The Prodigal Returns (comic story)

For the 50th anniversary of the Cybermen in September 2016, a brief continuation of the Cybermen comic series from the 1990s was released in DWM 504. It was given the name The Prodigal Returns in the contents page of the magazine.

Page 1
After its separation from Earth, Mondas is ruled by Cybermen. The Cybermen detect an object falling through Mondas' atmosphere. They fire missiles, but they miss and the object lands. An ape with Cyberman-like modifications comes out of the crashed object. The ape is captured and taken to a laboratory to be analysed.

The Cyberman scientists theorise that the ape came from a cosmic cloud, a moving distortion in space-time that appeared shortly before the ape crashed into Mondas. They theorise that there must be an entire planet of apes on the other side of the cosmic cloud and decide to send a scout through the cloud to begin a cyber-conversion of this species. As the Cybermen prepare to vivisect it, the ape thinks about how it will never complete its mission by returning to its home: Mondas.

Page 2
Before its separation from Earth, Mondas is ruled by Silurians. They detect an object falling through Mondas' atmosphere. They fire missiles, but the object swerves through them and lands. A damaged Cyberman emerges from its crashed ship. The Cyberman is captured and taken to a laboratory to be analysed.

The Silurian scientists theorise that the Cyberman came from a cosmic cloud, a moving distortion in space-time that appeared shortly before the Cyberman crashed into Mondas. The Queen of Silurians suggests that the Silurian race could use the cloud to escape Mondas before the fast-approaching rogue planet arrives near Mondas and sets it on an orbit away from Earth. She decides to send an augmented ape through the cloud to test if it could be used. As the Silurians prepare to vivisect the Cyberman, it thinks about how it will never complete its mission by returning to its home: Mondas.

Reprints
to be added

Continuity
to be added