Prepare to experience Joy with the festive Doctor Who issue of SFX

The cover of SFX issue 386, plus the art cards and poster that come with it.
(Image credit: Future)

Ncuti Gatwa and guest star Nicola Coughlan are the cover stars of SFX issue 386, which comes with some great gifts. Firstly, there's a pair of A4 Doctor Who art cards: one features the artwork from the Season 25 Blu-ray box set; the other is a faux propaganda poster featuring Helen A and Fifi from "The Happiness Patrol". But if gore is more your thing, there's also a double-sided A2 Terrifier 3 poster

Don't forget: if you live in the UK you can use this tool to find a stockist near you. Or you can order a copy online.

Doctor Who

Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s almost that time again... We look forward to the latest Doctor Who Christmas special, “Joy to the World”, by speaking to writer Steven Moffat for a seven-page feature.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Two kids riding a flying vehicle.

(Image credit: Future)

Younglings are the focus of the latest Star Wars TV series, which follows four 10-year-olds from a backwater planet who get lost in the Star Wars galaxy and have to find their way back home. We find out more from showrunner Jon Watts.

Nosferatu

Nosferatu's shadow on some curtains, with an expectant Ellen waiting for him.

(Image credit: Future)

Count Orlok returns to stalk your local Odeon in the latest historical chiller by Robert Eggers, a new version of FW Murnau’s 1922 silent classic. We speak to the director and Orlok himself, Bill Skarsgård, for a nine-page feature.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

A stern-looking Helm Hammerhand.

(Image credit: Future)

Hark, what’s that distant sound? Could it be the Horn of Helm Hammerhand? Ah no, just the next door neighbour practising their saxophone – my bad. Anyway, we’ll be finding out more about HH’s family in a new anime movie. Producer Philippa Boyens explains what we can expect from this cinematic return to Middle-earth. 

The Box of Delights

Kay Harker and magical Punch and Judy man Cole Hawlings standing in the snow.

(Image credit: Future)

Have you started watching it yet? A viewing of the BBC’s 1984 children’s TV series has become a festive tradition for many. To coincide with the release of a new Blu-ray edition, we speak to director Renny Rye and Devin Stanfield (who played young hero Kay Harker) for an eight-page retrospective.

A Ghost Story for Christmas

Jack (Éanna Hardwicke) standing over a knight's tomb.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of festive traditions, one that’s been revived recently (thanks to Mark Gatiss) is mounting a spooky one-off drama. The latest is an adaptation – well, more of an expansion, actually – of E Nesbit’s classic short story “Man-Size In Marble”. We visit the set and spy on Gatiss and the cast.

But that’s not all, feature-wise!  Ahead of the release of a new Critters box set by Arrow Video, we look back at the 1986 original in the company of star Dee Wallace. We also present a breakdown of a gory sequence we saw on our Terrifier 3 set visit, which was too spoilerific to discuss a few issues back. Plus we profile comics writer Gail Simone on the occasion of the release of her first novel. 

Red Alert

A backpack-carrying Jessica Frances Dukes as Emma.

(Image credit: Future)

As ever, our news section Red Alert shines a light on yet more TV series, books and comics. In the spotlight this issue: Post-apocalyptic series Earth Abides; DC animation Creature Commandos; fantasy romcom Your Monster; oddball Guy Maddin movie Rumours; Sonic the Hedgehog 3; and the latest Batman, New Gods, TVA and Hawk the Slayer comics.

Reviews

Two pages of film reviews.

(Image credit: Future)

The SFX verdict on Wicked kicks off 21 pages of searing critical analysis, as we inform you which of the latest films, TV shows, books, comics, audio plays, and video games are worth splashing your hard-earned cash on!

Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan on the cover of SFX issue 386.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy this issue as a digital edition

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You can purchase a digital single issue (or digital subscription) directly from us via MagazinesDirect. Just click on the down arrow next to "rolling subscription" and select the "single issue" option.

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Deputy Editor, SFX

Ian Berriman has been working for SFX – the world's leading sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine – since March 2002. He's also a regular writer for Electronic Sound. Other publications he's contributed to include Total Film, When Saturday Comes, Retro Pop, Horrorville, and What DVD. A life-long Doctor Who fan, he's also a supporter of Hull City, and live-tweets along to BBC Four's Top Of The Pops repeats from his @TOTPFacts account.