Amongst the current line of Krakoa books, Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto’s Cable has been a bit of an oddball. Thinking about it, each title represents a vital part of lore for this era: Way of X explores Krakoan culture and how people react to it, X-Factor deals with mysteries surrounding the resurrection protocols, and X-Men is filled with world building like laying the groundwork that introduced the X of Swords event — Cable doesn’t really do anything new beyond being a story about young Cable’s life on Krakoa.
Amidst the Hellfire Gala event, Cable #11 becomes even more of an oddball in the lineup — just when does this story take place? Last issue Scott was getting ready for the Gala after all — but it’s still one of the more standout issues of the series thus far.
Ever since issue #2 of Cable ended with that shot of Old Man Cable fighting some creatures, fans knew he’d be coming back in this series. In issue #11, we finally get his return and it’s oddly refreshing to see him back. His reunion with Hope is all too short but very sweet, given the father/daughter relationship between the two.
Image: Marvel Comics
But Old Man Cable’s reunion also falls short in this respect. Scott barely has a reaction to him — the same Scott we saw break down upon his death in the Utopia era, who wrote letters for his future son to find, and who gave up Hope for him to raise. Jean as well has little to no reaction to seeing him despite the familial relationship the two have shared in the past. These are two of Cable’s biggest supporting characters — how did this not get page time?
The dissolution of the Cuckoos/Cable relationship is welcome, though it’s still odd no one in this series ever mentioned that part of what makes it weird is Emma and Scott’s romantic past, a past that has continued to be teased as a possible ongoing thing well into the Krakoan era.
Despite these negatives, Cable #11 finds its footing in how Old Man Cable reacts to his younger self, proving why this character actually is cool. Jean has mostly been relegated to being seen making dinner in the kitchen in the X-titles but in Cable #11 she finally breaks free as the title actually uses her for once — a win for Jean fans in its own right. (now we just gotta get her free of that green dress…)
Old Man Cable’s Krakoan resurrection is as puzzling as is it is enjoyable. Was the Cable we saw in earlier issues just a tease for the future wars this issue hints at? And not some clue that Old Man Cable was alive all along? It certainly seems as though that’s the case. If so, Old Man Cable’s adventures are only just beginning.
Cable #11 also shines in its use of Cable’s own supporting characters — Old Man Cable’s supporting characters interacting with young Cable that is. Domino, Deadpool, and young Cable have some enjoyable interactions together, the kind of scenes you don’t expect to work but they oddly do. The big showdown with Stryfe is teased as well, which will no doubt end the series on a climactic note.
Cable #11 is one of the better issues in the series, utilizing its supporting characters for some enjoyable scenes and kicking the plot into high gear with the return of a familiar face. Noto’s art doesn’t miss a beat either, making every page look gorgeous without fail.
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