X-Force’s Cable can feel like a one-note character in the hands of weaker creators. The time-traveling hero rolled into the X-books in the era where every new character felt like an iteration of Wolverine, and much like his compatriot Deadpool has benefited from capable writers like Fabian Nicieza breathing unique concepts into a stock character. So, seeing Nicieza return to the character in 2024 with the Fall of X storyline, was an exciting prospect but unfortunately ended up bogged down by too many character tangents.
Collecting #1-4 of the 2024 Cable miniseries, the book finds our hero confronting the daunting task of stopping the Neocracy, which threatens both mutant kind and humanity. As he rescues his younger self from Orchis, he must also battle the Grey Gargoyle and uncover the truth about the mysterious Parvenu. Each step forward in the plot intensifies brings Cable and Nate towards as the looming threats push them to the brink in their mission to prevent a catastrophic future.
This run rightfully addresses the elephant in the room around any time-traveling hero: why not just go back and time and deal with the threats before they develop? With Cable, we get to see how he would deal with a rising Orchis before it decimates Krakoa and the mutant population.
I appreciate the attempt to solidify the interactions between young and old Cable, as the two iterations of the character have significantly different traits and outlook, but this book falls flat when it crams in loads of X-Men supporting characters into what should be a tight character tale. While fans should appreciate it gives a reason for its existence by connecting to the Fall of X era, it simply wishes to include too-many characters into this arc. It’s a shame, as the core concept presented in Fabian Nicieza’s script is one worth exploring.
Riding high on the 90s nostalgia, Scot Eaton’s art gives kudos to the exaggerated, pocket-heavy version of the character many readers remember from his early adventures. I don’t mind this visual approach (it does look ridiculous) and feels like a loving nod to the characters origins as one of many anti-heroes flooding the comic shelves a few decades past. Nicieza and Eaton complement each other, and I’d like to see them work together in the future.
Cable: United We Fall feels like a missed opportunity, especially when you consider the talent involved in the book. By throwing in a slew of X-characters, the book dilutes its core narrative to its detriment. With that in mind, Nicieza and Eaton work well together and will give Cable fans plenty to appreciate in these 4 issues.
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