Time for a Cybermen redesign?

[Whofan]

We've had redesigned Daleks, but that was met by a lot of backlash, so much that the new paradigm are pretty much being retconned as "officer Daleks" and the older Time War types are apparentally being brought back, although in what capacity we're not sure.


However, while the Dalek design has changed only a few times, the Cybermen in the classic series changed practically every time they showed up, but the new ones have remained the Cybus design, with a few variations such as the Controller, Leader, The Next Doctor Leader, the Shades and Torchwood's woman. I'm not of course advocating a return to the cheaper classic series costumes, but something new that still retains the Cybermen 'look'.


Moffat wanted to give us a new Cybermen design-presumabely for the Cybermen featured at the end of Pandorica Opens-but due to budget concerns he had to use the RTD suits.

Given that Moffat is a big fan of the Cybermen, I think he might go for an overhaul on the design if budget allows. Indeed, it looks like in the PC games they at least changed the Cyber-emblem from the Cybus logo to a Cyberman face.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Maybe we should have a "Submit your own Cybermen redesign" thread. That could be fun.

 

[OmahaStar]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. The Cybermen have only shown up one time in the modern who, as a head in the first series episode "Dalek." There is a group of Cybusmen, is that who you are talking about? If so, it's time for them to go. I'd be happy to see actual Cybermen back in Doctor Who.

 

[Starkers]

Depends if there's the budget for a redesign or not. I'd definitely like to see a slightly different, les clunky version of the Cybermen (although as I've said, seeing them live they did look kinda cool).

Guess we'll see!

 

[23skidoo]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. The Cybermen have only shown up one time in the modern who, as a head in the first series episode "Dalek." There is a group of Cybusmen, is that who you are talking about? If so, it's time for them to go. I'd be happy to see actual Cybermen back in Doctor Who.

Ha ha.

Anyway, that's already happened, because the Cybermen in The Pandorica Opens are apparently supposed to be the original Cybermen, not the alternate universe version (so I understand), so the redesign has already happened - the originals have been redesigned as the Cybus versions.

Personally, I like the Cybus versions better anyway. The classic-series versions never really appealed to me - I always thought someone with a razor knife could do short work of the originals, whereas the new versions look tough - and there are enough uninformed people out there who think the Cybermen ripped off the Borg (rather than vice versa which is the truth of the matter) that having the new-origin version dominate probably saves a bit of headache down the line. (That said, a Cybus Cybermen vs. Telosian Cybermen face-off would be cool to see.)

Alex

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I definitely want a redesign as well as the return of Mondasian Cybermen. I want a design that shows people have been converted into Cybermen instead of having their brains scooped into a clunky machine.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I'm with you guys. The AU Cybusmen are played out, I mean, how do they keep showing up again & again?

I wish they had made some mention of the PO/BB Cybermen being Mondasian. Even a simple throw-away line when the Doctor found the arm.

 

[Davros]

The only Cybermen I want to see are the classic ones.

 

[Neroon]

I never had a problem with the newer generation of the Cybermen. They seem menacing enough, and I never forgot how they came into being by taking over existing human bodies. Granted, I could have missed some significant detail along the way. Then again, I have seen very little of them prior to the 9th Doctor.

 

[Cutter John]

Though I suppose its too late at this point for a redesign. The look is pretty much set, plus it'd cost a fortune to make a new set of suits.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

They could just tweak the Cybus suits they have now.

Get rid of the Cybus plate first & foremost.

Maybe add some earmuff looking parts to the heads.

 

[TedShatner10]

The Cybermen we had in "The Pandorica Opens" appeared to be a hybrid of Mondas and Cybus types; they looked typically bulky and not organic at all, but they're not just brains anymore and they have human skulls enclosed in their robot heads.

Not that having your entire body ripped away completely, only leaving your brain is nice and I mostly like the Cybus design anyway (though I agree the corporate emblem has to go).

 

[WillsBabe]

I like the design for the current Cybermen, and I'm not into redesigning things just for the hell of it. OTOH, the current CMs do seem to reflect the RTD era of Who, and it would be interesting to see how they would relfect Moffat's more "restrained", dare I say it, old fashioned (in a good way!) era.

 

[Starkers]

Also the Cybermen in The Pandorica Opens did the whole classic Cybe fist clench thing!

 

[klingonmaquis]

I don't care for the Cybus design it looks like the love child of C3PO and the Tin Woodsman

 

[Lonemagpie]

The NuWho Cybe costumes are find - just get rid of the "C" on their chests and replace it with maybe a plain panel or a transparent panel showing circuits and organs inside...

How they're portrayed is a lot more important than which costume is used.

 

[Jimmy_C]

I don't know, I feel the Mondasian Cybermen were some of the most ridiculous races from Doctor Who. The entire idea of another Earth that was opposite of the Sun is ridiculous and I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. Also, by the end of the series, they seemed to be so neutered, with gold coins - gold anything for that matter - hurting them. It just felt so fake.

The Cybus Cybermen were actually a decent origin story. Now a parallel Earth became a parallel world. The gold weakness was deleted. Much more plausible.

 

[Sci]

I don't care if they come up with a new Cybermen design just so long as they don't have them dressed like guys who bought a tin-foil costume from Uncle Bob's Used Halloween Costume Shop the way the TOS Cybermen did.

 

[Shatnertage]

I don't like the way the Cybus Cyberman talk--it's just very hard for me to understand them.

And something about the look doesn't totally grab me. I'd like to see something a little sloppier, maybe.

But, as Lonemagpie said, what they're doing is more important than how they look. There are a lot of really good, relevant stories you could tell about the Cybermen, provided there's a focus on them as "upgraded" humans and not just as stock baddies who do mean stuff and try to kill the Doctor.

 

[Whofan]

Say what one will about the old costumes, I think the voices of the B & W Cybermen were creepier. Of course, once they went into color, that pretty much changed and they were mostly given deeper voices that sounded more like Darth Vader.