Next the Autons. The Autons are the physical representations of an alien entity known
as the Nestene Consciousness. 

The Autons can take many shapes but their most common form is that of a
plastic dummy - a shop manikin if you like. The Nestenes can use anything
that is made of plastic. In the 1971 story Terror of the Autons, a plastic chair
was used to deadly effect; and then there was that ugly-looking plastic doll
that took on a life of it’s own, and who would have thought plastic flowers
could be so deadly - these Auton flowers omitted a suffocating plastic film
which covered the mouth and nose. Death followed.

So the Autons are deadly in every way. But a warning. Do not under any 
circumstances exchange greetings with one of these horrible things. Concealed
in their hands they have deadly weapons, which can kill or vaporize in an 
instant.  Not to worry though. The typical Auton does not look particularly
realistic. Their faces are expressionless; they are crude plastic creations. Go into any Marks & Spencer’s
store and you will see what your average Auton looks like. But if one of them starts moving... haul ass! 
Models that are more sophisticated compliment the crude killing machines. These are used to impersonate 
and replace living humans. Nevertheless, their flat sounding voice and un-human like skin is a dead 
give-away. Even a drunken Millwall fan could spot one a mile away. So having it away sharpish is always 
an option.

The image of Auton Mannequins smashing their way through shop windows in that very first Auton story, the
Spearhead from space, was reproduced for the 2005 relaunch; yet again terrified shoppers ran for their
lives as the Autons went completely bonkers. But the Autons are best seen in an earlier incarnation, doing
battle with the Third Doctor, and to revisit this classic we have to journey back over 30 years...

To a time when coloured television was in its infancy, and the Doctor travelled around in a yellow car
called Bessie. The date was 09/01/1971. The time traveller and his companion have made their way to the 
local circus in search of the renegade Time Lord known only as the Master. Suddenly they find themselves
trapped by an angry mob. Then, out of nowhere, a police car pulls up and the Doctor and Jo get their 
collars felt by two burley policemen and are quickly bundled into their car. A slight pause before a 
suspicious backseat driver taps the non-driving policeman on the shoulder... He turns to reveal a cold, 
expressionless face. The traveller jerks forward, grabs hold of the policeman's face, and yanks hard. It
peels away to reveal another face underneath; crude, lumpy and unfinished - it was the face of an Auton...