Review: Doctor Who Vortex Edition Exclusive Cybermen from Dark Water Set, part of the Yeti Collect-and-Build Wave for 2026
- Mephitsu
- 20 minutes ago
- 6 min read
"Cybermen, from cyberspace. Now why has no one ever thought about that before?"
The Doctor Who Vortex Collection launched in 2024, the first significant change in the long-running 5.5-inch collectors series since it started in 2005. The Vortex figures are exclusive to Character Toys themselves and not sold at retail. They include either updated decor, updated articulation, updated accessories, or a mixture of all three. In 2026, the Vortex Edition regenerated further with the announcement that Character was bringing back the Collect-and-Build format for the first time since the 2010/11 Pandoric build and with the first Collect-and-Build figure since the 2009 releases of The Gelth and the Wasp. This 2026 wave would feature figures from across the Whoniverse, Classic and New, and with parts that would assemble a 1967 figure of The Yeti from The Abominable Snowmen.
The first of the five releases in this Yeti wave went on sale at the very end of June, with most collectors who ordered on the first day getting the item delivered by the 1st of July in an outer cardboard shipping box. The set features two Cybermen in the design that was used initially for the 11th Doctor story Nightmare in Silver, and then again for the 12th Doctor for Dark Water. It is from this latter 2014 story that the set is based.
The Vortex Edition packaging remains in place for the Dark Water set with a square window box with one angled corner to the right-hand side. The base colouring for the box is white and uses a TARDIS icon to the bottom left-hand side. Around the main window is a coloured vortex, with the colour of this design specific to a particular Doctor. This is the first time this salmon colour has been used, and it is now aligned as stated in the diamond callout towards the base of the box to the 12th Doctor. Similar diamond callouts are used around the window to specify the scale at 5.5 inch, the accessories, and to call out the Vortex Edition’s enhanced Decor.
The set name of ‘The Cybermen from Dark Water’ sits on the base white rail of the box front, and just above this, and new for obvious reasons for this release, is the Collect-and-Build icon showing the outline of the Yeti and confirming this set contains the Yeti’s head. The Doctor Who logo used on the front and sides of the box is still that of the 60th Anniversary. And this is also used on the back alongside the in-depth background text that talks at length about the history of the Cybermen in Doctor Who and the plot of Dark Water. The bottom third of the box is turned over to the new Collect-and-Build graphics, with more text outlining the plot for The Abominable Snowman and then explaining the assembly of the Yeti from parts spread across the five individual releases for this wave.
When you open the box, you get your figures and Yeti head packed into an inner plastic clear tray with the two Cybermen tied into position with two cotton ties. The alternative arms are taped into position, while the Yeti head simply utilises its shape to hold into its socket. This inner tray sits into an enclosed backing card piece that replicates the scene in Dark Water with the floating skeletons in the 3W Institute Mausoleum. This is an illustrated piece rather than a screenshot and uses forced perspective to good effect. Its use as a background piece for the loose figures is debatable, with the outer frame simply plain cardboard and with visible tape where it is assembled together.
Our Cybermen are brand new, the first time this Nightmare in Silver design has appeared in 5.5 inch and finally solving the itch created in 2013 when the line moved briefly into a 3.75 inch scale which included these Cyberiad Cyberman figures. Both figures are identical and use a similar principle to the Cybus Cyberman figures with a silver cast outside armour and a darker grey connecting piece at each substantial joint like the knees, hips and shoulders.
The outer shell of the Cyberman is ridged and segmented, as seen on screen, and inclusive of the central chest unit, which has a white inner section and a sky blue surround. Around the back of the figure, this detail extends to a skeletal central spine with overlaid sections. The head includes cut-out eye and mouth slots with the recess painted in dark grey. The handlebars extend up and over the head, connecting at the top ridge and inclusive of some very intricate sculpting with ridges up the shaft and across the cross piece.
Scale-wise, they stand at just under 6 inches in total, giving them a presence and an extra half inch or so of height on contemporary character figures like the 12th Doctor or Missy.
Articulation is fully overhauled for this newly developed Cyberman base, moving away from the very visible pinned joints to a pinless solution with a total of 14 points of articulation in total, all enhanced and modern in their execution. The legs feature an ankle rocker for stability as well as a ratcheted knee and a ball joint hip. While our Cybermen can’t sit as such, you can articulate the legs for wider stances in battle or even marching positions.
The upper body includes a ball-jointed torso with full rotation and some small degree of forward and backwards lean. The neck is ball-jointed, allowing the head a similar level of rotation and tilt. The arms now include a ball shoulder, rotating elbow joint, and a wrist swivel. The arms are, however, a little bit restricted by the armour design, with the shoulders difficult to raise as the shoulder armour clashes with the chest. The elbows too do not bend as extensively as the older models thanks to more armour clashes between upper and lower arm.
The elbow joint also serves the function of allowing both Cybermen to be upgraded to Weapons Ready mode. The right elbow pops off to remove the right forearm, and the set then includes two ‘gun arms’ to insert in their place. The engineering here is fine; the arms pop on and off without any hassle. The gun arms simply add the extended forearm gun to the base arm as though it were revealed and ready to fire.
When everything is put together, the Dark Water Cybermen are much more extensive in their movement than the older format Doctor Who figures, benefiting from a more rounded range from each joint than a single directional movement. The joints are specifically ratcheted like, say, a Hasbro Collector figure, but out of the box the joints are smooth yet robust, holding poses perfectly well.
The Yeti is still some months away from final assembly, but if the included head is anything to go by we are in for a treat. The textured fur is great, as is the paintwork fading across from darker fur around the face to the lighter brown to the sides and back.
At £44.99 with free postage, you are getting two 6-inch collector series figures at £22.50 each. That is comparable to Hasbro Collector lines, although it has to be said the articulation is not quite on par.
The added Yeti head also provides added value, but also ties collectors into buying the set even if they only collect Classic Who figures - the secondary market should equalise here with Yeti heads readily available thanks to Army Builders or those who only collect New Who. Extra Cybermen may also be plentiful, perhaps later on in the series, when the Classic Who-focused collectors build their Yeti and sell through the figures that don’t fit their focus.
A solid start, and very worthy of the principles of the Vortex Edition title. Up next we are due the other New Who release in the set with the variant 15th Doctor alongside Mr Ring-a-Ding and Dugga Doo.
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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...