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| Cybermen | |
| Affiliated with: | The Cyber-Force |
| Place of origin: | Mondas |
| Appearances: | See List of Appearances |
| Mentioned in: | DW: The Ultimate Foe DW: Battlefield DW: Dalek DW: Rise of the Cybermen TW: Cyberwoman DW: Time Crash SJA: Enemy of the Bane |
| Notable Individuals: | Cyber-Controller Cyber-Leader Cyber-Lieutenant Regos Krang Kroton |
The Cybermen of the Doctor's universe were a race of artificially modified near-Humans which originated on the planet Mondas, Earth's twin planet.
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The Cybermen were cybernetically augmented humanoids. Though the Cybermen varied greatly in design through time, the various versions of the Cybermen had several things in common. Nearly all were silver in colour, though, for stealth purposes, a black variety also existed in the London sewers (DW: Attack of the Cybermen). They also exhibited exposed circuitry and tubing which may contain hydraulic fluids for motion, covering a rubber or mylar-like outer skin. Cybermen frequently attempted to increase their numbers by cyber-conversion.
The Cybermen which the Doctor met on Snowcap Base in 1986 had undergone a less radical conversion and still retained biological hands. (DW: The Tenth Planet)
Cybermen encountered on the Moon's surface were entirely covered up in their metallic suits. (DW: The Moonbase)
The Snowcap Cybermen had a quavering voice which put certain inflection on certain syllables in a seemingly random, sing-song manner. (DW: The Tenth Planet) Later Cybermen spoke in more of a monotone, emphasizing their lack of emotion. (DW: The Moonbase onwards)
Cybermen had a number of major weaknesses, of which the most notable was the element gold. Gold, having a non-corrosive nature, choked their respiratory systems, a property exploited by the glittergun weapon used during the Cyber-Wars. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen, Earthshock, Silver Nemesis) On occasion, the mere touch of gold seemed toxic to them, with gold coins or gold-tipped arrows able to destroy them. (DW: Silver Nemesis) Gold also blocked their sensors and caused the cybermats to malfunction. (DWN: Revenge of the Cybermen)
Other weaknesses of the Cybermen included the combination of solvents known as Polly Cocktail (DW: The Moonbase) and excessive levels of radiation. (DW: The Tenth Planet)
Cybermen affected by the Cerebration Mentor, an emotion enhancing device, went "mad". (DW: The Invasion)
The Cybermen forces in 2526 employed the use of the Cyberlance, a powerful hand-held cutting weapon. They also made use of the Cyberscope, an observation device that allowed Cyber commanders to both view the battlefield remotely and access a computer database (containing, at least, information on their race's encounters with the Doctor). (DW: Earthshock)
Cybermen have possessed a variety of short range weapons, some in-built.
During their attack on Earth in 1986 they had large hand-held energy weapons. (DW: The Tenth Planet)
On the Moon in 2070, Cybermen possessed the power to generate arcs of electricity from their hands which had the power to stun and disable. (DW: The Moonbase)
In the 21st century, the Cybermen who attacked Space Station W3 had death rays built into their chest units. (DW: The Wheel in Space)
The Cybermen encountered by UNIT in the late 20th century had displayed these same built-in weapons as well as also carrying large rifles for medium distance combat. (DW: The Invasion)
The Cybermen who attacked the Nerva Beacon had their weapons built into their helmets, activated with a touch of a hand. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen)
Other appearances have shown them armed almost exclusively with hand-held cyber-guns. (DW: The Invasion onwards)
In 2070, the Cybermen possessed a cannon which could operate in vacuum. (DW: The Moonbase)
Cybermen in 2526 (DW: Earthshock) and the Cybermen removed by Time Scoop to the Death Zone (DW: The Five Doctors) had cyber-bombs.
Neurotrope X has acted as a means to incapacitate Humans before making an overt move. (DW: The Moonbase). On some occasions they have used a cybermat to spread the virus. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen)
"Cybermen do not subscribe to any theory of morality."-Cyberleader
Cybermen made "survival" their central objective. Since they could not reproduce naturally, they needed to reproduce by other means, via cyber-conversion. At times they have tended to focus on converting the population of Earth, at other times with simply destroying it. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)
Cybermen tended toward covert activity, scheming from hiding and using Human or other agents (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen, Earthshock, Attack of the Cybermen), cybermats or androids (DW: Earthshock) to act as their proxies until they appear.
Throughout their history, Cybermen have, for the most part, lacked individuality or names.
Some Cybermen had individual names such as Krang (DW: The Tenth Planet) or Kroton. (DWM: Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman)
Cybermen in positions of authority have included the ground level Cyber-Leader, sometimes aided by a Cyber-Lieutenant. Immobile computer-like Cyber-Planners have sometimes made decisions (DW: The Wheel in Space, The Invasion). The Cyber-Controllers, with an enlarged cranium, had, possibly, the position of highest possible authority. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen, Attack of the Cybermen)
Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of Near-Humans who originated on Earth's former twin planet, Mondas. Mondas drifted into the outer solar system and to survive, the natives of that world adapted by turning themselves into cyborgs. (DW: The Tenth Planet) Eventually, all of the Mondasians underwent forced cyber-conversion.(BFA: Spare Parts)
One group, the CyberMondasians, who retained more of their organic form, and still had personal names. Another group, the CyberFaction, left Mondas and headed for Planet 14. These eventually developed into separate groups without connection with one another. (NA: Iceberg) Yet another, the CyberNomads, would eventually head out in space. (MA: Killing Ground)
Mondas developed a drive propulsion system in place of the planet's core to move the entire world. As the original Cybermen were limited in numbers and were continually being depleted, the Cybermen decided to invade Earth. (DW: The Tenth Planet)
The Doctor and Ace fought Cybermen in 1940 London (PDA: Illegal Alien) The same team would fight them in 1950s Nevada. (DWM: The Good Soldier)
By 1970 or before, Cybermen, specifically the CyberFaction led by a Cyber-Planner (NA: Iceberg) had established a base on the dark side of Earth's Moon. The Cyber-Planner had contacted the industrialist Tobias Vaughn, the head of the International Electromatics corporation. The Cybermen had him install mind control circuits in electrical appliances manufactured by his company, paving the way for a ground invasion. They had also grafted cybernetic arms onto several of his workers. Vaughn had a Cyber-Planner installed in his office and communicated with it. The plot was uncovered by the newly formed UNIT and by the Doctor who assisted in beating off the invasion both on the ground and from the Cyberman base on the Moon. (DW: The Invasion)
From the mid 1970s through 1985, Cybermen lurked in the sewers below London, awaiting another invasion, which would come in 1986. One Cyberman's head was taken and was stored in Henry van Statten's Vault, where he collected alien artefacts. (DW: Dalek)
Cybermen in the future, having captured a time vessel, knew that the Doctor would destroy Mondas, so planned, instead, to divert Halley's Comet towards Earth. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen)
In December 1986, the Doctor met an advance force of CyberMondasians that landed near Snowcap Base in Antarctica. This advance force was to prepare for the return of Mondas to the Sol system and the draining of Earth's energy for the use of the Cybermen. Mondas absorbed too much energy and was destroyed, as were the Cybermen on Earth who depended on Mondas for power. (DW: The Tenth Planet) Following the destruction of Mondas, the Cyberman would make Lonsis their new home. (BFA/BBCR: Human Resources)
In November 1988 a Cyber-fleet of another faction was assembled to turn Earth into New Mondas now that their homeworld had been destroyed. A scouting party was sent to Earth in search of a statue made of validium called Nemesis, a Time Lord weapon. (DW: Silver Nemesis)
Roughly in the mid-2000s, Cybermen from the future (see below) would use time travel to return to Earth to announce them to the public. They hoped to flood Earth. The survivors would then, the Cybermen believed, willingly undergo cyber-conversion. (DWM: The Flood)
In 2006, Cybermen once more invaded the South Pole of Earth. (NA: Iceberg) In the same year, the Cybermen on Lonsis tried to invade Earth via the portal in the main branch of Hulbert Logistics. Lucie Miller managed to destroy them by using a quantum crystalliser to make the Cybermen and their ship rapidly rust to dust. This would see the last of the original Cybermen. (BFA/BBCR: Human Resources)
Around this same time, a version of the Cybermen from a parallel Earth crossed over from their reality and attempted an invasion of the Earth (DW: Army of Ghosts/Doomsday), and there is a record of a set of these Cybermen also causing havoc in the 19th century (DW: The Next Doctor). It remains unknown as to whether the "original" Cybermen are aware of this alternate-universe version or if they have ever interacted.
In the middle to late 21st century, Space Station W3 was the site of a takeover by Cybermen on Earth. (DW: The Wheel in Space)
In 2070, by which time Earth's weather was being controlled by the Gravitron installation in the Moonbase, Cybermen planned to use the Gravitron to disrupt the planet's weather patterns and destroy all life on the planet. (DW: The Moonbase)
The Doctor encountered Cybermen in 2191 (MA: Killing Ground)
The Cybermen had all but passed into legend when an archaeological expedition to the planet Telos found the CyberTombs, where hordes of Cybermen waited in cryogenic suspension. This tomb was sealed again (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen) and re-activated (DW: Attack of the Cybermen). It was also not the only CyberTomb. There were dozens across the galaxy and more wars were started off. Bernice Summerfield, who spoke of the Telos expedition in the past tense, discovered one in the early 27th century. (BFBS: The Crystal of Cantus)
In 2526 several planets would unite in war against the Cybermen in an event called the Cyber-Wars. A force of Cybermen tried to devastate Earth using a Cyberbomb and convert the survivors. Failing this, they hoped to crash the freighter into Earth and cause an ecological disaster. Although the attempt failed, the freighter was catapulted back in time to become the "meteor" that wiped out the dinosaurs. (DW: Earthshock)
One of the last acts of the Cybermen during this war was attempt to blow up the planet Voga in order to stop the production of glitterguns. (DWN: Revenge of the Cybermen). In the aftermath of their failure, the Cybermen were reduced to the scattered remnants (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen).
On Telos, the Cybermen plotted to change history and, as already noted, divert Halley's Comet to Earth in order to destroy it and to save Mondas. This would lead to their loss of Telos.(DW: Attack of the Cybermen)
At some point, Telos was shattered by an asteroid impact. (BFA: Telos (audio drama))
During the Orion War between humanity and a race of androids, both sides would attempt to use the long-dormant Cybermen to win the war. This would lead to both races nearly wiped out and the temporary conquest of Earth before the Cybermen resurgance was stopped. (BFA: Sword of Orion, Cyberman (audio series))
By 3286, the Cybermen had been thought dead for centuries. The Cybermen eventually developed into cyborgs indistinuishable visually from Humans. (BFA: Real Time) Later Cybermen would again use time travel and return back in time circa the 2000s to convert it. They used rain that caused extreme emotions (sadness, fear, anger) in an attempt to convert the peoples of the world. (DWM: The Flood)
By the 101st Century, the Cybermen had nearly died out. Several centuries before that, they choose a new name for their species and became pacifists. (PDA: Synthespians™)
Transcending into pure energy, the Cybermen would ultimately redeem the whole of sentient life and become the most peace loving-species in the whole of creation. (DWM: The World Shapers)
During the Dark Times on Gallifrey, the Cybermen were excluded from the games held in the Death Zone, possibly out of fear that they would pose a threat to the Time Lords should they escape. Borusa, nevertheless, having found the Game of Rassilon, transported a Cyberman squadron to the Death Zone to threaten and harass the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith. (DW: The Five Doctors)
An image of a Cyberman is one of the fears pulled from the Doctor's mind when he faces the Keller machine. (DW: The Mind of Evil) A Cyberman was among the life-forms exhibited in Vorg's Miniscope. (DW: Carnival of Monsters)
The idea from the Cybermen came from Kit Pedler's interest in new medical advances and his fears as to where they might possibly lead. Earlier conceptions of the Cyberman design would have emphasized the "man" part of the equation, but the proposed design would have cost too much money. Indeed, the televised version of The Tenth Planet featured much more human-like Cybermen, who had human hands.
Prologues to certain Target Books novelisations reflect the earlier ideas about the Cybermen, which state that perfected the science of cybernetics as a means to gain immortality. The Cybermen were the result: immortal, but at the cost of losing their humanity.
The second appearance of the Cybermen in DW: The Moonbase (pre-planned by the production team even before DW: The Tenth Planet had aired), re-designed them rather radically, making them appear much more robot-like in appearance. The Cybermen went through another major re-design in DW: The Invasion and yet another in DW: Earthshock.
As of 2009, the original Cybermen have yet to appear in the revived TV series. The new series acknowledged them on screen once when the Ninth Doctor examined a Cyberman head with fondness in DW: Dalek. Afterwards, in DW: Rise of the Cybermen, the series introduced a reimagined version of the Cybermen that had been created on a parallel Earth, and all appearances by the Cybermen since then (as of 2009) have been of this version. There has been the occasional reference to the original Cybermen: Jack Harkness also mentions them in TW: Cyberwoman, and the Daleks also acknowledge that the alternate-Earth Cybermen they encounter in DW: Doomsday are not the ones they are familiar with. The online Captain Jack's Monster Files feature has Jack refer to the Cybermen and speaks as if he was present during the Cyber-Wars. The most recent (as of 2010) appearance of the new Cybermen, in DW: The Next Doctor, muddied the waters slightly by incorporating aspects of the original Cybermen into the backstory of the "Cybus" Cybermen featured.
| Cyberman Variants |
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| N-Space Cybermen: Cyber-Controller • Cyber-Leader • Cyber-Lieutenant • Cybermats • Cyber-Planner • Cyber-Scout Pete's World Cybermen: Cyber-Controller • Cyber-Leader • Lisa Hallett • CyberKing • Cybershades |
| Aliens and Enemies of Season 4 |
|---|
| The Smugglers: Samuel Pike • Cherub • Spaniard • Jamaica • Gaptooth The Tenth Planet: Cybermen • Krail • Jarl • Talon • Krang • Shav • Gern The Power of the Daleks: Daleks • Kaled mutants • Bragen The Highlanders: Grey • Trask • Perkins The Underwater Menace: Zaroff • Fish people The Moonbase: Cybermen The Macra Terror: Macra The Faceless Ones: Chameleons • George Meadows • Spencer • Blade • Steven Jenkins • Pinto • Ann Davidson The Evil of the Daleks: Theodore Maxtible • Daleks Dalek Emperor • Humanised Daleks • Alpha • Beta • Omega • Guard Daleks |
| Aliens and Enemies of Season 12 |
|---|
| Robot: K1 • Hilda Winters • J.P. Kettlewell • Arnold Jellicoe • Short The Ark in Space: Wirrn • Noah The Sontaran Experiment: Styre • Sontarans • The Marshal • Styre's Robot Genesis of the Daleks: Davros • Nyder • Daleks • Thals • Kaleds • Kaled mutants • Mutos • Revenge of the Cybermen: Cybermen • Cyber-Leader • Kellman • Vogans • Cybermats |
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