Doctor Who Annual 1980

Text Stories: X-Rani and the Ugly Mutants, Light Fantastic, Reluctant Warriors, Return of the Electrids, The Sleeping GuardiansComic Strips: Terror on Xaboi, The WeaponNotes: Two variations on this annual were produced. One version displayed the year 1980 on the spine, front and back cover and title page; the other did not. The reason for this anomaly is unknown but it is possible that the undated version was produced for an overseas market, since the only other difference is that it did not have the price (in British money) printed on page 3. This was the first of only two annuals to use the late seventies series logo, and the series name underwent a slight change from The Dr Who Annual to Doctor Who Annual. The companions were the First Romana and K9. The first story featured a female villain called X-Rani, years before Kate O'Mara's character appeared in the TV series. A quarter of the book was taken up with puzzles and stock features. Paul Crompton left World towards the end of 1979, after completing work on this annual, which featured his best work. Romana actually looked like Mary Tamm in most instances. Although Crompton did not get credited on this annual, some of his artwork was signed. The Weapon was a particularly graphically violent comic strip, featuring blood gushing from an arm wound. The story was Crompton's personal favourite and was inspired by the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Crompton got a lot of references for faces for this strip from the Sunday Times Magazine, and added the armour on afterwards. The other comic strip, Terror on Xaboi, was created by Mel Powell. The annual was published under the new World & Whitman logo and was printed in Italy; the first Doctor Who annual to be printed outside the UK since the 1974 annual.