when he first appeared in "the shape shifter" (dwm #88-#89), written by steve parkhouse with art by john ridgway, frobisher was a private investigator calling himself "avan tarklu" (a play on the phrase "haven't a clue"). he came across the doctor when an enemy of the time lord, josiah dogbolter, had placed a bounty on the doctor in an effort to acquire his secrets and his tardis. after infiltrating the tardis, instead of turning the doctor in for the money, tarklu decided that he liked the time lord and helped him against dogbolter; both split the advance bounty tarklu had been given from dogbolter. he then joined the doctor on his journeys. he assumed the name of frobisher because he felt that it sounded british and thought that the doctor would like that.