John Lavalie at 14:49, 31 December 2025

2025-12-31T14:49:56Z

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SFX determines the ultimate rundown of the Time Lord's most monstrous foes...

45 VOORD

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Keys of Marinus|The Keys of Marinus]] (1964) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Okay, these rubber fetishists weren't much cop, but they were the show's second weird alien race. And it tickles us that both they and their leader (Yartek) sound like IKEA products.

44 MECHANOIDS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Chase|The Chase]] (1965) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Spherical robot masters of Mechanus, in no way a scheming merchandising opportunity cashing in on Dalekmania. Catchphrase "Enter-Enter-Zero-Stop!" never charmed the great British public.

43 QUARKS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Dominators|The Dominators]] (1968) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Another failed attempt at "the next Daleks", these robots were big stars in the '60s comics. They should come back, just so someone can say "The Doctor's been grabbed by the Quarks!"

42 NIMONS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Horns of Nimon|The Horns of Nimon]] (1979) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Platform-booted, energy-sucking minotaurs, moving across the stars like galactic locusts. Their enormo-heads were originally intended be masks concealing their hideous true faces.

41 KROLL

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Power of Kroll|The Power of Kroll]] (1979) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Classic tentacle acting was required when giant squid Kroll loomed over the horizon like a barnacle-encrusted balloon with a beak. Supersized itself by swallowing part of the Key To Time.

40 VERVOIDS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Terror of the Vervoids|Terror of the Vervoids]] (1986) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Who's equivalent of the Rorschach test. Depending on your view, the heads of these stage-whispering plant-men either look suspiciously gynaecological or like an angry pink bloke-bit.

39 SLITHEEN

DEBUT: Aliens of London (2005) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>>These flatulent skin-stealers were originally planned to return in "The Impossible Planet", but found a more age-appropriate home in The [[:category| Sarah Jane Adventures|Sarah Jane Adventures]].

38 MACRA

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Macra Terror|The Macra Terror]] (1967) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>>Nothing more alarming than an infestation of crabs, let alone giant, pincer-snapping crustaceans. 2007's reappearance was the most surprising comeback since Neil Diamond.

37 THE KANDYMAN

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Happiness Patrol|The Happiness Patrol]] (1988) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>The unholy offspring of Gordon Ramsay and Bertie Bassett, Who's killer sweet-making celebrity chef gave a whole new dimension to the phrase Hell's Kitchen. Takes all sorts...

36 DINOSAURS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Invasion of the Dinosaurs|Invasion of the Dinosaurs]] ('74) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>"Dinosaur" comes from the Latin for "terrible lizard", but the FX guys took it too literally. These puppety prehistoric predators were Time Scooped into central London in a bonkers scheme.

35 SIL

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Vengeance on Varos|Vengeance on Varos]] (1985) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>> '80s metaphor ahoy! This gurgling, lecherous cosmic wideboy - think Arthur Daley spliced with a slug - represented the dark, scaly horror behind Thatcherite-era profit chasing.

34 THE MALUS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Awakening|The Awakening]] (1984) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Leering, big-faced interplanetary war machine bricked-up in a quaint country church. Snacked on human fear as if it was psychic Monster Munch. A wall! A WALL OF PURE EVIL!

33 TERILEPTILS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Visitation|The Visitation]] (1982) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> These cultured lizards tried to destroy mankind using the Black Death. Their leader (played by Michael Melia, later the Queen Vic landlord) destroyed the Doctor's sonic screwdriver! Boo!

32 OGRI

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Stones of Blood|The Stones of Blood]] (1978) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Beware next time you visit some standing stones... one of them might be an Ogri! These silicon-based lifeforms feed off the globulin in blood. And patiently put up with dancing druids.

31 THE DESTROYER

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Battlefield|Battlefield]] (1989) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>The drooling boot boy of resurrected witch queen Morgaine, this pan-dimensional horror was an impressive distant cousin of Tim Curry's Devil from Legend, with an aquamarine makeover.

30 DRASHIGS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Carnival of Monsters|Carnival of Monsters]] (1973) ENCOUNTERS: 1

»The scariest puppets since Sooty went postal, these shrieking swamp creatures are blind and hunt using their sense of smell. The name is an anagram of "dishrag"!

29 TOCLAFANE

DEBUT: The Sound of Drums (2007) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> New Who's most ghoulish creation: blade-packing spheres containing the heads of future humanity, gleefully giggling as they dispense slice-and- dice slaughter to their ancestors.

28 AXONS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Claws of Axos|The Claws of Axos]] (1971) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Who's grooviest aliens ever. Sometimes they were beautiful and gold-skinned (well gold-leotarded), other times ugly, thrashing spaghetti monsters, but always psychedelic.

27 FENDAHL

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Image of the Fendahl|Image of the Fendahl]] (1977) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>In the Doctor's words, "The Fendahl is death. How do you kill death itself?" Its grotesque, slug-like aspect, the Fendahleen, can freeze their victims' muscles, leaving them helpless.

26 HAEMOVORES

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Curse of Fenric|The Curse of Fenric]] (1989) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Vampires as hideously mutated blob monsters, these were incredibly effective prosthetics creations, troubling the Seventh Doctor. Actually an alternative future evolution of humanity.

25 RASTON WARRIOR ROBOT

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Five Doctors|The Five Doctors]] (1983) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Sleek, silent assassin-bot unveiled for 20th anniversary multi-Doctor pile-up. Launched cool silver harpoons from its wrists but expressionless features hinted at worrying botox dependency.

24 THE MARA

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Kinda|Kinda]] (1982) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>>An ancient evil force that skulked in "The Dark Places of the Inside" (goth night on Thursdays is recommended). Shivery reputation compromised when it manifested as a big rubber snake. D'oh!

23 WIRRN

DEBUT: "[[broadwcast:The Ark in Space|The Ark in Space]]" (1975) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Insect-like race using cryogenically-frozen humans as incubators, the Wirrn, curiously, had evolved useless limbs and hopped about on their abdomens instead. Darwinians take note.

22 MR SIN

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Talons of Weng-Chiang|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]] ('77) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Behold "The Peking Homunculus" - a stunted, psychotic 51st Century cyborg with the brain of a pig and the manners to match. Last seen slumming it in a music hall vent act. Gottle o'geer!

21 MUMMIES

DEBUT: "[[broadwcast:Pyramids of Mars|Pyramids of Mars]]" (1975) ENCOUNTERS:1

>>Mummies, or Osirian service robots? Call them what you will, these lumbering, poacher-crushing droids helped bring Sutekh's gift of death to all humans.

20 ZARBI

DEBUT: "[[broadwcast:The Web Planet|The Web Planet]]" (1965) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>The first Doctor Who serial with a completely non-human guest cast was set on a planet populated by various insectoid races. The ant-like Zarbi were the chitinous football hooligans.

19 JUDOON

DEBUT: "Smith and Jones" (2007) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>>If we didn't include these horny intergalactic cops-for-hire there'd be foe no-show woe, fo' sho'. Sorry - talking like these goth-booted space rhinos is somewhat addictive.

18 THE OOD

DEBUT: The Satan Pit (2006) ENCOUNTERS: 2

» A slave race, possibly related to Futurama's Zoidberg, whose psychic singing was a bit too avant garde for the judges on Last Choir Standing. Their mouths may put you off squid for life.

17 GIANT SPIDERS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Planet of the Spiders|Planet of the Spiders]] (1973) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>>These psychic arachnids were the eight-legged autocrats of Metebelis III, lording it over humans in a chilling reversal of the traditional household set-up. Put paid to Pertwee's Doctor.

16 KRYNOIDS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Seeds of Doom|The Seeds of Doom]] (1976) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> In the grotesque body horror of this story, infected humans are turned into a shambling mass of vegetable matter. Top fact: one stage of the Krynoid was an Axon costume, sprayed green.

15 SILURIANS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Doctor Who and the Silurians|The Silurians]] (1970) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>> This lizard race would have inherited the Earth if they'd thought to put alarm clocks in their hibernation chambers. Kept a pet T-Rex in their cave home, which was kinda cool.

14 GIANT ROBOT

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Robot|Robot]] (1974) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Metal Mickey on steroids, victim of a doomed, Kong-styled infatuation with Sarah Jane that saw him swell to epically tumescent proportions (we know the feeling). Immortalised in toy form.

13 CLOCKWORK ROBOTS

DEBUT: The Girl in the Fireplace (2006) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Who's most elegant mechanical simulacrums, these time-travelling tin men just wanted to repair their ship, even if that meant using human parts. Hid under beds like proper monsters should.

12 DRACONIANS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Frontier in Space|Frontier in Space]] (1973) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> These pineapple-headed warlords were Earth's noble opponents in an intergalactic war, with a rich culture that owed much to Japanese history. But without the schoolgirl panty fetish.

11 ZYGONS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Terror of the Zygons|Terror of the Zygons]] (1975) ENCOUNTERS: 1

>> Besuckered, foetus-like race notable for their body-snatching shapeshifting technology, and cyborg pet beastie the Skarasen. Beloved by monster-maker Neill Gorton and David Tennant.

10 MAGGOTS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Green Death|The Green Death]](1973) ENCOUNTERS: 1

» From Wales they came... A living eco-disaster in the form of slithering, oversized larvae, trailing slimy horror. Or was that the Stereophonics? Trivia hit: the props were inflated condoms.

9 YETI

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Abominable Snowmen|The Abominable Snowmen]] ('67) ENCOUNTERS: 3

>>These shaggy cryptozoological curiosities were really the robot drones of the self-styled Great Intelligence (no insecurities there, then). Bet they utterly honked after it rained.

8 ICE WARRIORS DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Ice Warriors|The Ice Warriors]] (1967) ENCOUNTERS: 4

>> Is there Ice on Mars? They looked like bipedal tortoises, hissed, came from Mars and liked nowt more than a frosty reception. Global warming may have scuppered their recent invasion plans.

7 SONTARANS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Time Warrior|The Time Warrior]] (1973) ENCOUNTERS: 5

>> Sontar-ha! Nasty, brutish and short, the Sontaran clone warriors (who somehow manage to look different in every story) have been putting kids off baked potatoes for decades.

6 AUTONS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:Spearhead from Space|Spearhead From Space]] (1970) ENCOUNTERS: 3

>> Perilsome plastic agents of the Nestene Consciousness. Famously took the form of mannequins before the Bri-Nylon horrors of early '70s fashion prompted a shopper-slaying rampage.

5 SEA DEVILS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Sea Devils|The Sea Devils]] (1972) ENCOUNTERS: 2

>> Salty marine marauders, remnants of a lost reptile civilisation now looking to evict humanity from its turf. Classic '70s string-vest chic later upgraded to samurai-styled armour. Ooh, macho.

4 ROBOTS OF DEATH

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Robots of Death|The Robots of Death]] (1977) ENCOUNTERS:1

>> Sandminer crews are a decadent bunch, and they don't want any ol' droid. They want robots that look like works of art, dahling. These art deco butler-bots soon turned deadly.

3 WEEPING ANGELS

DEBUT: Blink (2007) ENCOUNTERS:1

>>These living statues creep up on you when you close
your eyes and send people back in time. Why doesn't anyone take a sledgehammer to 'em when they're not moving? Think, people!

2 DALEKS

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Daleks|The Daleks]] (1963) ENCOUNTERS: 22
>>"NUM-BER TWO? DA-LEKS ARE NOT NUM-BER TWO! DA-LEKS CON-QUER AND DES-TROY! DA-LEKS ARE SU-PREME! MY POLL PLA-CING IS IM-PAIRED!" [snip!]

1 CYBERMEN

DEBUT: [[broadwcast:The Tenth Planet|The Tenth Planet]] (1966) ENCOUNTERS: 13

>> These remorseless logic-slaves seize monsterdom's gold medal. If only they weren't allergic of the stuff... Originally a scary metaphor for spare part surgery, now a compelling reason to distrust Steve Jobs.

Caption: Strike a light! The ugly Ood make it to number 18.

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← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 31 December 2025
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	DEBUT: Aliens of London (2005) ENCOUNTERS: 2		DEBUT: Aliens of London (2005) ENCOUNTERS: 2

−	>>These flatulent skin-stealers were originally planned to return in "The Impossible Planet", but found a more age-appropriate home in The [[:category\| Sarah Jane Adventures\|Sarah Jane Adventures]].	+	>>These flatulent skin-stealers were originally planned to return in "The Impossible Planet", but found a more age-appropriate home in The [[:category: Sarah Jane Adventures\|Sarah Jane Adventures]].

Monsters Inc (2008) - Revision history

John Lavalie at 14:49, 31 December 2025

John Lavalie: Created page with "{{article | publication = SFX | file = 2008-12 SFX p56-7.jpg | px = 550 | height = | width = | date = 2008-12-01 | display date = Dec. 2008 | author = | pages = 56 | lang..."