Cyberman: Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{cleanup}}
{{cleanup|Images are overlapping text.}}{{Oou}}{{Infobox Species
{{Infobox Species
|image= [[file:Original_Cybermen_Silver_Nemesis.jpg|250px]]
|image = [[file:Cyber-Leader.png|250px]]
|Species name = Cyberman
|Species name = Cyberman
|type = [[human]]-derived [[cyborg]]
|aka=
|aka = human.2
|type= [[Cyborg]]s (originally [[Near-Human]])
|affiliation = [[Cybus Industries]]<br>[[The Alliance]]
|affiliation= The [[Cyber-Force]]
|origin = [[Pete's World|Parallel Earth]]
|origin= [[Mondas]]
|appearances = [[Cybermen (Pete's World) - List of Appearances|List of Appearances]]
|appearances= See [[Cybermen - List of Appearances|List of Appearances]]
|mentions = <ul><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Smith and Jones]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp]]''</li><li>[[TW]]: ''[[Greeks Bearing Gifts]]''</li><li>[[SJA]]: ''[[The Mad Woman in the Attic]]''</li></ul>
|mentions= <ul><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The Ultimate Foe]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Dalek]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'' / ''[[Age of Steel]]''</li><li>[[TW]]: ''[[Cyberwoman]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Time Crash]]''</li><li>[[SJA]]: ''[[Enemy of the Bane]]''</li><li>[[SJA]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor]]''</li></ul>                                                                                                  |individuals  = <ul><li>[[Cyber-Controller]]</li><li>[[Cyber-Leader]]</li><li>[[Cyber-Lieutenant]]</li><li>[[Regos Krang]]</li><li>[[Kroton (Cyberman)|Kroton]]
|individuals = [[CyberKing]]<br>[[Lisa Hallett]]<br>[[Cyber-Control (Cybus)]]<br>[[Cyber-Lord (The Next Doctor)|Cyber-Lord]]<br>[[Cyber-Leader (Pete's World)]]<br>[[John Lumic]]<br>[[Cybershade]]<br>[[Mercy Hartigan]]
}}{{big toc}}
}}{{Semi-protect}}
:''For the Cybermen of [[Cybus Industries]], see [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|here]]. For other uses of Cyberman, see [[Cyberman (disambiguation)|here]].''
:''For the Original Cyberman, see [[Cyberman]]. See also [[Cyberman (disambiguation)]].''
The '''Cybermen''' of [[the Doctor]]'s [[universe]] were a race of artificially modified [[near-Human]]s which originated on the [[planet]] [[Mondas]], [[Earth]]'s [[twin planet]].
One type of '''Cyberman''' originated in [[Pete's World|another universe]], where they were created by [[John Lumic]], the owner of [[Cybus Industries]]. His Cybermen believed that all people must be "upgraded" to Cyber-form so that information is never lost and that the humans physical and emotional weaknesses are abolished.


==Characteristics==
==Characteristics==
===Conversion===
===Physical characteristics===
[[Cyber-conversion]] involved painfully removing the [[brain]] of the subject and placing it within a suit of armour. The brain was preserved in a cradle of Cybus-copyrighted chemicals and welded to the exo-skeleton, to which cyber-kinetic impulses were bonded. Once complete, the newly developed Cyberman had a special implant placed within them, which prevented them from feeling their emotions. However, if the implants were disrupted, then the Cybermen entered into a traumatic state as they were overloaded by the pain of the conversion, resulting in them dying in agony or their heads exploding from the overload of emotions. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'' / ''[[The Age of Steel]]'')
The Cybermen were [[cyborg|cybernetically]] augmented [[humanoid]]s. 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, with the exception of a a black variety which also existed in the [[London sewers]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]''). They also exhibited exposed circuitry and tubing which may have contained hydraulic fluids for motion, covering a rubber or mylar-like outer skin. Cybermen frequently attempted to increase their numbers by [[cyber-conversion]].


In times of emergency, cyber-conversion consisted of only constructing a Cyber-suit around a living being with some internal modifications. ([[TW]]: ''[[Cyberwoman]]'') The living being would eventually age, die and decay, but the suit would still function, searching for a new living being to assimilate. Once found, the suit would eject its previous inhabitant and forcefully take over the new component. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
:''It seems that the evolution of the Cybermen has not proceeded in a linear fashion or in the same way in the same places.''


===Operation===
[[file:Cyberman_classic.jpg|thumb|160px|left|A Cyberman Mark IV. {{fact}}]]
The Cyber-suit was constructed from bulletproof steel. A chest plate with the Cybus Industries logo housed a "heart of steel", the function of which is unclear, and the emotional inhibitor chip. The brain was contained within the head. Artificially grown nervous tissue was threaded throughout the body so the Cyberman responded like a fully biological organism. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Age of Steel]]'')
The [[CyberMondasian]]s which the [[First Doctor|First Doctor]] met on [[Snowcap Base]] in [[1986]] had undergone a less radical conversion and still retained biological hands; it is possible these Cybermen were prototypes. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
[[file:Cyberface2.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Inside the Cyberman's helmet. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')]]


Without a brain inserted, the Cyber-suit was a robot which apparently had sufficient processing capacity to pursue and attack a human target, even it's head alone. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Age of Steel]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
All other Cybermen were entirely covered up in their metallic suits. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'' onwards) Cybermen of the [[CyberFaction]] invaded Earth ''before'' 1986, co-existing with the CyberMondasians, "MK I" versions. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')


Typically, Cybermen were led by a [[Cyber-Leader (Cybus)|Cyber Leader]] during conversion missions. If the Cyber Leader was terminated then the Cybermen downloaded the shared files and nominate a new Cyber Leader. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
[[file:Cyberm1_tenth_planet.jpg|thumb|160px|A Cyberman Mark I. {{fact}} ]]
Many versions of Cybermen such as those from the CyberFaction and [[CyberTelosian]]s were slim, but with the [[CyberNeomorph]]s in the 26th century the standard was to have bulkier, more imposing forms. ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'') Cybermen like this also existed in the 1980s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'')
''It has been suggested that the bulkier Cybermen in the 1980s were actually CyberNomads from the future.([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')''


===Weapons and technology===
:''It is presumed that inside the more advanced Cybermen, there still existed organic components and they are not completely mechanical, but this has not been confirmed.''
[[file:Cyberman arm blaster.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A cyberman [[Cyber Wrist Blaster|wrist blaster]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens]]'')]]
Unlike the [[Cybermen]] of the main universe, these Cybermen were created by taking the brains of [[human]]s and placing them in robotic bodies. These exo-structures were stauncher and more heavily built than the Cybermen of Mondas, and the Cyberman weakness for [[gold]] was not present in these alternate Cybermen, though a tie-in Cybus Industries webpage mentioned that the initial models had, indeed, suffered from heavy impairment when exposed to gold. However, in keeping with the in-universe story, this defect was purged from the finished model.


[[file:Cyberman_attacking.png|left|thumb|"Cybus" Cyber-Weapons. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')]]Originally, their only weapons were their [[Electro Attack|electrified hands]], ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'') but they later gained [[Cyber Wrist Blaster|a small wrist-mounted energy weapon]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]'') At some point the Cybermen gained the abililty to fire a tranquilizer dart from their mouth. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
The CyberMondasians (MK I) 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)
[[file:Damaged by gunfire.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Some Cybermen (MK VII CyberNomads) could be damaged (but not killed) by ordinary gunfire. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'')]]


The Cybermen were capable of wirelessly communicating with each other, and when a Cyber-Leader was killed, their files were transferred to an appointed Cyberman, who would subsequently be upgraded to a new Cyber-Leader ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]''). They also capable of using [[infostamp]]s, allowing them to communicate information to other Cybermen when they were low on power. They were also able to steal other technology from the [[Dalek]]s whilst inside [[the Void]], such as a [[Dimension Vault]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Next Doctor]]'')
====Vulnerabilities====
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 [[cybermat]]s to malfunction. ([[DWN]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (novelisation)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')


===Voice===
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]]'')
These Cybermen spoke in a electronic voice, far more emotionless sounding than the Cybermen of our universe. The Cybermen's voices had deepened. Because of their lack of emotions, the Cybermen used technical terms like "compatible" and mostly their battle cry, "DELETE!". The Cybermen had shown to misunderstand emotional terms, for example, the [[Cyber-Lord (The Next Doctor)|Cyber-Lord]] couldn't understand the word 'best' so Miss Hartigan had to say "I will operate at maximum efficiency". ([[DW]]: ''[[The Next Doctor]]'')
 
Cybermen affected by the [[Cerebration Mentor]], an emotion enhancing device, went "mad", although this could be because they either put too much fear into it, or simply because the fear caused the robotic parts to malfunction. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'').
 
20th century guns barely fazed Cybermen, though explosives and bazooka shells were capable of taking them down. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'', ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'') [[UNIT]] would develop gold-tipped rounds for Cybermen. ([[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]'') In later centuries, the Cybermen would take hits from laser guns and energy weapons: at close range, these could destroy them. ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'')
 
==Technology==
===Technology===
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, among other data, information on their race's encounters with [[the Doctor]]). ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'')
 
===Weapons (Short Range)===
Cybermen have possessed a variety of short range weapons, some in-built.
[[file:Cyb_gun.jpg|thumb|160px|Cyberman Mark VI with a Gun.]]
[[file:Cyb_gun1.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Cyberman Mark IV with a Gun. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')]]
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-gun]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'' onwards)
 
===Weapons (Other)===
[[file:500px-Cybermenmoon.jpg|thumb|right|160px| Two Cybermen (Mk II) use a cannon. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')]]
In the 20th century, the Cybermen invasion fleet had a megatron bomb that could destroy all life on Earth. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')
 
In [[2070]], the Cybermen possessed a cannon which could operate in vacuum. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
 
Cybermen in [[2526]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]''), the invaders of [[Voga]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]''), and the Cybermen removed by [[Time Scoop]] to the [[Death Zone]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'') had portable [[cyber-bomb]]s that could devastate planets.
 
[[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]]'') the cybermen were able to kill people with thier hands without an electro-attack
 
==Culture==
Cybermen made "survival" their central objective. Since they could not reproduce naturally, they needed to create new members of their population by other means, via [[cyber-conversion]]. At times they tended to focus on converting the population of Earth, at other times on 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 [[android]]s ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'') to act as their proxies until they appeared.
 
Throughout their history, groups of Cybermen sometimes diverged from one another and migrated through their [[Mutter's Spiral|galaxy]], resulting in several factions: ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
*[[CyberMondasian]]s, the original Cybermen on [[Mondas]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
*[[CyberFaction]], that split off from the CyberMondasians, making [[Planet 14]] their home. ([[NA]]: ''[[Iceberg]]'')
*[[CyberTelosian]]s, originating from the CyberFaction's colonisation of [[Telos]]. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
*[[CyberNomad]]s, groups of Cybermen that split off from the CyberFaction to explore the galaxy. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
*[[CyberNeomorph]]s, the result of a group of CyberNomads discovering frozen CyberTelosians.
 
===Individuality and emotion===
Throughout their history, Cybermen, for the most part, lacked individuality or names.
 
Some few Cybermen had individual names such as [[Krang]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'') or [[Kroton (Cyberman)|Kroton]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman]]'')
 
:''In the script and cast listings for [[The Tenth Planet]] the individual Cybermen had names. They were [[Krail]], [[Talon]], [[Shav]], [[Krang]], [[Jarl]] and [[Gern]].'' ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia]]'')
 
Cybermen in positions of authority had included the ground level [[Cyber-Leader]], sometimes aided by a [[Cyber-Lieutenant]]. Immobile [[computer]]-like [[Cyber-Planner]]s would sometimes made decisions ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'', ''[[The Invasion]]''). The [[Cyber-Controller]]s, which enlarged craniums, had, possibly, the position of highest possible authority. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')
 
:''Only one Cyber-Controller ever appeared at one time.''
 
Cybermen no longer possessed emotions and viewed them as a weakness. However, several of the Cyber-Leaders sounded angry, amused, and, at times, quite smug. (''These could be simulations'') ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'')


==History==
==History==
[[file:Cyberman2006.jpg|thumb|left|"Cybus" Cyberman]]The Cybermen were created in a [[Pete's World|parallel universe]] by [[John Lumic]], a terminally ill and insane genius. To find a way to survive, he perfected a method to sustain the human brain indefinitely in a cradle of chemicals, bonding the synaptic impulses to a metal exoskeleton. Lumic began to trick and abduct homeless people and convert them into Cybermen, and later assassinated the [[President of Great Britain|President]] of [[Great Britain]] after the President rejected his plans.
===Early history===
[[file:Cybergraph.png|thumb|left|160px|right|The supposed evolution of the Cybermen ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')]]
Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of [[Near-Human]]s who originated on [[Earth]]'s former [[twin planet]], [[Mondas]]. Mondas drifted into the outer solar system (and became an orphan planet) and to survive, the natives of that world adapted by turning themselves into cyborgs. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'') Eventually, all of the [[Mondasian]]s underwent forced [[cyber-conversion]]. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Spare Parts]]'')
 
:''See [[Creation of the Cybermen]] for more details''
 
The original [[CyberMondasian]]s, retained more of their organic form, and still had personal names. Another group, the [[CyberFaction]], left Mondas in the "First Divergence", possibly around [[Distant past|5000 B.C.]] ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]''), and headed for [[Planet 14]]. These eventually developed into separate groups without connection with one another. ([[NA]]: ''[[Iceberg]]'')
 
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]]'')
 
====Later history====
=====[[20th century]]=====
The [[Seventh Doctor|Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]] fought Cybermen in [[1940]] [[London]] ([[PDA]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'') The same team would fight them in [[1950s]] [[Nevada]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Good Soldier]]'')
[[file:Invasion.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Cybermen Mark IV in the [[sewer]]s of [[London]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')]]
By [[1970]] or before, Cybermen, specifically the CyberFaction led by a [[Cyber-Planner]] ([[NA]]: ''[[Iceberg]]'') had established a base on the dark side of [[the Moon|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 [[United Nations Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]] and by the [[Second Doctor|Second Doctor]] who assisted in beating off the invasion both on the ground and from the Cyberman base on the Moon. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')
 
:''The exact date of this invasion remains unknown, though estimates range of its date range from [[1969]] to [[1979]]. It occurred shortly after the formation of UNIT.''
 
From the mid [[1970s]] through [[1985]], Cybermen lurked in the sewers below London, awaiting another invasion, which would come in [[1986]].
 
At some point a Cyberman's head was taken and was stored in [[Henry van Statten]]'s [[the Vault|Vault]], where he collected alien artefacts. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')[[file:300px-Cyberman2005.jpg|thumb|160px|left|A Cyberman head on display in [[Henry van Statten]]'s vault. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')]]
 
:''According to its label, it was recovered from the [[London sewers]] in [[1975]], though its design seems subtly anachronistic for its era and more typical of the designs seen in the post-Cyber Wars era.''
 
CyberNeomorphs in the future, having captured a [[time vessel]], knew that the [[First Doctor|First Doctor]] would destroy Mondas, so planned, instead, to divert [[Halley's Comet]] towards Earth. ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')
 
In [[December]] [[1986]], the [[First Doctor|First 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]]'')
 
Sometime post-Mondas was the "Second Divergence", early [[CyberNomad]]s left the CyberFaction in [[Sol]] to explore the galaxy. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
 
In [[November]] [[1988]] a [[Cyber-fleet|fleet]] of [[CyberNomad]]s from the future 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]]'',[[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
[[file:Cyberman_original_attack_5.jpg|thumb|160px|A Cyberman Mark VI in the [[TARDIS]].]]
 
''As these Cybermen were Mark VI Cybermen, they were most likely time travelers from the [[Cyber-Wars]]''
 
=====[[21st century]]=====
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]]'')
 
In the middle to late [[21st century]], [[Space Station W3]] was the site of a takeover by the CyberFaction. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
In [[2070]], by which time Earth's weather was being controlled by the [[Gravitron]] installation in the [[Moonbase]], the CyberFaction planned to use the Gravitron to disrupt the planet's weather patterns and destroy all life on the planet. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
 
Afterwards, possible after the 21st century, the CyberFaction abandonded their home in the Sol system and journeyed into the galaxy to colonise a suitable planet. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
 
=====Post-21st century=====
[[file:CyberLogo.jpg|left|thumb|160px|Insignia used on the CyberTombs. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')]]
[[file:DrWhoTombCybermen.jpg|thumb|160px|A Cyberman Mark II awakening from his long hibernation.([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')]]
 
At somepoint, possibly around [[22nd century|2150]], late CyberNomads fought the [[Vogan]] war. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
 
At somepoint, possibly in [[22nd century|2175]], the CyberFaction colonised [[Telos]], resulting in the [[CyberTelosian]]s. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
 
The [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth 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 [[Cyber-tomb|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]]'') Another tomb was discovered, possibly around the year [[26th century|2500]], a CyberNomad group discovered the CyberTelosians and they united, resulting in the new [[CyberNeomorph]]s. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: Cybermen]]'')
 
=====Cyber-Wars=====
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 [[dinosaur]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'')
[[file:Original_Cyberman_with_cyber-lider_Revengecybermen.jpg|thumb|160px|right|[[Cybermen]] Mark V and a [[Cyber-Leader]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')]]
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 [[glittergun]]s. ([[DWN]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (novelisation)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') In the aftermath of their failure, the Cybermen were reduced to the scattered remnants ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
 
===Later history===
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]]'')
 
:''As noted previously, these actions would have repercussions in the year 1985.''


Using the [[EarPod]]s he designed and sold, Lumic took mental control of the people of [[London]], marching thousands to be cyber-converted. After his life-support systems were damaged by his assistant [[Crane (Pete's World)|Mr. Crane]], Lumic was converted into the Cyber-Controller. However, the [[Tenth Doctor]] and his companions, having accidentally landed on the parallel Earth, managed to foil his plans. They freed London from mental control and disabled the Cybermen's emotional inhibitors, causing them to go insane and in some cases explode. Lumic himself fell to his apparent death into the burning remains of his factory. A human resistance group, [[the Preachers]], then set about to clean up the remainder of Lumic's factories around the world. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]''/''[[The Age of Steel]]'')
At some point, Telos was shattered by an [[asteroid]] impact. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Telos (audio drama)]]'')
Despite this, some of the Cybermen survived and were able to infiltrate [[Torchwood Institute]]. They found a crack in the universe, caused by the passage of the [[Void Ship]]. The Cybermen were able to travel from their dimension into ours, and infiltrated the planet in the disguise as the benign ghosts of deceased humans. They established a base inside the [[Torchwood Tower]] at [[Canary Wharf]]. While there, they started making some new Cybermen, using what materials they could find. [[file:Cybermen_in_France.jpg|thumb|The Cybermen in France. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'')]]
After two months (three years in parallel Earth time), the Cybermen suddenly appeared in their true form, occupying every landmass on the planet before breaking into houses and promising to upgrade all humans, commanded by the new Cyber-Leader. Simultaneously, the [[Cult of Skaro]] had exited the Void Ship with the [[Genesis Ark]]. The Cult, led by [[Dalek Sec]] communicated with the Cybermen via [[Dalek Thay]] and declared war, or in Dalek Sec's words, "pest control".


After a skirmish between humans, Cybermen and Daleks, the Cult travelled to the main room in Torchwood's Canary Wharf, elevated outside above the roof, and opened the Genesis Ark, releasing millions of Daleks who, under Sec's command, proceeded to "exterminate all life-forms below", killing human and Cyberman alike. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]'') Towards the end of the Cybermen-Dalek battle, the Cybermen, desperate for more troops, began directly converting people rather than transplanting their brains into Cybershells. One victim of this process was [[Lisa Hallett]], girlfriend of [[Ianto Jones]]. ([[TW]]: ''[[Cyberwoman]]'')
During the [[Orion War]] between humanity and a race of [[android]]s, 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 resurgence was stopped. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Sword of Orion]]'', ''[[Cyberman (audio series)]]'')
[[file:CyberImage39.jpg|thumb|left|160px|The Advanced Cyberman that the [[Eighth Doctor|Eighth Doctor]] fought in [[Camden Market]] in the early [[21st century]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Flood]]'')]]
By [[3286]], the Cybermen had been thought dead for centuries. The Cybermen eventually developed into cyborgs indistinguishable visually from Humans. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Real Time]]'')


However, Towards the end of the battle, The Cybermen evidently managed to regain an advantage against the Daleks, as only two out of a group of thirty-two were shown to have been killed, despite having to battle several hundred Daleks hovering above them. However, this advantage was short lived as the [[Tenth Doctor|Doctor]] and [[Rose Tyler]] opened the breach to [[The Void]], which sucked in anything which had traveled through, which meant that both Cybermen and Daleks (With the exception of the [[Cult of Skaro]]) were sucked into the void.
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 convince the peoples of the world emotions were bad in order to accept conversion willingly. The reason they needed Humans from a past era was clear to the Doctor; in the future of the Cybermen, the human genetic template had been corrupted and augmented by their interactions with varied alien races; as the Cyber-conversion protocols were keyed to Human or Mondasian biology, the number of available converts dropped dramatically.


[[file:Cybus_Cybermen_pose.png|thumb|left|272px|Cybermen attempting to upgrade Jackie. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')]]
The Doctor offered to regenerate for them, so they could gather the data of his regeneration and upgrade their conversion protocols to include other races, in exchange for leaving the Earth alone at the moment. While the Cybermen agreed, they betrayed him at the last moment (the Doctor was expecting this anyway). Using the fragment of the Time Vortex the future Cybership was using as a power source, the Doctor destroyed the Cyberfleet and dissolved the rain. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Flood]]'')
However, this was not the last of the Cybermen. The Cybermen that were made on Earth, like Lisa Hallett, had never passed through the Void, therefore they were not sucked in. Ianto took Lisa away from the battle and hid her in the basement of [[Cardiff]]'s [[Torchwood Three]] facility, setting up a life-support system, planning to restore her humanity. He was unsuccessful, as she killed Dr. [[Tanizaki]], fought with Torchwood staff and eventually transplanted her brain into the body of a pizza delivery girl, Lisa was finally killed by the Torchwood team. ([[TW]]: ''[[Cyberwoman]]'')


After the battle, two boys, [[Harry (Going Off the Rails)|Harry]] and [[Sam (Going Off the Rails)|Sam]], were working on a model train set when they found stuff from Harry's dad's previous job. Inside the box was a Cyberman, in all his individual pieces. Not knowing what it was, Sam decided to put it back together so it could watch them play. Eventually, it awoke, threatening to upgrade both Harry and Sam. It forced Sam to help build a "Cyber-Conversion Unit" using the other leftover electronics from the Torchwood Tower in the box. They, however, managed to knock the Cyberman into the Cyber-Conversion unit, causing the latter two to be destroyed. ([[DWF]]: ''[[Going Off the Rails]]'')
===Final evolution===
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™]]'')


Due to the Daleks' damaging the barriers between realities ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''), the Cybermen were able to escape the Void, assisted by technology stolen from the Void-trapped Daleks. Landing accidentally in [[1851]] London, these Cybermen, under the leadership of a [[Cyber-Lord (The Next Doctor)|Cyber-Lord]], made an alliance with the human [[Mercy Hartigan|Miss Hartigan]], created a minion race known as [[Cybershade]]s and began construction of a dreadnought robot called the [[CyberKing]] with which they planned to conquer the Earth. They also came across [[Jackson Lake]] and his family, during which time an [[infostamp]] was misused, leading to Lake believing he was [[the Doctor]]. Lake and his new companion tried to defeat them, but were unsuccessful until the [[Tenth Doctor |real Doctor]] arrived. When Miss Hartigan was converted into the CyberKing and the ship became mobile, the Doctor showed Hartigan what she had done and in her rage she destroyed herself and the Cybermen. They were stopped and destroyed, with the CyberKing being sent to be disintegrated in the Time Vortex. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Next Doctor]]'') This event was then temporarily erased from history by the [[Time Field]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone]]''), but later restored due to the Doctor's efforts. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')
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, becoming purely thought with no biological presence. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The World Shapers]]'')


Another group of Cybermen apparently managed to escape the Void, but into a different point in time and space. Eventually these Cybermen would become a space-faring race, and at some point joined [[the Alliance]] formed to imprison The [[Eleventh Doctor]] in the [[Pandorica]] in order to save the [[Universe]]. They had previously placed one of their own as a sentry to the Pandorica, and later their representatives were among those who arrived at [[Stonehenge]] in 102 AD to confront the Doctor. The Alliance proceeded with their plans and imprisoned the Doctor in the Pandorica. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'') The explosion of the TARDIS which caused the Universe to end however still happened, and for some time the Cybermen ceased to exist. The Doctor managed to contain the explosion, saving the Universe and re-writing history. The Alliance was therefore never formed. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'') The Alliance's plan failed however, and as a result, several species, including the Cyberman, were wiped from existence, leaving only stone "after-images" behind. When the Doctor reset the universe and timeline, The Cyber Leader along with all things that were destroyed throughout history, were restored to their original form and place in space and time. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')
===Undated historical events===
[[file:Miniscope.jpg|thumb|160px|right|A Cyberman inside [[Vorg]]'s [[Miniscope]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters]]'')]]
*During the [[Gallifreyan history#The Dark Time|Dark Times on Gallifrey]], the Cybermen were excluded from the games held in the [[Death Zone]], due to the fact that the Time Lords believed they possessed an unfair advantage over other victims of the games. [[Borusa]], nevertheless, having found the [[Game of Rassilon]], transported a CyberNeomorph squadron to the Death Zone to threaten and harass the [[Third Doctor|Third Doctor]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'')
*A Cyberman was among the life-forms exhibited in Vorg's [[Miniscope]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters]]'')
*The Cybermen were part of the [[Fifth Doctor|Supremo]]'s alliance in the war against [[Morbius]]. ([[PDA]]: ''[[Warmonger]]'')


The [[Lurman]] [[Vorgenson]] used his machine, the Minimiser, to capture several Cybermen to be part of his travelling show dedicated to the [[Eleventh Doctor]], the Cybermen were one of many many mind controlled versions of his recently encountered enemies. It was revealed that the New Paradigm Daleks planted the idea in his had, so it would attract the [[Eleventh Doctor]] to the show with his monsters, and capture him in the Minimiser. This plan worked, although Vorgenson learned the truth, the audience managed to save the Doctor, and help him to release the Cybermen from the Minimiser to destroy the Daleks. ([[SP]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Monsters Are Coming!|The Monsters Are Coming!]]'')
====Other References====
*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]]'')
*During their encounter with the [[Cybermen (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] the [[Cult of Skaro]] noted their resemblence to the Cybermen from our universe although it isn't known whether the Cybermen of our world have encountered the [[Dalek]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')


[[file:BITCS11.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Cybermen on Centuria. ([[DWBIT]]: ''[[Time of the Cybermen]]'')]]
===Mysteries and discrepancies===
During the [[41st century]] an interplanetary info-thief stole Cybermen blueprints from the [[Torchwood Archive]] and used them to build a new Cyber army on [[Centuria]] with the intent of auctioning them of as hi-tech soldiers. However they turned on him and made him a half-converted slave. They started to kidnap hundreds of tourists and convert them. However, the Doctor discovered this while on Centuria for a holliday and the beach he was on was attacked. He and the other beachgoers were thrown into a van. [[Jayne Kadett]], who was tracking down interplanetary Info Theft when the Cybermen caught her revealed to the Doctor what heppaned. The Doctor and Jayne managed to escape the Cybermen and blew the restraint circuits and the Cybermen factory (Factory Zero One) was destroyed. ([[DWBIT]]: ''[[The Power of the Cybermen]]'')
[[file:Voord Cyberman.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The Doctor with one of the Voord Cybermen. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The World Shapers]]'')]]
*On [[Telos]], the [[Second Doctor|Second Doctor]] seemed to have knowledge, if not foreknowledge of the Cyber-Tombs. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'') The [[Cyber-Planner]]'s reference to having met the Doctor on [[Planet 14]] also remains obscure ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]''), though one account tries to explain this in a way which contradicts previously disclosed information about the [[creation of the Cybermen]] ([[DWM]]: ''[[The World Shapers]]'')


The Doctor and Kadett followed the Cyberman's signal, taking a robot-run airship across the now-deserted continent of Azlon on the planet Centuria. Before arriving at the airbus terminal (a Cyber-conversion factory), the conductor/law enforcer became influenced by the Cybermen's hypnotic signal, which was being used to subjugate the arriving humans. The Doctor, Kadett and a reprogrammed robot conductor pretended to be hypnotised and follow the other arrivals. Seizing the right moment, the Doctor disrupted the hypnotic signal and the conductor robot attacked the Cybermen. A stray shot from the conductor ruptured the fuel banks, causing a huge explosion which killed most of the newly converted Cyber-drones (basic work units) as their humanity started to become more dominant. As the Doctor and Kadett fled the explosion, they found a bit of a map in a Cyberman's hand. ([[DWBIT]]: ''[[Drones of Doom]]'')
==Behind the scenes==
===Inspiration for the Cybermen===
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.


Using the Tardis, the Doctor and Kadett followed the Cybermen's map to Centuria's arctic zone where the Cybermen planned to ship upgraded human drones here. [[Homaj]], a half human, half Cyber drone, escaped the Cybermen who forced him and others to mine Hargstones. A giant purple [[Ice Snake]] attacked but Cybermen with [[Cyberdog]]s deleted it. Homaj ran off into the frozen wasteland but the Doctor and Kadett were captured and taken to a huge mine below the ice. Inside the mine, the Doctor created a distraction while Kadett stole some explosives. The distraction caused a Cyberman to split one of the cave walls, disturbing a nest of Ice Snakes which attacked them. Escaping the mine, the Doctor and Kadett saw the Cybership has already departed with its cargo. Homaj waited for them and informed them he intercepted a message saying that the cargo was going to Centuria Central. He then took the explosives from Kadett and heas back to the mine. In an act of self-sacrifice, he permanently sealed it. The Doctor and Kadett left in the Tardis in pursuit of the Cybership. ([[DWBIT]]: ''[[Enemy Mine]]'')
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 TARDIS landed in Centuria Central and in a temporal stasis field. Kadett was caught in the frozen moment but the Doctor, being a Time Lord, could resist the field. Cybermen in a patrol aircar spotted him moving around and pursued. The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to bring the aircar crashing down, drawing the attention of other Cybermen, who arrived to salvage parts and take them back to base. The Doctor smuggled himself into the base with the salvage. The base was the Triplanetary base which the Doctor suspected has been robbed of its Hargstone reserves to enable the Cybermen to maintain a stasis machine. The Doctor learned from the Cybermen that they built the stasis machine from Torchwood files and used the device to subdue overwhelming opposition. Choosing the most secure place for the machine, the Doctor escaped and headed for the bank's vault, but it was made of titanium and is protected by laser-proof glass and destructor rays. When the Doctor couldn't get in he used the sonic screwdriver to turn the destructor rays inwards, destroying the stasis machine. The Cybermen had a mental link with the machine that enables them to move around inside the stasis field, so when the machine was destroyed the temporal feedback overloaded their circuits. However, a Cyber-helmet in the shadows glowed red, suggesting that the Cybermen presence on Centuria wasn't completely destroyed. ([[DWBIT]]: ''[[Time of the Cybermen]]'')
===Development of the characters===
The second appearance of the Cybermen in ''[[The Moonbase]]'' (pre-planned by the production team even before ''[[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 ''[[The Invasion]]'', yet another in ''[[Earthshock]]'', and one in the comic strips in ''[[The Flood]]''. Various minor re-designs would take place as well. As the Cybermen stories do not appear in a chronological order, this makes their evolution rather confusing: more 'advanced' Cybermen are around at the same time as more 'primitive' ones and vice versa.This, however can be explained through time travel, though the Cybermen only captured one time ship. ( DW: Attack of the Cybermen)


One Cyberman ended up on [[Philjax III]] in the year [[9000]], deep in the oceans during the Dalek's battle with the [[Squeeth]]. ([[DWBIT]]: [[DWBIT 9|#9]])
==See also==
*[[Cyberman hierarchy]]
*[[Cyber-Wars]]


{{Cyberman_variants}}
{{Cyberman_variants}}
{{Cyberman stories}}
{{cyberman stories}}
{{Series 2 aliens}}
{{season 4 aliens}}
{{Series 4 aliens}}
{{season 5 aliens}}
{{Series 5 aliens}}
{{season 6 aliens}}
{{Torchwood Series 1 aliens}}
{{season 12 aliens}}
[[Category:Cybus Cybermen| ]]
{{season 19 aliens}}
[[Category:Participants in the Battle of Canary Wharf]]
{{Season 20 aliens}}
[[Category:Cybermen]]
{{season 22 aliens}}
[[Category:Tenth Doctor enemies]]
{{season 25 aliens}}
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Cybermen| ]]
[[Category:Enemies of Torchwood Three]]
[[Category:Mondasian species]]
[[Category:Enemies of the Daleks]]
[[Category:Allies of the Daleks]]
[[Category:The Alliance]]

Revision as of 09:48, 14 April 2011

This article needs a big cleanup.

Images are overlapping text.

These problems might be so great that the article's factual accuracy has been compromised. Talk about it here or check the revision history or Manual of Style for more information.

This article needs an in-universe perspective.

It currently has too much of a real-world perspective. It may also be written primarily in the present tense. Please check the overall content against our Manual of Style, consult the talk page and revision history for any relevant notes, employ the past tense, and then remove this message.

For the Cybermen of Cybus Industries, see here. For other uses of Cyberman, see here.

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.

Characteristics

Physical characteristics

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, with the exception of a a black variety which also existed in the London sewers (DW: Attack of the Cybermen). They also exhibited exposed circuitry and tubing which may have contained hydraulic fluids for motion, covering a rubber or mylar-like outer skin. Cybermen frequently attempted to increase their numbers by cyber-conversion.

It seems that the evolution of the Cybermen has not proceeded in a linear fashion or in the same way in the same places.

The CyberMondasians which the First Doctor met on Snowcap Base in 1986 had undergone a less radical conversion and still retained biological hands; it is possible these Cybermen were prototypes. (DW: The Tenth Planet)

All other Cybermen were entirely covered up in their metallic suits. (DW: The Moonbase onwards) Cybermen of the CyberFaction invaded Earth before 1986, co-existing with the CyberMondasians, "MK I" versions. (DW: The Invasion)

Many versions of Cybermen such as those from the CyberFaction and CyberTelosians were slim, but with the CyberNeomorphs in the 26th century the standard was to have bulkier, more imposing forms. (DW: Earthshock) Cybermen like this also existed in the 1980s. (DW: Silver Nemesis) It has been suggested that the bulkier Cybermen in the 1980s were actually CyberNomads from the future.(REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

It is presumed that inside the more advanced Cybermen, there still existed organic components and they are not completely mechanical, but this has not been confirmed.

The CyberMondasians (MK I) 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)

Some Cybermen (MK VII CyberNomads) could be damaged (but not killed) by ordinary gunfire. (DW: Silver Nemesis)

Vulnerabilities

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", although this could be because they either put too much fear into it, or simply because the fear caused the robotic parts to malfunction. (DW: The Invasion).

20th century guns barely fazed Cybermen, though explosives and bazooka shells were capable of taking them down. (DW: The Invasion, Silver Nemesis) UNIT would develop gold-tipped rounds for Cybermen. (DW: Battlefield) In later centuries, the Cybermen would take hits from laser guns and energy weapons: at close range, these could destroy them. (DW: Earthshock)

Technology

Technology

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, among other data, information on their race's encounters with the Doctor). (DW: Earthshock)

Weapons (Short Range)

Cybermen have possessed a variety of short range weapons, some in-built.

File:Cyb gun.jpg
Cyberman Mark VI with a Gun.
Cyberman Mark IV with a Gun. (DW: The Invasion)

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)

Weapons (Other)

File:500px-Cybermenmoon.jpg
Two Cybermen (Mk II) use a cannon. (DW: The Moonbase)

In the 20th century, the Cybermen invasion fleet had a megatron bomb that could destroy all life on Earth. (DW: The Invasion)

In 2070, the Cybermen possessed a cannon which could operate in vacuum. (DW: The Moonbase)

Cybermen in 2526 (DW: Earthshock), the invaders of Voga (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen), and the Cybermen removed by Time Scoop to the Death Zone (DW: The Five Doctors) had portable cyber-bombs that could devastate planets.

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) the cybermen were able to kill people with thier hands without an electro-attack

Culture

Cybermen made "survival" their central objective. Since they could not reproduce naturally, they needed to create new members of their population by other means, via cyber-conversion. At times they tended to focus on converting the population of Earth, at other times on 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 appeared.

Throughout their history, groups of Cybermen sometimes diverged from one another and migrated through their galaxy, resulting in several factions: (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

Individuality and emotion

Throughout their history, Cybermen, for the most part, lacked individuality or names.

Some few Cybermen had individual names such as Krang (DW: The Tenth Planet) or Kroton. (DWM: Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman)

In the script and cast listings for The Tenth Planet the individual Cybermen had names. They were Krail, Talon, Shav, Krang, Jarl and Gern. (REF: Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia)

Cybermen in positions of authority had included the ground level Cyber-Leader, sometimes aided by a Cyber-Lieutenant. Immobile computer-like Cyber-Planners would sometimes made decisions (DW: The Wheel in Space, The Invasion). The Cyber-Controllers, which enlarged craniums, had, possibly, the position of highest possible authority. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen, Attack of the Cybermen)

Only one Cyber-Controller ever appeared at one time.

Cybermen no longer possessed emotions and viewed them as a weakness. However, several of the Cyber-Leaders sounded angry, amused, and, at times, quite smug. (These could be simulations) (DW: Earthshock)

History

Early history

The supposed evolution of the Cybermen (REF: Doctor Who: 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 became an orphan planet) 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)

See Creation of the Cybermen for more details

The original CyberMondasians, retained more of their organic form, and still had personal names. Another group, the CyberFaction, left Mondas in the "First Divergence", possibly around 5000 B.C. (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen), and headed for Planet 14. These eventually developed into separate groups without connection with one another. (NA: Iceberg)

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)

Later history

20th century

The Seventh Doctor and Ace fought Cybermen in 1940 London (PDA: Illegal Alien) The same team would fight them in 1950s Nevada. (DWM: The Good Soldier)

File:Invasion.jpg
Cybermen Mark IV in the sewers of London. (DW: The Invasion)

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 Second Doctor who assisted in beating off the invasion both on the ground and from the Cyberman base on the Moon. (DW: The Invasion)

The exact date of this invasion remains unknown, though estimates range of its date range from 1969 to 1979. It occurred shortly after the formation of UNIT.

From the mid 1970s through 1985, Cybermen lurked in the sewers below London, awaiting another invasion, which would come in 1986.

At some point a Cyberman's head was taken and was stored in Henry van Statten's Vault, where he collected alien artefacts. (DW: Dalek)

File:300px-Cyberman2005.jpg
A Cyberman head on display in Henry van Statten's vault. (DW: Dalek)
According to its label, it was recovered from the London sewers in 1975, though its design seems subtly anachronistic for its era and more typical of the designs seen in the post-Cyber Wars era.

CyberNeomorphs in the future, having captured a time vessel, knew that the First Doctor would destroy Mondas, so planned, instead, to divert Halley's Comet towards Earth. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen)

In December 1986, the First 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)

Sometime post-Mondas was the "Second Divergence", early CyberNomads left the CyberFaction in Sol to explore the galaxy. (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

In November 1988 a fleet of CyberNomads from the future 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,REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

A Cyberman Mark VI in the TARDIS.

As these Cybermen were Mark VI Cybermen, they were most likely time travelers from the Cyber-Wars

21st century

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)

In the middle to late 21st century, Space Station W3 was the site of a takeover by the CyberFaction. (DW: The Wheel in Space)

In 2070, by which time Earth's weather was being controlled by the Gravitron installation in the Moonbase, the CyberFaction planned to use the Gravitron to disrupt the planet's weather patterns and destroy all life on the planet. (DW: The Moonbase)

Afterwards, possible after the 21st century, the CyberFaction abandonded their home in the Sol system and journeyed into the galaxy to colonise a suitable planet. (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

Post-21st century
Insignia used on the CyberTombs. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)
File:DrWhoTombCybermen.jpg
A Cyberman Mark II awakening from his long hibernation.(DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

At somepoint, possibly around 2150, late CyberNomads fought the Vogan war. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen)

At somepoint, possibly in 2175, the CyberFaction colonised Telos, resulting in the CyberTelosians. (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

The Sixth 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) Another tomb was discovered, possibly around the year 2500, a CyberNomad group discovered the CyberTelosians and they united, resulting in the new CyberNeomorphs. (REF: Doctor Who: Cybermen)

Cyber-Wars

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)

Later history

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)

As noted previously, these actions would have repercussions in the year 1985.

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 resurgence was stopped. (BFA: Sword of Orion, Cyberman (audio series))

File:CyberImage39.jpg
The Advanced Cyberman that the Eighth Doctor fought in Camden Market in the early 21st century. (DWM: The Flood)

By 3286, the Cybermen had been thought dead for centuries. The Cybermen eventually developed into cyborgs indistinguishable 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 convince the peoples of the world emotions were bad in order to accept conversion willingly. The reason they needed Humans from a past era was clear to the Doctor; in the future of the Cybermen, the human genetic template had been corrupted and augmented by their interactions with varied alien races; as the Cyber-conversion protocols were keyed to Human or Mondasian biology, the number of available converts dropped dramatically.

The Doctor offered to regenerate for them, so they could gather the data of his regeneration and upgrade their conversion protocols to include other races, in exchange for leaving the Earth alone at the moment. While the Cybermen agreed, they betrayed him at the last moment (the Doctor was expecting this anyway). Using the fragment of the Time Vortex the future Cybership was using as a power source, the Doctor destroyed the Cyberfleet and dissolved the rain. (DWM: The Flood)

Final evolution

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, becoming purely thought with no biological presence. (DWM: The World Shapers)

Undated historical events

A Cyberman inside Vorg's Miniscope (DW: Carnival of Monsters)

Other References

  • 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)
  • During their encounter with the Cybermen the Cult of Skaro noted their resemblence to the Cybermen from our universe although it isn't known whether the Cybermen of our world have encountered the Daleks. (DW: Doomsday)

Mysteries and discrepancies

File:Voord Cyberman.jpg
The Doctor with one of the Voord Cybermen. (DWM: The World Shapers)

Behind the scenes

Inspiration for the Cybermen

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.

Development of the characters

The second appearance of the Cybermen in The Moonbase (pre-planned by the production team even before 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 The Invasion, yet another in Earthshock, and one in the comic strips in The Flood. Various minor re-designs would take place as well. As the Cybermen stories do not appear in a chronological order, this makes their evolution rather confusing: more 'advanced' Cybermen are around at the same time as more 'primitive' ones and vice versa.This, however can be explained through time travel, though the Cybermen only captured one time ship. ( DW: Attack of the Cybermen)

See also