I’ve been sitting on this for ages. One of my favourite enemies in all of Doctor Who is the Cybermen. I think when I talk about the raw fear that the show (and it’s expanded universe) is capable of instilling in my mind, nothing beats the body horror and pure existential terror that the Cybermen’s very existence makes me think about. Especially after Twelve’s line in TV: ‘The Doctor Falls’ that they occur “-wherever there’s people”.
Isn’t that fucking horrifying!?
These fuckers are inevitable!
Anyway, without further ado! Here’s a list I’ve compiled of many different Cyber factions that have appeared throughout Doctor Who and it’s expanded universe (coupled with some mild theorising on my end). Enjoy!
(Oh, and I know I missed out the Missy ones, but they count as a separate faction too. Same goes for the CyberMasters. There’s just a picture limit, alright? The Cyberons deserve their beautiful floppy secondhand faces shown to the world!)
Cybermen (Marinus/"Planet 14")
Evolved from the Voord. Some (Such as the very first Cyber-Controller) integrated with Mondasian Cybermen from the future. Others remained a threat for 5,000,000 years and eventually evolved into "beings of pure thought, becoming the most peace loving and advanced race in the universe."
Evolved from the Augmented Ape-Servants of the Lizard Kings, creating cities and airships. Eventually the Cybermen and Lizard Kings fought each other in a bitter war, and the former were wiped out by Golgoth (A Lizard King super weapon).
Converted Mondasian Humans who augmented themselves with cybernetics to survive the harsh conditions of Mondas, as it drifted slowly through space back to the solar system it originated from. Eventually they split into two groups, The Mondans (Cybermen who remained on Mondas until it was destroyed in 1986) and The Faction (Cybermen who spread out into the universe, conquering countless worlds such as Telos in the process). These Cybermen would go on to fight in the Cyber-Wars against Humanity, eventually integrating with the "Pete's World" faction of Cybermen and becoming one species altogether. Eventually, they evolved into Pacifists, renaming themselves the Cyberlords. By the 108th Century, the Cyberlord Hegemony had become a major political power in the Galaxy.
Cybermen ("Pete's World" Earth)
Originating in a parallel universe to N-Space (Later named "Pete's World" after Pete Tyler by the Tenth Doctor), these Cybermen were created by John Lumic of Cybus Industries (Who, prior to his death became the first Cyber-Controller). They were designed to be the next stage in the evolution of Humanity. In their first year of existence, they were stopped by The Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith (From N-Space) and The Preachers (A group from "Pete's World" formed to combat Cybus Industries). Many Cyber Factories survived the first's destruction, and thus The Preachers set to work to destroy them, killing the majority of the remaining Cybermen in the process. However, at least 5 million survived and discovered a crack in the universe, caused by a Void Ship. The Cybermen travelled through the crack into N-Space in the year 2007 and became embroiled in a battle with the Dalek race, until the majority were sucked back into The Void by The Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler. A minority of the Cybermen escaped however, and eventually integrated with the Mondasian Cybermen of N-Space (Presumably during the Cyber-Wars) becoming one species. As a result, the end fate of this faction was also to eventually evolve into the Cyberlords.
Mysterious faction of Cybermen originating from an unknown world/faction. They are known to have had dealings with the Superiors (they also look hilarious, and I needed to include them).
Cybermen (Mondasian Colony Ship)
Mondasian Humans who fled Mondas as its surface was becoming inhospitable. Eventually, the Humans of Floor 1056 were visited by The Master who took over their city until they "rebelled against {his} cruelty". Struck with worsening conditions and dwindling resources, the Humans decided to modify themselves into Cybermen. After rapidly evolving themselves and travelling upwards through their ship, their fate was left unknown after The Twelfth Doctor blew up a large number of them on Floor 0507, but it’s hinted by Nardole’s death that they continued advancing until there was nobody left.
