Vortis (Doctor Who)

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Vortis
Statistics
Universe Whoniverse
Notable locations Isop Galaxy
Notable races Menoptra
Optera
Venom Grubs
Zarbi
Creator Bill Strutton
Genre Science fiction television
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Vortis is a fictional planet in the (equally fictional) Isop galaxy, created by Bill Strutton and originally featuring in six 1965 BBC episodes of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, collectively titled The Web Planet, and featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor. It also appeared in an original Doctor Who novel, Twilight of the Gods, one of the Virgin Missing Adventures range.[1] and an audio drama Return to the Web Planet produced by Big Finish Productions.

The popularity of The Web Planet meant that two of the species inhabiting Vortis, the ant-like Zarbi and the butterfly Menoptra, appeared twice in the 1966 Doctor Who Annual. One story, "Lair of the Zarbi Supremo" by David Whitaker, was released as an audio feature on the 2006 DVD release of the original adventure, read by one of its stars, William Russell.[2]

Contents

[edit] History of Vortis

The planet appears to be cold, dark and lifeless, but nevertheless supports a breathable atmosphere, water and presumably food. Before the sinister Animus took control of the planet, Vortis was covered in a flower forest, which the Menoptra hoped would return.[3]

Many years later after the Animus was apparently vanquished, Vortis drifted into the neighboring Rhumos system and was fought over by the Rhumons, who considered it a disputed territory. The Animus had also survived, until the intervention of a time traveller once more brought peace to the troubled world.

[edit] Species of Vortis

[edit] Menoptra

Doctor Who race
Menoptra
Type Bipedal insects

Resembling giant, humanoid butterflies and able to achieve space flight with their wings alone, the Menoptra were the original masters of Vortis until the Animus inveigled itself within the minds of the Zarbi. The Menoptra fled to Pictos, one of the moons of Vortis, eventually planning an invasion. Those that were captured were either killed or forced to work, once their wings had been removed by the Zarbi. That their attempt to retake their home world was a success was largely down to the efforts of the aforementioned party of time travellers.

[edit] Optera

Doctor Who race
Optera
Type Multipedal insects

In an apparent example of emerging speciation, some of the Menoptra fled underground, adapting to a subterranean environment and calling themselves the Optera. This species have lost the ability to fly, and resemble upright caterpillars, indicating that they had evolved through neoteny. They also have larger eyes than their Menoptra brethren. However, they have numerous arms and appear to 'hop' in a stylised way. With the Animus defeated, they appeared to believe that future generations of Optera would redevelop flight.

[edit] Venom Grubs

Unlike the other bipedal species of Vortis, Venom Grubs crawl along the ground. They were used as mobile weapons by the Zarbi, able to shoot venom from their snouts that proved fatal to all it touched. The Grubs were rendered harmless once the Zarbi were freed from the Animus's influence.

Venom Grubs were mentioned in the 2005 episode Boom Town, where it is implied that they are used to punish disobedient Slitheen.[4]


[edit] Zarbi

Doctor Who race
Zarbi
Type Insectoid

The Zarbi resemble giant ants, and according to the Menoptra have been used as cattle in the planet's history. These insectoids lack intelligence, and so were easily enslaved by the malevolant Animus and used against the Menoptra. When the Animus's evil influence was lifted through the intervention of a mysterious time traveller and his human companions, the Zarbi returned to their docile state.

According to the novelisation of The Web Planet,[5] the Zarbi reproduce through the "Zarbi Supremo", who acts like a queen bee. The Supremo also appeared in the 1966 Doctor Who Annual.[2]

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • The Web Planet was the first story in the history of Doctor Who to feature a completely alien supporting cast.[6]
  • As well as the ambitious goal of depicting Vortis on a limited budget, the BBC production team and writer Bill Strutton took seriously the idea of representing an alien mind. For example, on encountering a wall, one Menoptra intones: "A silent wall. We must make mouths in it with our weapons, then it will speak more light."[7]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Bulis, C. (1996). Virgin Books
  2. ^ a b "The Web Planet DVD", Doctor Who – News, BBC, 2005-09-29. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  3. ^ According to the Menoptra, Prapillus: "The Menoptra have no wisdom for war. Before the Animus came, the flower forest covered the planet in a cocoon of peace." The Web Planet.
  4. ^ "Boom Town". Doctor Who. 2005-06-04. No. 11, season 27.
  5. ^ Strutton, B. (1965). Doctor Who and the Zarbi.
  6. ^ "Web Planet author dies", Doctor Who – News, BBC, 2003-12-01. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  7. ^ The Web Planet. Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
  8. ^ "Bad Wolf". Doctor Who. 2005-06-11. No. 12, season 27.

[edit] External links

[edit] Reviews

[edit] Target novelisation

[edit] See also