10 Doctor Who Comic Book Characters Who Should Appear In The Show

Without the constraints of a TV budget, DWM writer Scott Gray and artist Martin Geraghty aimed to create the most alien, futuristic, and chilling Cybermen. Gone were the clunky bodysuits and moon boots - here we had skeletal, towering conquerors. With the last dregs of humanity in them cast aside, Doctor Who fans were treated to a return to cold, calculating, and inhuman Cybermen.

Appearing in the 2004/5 DWM run 'The Flood' - the last in the Eighth Doctor's regular series - these Cybermen were from the far future, further than any before. They had travelled back in time to our present to conquer and assimilate as the humans from their time were no longer compatible for the 'ultimate upgrade'.

Using rain as a weapon, these Cybermen inflicted extreme emotions into the people of London so humanity accepted conversion willingly. Doused in the Cyber-rain, victims began acting irrationally, depressed, petrified - the Cybermen had effectively weaponised people's humanity. Bringing London to its knees from their hoverships and using refraction shields to hide their invasion while they monitored and observed, this was almost a victory for the Cybermen.

The Doctor compromised with the invaders - he give them the secret of regeneration l so they could create a new, eternal conversion process. He was, of course, betrayed - but he had a plan. Instead of regenerating, the Doctor channelled the time vortex and turned the Cybermen into rain.

Originally, this was intended as the Eighth Doctor's regeneration story into the Ninth Doctor (who would be appearing on screens shortly) but the idea was ultimately vetoed by the BBC, despite showrunner Russell T. Davies giving Gray his blessing.

We've seen shades of this storyline in modern Doctor Who stories, but we're yet to see a Cyberman remotely close to these versions. With some decent CGI, a new invasion attempt by the future Cybermen would be much deserved.

Galactic Rating: Don't touch the water. Not one drop.