Ice Ape

s were a type of Earth ape which lived — unbeknownst to most humans — under the Antarctic ice cap. In 1970, aliens trying to take over Earth accidentally released the Ice Apes. Trying to demonstrate their power to the human governments, the aliens detonated a small explosion on what they thought was the lifeless ice of the Antarctic. Instead, the explosion revealed the home of the Ice Apes and brought the TARDIS down to land on the ice cap.

The Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon had to deal with both the angry apes and the power-hungry aliens. In the end, the apes' superior strength allowed them to overcome the aliens, and the two threats cancelled each other out.

Little was known about what happened to the apes after this encounter, or about how their biology matched other Earth primates. (COMIC: Ice Cap Terror)

Behind the scenes
The Ice Apes replaced the Robot Yeti, who were originally to feature in Ice Cap Terror before issues arose due to the Yetis' creators' rights. (DWCC 17)