Beyond Vision Dalek Serials

Way back in the 'Before Times', there was a VHS label called 'Beyond Vision'. It was actually an encompassing brand name for Warner Home Video's Sci-fi titles. There was a trailer on each video extolling the virtues of the line. Titles included 'Blade Runner', 'Highlander', some of the Doug Mclure fantasy films of the 70s and a rather nice widescreen transfer of 'Forbidden Planet' with a stereo soundtrack. They also lumped in their episodic releases of 'Babylon 5' which actually ran longer that the label itself. 

In amongst these titles were the two Aaru 'Doctor Who' movies from the 60s. Both were nicely remastered in widescreen - unlike the previous VHS releases. 

I was quite taken at the time with the design of the artwork - grey metallic background, formal lettering and a typically 90s sci-fi logo of a glowy bald guy staring at a framework globe. It had a formal look but seemed to suggest it was taking the product range seriously for a change. 

I've recreated that branding for two new video covers that juxtapose the original movie design with ones for the original TV episodes. There's a few gags in there but I'm quite pleased with the authenticity of the designs. I even made an authentic 'Dalek Invasion of Earth' saucer in Photoshop. 

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Classic Doctor Who Film Posters

Here's a final selection of Doctor Who cinema posters created during lockdown. No logic to the choice of titles. I just had an idea and went with it. 

Particularly pleased with the one for The Daleks - so pleased I used Japanese text on it. The upper line is the title of the series - taken from the official logo - whilst the lower line is the title taken from the Japanese printing of the novelisation which is loosely translated as "Space-Time great Blood War" or something like that.

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Old Doctors, New Annuals...

Here's a selection of new annual covers using the classic Doctors. Each of the covers is based on the design for that year. 

I did this as a belated follow-up to the popular thirteenth Doctor on classic annuals that I did a few years ago. The link to them is here. 

Surprisingly, I haven't received any trolling from the so-called 'NotMyDoctor' faction this time. 

Well, not for these anyway... 

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Thank you.

60s Spin-off Annuals For Dr Who Companions

The 2020 annuals are about to filter their way onto the shelves of WHSmith so now seems as good a time as any to do a few more covers for annuals that could've been.

Here's a selection of spin-off annuals for some of Dr Who's companions from the 1960s - done in a period style. 

Hope you like. 

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Four Alternative Covers For The Daleks' Master Plan LP

I make no excuse that one of my favourite ancient Doctor Who serials is the epic 'The Daleks Master Plan'. The soundtrack is being released on vinyl shortly - yes, all thirteen episodes of it (including the 'Mission to the Unknown' prologue episode). The cover is lovely. Don't get me wrong. Very stylish and atmospheric.

I've done a few alternative versions of my own - including one that harkens back to the 1979 LP of 'Genesis of the Daleks'. 

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Dr Who LPs for Worlds Records Shop Day 2019!

I see they are releasing two classic Doctor Who soundtracks on vinyl for Record Store Day this year. Well, they seem to do something like this every year now. The covers for Galaxy Four and Destiny of the Daleks are online now and look very nice and artistic... if a little bit TOO modern for my tastes. Naturally I like harkening back to the past and that rebellious, pseudo-punk cover that was produced to accompany the original release of Genesis of the Daleks by BBC Records back in 1979. 


Here's two designs what I have done that keep to the style of that original design classic...

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Great Cult TV Christmas Presents of Yore!

A selection (well, three) of toys that may have filled the sacks of eager young cult TV fans in days gone by.

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A few unofficial 60s Doctor Who LPs...

Someone brought up the subject of Russ Conway on Twitter last week and it reminded me of the LP we had when I was a toddler. "Russ Conway's Family Favourites" on which the popular pianist hammered out renditions of such standard melodies as "Keep Right On Till The End Of The Road", "MacNamara's Band" and other 'lost' delights from a bygone era. I seem to recall a scratch on the record during "MacNamara's Band" resulting in the last few notes repeating endlessly. That's what "MacNamara's Band" means to be... 

Anyhow, here's Russ Conway's collection of Doctor Who music what he recorded and released back in the late 60s. Like everything else on this blog, it's unavailable. 

As are the other two LPs...

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Four Doctor Whos... One Radio Times Cover!

Here's the first four Doctor Whos on the cover of the current Whittaker-flavoured Radio Times. 

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The New (Old) Radio Times...

The new Radio Times is out with Jodie Whittaker adorning the cover. Kudos to their designer for not cluttering it with any headlines, straplines and other lettering things - other than the masthead, date and the bar code. Very striking.

Anyhow, I put the cover through a time distortion field and came up with this little effort...

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London 1965!!!

Twitch has happened since I last properly updated the blog. Every complete story from TV's Dr Who (except some) is being streamed by the popular gaming interweb site. 

Being a fifty-four year old, I had never heard of Twitch... but it's apparently very popular with the youngsters who like watching other youngsters playing video games and making comments about their performance. It's a bit like when you're playing on the Penny Drops machine at the arcade with someone is looking over your shoulder and suggesting better tactics for winning, I suppose.

Anyhow, many of the excitable young folk are now experiencing old Doctor Who episodes for the first time. As such, their comments are a real eye-opener. It seems they don't mind watching black and white programmes. And Ian and Barbara's subtle relationship is one of the early episodes' highlights for them. 

There's a trailer that runs in between each episode (sometimes repeated several times) which features a myriad of clips and soundbites. One of these is the shot of Ian Chesterton arriving back on Earth at the end of The Chase and exclaiming "London. 1965!". The phrase "London 1965" has rapidly become the trademark meme of the Twitch event. It's even one of the headlines on the front cover of the current Doctor Who magazine. 

Not wanting to be left out of a Doctor Who meme, here's my take on it...

With the success of the Twitch Doctor Who marathon, are the gates are now open to other classic TV shows getting the same treatment? 

 

Even More Doctor Who DVD Covers in the style of Target Books...

Six more little variants on a theme...