If you ask a dozen comic readers who their favorite member of the X-Men is, you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. Some people might be drawn to the icons like Wolverine or Storm. Others would pick lesser known mutants like Sunspot or Cannonball. I’m personally a Kitty Pryde fan, myself. But one character who hasn’t really entered the favorites list is Nathan Summers, the time-traveling mutant soldier known as Cable. David Pepose and Mike Henderson aim to change that with Cable: Love and Chrome #1.
Love and Chrome begins when Cable is on a mission to stop time travel technology from being weaponized by a doomsday cult. But an attack from a mysterious figure leaves him stranded in a war-torn future. To make matters worse, most of the world’s population is infected by the Techno-Organic Virus – the same virus that gives Cable his metal arm, and the one enemy he’s waged an eternal war against.
Peopose has a gift for digging deep into his characters’ mindset, whether it’s his work on the new Punisher or Space Ghost, and that continues with Love and Chrome. When battlling the doomsday cult, his newfound enemy, or the people who would threaten the residents of Salvation Bay, Cable is able to strategically use his psychic powers (and his big honking guns) to turn the tide. But above all else, Peopose cements Cable as someone who will meet his end without fear. “If I’m destined to die alone…I’ll do it standing up,” he says in one panel.
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Henderson doesn’t let up for a minute on the artwork, making each battle feel big (but not overwhelming) and distinct. In the opening, he showcases how Cable makes good use of his telekinisis (summoning one of his weapons) and telepathy (convincing a doomsday warrior to trigger his grenades) – resulting in a spectacular explosion. Later, another battle sends Cable tumbling into the timestream, which Henderson renders as a malestrom of lightning and fire. I also love how he draws Cable’s metal arm; it’s depicted as a collection of metal bolts and sheets, further signifying the struggle that Nathan maintains against the virus coursing through his veins.
Rounding out the art team are Arif Prianto and Joe Sabino, who bring a unique flair to the post-apocalypse. Prianto lights up the backgrounds with plenty of reddish-orange whenever there’s an explosion, and colors Cable’s uniform the same blue that’s been a standard in every one of his costumes. Prianto and Sabino also come up with a unique take on Cable’s powers; red lettering indicates when he’s using his telekinesis, while blue lettering is reserved for his AI Belle.
The most unique thing Love and Chrome does is to give Cable a match in the form of soldier Avery Ryder. From the jump, she shares a lot with him: she’s been fighting a seemingly endless war, she’s been dealing with the Techno-Organic Virus, and she’s resolved to keep fighting no matter what. It’s no wonder the two are drawn toward each other, and it’s the most interesting part of the book. Up to this point, the only stable relationships Cable has had is with the members of X-Force or his adoptive daughter Hope; seeing him connect with another person highlights the “Love” in the series’ title.
Cable: Love and Chrome #1 gives Nathan Summers a new mission, a new love interest – and most importantly, it’ll give readers a new outlook on his character. If you’re looking for an entry point into the world of X-Men, or you dig time-travel romances, start the New Year off with this comic.
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