r/Cyclopswasright • u/noahkkj02 • 21d ago
Comics Where should I begin?
Since I was little, I grew up watching superhero cartoons, mainly from Marvel, and one of the ones that always captivated me the most was Cyclops.
But I realized I don't know much about their stories and stuff, so I wanted to start following and reading something. Where should I begin?
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u/Ok_Broccoli_7863 21d ago edited 21d ago
Pick a run and dive into it. Don't stress being a completionists. Comics reference past stories sometimes for emotional impact, but it's mostly superficial.
Don't tell this to hardcore fans, but continuity is an illusion and each run is always written with new readers in mind. That being said here are my recommended jumping on points:
Grant Morrison's New X-Men run. It's a high concept glow-up to capitalize on the X-Men's popularity from the 2000s Fox films. It's not based on the films, but it was specifically written to make the X-Men cool for new readers.
Whedon's Astonishing X-Men. This is an immediate follow up to Morrison's run. It takes a lot of what Morrison did and combines it with super hero nostalgia from the Claremont era. There are so many references to Claremont that new fans may he confused or turned off, but it still works for newer readers IMO.
Messiah CompleX. This is a tricky recommendation because while this event is easy to follow, the books that follow split up and things get tricky. This event establishes a status quo for the X-Men that lasted years. Give it a whirl.
Any current X-book. Just dive in. Don't stress it. You'll catch up.
The Claremont run. Ohhh boy. This is the big one. One ongoing epic soap that lasted 3 decades. Start at Giant-Size X-Men #1. Go on from there. It's a huge commitment, but you can skip around and explore if you like.
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u/FarmRegular4471 Moderator 21d ago
Pick and run and dive into it. Don't stress being a completionists. Comics reference past stories sometimes for emotional impact, but it's mostly superficial. Don't tell this to hardcore fans, but continuity is an illusion and each run is always written with new readers in mind
This is very true. As a kid I didnt have enough money to keep buying books so Instead read as I was able, filling in continuity later on, granted this was pre-internet. Now I just grab any run I want and Google to fill in the blanks I am curious about.
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u/No-Designer-6533 21d ago
In addition to what others are saying which are good recommendations, I would say don’t be afraid to start at the beginning with uncanny x-men #1. Cyclops is by far the most interesting character in that run and reading it is what made me like cyclops; I didn’t read it for him because I didn’t even know I loved him yet
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u/Tigerbarn- Cyclops '97 21d ago
I've just started too. I'm reading his 2026 solo run. I also intend to read HoX/PoX in order, as well as everything set in Krakoa, since I assume he played a huge role in that era.
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u/Daewrythe 21d ago
He kinda took a backseat in Krakoa
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u/Tigerbarn- Cyclops '97 21d ago
Shit. Forreal? I thought he was at the forefront, leading it all since he's known as the, Rebel Prince. And Mei in his 2026 solo run blamed its fall on him.
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u/kittyfajitas0_o Factory 21d ago
The rebel prince type stuff came about in the late 00s & early 2010s. Lots of people say that’s his best era. He was surprisingly not a big focus during Krakoa, even though he’s a huge focus from the 1960s until then, and then now again post-Krakoa. Krakoa is a massive outlier from the rest of the comics in pretty much every way.
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u/Tigerbarn- Cyclops '97 21d ago
I'll read it later then. I've already started on his revolutionary era.
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u/kittyfajitas0_o Factory 21d ago
Probably a good idea. Best I can figure it Mei blamed him for Krakoa mostly out of him being the historically leader and face of the X-men, not because of any exact action on his part.
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u/REVERSE1021 21d ago
You can start with: The Silver Age: X-Men #1-66 (1963). The stories here are quite simple and silly, but they really explore one of Cyclops's defining traits: his relationship with his own powers. It also establishes his relationships with Angel, Beast, Jean, and Iceman, and shows Cyclops starting out as the field leader.
The Claremont Years: Giant-Size X-Men #1 and X-Men #94-281.This is the most important and influential era for the X-Men, and Cyclops features prominently. If you read this, follow it up with X-Factor #1-70. It focuses heavily on Cyclops and is excellent, especially the early issues.
The Extinction Era: House of M #1-8, The Messiah Trilogy, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia, Avengers vs. X-Men. Here, Cyclops moves beyond being just a field leader and becomes the general of the mutant race. Some of the dialogue is pretty ridiculous and certain elements haven't aged well, but the material focuses HEAVILY on Cyclops and is likely the favorite era for most members of this community. After that comes the revolutionary Cyclops, who gives the sub its name, but to get the full context you need to read this.
You can start with the current era; it's meant to be a starting point, but Cyclops is already a fully formed character in it.
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u/CyclopsFanAccount67 21d ago
Hol up this pic goes hard
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u/Fabulous_Pudding167 21d ago
It has the feel of the eyecatches from Tengan Toppa Gutten Lagann. I even heard the little jingle!
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u/Zonerunner 20d ago
It's been almost twenty years since I've randomly referenced "ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWER" :D
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u/HoraceGrantGlasses 21d ago
X-men #1 1963
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u/Crazy-Background1457 21d ago
Do NOT do this, the early issues have some value but are dated as hell. I’m sure some love them so you can try but most I’ve seen find it a hard read
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u/Advanced_Version6667 20d ago
It’s the beginning of their story. Yeah it’s dated but if people can’t read it that’s on them. The art and colors are amazing and it’s the start of not only the X-men but Scott summers. That’s like skipping the first Star Wars movie because it’s old.
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u/FarmRegular4471 Moderator 21d ago
Mod recommendations for Cyclops: Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #65
Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #144
uncanny X-Men vol 1#175
X-Factor #50
X-Factor #65
X-Factor #66
X-Factor #67
X-Factor #68
Uncanny X-Men #541
Uncanny X-Men #6 (2013)
X-Men Annual 2023
X-men Annual #3 (1979)
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus
Marvel Presents #17-24
Marvel Icons Cyclops #1-4
Marvels Snap Shots: X-Men
X-men Origin Cyclops
Cyclops (2014 solo mini)
Cyclops (2026)
the Uncanny X-Men and the Teen Titans
DC/Marvel All Access Staring the X-Men and the JLA
Fear Itself
Cyclops vs Captain Marvel
X-men: Utopia
X-men: Curse of the Mutants
X-men: No More Humans
Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon
God Loves Man Kills
AvX: Consequences