Cyberman

:This article is about the Doctor Who villains. For the movie about Steve Mann, see Cyberman (movie).

Technology

Over the years Cybermen have been shown with various forms of weaponry. When originally seen in The Tenth Planet they had large energy weapons that attached to their chests. In The Moonbase, the Cybermen had two types of hand-to-hand weaponry: an electrical discharge from their hands which stunned the target, and a type of gun. They also made use of a large laser cannon with which they attempted to attack the base itself. In The Tomb of the Cybermen a smaller, hand-held cyber-weapon shaped like a pistol was described as an X-ray laser. In The Wheel in Space the Cybermen had death rays built into their chest units. They displayed these in The Invasion as well as also carrying large rifles for medium distance combat. In Revenge of the Cybermen their weapons were built into their helmets. Subsequent appearances have shown them armed almost exclusively with hand-held cyberguns. The Cybermen also have access to weapons of mass destruction known as cyberbombs, which were banned by the galactic Armageddon Convention.

Related Topics:
Weaponry - The Moonbase - Pistol - X-ray - Laser - Death ray - Weapons of mass destruction

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Cybermen also use small, cybernetic rodent-like creatures called "cybermats" as weapons of attack and as carriers of plagues. Cybermats resemble oversized metallic silverfish and have segmented bodies with hair-like tactile sensor probes along the base of their heads. Two models of cybermat are known to exist, the first with crystalline eyes and antennae through which they receive commands. The second have red photoreceptors for eyes instead of crystals. In Earthshock, the Cybermen also used androids as part of their plans to invade Earth.

Related Topics:
Rodent - Silverfish - Photoreceptor - Earthshock

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As they are few in number, the Cybermen tend towards covert activity, scheming from hiding and using human pawns or robots to act in their place until they need to appear. Cybermen are typically credited as Cyber Leader, Cyber Lieutenant, and Cyber Scout. However, one Cyberman exists with a title, the Cyber Controller. The Cyber Controller has appeared in multiple forms, both humanoid and as an immobile computer. The Controller seen (and destroyed) in various serials may or may not be the same consciousness in different bodies, as it appears to recognize and remember the Doctor from previous encounters. Some Cybermen in the early stories were given individual names such as "Karg".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Cybermen can be seen as a slightly more individualistic forerunner of Star Trek's major enemy, the Borg. Similarities include converting their victims into Cybermen (a process known as cyber-conversion, although unlike the Borg there is no way to reverse the conversion); and the use of the catchphrase "Resistance is useless/futile". (although the Cybermen are more prone to saying phrases along the lines of, "You will become like us").

Related Topics:
Star Trek - Borg - Catchphrase

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~