Review: Doctor Who Revenge of the Cybermen Collector Set

“In eight minutes the accursed Planet of Gold will be utterly destroyed.”

One of the highest regarded sets in Character's Toys original Classic Doctor Who run was the Revenge of the Cybermen 3-pack released in 2010 as a Forbidden Planet exclusive in the UK, and distributed by Underground Toys in the US. The set utilised a single Cyberman sculpt, replicated three times into two Cybermen and one Cyberleader, along with a new Cybermat accessory.

The set has, over time, become highly sought after on the secondary market, fetching a relatively high premium for single loose Cyberman figures, or where it does crop up rarely, the full set. It was, therefore, welcome news to collectors when the set was announced as a re-release in the B&M Exclusive Collector line for 2025, putting the Revenge Cybermen back into circulation some 15 years after their first appearance.

The Revenge of the Cybermen collector set follows the established packaging for the current B&M releases with a rectangular white box with design principles aligned to the current Doctor Who merchandise principles, including the ongoing use of the 60th Anniversary diamond logo and a TARDIS image in the bottom left corner. Character’s own design elements are also applied, including an accent colour aligned to each Doctor, the 4th Doctor utilising a lighter blue tone. There are also the usual diamond call-outs confirming the scale, source material and the overall contents. The foil collector sticker that reads ‘Limited Edition’ is also retained on the bottom right corner. 

The back of the box is text-heavy, focusing on an in-depth overview of the 1975 story, but without any ‘behind the scenes’ snippets that are sometimes included. While the box looks like a traditional window box, the window is actually a blister glued to a backing card within the outer box. The figures appear to be fixed into this leaning forward due to their backpack and without an inner tray to keep them at a true upright positon. For this set, the backing card is not the usual blue time vortex, but is instead a glorious illustration of the Nerve Beacon. While this presents additional depth for the set, it is a real shame to see this destroyed in order to access the figure as there is no way to remove the blister without severe damage to the card. Reverting to a traditional box would have allowed collectors to utilise this backdrop, as well as being able to open and eventually repack their figures as they wished. 

With our set unpacked, we will start with the standard Cybermen, both of which are identical in their decor. This is, of course, silver across the majority of parts, with our Cybermen wearing a base suit with corrugated silver knees and elbows. Ridged piping is added down both the arms and legs, including a slightly flexible joint at both elbows and knees to allow the piping to move with the joint. At the shoulders, this piping connects into a large circular joint, then extends in two directions. The first goes down the back, crossing in the middle into another circular joint, then extending around to a 90-degree joint that continues down to connect to the leg piping. At the front, the conduit extends down into the chest unit. The chest unit itself is in three panels, with the two sides inclusive of sculpted components and the centre panel using a darker central panel above which sits a gold/silver five-pronged segment, and at the bottom of which is a similarly coloured gold/silver circular panel. The same tubing then extends

The Cyberhelmet, for me, the most iconic look for the Cybermen, and features the blank face with sculpted mouth slot, and circular eye cut-outs, including the tear drop. Both of these are picked out in a dark grey internally to create depth and contrast. The helmet features two side sections and then the handles, which are also a ridged piping that comes out of the side near the eyes and comes round to the peak of the helmet, where we also find a central forehead weapon which is sculpted in a circular panel and made up of four grouped barrels. Like the eyes and mouth, the barrels are also picked out in a darker grey.

The Cyberleader is identical to his troops apart from the helmet, with everything bar the faceplate painted in black and with the forehead laser weapon coloured silver. 

vs the 2010 Revenge of the Cyberman Release (right)

The figures use the original 2010 sculpt with no variations to any of the parts. Character has made some decor changes to differentiate the set from the original release, with the gold/silver tones used on the top and bottom of the chest panel and the choice to change the centre of the chest unit from black to a darker silver. These new decor choices are accurate to the props, but both ‘versions’ can be seen in the show depending on the lighting and how the Cybermen are positioned. 

vs the 2010 Revenge of the Cyberman Release (right)

Articulation is, of course, the older format as used in 2010 with visible pinned knees and elbows, although these joints are better disguised than other figures, thanks to the side piping. We have 14 points in total, although the neck joint offers barely anything more than a few mm turn to either side. The arms can extend and gesture, with the bicep swivel much more engineered into the figure than usual, thanks to the way the Cybermen joint their own suits with the corrugated sections within the main suit. The legs are, however, lacking the thigh swivel we usually see, leaving the hips and knees to do the work. There is enough movement to achieve a handful of neutral stances, while also scope to have the Cybermen in a walking position - although this relies on careful balance and won’t be sustainable on display without a stand of sorts. 

While the piping is engineered to move with the joints, it does have limitations and will be at risk of stretching and eventually breaking with any extensive movements. Something to be mindful of when posing your Cybermen.

The set also includes the larger Cybermat introduced for Revenge, and as included in the original set. This is along the lines of a snake with a bloated midsection and with a segmented upper carapace, all cast in silver. Underneath, we have more ridged detailing, coloured in a darker silver, and a black front section with a gold ‘mouth’ piece. 

Again, this is the same sculpt as 2010, but with further decor variations. The biggest change is the use of a black and then gold front section while the original figure had a silver underbelly and a small red painted ‘mouth’.

vs the 2010 Revenge of the Cyberman Release (right)

The Cybermat has no articulation and is engineered to sit on its rear quarters, displayed as though rearing up to attack its next victim.  

For those who missed out in 2010, the set is a welcome re-release and brings an iconic Cyberman look into collections alongside the Fourth Doctor and, of course, with Sarah Jane and Harry from the Season 12 stories also now being available. For those who do own the original 2010 set, the new figures offer variations and arguably improvements with some more accurate paint work on the chest and helmet vs the original props. 

The packaging does present a frustration with such a lovely backdrop being designed, only for it to be damaged when the figures are removed. But for £24.99, the set offers great value for money. The set is arriving now (September 17th 2025 onwards) at B&M stores across the UK and will be available while stocks last.

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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

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