5DA Forty Vol 2: The Auton Infinity Out Now (Spoilers Ok)

Pumped for this, as I've always thought Culshaw does a fantastic Ainley (much better than his Delgado), and he has the most can meet the most Doctors without getting too timey-wimey. Not sure why they're not crediting him on the page as The Master in addition to Kamleion and Lethbridge-Stewart, but maybe that'll change. Maybe this will be a soft rollout for Ainley's Master.

I'm excited for this too. BF get some stick for their marketing, but there's always a steady trickle of news, covers and story information to keep things interesting - and I'm really looking forward to The Fifth Doctor's first six-parter. The low-key inclusion of The Master is another reason to be excited. Wonderful.

After the incredible first volume, I am absolutely DYING to get my hands on this! Plus a new Master voice!

I think this has to be the most uninspiring announcement from the new sets so far. I understand it’s a celebration of the Fifth Doctor, but the variety of TARDIS teams and the underlying arc addresses that. Not a returning monster every story and now throwing in the Master, the Brigadier & Kamelion, I just rolled my eyes more and more with each passing paragraph in that news article.

The Master I can just about understand. It’s a parallel with Terror of the Autons, the first full cast outing for Ainley’s Master and a regular during Davison’s tenure. But we’ve just had a string of Kamelion stories recently and I thought I, Kamelion would’ve been his participation in the anniversary; I’d much prefer just Tegan and Turlough, as they’re lacking in content really. And the Brigadier cropped up in two of their stories on screen as it is!

It feels as though there’s a strong concept without all the returning elements, which really bogged down the first set. The Auton Infinity might be different, but it just seems to knuckle down more.

Only the second Auton story to feature a Doctor in 23 yrs, oh we better late than never.

Here BF take my Lizzie Windsors.

Should really say...

Peter Davison · Janet Fielding · Mark Strickson · Jon Culshaw · Jon Culshaw · Jon Culshaw

...shouldn't it?!

Beautiful artwork just wish they changed the title from Forty 2 to The Auton Infinity

BF nowadays have a tendency to grab an idea and run with it. I don't want to criticse John Culshaw, but he's doing quite a lot for BF, particularly considering how under-used Nicholas Courtney was back in the day. Is it better for BF to go for nostalgia, or for entirely new stuff, or is there a happy medium?

I'm in the 'new stuff' camp here. I don't mind styles being emulated so much, but as long as a new story is being told. However there are exceptions.

I agree about the overuse of Culshaw even though I think he's a fine performer and narrator. Certainly three times in one story seems excessive, especially as Kamelion doesn't really work/isn't needed as a companion, and intrudes on a much under used team already. The 2019 trilogy covered most of the bases for me as a listener. Maybe the Brigadier could be restricted to The Third Doctor adventures for a while after this as well. Guest appearances are fine but overuse is destroying the novelty a tad. I'm looking forward to seeing how Ainley's Master is captured here, more than anything else. If that bodes well I would certainly like to see the incarnation crop up again, now and again. Likewise, this doesn't mean every Fifth/Sixth/Seventh Doctor set for the next three years! 

Ironically, the main thing that is marring this release for me is the 'new' Forty theme of the Doctor going up and down his own timeline. I didn't care for the first release and don't think it will bring anything to this one either. 

Happy to be proved wrong though. I have been in the past and am always the first to admit it. And despite all of the above I am looking forward to this release!