mistress, the Doctor finds that there's nothing to do on the planet as, with the help of the robots, everything is perfect. The Doctor begs to differ, stating that everything is stagnant. He then finds out the five sentients were killed on arrival to the planet. The mistress informs them that all intruders die and that they are no exception.
They are placed in the solar furnace
, there to be incinerated. As the solar furnace begins to heat up, the Doctor talks to the robot. Donna names it Sam, after her cat. Sam is aware that what he is doing is morally wrong and wishes that he could stop it. Seconds before their death, Sam finally gives in and turns off the machine. Sam realises that he's committed so many of these crimes and asks the Doctor to end his life. Donna asks the Doctor to just upgrade him instead, however the Doctor tells her that all the robots are linked and that by giving one freedom, he will be giving them all freedom, and that that may have a catastrophic effect on the culture of Autopia.
The Doctor gives in and decides to upgrade him and hours later, Sam finds himself able to ponder things that were before prohibited. He realises that he is not just a robot. He is a slave. Things get worse as all of the robots decide to take revenge by herding up the Autopians and preparing for their deaths. The Doctor makes Sam remember the lesson about killing being morally wrong and he understands. He releases them and promises to better his people.
Donna reckons that the Autopians and Sam's people should work together and create a leisure planet, thus improving the culture of the planet and giving them something to do. The Doctor is stunned by how amazing the idea is and they return later for a quick sunbathe.
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
one-shot comic that based on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It is written by John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
and illustrated by Kelly Yates. It was first printed in June 2009 and features the Tenth Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
and companion Donna Noble
Donna Noble
Donna Noble is a fictional character played by Catherine Tate in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A secretary from Chiswick, London, she is a companion of the Tenth Doctor, appearing in one scene at the end of the final episode of the 2006 series,...
.
Synopsis
The Doctor is attempting to land the TARDISTARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
on the planet Autopia, however he has difficulty in passing the barrier that is protecting the planet. After breaking through the barrier, he and Donna decide to take a look.
The planet is perfect and the Doctor starts to wonder about a mission referred to as the Chronos Mission. He explains to Donna that the mission included five sentients who, like them, passed the barrier to invite the Autopians to rejoin the Universe. Inside, they discover robots everywhere. They perform all tasks.
After forcing a robot to take the two of them to its mistress, the Doctor finds that there's nothing to do on the planet as, with the help of the robots, everything is perfect. The Doctor begs to differ, stating that everything is stagnant. He then finds out the five sentients were killed on arrival to the planet. The mistress informs them that all intruders die and that they are no exception.
They are placed in the solar furnace
Solar furnace
A solar furnace is a structure that captures sunlight to produce high temperatures, usually for industry. This is done with a curved mirror that acts as a parabolic reflector, concentrating light onto a focal point...
, there to be incinerated. As the solar furnace begins to heat up, the Doctor talks to the robot. Donna names it Sam, after her cat. Sam is aware that what he is doing is morally wrong and wishes that he could stop it. Seconds before their death, Sam finally gives in and turns off the machine. Sam realises that he's committed so many of these crimes and asks the Doctor to end his life. Donna asks the Doctor to just upgrade him instead, however the Doctor tells her that all the robots are linked and that by giving one freedom, he will be giving them all freedom, and that that may have a catastrophic effect on the culture of Autopia.
The Doctor gives in and decides to upgrade him and hours later, Sam finds himself able to ponder things that were before prohibited. He realises that he is not just a robot. He is a slave. Things get worse as all of the robots decide to take revenge by herding up the Autopians and preparing for their deaths. The Doctor makes Sam remember the lesson about killing being morally wrong and he understands. He releases them and promises to better his people.
Donna reckons that the Autopians and Sam's people should work together and create a leisure planet, thus improving the culture of the planet and giving them something to do. The Doctor is stunned by how amazing the idea is and they return later for a quick sunbathe.