Recommended reading age: 14+ / Teen. Features graphic cartoon violence, strong language and occasional gore.
Synopsis
There's no science like mad science!
Dr. Ralph Smiffington the Third is a (failed) international supercriminal notorious around the world for (equally failed) acts of infamy. Dr. Gyrode is an ex-KGB scientist blacklisted by animal rights organisations worldwide for his work on "organic batteries" (a.k.a. putting cute animals into robots). Both are mad scientists, and together they are known simply as "The Two Doctors" (or "those bloody nuisances" or "oh god not those two again, hide the valuables!").
Although both are fairly independent, they occasionally team up to combine their scientific and villainous expertise. Where there's something to be stolen, good guys to defeat and authorities to embarrass, they'll be there; often piloting their latest, "greatest" invention!
Original Character Tournaments
Original Character Tournaments (or OCs, OC tournaments or OCTs) are a competitive form of storytelling. Usually there's a "host" of sorts, the person who came up with the concept behind the tournament and a panel of judges they've picked. Prizes are usually offered, such as a subscription to deviantART's premium features and free private commissions by other obliging artists.
They were particularly popular for a period on deviantART (around 2007-2010) and the one that specifically inspired me was Endling's Endzone tournament. Steel Nation was announced shortly after Endzone and I realised I had two characters - one an evil hunchback, the other a Sonic the Hedgehog villain parody - I'd always wanted to do something with, so why not pit them in the arena against other people's characters? You can find out more about the inception of these stories here.
Co-operative Storytelling
In 2012 I fancied bringing back the Docs for one last story, but rather than engage in competitive storytelling I opted for collaborative writing instead. The Two Doctors' World Tour involved several writers and artists and is also collected together on my website too.
The Stories
You can preview the stories below. They follow in sequence, so Steel Nation takes place before the Inter-Dimensional Derby, and both of these go before the World Tour. I have acquired permission from all the relevant artists and creators required to feature their characters and host their pages on my website, but if anyone holds any objections to unfair use of their work they can contact me on my deviantART account, either via private message or comment (preferably the former!).
I never claim any ownership of characters other than my own, I credit all authors and creators where I can and no profit is made off of any of these works. I am proud to be able to showcase them collected together in one place as deviantART is not the easiest site to navigate for these things. I have also provided commentaries to each strip in order to provide context or insight into what was going on in the tournament or why I wrote a page in a particular way. I hope you enjoy the comics as much as I did putting these collections together!
Skip to Story Synopsis
What follows below are larger synopses of the three stories; click on the links below to skip down to the relevant synopsis.
Steel Nation is a mechanoid testing ground owned by a gentleman as mysterious as he is wealthy.
Each year, he holds the Machine & Technology eXpo (MTX); a trade show showing off new mech models, parts, accessories and weaponry. The biggest attraction by far is the Steel Nation tournament, inviting companies and mech enthusiasts from all around to show off what their mechs are capable of. Entry is open to anyone with a battle-ready mech, pending review by a qualified team of officials.
The tournament officials weren't expecting Dr. Ivanovich Gyrode and Dr. Ralph Smiffington III to enter the tournament with their sorry example of engineering, the "Deathbot" (it's just a slang name, honest).
It doesn't take too long before the Docs begin illegitimately nudging the odds in their favour in each round. However, it quickly becomes apparent that they might not be the most evil of influences present at the MTX...
Click here to read Steel Nation: Rise of the Two Doctors
Steel Nation was an original character tournament hosted by Dire-Musaera. It was the first appearance of the Docs online and marks one of their most memorable adventures, starting with their participation in the tournament and culminating with them fending off attacks from numerous other villains.
Steel Nation copyright © Dire-Musaera
The Inter-Dimensional Derby is a racing franchise spanning all corners of the multi-verse, founded by a race of beings known as the "Doonlup" who live on the fringes of all existing dimensions, peering in. It just so happens that what they love most is a good race!
The Doonlup began to create a gigantic station: The Garage (they're not great with names). The Garage houses living quarters, stadiums, workshops, arcade, the kitchen sink. Above all else, however, is an Inter-Dimensional Warp Core Trans-location Phase Modulator, a teleporter on a MASSIVE scale able to pluck people from any dimension or conversely send them to any dimension. It is with this device they pluck their candidates to take part in the Inter-Dimensional Derby and drop them into whatever crazy race setting they have devised.
The Doonlup also televise this event to all dimensions capable of receiving the signal. The profits from the advertising going straight back into the IDD to fund yet more racing. The incentive to WIN the IDD? One free use of the Inter-Dimensional Warp Core Trans-location Phase Modulator! The winner will be able to travel anywhere in the known and unknown multi-verse! And there's a bucket-load of cash too.
Unfortunately, one eager Doonlup invites the wrong Dr. Ralph Smiffington III to compete in the latest derby (the one who isn't cool, didn't invent rocket pants and is incredibly evil). Ralph invites his old friend, Dr. Gyrode, to help him build a dastardly race vehicle and attend the IDD with the goal of winning the Grand Prize, by hook or by crook! (Mostly by crook)
Click here to read Inter-Dimensional Derby: Return of the Two Doctors
The Inter-Dimensional Derby was an original character tournament hosted by Craig Munro. It was the second appearance of the Docs online and follows their antics through every round of the racing tournament, including a race, a demolition derby, a stunt show, a relay and a cross-dimensional checkpoint race!
Inter-Dimensional Derby copyright © Craig Munro
Dr. Ralph Smiffington III enlists his long-time associate Dr. Ivanovich Gyrode to steal schematics and parts from renowned inventor Professor Loone. Using the parts and the plans, Smiffington constructs a machine that travels across time and space with intent to use it to take over the world. How? He has no idea.
Ralph and Gyrode embark on their greatest adventure yet, travelling across the multiverse to collect items that (Ralph insists) will help conquer the world.
Unfortunately, one of the items they stole from Loone was a key element in keeping the internet active. Professor Loone A. Tic and his assistant Dr. Von Crackpot construct a machine to pursue the Docs with, hoping to stop them before it's too late.
Even worse, the Reality Police are on the Docs' tails, as they've traced an impending multiversal collapse that is tied to Smiffington's time machine. They're after the Docs for crimes against reality!
In 48 hours, both the internet and reality will cease to be. It's difficult to decide which is worse...
Join the Two Doctors as they embark on a world tour that transcends both dimensions and time, encountering a cast of colourful characters. But will time run out for them?
Click here to read The Two Doctors' Dimensional Temporal World Tour
The Two Doctors' Dimensional Temporal World Tour was the third appearance of the Docs online and follows their antics through time and space as try to take over the world! It was a collaborative story involving many artists and writers.
The Two Doctors' Dimensional Temporal World Tour, The Two Doctors, Professor Loone, Dr. Crackpot, the D.U.R.P.S and associated characters and concepts copyright © Sean Patrick Payne, except where otherwise specified.
