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:''For the Cyber-Controller of the main Whoniverse, see [[Cyber-Controller|here]].''
{{ImageLink}}
{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|image           = [[file:800px-John Lumic.jpg|250px]]
|image       = <gallery>
|individual name = John Lumic
John Lumic tight.jpg|Human
|alias           = Cyber-Controller
John Lumic Cyber-Controller.jpg|Cybusman
|race            = [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cyberman]]<br>(originally [[human]])
</gallery>
|home planet    = [[Pete's World]]
|alias       = [[Cyber-Controller]]
|home era        = [[21st century]]
|species    = Human
|appearances     = [[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]''/''[[The Age of Steel]]''
|species2    = Cybusman{{!}}Cyberman
|actor           = [[Roger Lloyd Pack]]
|origin      = [[People's Republic of Great Britain|Great Britain]], [[Pete's World]]
|affiliation = Cybus Industries
|first      = Tardisode 5
|appearances = {{il|[[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}}|[[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}}|[[PROSE]]: {{cs|About Cybus (feature)}}|[[PROSE]]: {{cs|Lumic (short story)}}|[[GRAPHIC]]: {{cs|Parallel Earth (illustration)}}|[[COMIC]]: {{cs|Firelight (comic story)}}}}
|actor       = Roger Lloyd Pack
|other actor = Paul Kasey
|clip        = Escape from the Cybermen - Doctor Who - The Age of Steel - BBC
}}
}}
{{counterparts|name=John Lumic (The Christmas Invasion)|2=John Lumic|d2=Pete's World}}
'''John Lumic''' was a business tycoon and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]], director, and co-founder of [[Cybus Industries]] and the creator of the [[Cybusman|Cybermen]] and [[High Content Metal]]. Born in [[People's Republic of Great Britain|Great Britain]] of the Earth of "[[Pete's World]]", he advanced the entire planet through such inventions as the [[Cybus EarPod|EarPod]]. Upon his [[Cyber-conversion|upgrade]], he was designated '''[[Cyber-Controller]]'''.


'''John Lumic''' was a business tycoon and owner of [[Cybus Industries]] and the creator of the [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]]. Born in [[Great Britain]] (which he called "the homeland"), he advanced the entire planet through such inventions as the [[EarPod]].
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Lumic was born in Great Britain. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}}) [[John Lumic: Man of Steel|His biography]] described him as a "sickly, weak child" who "defied the odds". ([[GAME]]: ''[[Cybus Spy (video game)|Cybus Spy]]'') He grew up in [[New Germany]], quickly becoming an [[inventor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lumic (short story)|Lumic]]'') He established Cybus Industries in 1982, ([[WC]]: ''[[Tardisode 5]]'') earning him much money and status. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}}) After inventing the [[Sleep Replacement System]], he was able to work as CEO of Cybus Industries permanently without needing rest periods, giving him an advantage over his competitors. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lumic (short story)|Lumic]]'')


==Biography==
Though he publicly denied rumours of ill health, Lumic suffered from an incurable life-threatening disease that made him so frail as to require a [[John Lumic's wheelchair|powered wheelchair]] with a built-in life-support system. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}})
Though he publicly denied rumours of ill health, Lumic suffered from a terminal illness and used a motorized wheelchair as transport. He devoted all of his resources to discovering a way to extend his own lifespan. To this end, he used Cybus Industries' front organisation, [[International Electromatics]], to abduct homeless people to serve as test subjects. They were transported to Battersea Power Station, Lumic's factory in London, where they were upgraded into Cybermen. Lumic took strict measures to keep the project secret, even killing a member of his staff who threatened to blow the whistle.
[[file:Cybus_Cyber-Controller.jpg|thumb|left|As the Cyber Controller. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Age of Steel]]'')]]
Hoping to gain government approval for his work, Lumic unveiled the Cyberman model to the President of Great Britain. To Lumic's dismay, the President rejected the project. Viewing the President's decision as a death sentence, Lumic set in motion a plan to overthrow the government. He mailed a pair of EarPods to the wife of one of his employees, [[Pete Tyler (Pete's World)|Pete Tyler]], ostensibly as a birthday present. In reality, the EarPods were meant to scan [[Jackie Tyler (Pete's World)|Jackie Tyler]]'s brain so Lumic could override the security arrangements for that night. Knowing the President would be among those in attendance at Jackie's party, Lumic dispatched a horde of Cybermen to kill him (along with any other potential dissidents).


Once his breathing apparatus was damaged by [[Crane (Pete's World)|Mr. Crane]], Lumic realized that he would soon die and pleaded with his Cybermen to help him. The Cybermen reasoned that keeping the old man alive would be redundant, and against Lumic's protests, forcibly upgraded him into their new master, the Cyber-Controller.
=== Growing in influence ===
As Cybus Industries grew in influence, Lumic began to view himself as the de-facto ruler of the world. He arranged for the abolition of the [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]], allowing [[Cybusnet™]] to become the only world information source. He assassinated the [[Prime Minister of the United States of Mexico|Prime Minister]] of the [[United States of Mexico]] who threatened to press charges against his industries for undisclosed transgressions. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lumic (short story)|Lumic]]'')


This Cyber-Controller was similar to his subordinate Cybermen, except his brain was visible and his eyes glowed with blue light, suggesting more advanced vision circuits. He remained seated in a chair, connected by tubing, though he did have full mobility as long as he disconnected the tubing. It seemed that part of Lumic's human consciousness remained intact; it could be argued that there was even some emotion - anger - in his voice when speaking to the Doctor. It is unknown whether or not Lumic was affected by the deactivation of the emotional inhibitors, although this would support Lumic's state of fury afterwards.
=== The Cybermen ===
Lumic devoted all of his resources to finding a way to extend his own lifespan, resulting in the creation of the [[Ultimate Upgrade™ project]], a plan to create the [[Cybusman|Cybusmen]] (later renamed [[Cyberman|Cybermen]]). ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lumic (short story)|Lumic]]'') The plan was for an indestructible metal exoskeleton that could house the human brain. He started this project in secret, using Cybus Industries' front organisation, [[International Electromatics (Pete's World)|International Electromatics]], to abduct [[homeless]] people and use them as test subjects, and even went so far as to kill [[Kendrick (Rise of the Cybermen)|Dr. Kendrick]] when he threatened to tell [[Geneva (Pete's World)|Geneva]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}}) whose [[Genevan Bio-Convention]] would have forbidden the work from proceeding. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lumic (short story)|Lumic]]'') Because the overwhelming pain of cyber-conversion, a system was implemented in the Cybermen for preventing them from feeling any [[emotion]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}})


His brain housed in a metallic body, Lumic announced that his Cybermen would take control of London before overthrowing the world. Soon afterwards, the Battersea factory was destroyed, temporarily delaying the Cyberman invasion. The upgraded Lumic angrily tried to stop the Doctor and his friends from escaping in a zeppelin. Before Lumic could reach them, however, Pete Tyler used the [[sonic screwdriver]] to cut the rope ladder suspending Lumic above his factory, causing him to fall into the burning wreckage and apparently killing him. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]''/''[[The Age of Steel]]'')
=== Unveiling the Ultimate Upgrade ===
Hoping to gain government approval for his work, Lumic unveiled the Cyberman model to the [[President of Great Britain (Rise of the Cybermen)|President of Great Britain]]. To his dismay, the President rejected the project as "obscene" and told him no country would accept the model, even after Lumic's personal appeals to him that such a decision constituted a death sentence. Lumic therefore decided to proceed without the President's approval, and set in motion his plan to convert the entire populace into Cybermen. Having used the EarPods he had sent [[Jackie Tyler (Pete's World)|Jackie Tyler]] as a birthday gift to procure the security arrangements and passwords for her party that night, he dispatched a horde of Cybermen to the Tyler mansion. The President was killed when he refused to "upgrade", and all others in attendance, including the [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Rose Tyler]], either fled, perished or were captured. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}})


==Legacy==
Meanwhile, [[readers of whoisdoctorwho.co.uk|the readers]] of [[Defending the Earth!]] looked for where to use the [[password]] [[Gemini12]] to take down Cybus; following the advice of [[Friend (Cybus Spy)|a friend]], who cryptically told them the password was "secret to John Lumic's success", they go to [[www.henriksonline.co.uk|henriksonline.co.uk]] to the description of ''[[John Lumic: Man of Steel]]'', where Lumic was quoted saying that his secret to success is "[[Are you interested in becoming part of the Cybus Family? We've a wide range of companies all dedicated to the same goal - making life easier|family]]"; this led the readers to the [[Cybus Industries Staff Intranet]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Cybus Spy (video game)|Cybus Spy]]'')
Although Lumic died, the Cybermen lived on across the world. [[The Preachers]] devoted themselves to dealing with them. The Cybermen crossed through [[The Void]] into the Earth of [[Normal Space]]. Their invasion force of five million Cybermen was defeated there. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'') A remnant group was also defeated by the [[Tenth Doctor]], seemingly ending the Cybermen. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Next Doctor]]'') They somehow lived on however, and ventured into space. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', [[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'')


==Behind the scenes==
=== Cyber-conversion and death ===
Several parallels existed between Lumic and [[Davros]], creator of the [[Dalek]]s. Both Davros and Lumic relied on life support machines, yet also seemed to have a sense of superiority to others among their species. They both also tried to conquer their respective home planets by converting or mutating their own kind into an emotionlesss and militaristic race.
[[File:Cybus Cyber-Controller.jpg|thumb|left|Lumic as the Cyber Controller. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})]]
{{Cyberman_variants}}
Starting the [[Battle of Battersea Power Station]], Lumic transmitted a signal across London from [[Battersea Cyber-factory]] which placed the entire EarPod-wearing population under his control. However, his associate, [[Crane (Rise of the Cybermen)|Mr Crane]], turned on him, damaging his life-support system in an attempt to kill him. The Cybermen reasoned that keeping their dying creator alive would be redundant, and against his protests, forcibly upgraded him into their [[Cyber-Controller]].
{{Series 2 aliens}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lumic, John}}
Lumic's plan was ultimately stopped by the Doctor, Rose, [[Peter Tyler (Pete's World)|Pete]] and [[the Preachers]], and the factory was destroyed in the process. Lumic tried to stop the Doctor and his friends from escaping the exploding factory, and followed them up a rope ladder that was connected to his zeppelin to get revenge on them. Before he could reach them, however, Pete used [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver]] to sever the ladder, sending Lumic falling into the burning wreckage below, presumably destroying him. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})
 
=== Legacy ===
Despite Lumic's death, Cybus Industries and the Cybermen continued on across the world. [[The Preachers]] devoted themselves to dealing with them, with [[Mickey Smith]] and [[Jake Simmonds]] starting by investigating [[Paris' Cyber-factory]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})
 
Eventually, the Cybermen crossed through [[the Void]] into the Earth of [[the Doctor's universe]], where their invasion force of five million fought an army of [[bronze Dalek]]s led by the [[Cult of Skaro]] in the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]]. The Cybermen were mostly destroyed when the Doctor opened the breach between universes, sucking them all into the Void, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}) but a remnant group fled through time to [[1851]] [[19th century London|London]]. This group was also defeated by the Doctor, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Next Doctor (TV story)}}) but Lumic's Cybermen somehow continued to live on, even venturing out into space, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Pandorica Opens (TV story)}}) where [[Book (The Whoniverse)|one source]] believed they merged with the [[Cybermen]] of the Doctor's universe to forge the [[Cyber Legion]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Whoniverse (novel)|The Whoniverse]]'')
 
== Personality ==
=== As a human ===
Lumic was a genius, but his quest to preserve his life slowly turned him into a megalomaniac who cared little for human life. He tried any way possible of getting his own way, whilst always being one step ahead in case he couldn't; he wasn't granted permission to embark cyber-converting Britain, but nonetheless had already set a plan in motion that would ensure his success.
 
Lumic considered the Cybermen his "children", and refused to refer to them as machines, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)}}) although [[ChatGuest1|one individual]] doubted that Lumic knew the [[meaning]] of "[[family]]". ([[GAME]]: ''[[Cybus Spy (video game)|Cybus Spy]]'') Despite this, however, he refused to be upgrade himself until his "last breath". ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})
 
=== As the Cyber-Controller ===
Curiously, Lumic seemed to retain several of his personality traits following his upgrade into a Cyberman. His arrogance and megalomania were ever present, if not amplified. He proclaimed the Cybermen as a species of their own and was certain nothing could stop them from taking over the world. Also, he displayed rage and anger, speaking often with a raised voice and even screaming in rage once his plans were thwarted. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})
 
== Abilities ==
Following his conversion into a Cyberman, Lumic gained the increased strength and bullet-proof durability granted by the armoured [[Cyber-body|Cyber-suit]]. He possessed the standard weaponry that all Cybermen models, namely the [[Electro attack|electrocution]] via touch, though he never got the opportunity to use it. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Age of Steel (TV story)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* According to ''[[Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia]]'', the "Cyber-Controller" John Lumic was portrayed by [[Paul Kasey]] but was still voiced by [[Roger Lloyd Pack]], who played the human Lumic.
* A [[John Lumic (The Christmas Invasion)|version of John Lumic]] was mentioned to exist in the Doctor's universe in the [[The Christmas Invasion (novelisation)|''The Christmas Invasion'' novelisation]]. This version was seemingly also a businessman, but not as successful as his Pete's World counterpart.
 
{{Cyberman variants}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}


[[Category:Pete's World individuals|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:Pete's World individuals]]
[[Category:Tenth Doctor enemies|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:Human cyberneticists]]
[[Category:Human cyberneticists|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:Human industrialists]]
[[Category:Human industrialists|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:Cyberconverted humans]]
[[Category:Cyberconverted humans|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:21st century individuals]]
[[Category:Cyberman leaders (Pete's World)|Lumic, John]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:Human murderers]]
[[Category:Human wheelchair users]]
[[Category:Cybus Industries staff]]
[[Category:Cyber-Controllers]]
[[Category:Residents of Great Britain (Pete's World)]]
 
[[ru:Джон Люмик]]

Latest revision as of 12:13, 6 September 2024

John Lumic was a business tycoon and CEO, director, and co-founder of Cybus Industries and the creator of the Cybermen and High Content Metal. Born in Great Britain of the Earth of "Pete's World", he advanced the entire planet through such inventions as the EarPod. Upon his upgrade, he was designated Cyber-Controller.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early life[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lumic was born in Great Britain. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) His biography described him as a "sickly, weak child" who "defied the odds". (GAME: Cybus Spy) He grew up in New Germany, quickly becoming an inventor. (PROSE: Lumic) He established Cybus Industries in 1982, (WC: Tardisode 5) earning him much money and status. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) After inventing the Sleep Replacement System, he was able to work as CEO of Cybus Industries permanently without needing rest periods, giving him an advantage over his competitors. (PROSE: Lumic)

Though he publicly denied rumours of ill health, Lumic suffered from an incurable life-threatening disease that made him so frail as to require a powered wheelchair with a built-in life-support system. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"])

Growing in influence[[edit] | [edit source]]

As Cybus Industries grew in influence, Lumic began to view himself as the de-facto ruler of the world. He arranged for the abolition of the BBC, allowing Cybusnet™ to become the only world information source. He assassinated the Prime Minister of the United States of Mexico who threatened to press charges against his industries for undisclosed transgressions. (PROSE: Lumic)

The Cybermen[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lumic devoted all of his resources to finding a way to extend his own lifespan, resulting in the creation of the Ultimate Upgrade™ project, a plan to create the Cybusmen (later renamed Cybermen). (PROSE: Lumic) The plan was for an indestructible metal exoskeleton that could house the human brain. He started this project in secret, using Cybus Industries' front organisation, International Electromatics, to abduct homeless people and use them as test subjects, and even went so far as to kill Dr. Kendrick when he threatened to tell Geneva, (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) whose Genevan Bio-Convention would have forbidden the work from proceeding. (PROSE: Lumic) Because the overwhelming pain of cyber-conversion, a system was implemented in the Cybermen for preventing them from feeling any emotions. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"])

Unveiling the Ultimate Upgrade[[edit] | [edit source]]

Hoping to gain government approval for his work, Lumic unveiled the Cyberman model to the President of Great Britain. To his dismay, the President rejected the project as "obscene" and told him no country would accept the model, even after Lumic's personal appeals to him that such a decision constituted a death sentence. Lumic therefore decided to proceed without the President's approval, and set in motion his plan to convert the entire populace into Cybermen. Having used the EarPods he had sent Jackie Tyler as a birthday gift to procure the security arrangements and passwords for her party that night, he dispatched a horde of Cybermen to the Tyler mansion. The President was killed when he refused to "upgrade", and all others in attendance, including the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler, either fled, perished or were captured. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"])

Meanwhile, the readers of Defending the Earth! looked for where to use the password Gemini12 to take down Cybus; following the advice of a friend, who cryptically told them the password was "secret to John Lumic's success", they go to henriksonline.co.uk to the description of John Lumic: Man of Steel, where Lumic was quoted saying that his secret to success is "family"; this led the readers to the Cybus Industries Staff Intranet. (GAME: Cybus Spy)

Cyber-conversion and death[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lumic as the Cyber Controller. (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

Starting the Battle of Battersea Power Station, Lumic transmitted a signal across London from Battersea Cyber-factory which placed the entire EarPod-wearing population under his control. However, his associate, Mr Crane, turned on him, damaging his life-support system in an attempt to kill him. The Cybermen reasoned that keeping their dying creator alive would be redundant, and against his protests, forcibly upgraded him into their Cyber-Controller.

Lumic's plan was ultimately stopped by the Doctor, Rose, Pete and the Preachers, and the factory was destroyed in the process. Lumic tried to stop the Doctor and his friends from escaping the exploding factory, and followed them up a rope ladder that was connected to his zeppelin to get revenge on them. Before he could reach them, however, Pete used the Doctor's sonic screwdriver to sever the ladder, sending Lumic falling into the burning wreckage below, presumably destroying him. (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

Despite Lumic's death, Cybus Industries and the Cybermen continued on across the world. The Preachers devoted themselves to dealing with them, with Mickey Smith and Jake Simmonds starting by investigating Paris' Cyber-factory. (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

Eventually, the Cybermen crossed through the Void into the Earth of the Doctor's universe, where their invasion force of five million fought an army of bronze Daleks led by the Cult of Skaro in the Battle of Canary Wharf. The Cybermen were mostly destroyed when the Doctor opened the breach between universes, sucking them all into the Void, (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"]) but a remnant group fled through time to 1851 London. This group was also defeated by the Doctor, (TV: The Next Doctor [+]Loading...["The Next Doctor (TV story)"]) but Lumic's Cybermen somehow continued to live on, even venturing out into space, (TV: The Pandorica Opens [+]Loading...["The Pandorica Opens (TV story)"]) where one source believed they merged with the Cybermen of the Doctor's universe to forge the Cyber Legions. (PROSE: The Whoniverse)

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

As a human[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lumic was a genius, but his quest to preserve his life slowly turned him into a megalomaniac who cared little for human life. He tried any way possible of getting his own way, whilst always being one step ahead in case he couldn't; he wasn't granted permission to embark cyber-converting Britain, but nonetheless had already set a plan in motion that would ensure his success.

Lumic considered the Cybermen his "children", and refused to refer to them as machines, (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) although one individual doubted that Lumic knew the meaning of "family". (GAME: Cybus Spy) Despite this, however, he refused to be upgrade himself until his "last breath". (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

As the Cyber-Controller[[edit] | [edit source]]

Curiously, Lumic seemed to retain several of his personality traits following his upgrade into a Cyberman. His arrogance and megalomania were ever present, if not amplified. He proclaimed the Cybermen as a species of their own and was certain nothing could stop them from taking over the world. Also, he displayed rage and anger, speaking often with a raised voice and even screaming in rage once his plans were thwarted. (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

Abilities[[edit] | [edit source]]

Following his conversion into a Cyberman, Lumic gained the increased strength and bullet-proof durability granted by the armoured Cyber-suit. He possessed the standard weaponry that all Cybermen models, namely the electrocution via touch, though he never got the opportunity to use it. (TV: The Age of Steel [+]Loading...["The Age of Steel (TV story)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]