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SFX logo

SFX magazine header

SFX is a periodical which covered science fiction- and fantasy-related media. It was launched in the UK in May 1995 by Future Publishing.

As a genre magazine, Doctor Who featured regularly in its previews/reviews and news pages, as well as being included in more generic features.

Of note to collectors is that subscribers of this title received copies that featured no words on the cover other than the SFX logo.

Although launched in 1995, it was not until SFX issue 13 that Doctor Who first graced the cover, having been off air for a few years. This marked Paul McGann's turn at playing the Time Lord. with the cover caption quote of "I thought I was going to look like a tosser!"

Doctor Who has also featured on the covers of:

  • SFX Issue 46 (SFX exclusive Tom Baker interview),
  • SFX Issue 128 (Marking a new look for the magazine and the return of Doctor Who to the screen. The Ninth Doctor and Rose "Look Who's Back! "We've come to put you back behind the sofa!",
  • SFX Issue 129 (Cover features Billie Piper "Times are Changing! Billie Piper heads up a whole new look for Doctor Who"),
  • SFX Issue 132 (with a Dalek cover "Who's next? The future of Doctor Who. Russell T Davies talks Season 2"),
  • SFX Issue 136 (a Tenth Doctor and Rose cover against a union flag heralding "Doctor Who leads our TV revolution HOPE & GLORY The new wave of British SF shows: we predict a riot!"),
  • SFX Issue 139 (The Christmas Invasion - where Russell T Davies talks exclusively to SFX revealing his plans for the new Doctor)
  • SFX Issue 142 (Tenth Doctor and Rose Series 2).
  • Indeed, such was the popularity of the new series that by SFX Issue 150 (which incidently featured a Torchwood cover and article), included a huge double sided poster, on one side showing all one hundred fifty covers, and the reverse being given over to a wallchart that showed "Doctor Who is connected/ separated from Everything (in the sci-fi fantasy world) - without resorting to actors!"

In addition to the regular issues, a further SFX Collection title is released six times a year. This focuses on a specific theme and is often packaged with "extras". Doctor Who has has had a number of these special editions, often including premiums and at a higher price. Initially, issues collected together a range of previously released material, supplementing it and updating where possible, before establishing a tradition of 100% all-new material. The publishers take pride in its independence, often using a cover flash of 100% unofficial and unauthorised.

In 2010, the SFX brand was extended with the launch of a new title, Comic Heroes, although this later ceased publication.

The magazine made a special 60th Anniversary logo to coincide with the anniversary and to put on magazines that covered it[1]. It featured on the cover of SFX Issue 360 to SFX Issue 368.

Gallery notable covers[]

Gallery of notable Who themed specials[]

External links[]

Footnotes[]

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