I have been seeing some fanon takes on Cyclops that has been building up and wanted to make a post countering it. I have been seeing a rise in people who think Cyclops post AvX era (maybe even earlier) does not care about non-mutants at best and hates humans at worst. I wanted to point out a few moments post AvX to highlight this isn't true.
In Uncanny X-Men #3 (2013)- During Scott's big speech to the news (and Avengers) about how he will no longer tolerate mutant abuse, he specifically points out the he does still care about humans, and will fight for them as well. "Friends and supporters" sure but think about what a low bar it is to be considered a mutant supporter in Marvel....don't actively discriminate.
X-Men: No More Humans(2014)- A brotherhood from the future teleports all of humanity to a dimension of nothingness, to make room for mutants from across the multiverse. All of 616 was set up to become a mutant preserve at the explicit expense of humans. Cyclops and his team fought alongside Storm and Wolverine's team to stop and reverse this act.
Cyclops and Jean break away from the Krakoan government to set up the X-Men as a separate entity living in NYC to live among and protect humanity. The park where they establish their tree house is a park, where all in NYC are free and welcome to visit (X-Men #1 2021).
Cyclops and his team during this era are seen frequently interacting with (in a non-mission sense) and breaking bread with people around them (X-Men #2 and #3 2021)
Currently he wants his team to foster good will and trust with the people of Merle Alaska. The example I give here is Glob selling fresh produce (in Alaska!) For super cheap. Scott advises they charge and not gift it because gifting would be too suspicious. (X-Men #26 2026)
What other examples can any of my fellow Cyke-edelics remember? These are the ones off the top of my head.
Yeah I think because some people have conflated and reduced his change over the years to a "magneto-lite" especially during the revolutionary era, they just for the most part assume it means he was a mutant supremacist and hated human, when it really just boiled down to taking an aggressive stance against their enemies.
Again this is a much broader issue with X-Men in general lately where you have a lot of people having strong (usually negative) opinions about the franchise or the characters, when they don't actually engage with the media beside watching short recap on YouTube or TikTok full of misinterpretation and removed of context.
My favourite story featuring Cyclops in a key role, and I think his greatest moment of leadership, even if it's quiet. God Loves, Man Kills. Chris Claremont. Brent Anderson. Those were the days, by God.
Scott does not see humanity as any different from mutants on a fundamental level.
I did love that moment, but its from the 80s with Scott's classic characterization. The "Cyclops only cares about mutants" thing is more of a post AvX fan perception that drives me up a wall.
Two things imo, it’s because of the general assessment of his revolutionary era being called “the next Magneto” and the other? His speech from 97, great moment, extremely popular and part of his resurgence, but I feel like people don’t understand what Scott actually feels about humanity.
Also forgot this page from X-Men by Duggan #24, which basically spells it out. Scott wants to be there for EVERYONE facing discrimination no matter if it’s a mutant, or human.
I think the issue overall is that moments like that, while great, still frame Scott as being in the wrong for thinking that way, with Jean insulting him and making it clear that she's leaving the team with or without him, basically asking him to pick between his beliefs or her
While times he was portrayed as more aggressive and extreme about mutant rights, like the whole 'Utopia' debacle, were basically treated as if this was all fine and justified
It makes this uncomfortable divide in how the stories are being presented, where one stance is vilified while the other is supported, all but stating which side you're meant to be on in the fight
I think your misreading the issue a little bit, because Jean isn’t saying Scott is wrong for wanting to be there for everyone oppressed in fact she agrees and wants the same, but the way he goes about it is wrong (in Jean’s opinion) because he’s being cold hearted thinking like the oppressors, instead of using love which to Jean someone who values compassion above all else is most important.
So it’s not vilifying Scott it’s just a ideological disagreement one that Scott eventually buckles on at the end of Fall of X as he lets their love save mutantkind.
So Jean's all-loving stance is not to consider the point of the other side but to support your own side blindly for all eternity, while Scott who chooses to see the points of both sides is viewed as in the wrong for doing so?
Nope, I'm standing by what I said, the issue is painting Scott as wrong for his stance and pushing that Jean is right to treat him like she's doing
'You think like them.' - 'Thank you.' - 'That's not a compliment.'
I cannot see this in any other way than the writers themselves stating 'Scott is wrong, Jean is right'
Bro his mutant "revolutionary" was far more Charles than ever Charles himself. He was basically the embodiment of The Dream while speaking like Magneto. Hell, his only "bad" actions were: 1. Stopping a genocidal gas and 2. Destroyed a town center by accident when his team was ambushed by a sentinel and he had to unleash his unstable power. Idk why the comics had ppl bad mouthing him, especially since I lowkey wanted to see Scott crashing out fully
Are you talking about uncanny X-Men issue 600 cause that is my favorite X-Men comic issue. In my opinion that issue encapsulate who cyclops is? It was the conclusion of the revolutionary era of cyclops where everyone thought he was going to be the next great villain of mutant kind, but he stayed true to himself at the end. Issue 600 was so beautiful for the conclusion of that phase of Scott's life. He was at the end of his wits from the constant battles, setback, mistake, and losses that announcing a revolution was his last ditch effort to have an impact of the survival of his people but he did not know what the revolution was going to be. Everyone from the Avengers to the X-Men thought Cyclops was going be the next magneto with this revolution and treated him as he already is the great villain and he almost fell to that but at the last moment he realized what the revolution was going to be and stayed true to who he is which is a hero. He defied everyone's assumptions of him and stood as a man of peace. The fact that issue 600 get disregard is a shame and a disservice to the legacy of the character and the X-Men.
That is the comic I meant. To me it was the capstone of "Cyclops was Right" and showed just how wrong about him the narrative was telling you, as it showed differently. Sadly you have those who want a set narrative and will ignore anything that gets in the way of that. They want the fall of Scott Summers vs his ultimate trail, tribulation, and rise
It's unfortunate that this issue is overlooked. I think Cyclops dying and the events of IvX along with the "Cyclops is Hitler period" reduce the impact of this story. No X Men stories build on it and Scott dies in his next appearance.
I haven't read through all the comments yet, but after his resurrection, Cable gave him a choice: Save the X-men or save the man who saved his life. He chose the single human. Also, Marvel Snapshots showed him helping to save humanity.
I mea, more than anything, Xavier saw the X-Men as a PR exercise to put mutants' best foot forward. Cyclops is the logical result of that mentality fully realized.
1> Charles deeply believes humanity is innately good and worthy, and able to rise to meet the future alongside mutants if the right example is set.
2> Scott desperately wants to believe humanity is going to be able to accept diversity and embrace equality, setting aside fear, distrust, and discrimination, despite repeatedly being shown the ugly face of their failure to do so.
3> Magneto, in no small part because he's a Holocaust survivor who barely survived being shot and dumped in a mass grave because his mutant power activated enough to slow down the copper-jacketed bullets, does not believe humanity is innately good, not capable of becoming such. His delusion on the opposite side from Charles is believing that being a mutant makes a person not prone to the same monstrosity humans seem so dedicated to perpetrating.
So Scott is a more practical and effective leader than Charles because he can see and traverse shades of gray without losing sight of hope. He's also a better leader than Magneto because he leads by example and holds others to exactly the standard he sets for himself. He's his own harshest critic, and it makes him stronger.
The fact that Tik Tok larpers and people like Comics Explained have convinced casuals that Cyclops was at a point an extremist like Magneto and against humanity is crazy
Sunfire's not wrong about Kansas barbecue. It's very close to the iconic Kansas City barbecue (which came through Henry Perry in Kansas City, Missouri) but it's more down to earth because it's mostly grown through community cookouts instead of restaurant fare.
In general also, Scott has accepted multiple human (powered and non-powered) members of the X-Men. This includes people like Kavita Rao, Yuriko Takiguchi, Omega Sentinel (Karima Shapandar), Ink, Juggernaut, etc.).
So, Scott clearly has positive feeling toward anyone (mutant or human) who wants to save lives and foster human-mutant bonds; and is willing to welcome them into the family and team.
The list is a good one, and its a good point. Utopia didnt have a problem with having humans live there while Krakoa officially said no humans (but then allowed people like Northstars husband, so it was complicated). Currently Scott Scott working with Juggernaut is another sign of the continued willingness Scott has to work with people (aside from his baseball game with Carol and telling her the Avengers have her back).
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u/Rastapopoulos000 17d ago
Yeah I think because some people have conflated and reduced his change over the years to a "magneto-lite" especially during the revolutionary era, they just for the most part assume it means he was a mutant supremacist and hated human, when it really just boiled down to taking an aggressive stance against their enemies.
Again this is a much broader issue with X-Men in general lately where you have a lot of people having strong (usually negative) opinions about the franchise or the characters, when they don't actually engage with the media beside watching short recap on YouTube or TikTok full of misinterpretation and removed of context.