Those who know me understand my complaints with the current direction of the X-Men as a lifelong fan, but one new book I never miss out on is Alex Paknadel and Rogê Antôntio’s Cyclops – one thing I’m happy about. From the moment the series started, I knew the right team was on the book, and as the story progresses, it has been a joy to see some of these facets of Scott’s character come to life on page. I’m not just an X-Man fan, I’m a huge Cyclops fan – and this book makes me feel like having a fangirl moment at least once an issue.
Paknadel has presented an interesting twist in this series: bringing Scott back to his roots by recreating his accident and pushing him farther than a young Scott Summers could have ever thought possible. Because Scott isn’t a child looking after his brother and just learning about his powers, he’s a seasoned X-Man – and this time, he has a teenage girl to look after and the Reavers to combat.
Mei’s presence gives me that “teacher Scott” vibe, echoing back to how it felt to see him with the kids during his tenure as co-headmaster of the Xavier Institute. Scott’s never been the teacher who was laid back or relatable, but he is the one who is reliable in a crisis. Seeing him teach Mei some tactics like the red triangle method to help her calm down and survive in the jungle felt like a great reminder of the kind of teacher Scott is. Paknadel understands that Scott is great with kids not in a traditional sense of being a companion, but as someone who helps teach them what they need to know; as someone they can rely on.
Paknadel also understands that core to Scott’s identity as an X-Man is not that he’s a superhero, but a soldier, and that he understands how that path has been set in stone for him now. One of my favorite things about Scott is that he doesn’t need his powers to fight; he’s trained himself for every situation he can possibly perceive, including when his powers aren’t an option. I love a scene where Scott cannot see, but can still use his senses to spot danger, speaking the art of combat through body language alone. It’s a hallmark of Scott’s character to me because this is what he trained himself for, as obsessively and exactly as he is.
One of my favorite things in Scott’s comics is getting those scenes where he is finally pushed to his limit and removes the visor – or in this case, bandages – and getting those pages with an all-consuming red light. It speaks not just to the power that Scott possesses, but how much he holds himself back – and that as much as he is obsessed with self-control, sometimes, he’s pushed to the point of having to let loose.
Rogê Antôntio continues to do an excellent job with the body horror of the Reavers, making their pages – especially those with the kids – impossibly sinister. The early pages with the Alvin character felt like something out of a horror game, and combined with the apathy of the Reavers, illustrate just how depraved they truly are.
Cyclops #3 keeps the series on a strong footing and puts Scott in a position that leaves me wondering how much further he will be taken. I’m excited to see where this team takes him next and what other surprises they have in store for my favorite X-Man.
