SILVER NEMESIS! CELEBRATING SIXTY YEARS OF THE CYBERMEN

Relentless and seemingly never to be destroyed, the Cybermen's threat and legacy continue... Moody poster art for Earthshock by Andrew Skilleter.

"The three lights were slowly changing into three tall, straight figures which were moving forward across the ice with a slow, deliberate step, and the perfect unison of guardsman on parade.

The Sergeant swung the gun from his shoulders and challenged the three figures: 'O.K,. Stay right there.'

But the tall figures, each one seemingly clad in a silver armoured suit, continued to move inexorably towards them.

'I warn you,' shouted the Sergeant, 'one more step and I'll open fire.'

The Sergeant gazed, horror-struck, as they came nearer and nearer. he made out their chests- which resembled concertina-like packs. For heads, they had helmets with side handles, a mounted light, circles for eyes and a slit for a mouth. Seen at closer quarters they were much more like robots than human beings.'

Excerpt from Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet, by Gerry Davis. Target Books, 1976. 

And so the next phase of Doctor Who monster-dom began in 1966, as the Daleks found themselves with an intriguing, scary and emotionless rival to their popularity with the walking dead nightmare that were the Cybermen, created by Dr. Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis (the latter bringing his keen, watchful scientific eye to the programme in devising numerous intriguing and chilling future scenarios featuring the silver menace with his writing partner, though it's a shame that a potential storyline involving the Daleks meeting the Cybermen during the Troughton era never happened). The Cybermen legacy has now lasted sixty years within the series and the creatures (with their intimidating ways and clever evolving visual styles) have always been well received and welcomed by audiences of all ages, especially sending children hurtling behind the sofas with their terrifying exploits and plans for humanity on Earth and in the depths of space...

Enjoy this visual celebration of the men from Mondas, and Telos across the series Classic Era...

Classic comic strips compilation cover for a Doctor Who Magazine special issue..

Art by Andy Lambert for a 2026 Doctor Who Appreciation screening of Cyberman episodes.

The Earth has new alien visitors - the Cybermen of Mondas have arrived at the South Pole to absorb and destroy our planet...

Prior aware of the lost planet Mondas, the First Doctor confers with the Cybermen for the first time in the series.

The first Cybermen adventure, and the finale to the William Hartnell era. DVD cover art by Lee Binding for The Tenth Planet.

The Cybermen return against Patrick Troughton's 'Cosmic Hobo', in an all-new visual look for The Moonbase. Art by Alistair Pearson.

A Cyberman attacks the doomed Moonbase operative Ralph (Mark Heath).

The Cybermen prepare to attack the Moonbase but are eventually dispatched into deep space.

Fun publicity image of the new-look Cybermen at Ealing in 1967.

An interesting Radio Times article and interview with Cybermen co-creator, Dr. Kit Pedler.

The Cybermen grace the cover of the Radio Times for their one and only time, as The Tomb of the Cybermen is showcased. Image restoration: Clayton Hickman.

The inside article for the once lost then ultimately recovered story.

The Cybermen emerge from their dormant phase on the secret world of Telos, in Tomb of the Cybermen.

Without helmets, the Cybermen actors await their filming at Ealing Film Studios in 1967.

Director Morris Barry rehearses the Cybermen's filming. An iconic scene of their breakout captured at Ealing.

"You will be like us..." The Cyber Controller (Michael Kilgarriff) and his fellow Cybermen at the tombs, now under gas attack from the human party.

Great image composition for the modern Figurine Collection range showcasing this story.

Vicious tools of the Cybermen, the Cybermat drones are ready to take instruction on Telos.

Cruel logician Kaftan (Shirley Cooklin) discovers danger with one of the smaller Cybermats in this posed publicity image.

The hugely memorable cover art by Jeff Cummins to Gerry Davis's novelisation of Tomb for Target Books in 1977.

The UK return of the once lost story made a huge impact, especially in VHS tape sales of the time, heralded by this lovely cover art to DWB Magazine.

The memorable UK DVD 'Special Edition' sleeve cover art composed by Clayton Hickman.

The Cybermen memorably steal the cover of the 1968 Doctor Who annual, now that the Daleks have been withdrawn from the series at that time...

The striking Target Book cover art for The Wheel in Space by Ian Burgess.

In her first adventure, Zoe Herriot (Wendy Padbury) faces the might of a Cyber infiltration duo, in a posed publicity image for The Wheel in Space.

Seventies Earth is threatened by the Cybermen in The Invasion, as depicted within this great 90's VHS video cover art by Andrew Skilleter.

The return of the Cybermen

Swarming London's streets in this great fan art by Daryl Joyce.

Filming the Cybermen's intense battle with UNIT.

Great fan poster art by Oliver Arkinstall -Jones.

A rogue's gallery of villains assembles as the Second Doctor faces trial from the Time Lords in this great publicity image for The War Games. Colourised image by Clayton Hickman.

Circa 1969, a unique Cyberman is culled together for publicity from the BBC Costume Department.

The new Third Doctor is flanked by enemies old and new in this terrific publicity shoot for the Radio Times in 1970.

A lone Invasion-era Cyberman, as seen captured within the Miniscope device, featuring in the Third Doctor adventure, Carnival of Monsters, filmed in 1972.

Joining the Tenth Anniversary of the series as part of a special magazine photo shoot from the Radio Times. Image: Alan Ballard for BBC STUDIOS.

A Cyberman (Pat Roach) attends the photo call announcing the Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker - to the UK press, alongside Elisabeth Sladen at the end of 1974.

The Doctor returns to Space Station Nerva and is caught in the machinations of the Vogans and the Cybermen in 1975's Revenge of the Cybermen. Image composition by Lee Johnson for the Doctor Who - The Complete History partwork series.

Long presumed destroyed, the Cybermen finally return to challenge Tom Baker's Doctor in Revenge of the Cybermen.

Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) is attacked by a visually revised Cybermat during Revenge of the Cybermen.

A looming Revenge cyberman (Pat Gorman) was an early cover star for Issue 3 of Doctor Who Weekly back in 1980.

Unseen for eight years, the return of the Cybermen (played by David Banks and Mark Hardy) in Peter Davison's first season put the 'shock' into the acclaimed, action-packed, Earthshock.

The Cybermen and their leader (David Banks) fall foul of the evil Master in The Five Doctors.

Stealing humans and making plans to threaten the earth within the dark realms of the London sewers, here comes the Attack of the Cybermen!

The Doctor and Peri watch helplessly as the Cybermen (including an impressive dark-clad Cyber Scout) invade the TARDIS.

The Cybermen confer with their resurrected Cyber Leader (Michael Kilgarriff) on the reactivated base of Telos.

A Cyberman helps to promote an American art tour for the series, in March/April 1986.

The Cybermen make plans to acquire the Silver Nemesis comet in this great cover art for the In-Vision fan magazine.

The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), with Ace (Sophie Aldred) and the Cybermen celebrate the series Silver Anniversary on location in Greenwich.

A must-have book for any fans collection: the well-executed and designed Doctor Who - Cybermen book of the mid-eighties by David Banks and Andrew Skilleter, pulling all the strands of the Cybermen's history into an intriguing and impressive volume.