Skip to content

KKLAK! THE DOCTOR WHO ART OF CHRIS ACHILLÉOS

Written By:

Paul Mount
kklak

Back in the 1970s, the history of Doctor Who was largely unavailable to its legion of fans whose knowledge of the show’s legacy usually stretched no further than the episodes they could remember having seen in the previous couple of years. 1973 saw the beginning of the Target book revolution when three novelisations published in the 1960s were reissued to enormous acclaim, triggering the launch of a new series of adaptations that would, in time, open up the long mythology of the series well before the advent of home video, DVD and Blu-ray. These pocket-sized paperbacks, with their colourful and evocative covers, became essential readings for fans with only the vaguest memories of the show’s early days or who, perhaps, were barely aware that there had been any previous Doctors prior to the current incumbent. Many of the best-remembered covers from the Target range were the work of Cyprus-born artist Chris Achilléos, who created over thirty thoughtful, punchy illustrations  in his own very singular style, more often than not delivering stunning pieces of art that encapsulated the thrill of the Doctor’s adventures far better than any cover blurb.

Kklak! – the name refers to the infamous sound effect Achilléos added to his cover of Malcolm Hulke’s 1976 novelisation of 1974’s Invasion of the Dinosaurs serial – is a beautifully-presented volume that immaculately reprints all of the artist’s Target book covers in chronological order on high quality glossy paper. Each cover is presented in a full-page format without the title credits of the original publications, which makes them appear even more striking than when they first appeared, affording the opportunity for the reader to fully appreciate the composition of the pieces and Achilléos’ commendable attention to detail. Each cover is accompanied by text providing details of the release of each novel, brief story outlines for those unfamiliar with the adventures, and commentary from Achilléos himself. The artist is candid about the strengths and weaknesses of various pieces, clearly frustrated by those occasions when he was given inaccurate photographic reference material (which led to one or two covers featuring Cybermen or Daleks from different eras of the show) and justifying those illustrations where artistic licence brought a greater vivacity to images that might otherwise have undersold the book they were intended for. Achilléos isn’t afraid to criticise his own work, either, pointing out the odd cover that he feels falls short of his normal standards or compositions that don’t quite work. There are some new pieces here too, a handful of illustrations created exclusively for Kklak!, and a few private fan commissions never available to the public before.

Kklak! is a book to cherish and study at leisure. Beyond Achilléos’ own pithy comments, a section at the end of the book contains recommendations and memories by fans; many are names familiar to Who afficionados, others could have benefitted from some context explaining who they are and where they fit into the world of Target book/Chris Achilléos appreciation. But this is terrific, handsome volume, available in a highly-affordable and compact paperback edition and a pricier hardback format. It’s a wonderful nostalgia punch that any fan who lived and breathed Target books in the 1970s and 1980s really won’t be able to resist.

You can order the book directly from Candy Jar Books (where the hardback is an exclusive) or pre-order the paperback from Amazon, where it will be published on May 27th.

Paul Mount

You May Also Like...

black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More
michael keaton as beetlejuice in beetlejuice 2 trailer

First Look At Jenna Ortega In BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Trailer

Almost 40 years down the road, the infamous bio-exorcist finally returns in the first trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic film. Jenna Ortega (Wednesday,
Read More