Embedded Files
Please follow my Instagram if you found this site helpful!
The National Rollout (Main Magazine Series)
Following the overwhelming success of the regional Westcountry and Grampian test runs, GE Fabbri officially unleashed the national Main Release of Doctor Who: Battles in Time across the United Kingdom on the 20th of September 2006. Supported by a massive £1 million television advertising blitz across terrestrial and satellite channels, the magazine hit retail shelves as a premium, fortnightly (every two weeks) publication.
The publisher's staggering initial blueprint aimed to distribute 9 million magazines and 1.5 million trading card booster packs over a strict two-year window, originally scheduled to conclude at Issue 52 in September 2008.
However, public demand completely shattered these expectations. Instead of wrapping up at Issue 52, the print run was extended by an additional nine months—ultimately stretching to 70 issues before drawing to a triumphant close in June 2009. Throughout this legendary three-year run, every single issue was packaged with at least one free booster pack of cards, sold at newsagents nationwide and major superstores like Sainsbury’s.
The Anatomy of a Battles in Time Magazine
While the specific characters and episodes shifted every fortnight to keep pace with the television series, the internal editorial structure of the national print run followed a specific formula. Excluding a few late-run format changes, each standard issue of Battles in Time was meticulously packed with the following regular features and columns:
Gameplay Mechanics & Strategy
Alternative Rules Checklists: A dedicated section introducing unique game variations, alternative win conditions, or custom rules to keep the trading card game fresh. (Note: This feature was permanently retired from Issue 61 onwards).
The Deck Doctor Column: Strategic breakdowns analysing card synergies, meta-game deck construction, and tactical play styles to help collectors build competitive decks. (Note: This feature officially debuted in Issue 2, meaning Issue 1 is the only copy to lack a Deck Doctor section).
Deck Doctor Puzzles: Interactive, tactical brain-teasers that tasked readers with solving complex, turn-based card scenarios using specific card hand setups. (This feature was introduced as a replacement staple starting in Issue 61).
Head-to-Head Card Comparisons: Visual, stat-based breakdowns pitting iconic rivals directly against each other to analyse how their attributes stacked up in the game (e.g., Rose vs. Cassandra, The Doctor vs. The Dalek Emperor, or Captain Jack vs. The Empty Child).
Whoniverse Lore & Scenarios
Episode Story Guides: Granular breakdowns of individual Doctor Who episodes, complete with custom tabletop scenarios allowing players to reenact the events of the episode using their card collections.
Monster Fold-Out Guides: Premium, panoramic pull-out sheets focusing on a different creature or faction each issue, complete with strategic archival cross-references listing every trading card that featured that specific monster.
Behind-the-Scenes Production Diaries: Insider features pull-quoting the production crew, detailing special effects secrets, prosthetics work, and how iconic creature shots were achieved on set.
Comic Strips & Art Showcases
The Official Battles in Time Comic Strip: Fully licensed, exclusive comic adventures brought to life by legendary Doctor Who artists. John Ross handled illustration duties for the pivotal launch arc (Issues 1 to 6), before handing the reins over to classic companion artist Lee Sullivan. The entire run featured rich, vibrant coloring work by Alan Craddock.
The Dalek Wars Gallery: Breathtaking, sprawling artwork segments depicting the chaotic, Dalek conflicts.
Puzzles & Interactive Features
Time-Lord Teasers: A collection of highly immersive, Doctor Who-themed puzzles, word searches, and crosswords.
Personality Profiles: The iconic "Which hero or monster are you?" back-page quizzes used to match readers' personalities with characters from the show.
Main Set Issue 1
Below is the definitive high-definition archive gallery of the nationwide Main Release Issue 1 as it appeared on retail counters across the UK on the 20th of September 2006. While this layout shares its general composition with the early regional pilot, checking the front panel and reverse backing card reveals the six finalized design changes that went nationwide:
The Red Price Corner: The promotional "£1.50" price flash in the corner was officially changed to a solid red block, completely replacing the bright yellow color utilized in the test markets.
The Orange/Red Mounting Column: The vertical cardboard strip where the card booster packs are physically attached was updated from a solid flat red to a bright, energetic orange/red hue.
Finalized Card Rarity Indicators: Look closely at the preview card graphics printed directly on the packaging. Unlike the test mock-ups, the cards are now displayed with their correct rarity symbols stamped clearly in the bottom-left corners.
The Radial Blur Background: The deep blue space background framing the entire display card was changed to an abstract, high-speed radial motion blur design, completely retiring the distinct circular Time Vortex tunnel pattern.
The Retail Poster Design: The giant pull-out wall poster included inside this national edition features a completely different layout and composition compared to the pilot version.
National Leaflet Variants: The promotional subscription inserts and subscription leaflets tucked inside the pages feature updated text layouts, national pricing tiers, and standardized retail boundaries.
Main Set Issue 2
This image offers a fascinating look at how GE Fabbri tweaked the product based on feedback from the pilot test markets while managing their existing printing materials:
The Cellophane Carryover: If you inspect the outer cellophane wrapping on this national release closely, you will see a strange anomaly: the preview graphics of the trading cards completely lack rarity symbols. This is because the publishers directly reused the printed plastic wrap stock from the Test Issue 2 run to minimize manufacturing waste.
The Upgraded TARDIS Console Box: In the regional pilot, the TARDIS required cardboard cut-outs to keep the trading cards in place. For this wide retail release, the design was updated so that the TARDIS no longer requires manually made card cut-outs to hold your cards in place, creating a much more functional storage solution out of the box.
Front Cover Shift: The retail version features a prominent Cyberman design on the cover, completely altering the visual identity from the early pilot cover layouts. Additionally changing the original Cyberman on the cover to a generic Cyberman rather than the Cyber Leader seen on screen,
Main Set Issue 3
This issue was highly anticipated by collectors as it contained the final physical component required to complete the free TARDIS card-storage case. While it closely follows the overall format of the regional pilot, there are two distinct differences to note:
The Streamlined TARDIS Lid Design: In contrast to the thick, highly rigid cardboard construction found in the Test Set variant, the national Main Set version of the TARDIS Lid was manufactured using a noticeably thinner, less robust plastic. While easier to mass-produce, it was significantly less durable over long-term wear and tear.
The Krillitane Cover Art Swap: The visual identity of the front cover was completely overhauled for the national market. The retail version features a fierce, prominent Krillitane (from the Series 2 episode School Reunion), entirely replacing the early pilot's Sycorax artwork layout.
Aside from these production and aesthetic shifts, the core insert structure remained identical to the pilot, successfully concluding the franchise's introductory storage kit rollout.
The Retail Leaflet Redesigns (Issues 1–3)
Because the regional test markets had already proven the massive demand for the series, GE Fabbri completely eliminated the feedback questionnaires from the national rollout. However, Issues 1, 2, and 3 still arrived packed with promotional leaflets. These marketing inserts were completely revamped, shifting away from prototype layouts to reflect the finalized, nationwide product.
Collectors sorting through loose vintage leaflets can look out for three major graphic overhauls that separate the final retail inserts from their rare pilot counterparts:
The Exterminator 'Run-Down' Leaflet: The primary fold-out flyer introducing the card game was completely redesigned. While the test version only displayed the initial 85 pilot cards, the new national leaflet proudly showcased finalized card stock complete with rarity symbols, even previewing cards numbered well past the 85 mark.
The Blue Retail Order Leaflet: The order-form flyer received a complete aesthetic flip. The pilot version featured a Dalek set against a bright orange backdrop. The final national version abandoned this entirely for a crisp, blue theme, replacing the Dalek with a prominent graphic of Exterminator booster packs and an added retail reminder stating that "all good newsagents" would carry extra packs for purchase.
The Cyberman Subscription Reminder: The promotional TARDIS leaflet urging readers to subscribe to the series underwent a major character swap. The front of the pilot leaflet featured the Tenth Doctor and Rose inside the console room; the retail version replaced them with a menacing Cyberman within the TARDIS. On the reverse side, the artwork of the Doctor was swapped out for a Dalek.
Notable Issues
Issue 12 was the first magazine that followed the release of the Annihilator set. Although most sets contained a separate pack of each set, Issue 12 was unique in offering only a dual pack in addition to the Exterminator pack. The Annihilator cards were the only set never to have separate Annihilator packs with magazines.
Issue 26 came wrapped in decorated cellophane and included two Invader packs.
Similar to Issue 26, Issue 39 came within a cellophane wrapper, containing two packs of cards. One Invader and a brand new Ultimate Monsters pack.
The last of the Battles in Time magazines to come with cellophane packaging. Instead, they opted for a sticker rather than printed plastic. It contained two packs of devastator packs, each containing 12 cards. Some packs, however, included only 2 cards due to a quality control issue.
Issue 63 contained a pack of Adventurer cards commemorating The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was the only magazine to come with three different set packs.
Issue Covers
20th September 2006
Came with 2 Exterminator Packs
4th October 2006
Came with Part 1 of the Tardis Holder and 1 Exterminator Pack
18th October 2006
Came with Part 2 of the Tardis Holder
and 1 Exterminator Pack
1st November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
15th November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
29th November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
13 December 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
27th December 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
10th January 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
24th January 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
7th February 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack
21st February 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack and 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
7th March 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
21st March 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
4th April 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
18th April 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
2nd May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
16th May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
30th May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
13th June 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
27th June 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
11th July 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
25th July 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
8th August 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
22nd August 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack
5th September 2007
Came with 2 Invader Packs
Cellophane Presentation Pack
19th September 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
3rd October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
17th October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
31st October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
14th November 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
28th November 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
12th December 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
26th December 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack
9th January 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack
23rd January 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack
6th February 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack
20th February 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack
5th March 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack and 1 Ultimate Monsters Pack
19th March 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
2nd April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
16th April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
30th April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
14th May 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
28th May 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
11th June 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
25th June 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
9th July 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
23rd July 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
6th August 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
20th August 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
3rd Septmber 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack
17th September 2008
Came with 2 Devastator Packs
1st October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
15th October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
29th October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
12th November 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
26th November 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
10th December 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
24th December 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack
7th January 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
21st January 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack, 1 Ultimate Monsters pack and the Adventurer SJA Pack
4th February 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
18th February 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
4th March 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
18th March 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
1st April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
15th April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
29th April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
13th May 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse