What’s Covered?
Cable V1 # 54 - 63, X-Man # 46 - 47
Synopsis
Cable # 54, 57: Cable in the Wider Marvel U
Writer - Joe Casey
Pencils - Ladronn
54 (T’Challa)
Joe Casey/ Ladronn
Cable crash lands in Wakanda
T’Challa’s cousin helps Ulysses Claw get in, but C and T stop him.
57 Rama Tut
Rama Tut is trying to get Blaquesmith to fix his Time Machine
Cable still talking/macking with the waitress
C impacted by the Shadow King
Cool narrative device with C impacted by a time distortion and the story told like Memento
C beats RT
You know how I've been talking about how there's been a conscious push to incorporate the X characters into the wider Marvel U? Well, these two stories are low impact one shots that accomplish that goal.
The first one (#54) is a plain Jane T'Challa story that seems out of place. The second story, featuring Kang (as Rama Tut), is actually really great, mostly because it has a unique narrative style. We later learn that Cable got stuck in a temporal field, but prior to that the story is told in a jarring, but interesting, fashion...similar to the early Christopher Nolan movie, Memento (one of my favorite movies). The story jumps back and forth between the present and the recent past, which C being disoriented about which he is currently experiencing.
It's also interesting to see Cable impacted by the Shadow King stories, losing his telepathatic (and telekentic) powers, serving as a major plot point.
Cable # 55 - 56: Domino's Back!
Writer - Joe Casey
Pencils - Ladronn (55), Ryan Benjamin (56)
Cable at a diner in Hell’s Kitchen
Has engaging conversations with the waitress there
Blaquesmith alive and with Irene
Irene chews out C at the diner
Domino finds C at a safe house
She’s really bitter and there’s melodrama about their relationship and what comes next. She storms out.
A mercenary attacks Domino. Some red guy who is not a mutant. (Blockade)
56
JC/Ryan Benjamin
Blockade fucks up Domino
Cable pulls her from an alley and goes after Blockade
C fucks him up and lobotomizes him
Domino will spend some time in a hospital after this.
It was fun to have Domino back, but it seemed more like a 2 issue cameo than anything truly impactful. I'm regretful that this relationship dropped off.
Cable # 58 - 62: Agent 18 & Shield
Writer - Joe Casey
Pencils - Ed McGuiness (*58), Ladronn (58 - 62)
58 Acolytes/ Devout Followers
Without his psy powers, the TO virus is spreading again
C is jumped by his Acolytes in Greece
The followers worship him, followers of Ch’Vayre
One particular follower doesn't buy it and vows to destroy Cable (dumb)
Some gov guys are planning to capture Cable and harvest his TO virus
59
Some SHIELD specialist (Agent 18) lets loose an electricity monster to lure Cable
Cable is dying to the TO virus
60
C Vs A 18
Shield air cavalry shows up to take down C
A 18 starts to question his orders
61
C is with Shield scientists, they are trying to extract the TO virus
Agent 18 breaks him out
Irene recruits GW Bridge to help
62
The nemesis project is four robots taken over by the Techno Organic Virus, and they are firing on shield agents
C gets his TK back
A18 wants another fight as the Helicarrier crashes.
A18 survived but might become a cyborg or something.
Irene writes the story in the Bugle, gets the shady ppl in trouble
This story would have been better if it was done over one or two issues. I am assuming someone forced Joe Casey to write this and he is just spinning his wheels until his replacement shows up.
X-Man # 46 - 47, Cable # 63: Stryfe
Writer - Joe Casey
Pencils - Steve Platt & Andy Smith
XMan46
Stryfe comes out of a pyramid with the Dark riders
Madelyn saves Jean as Stryfe sets out to kill all telepaths
Nate captured by Stryfe
63
JC/Steven Platt and Andy Smith
Jameson offers Irene a job at the Bugle
Blaquesmith sends C to Latveria to help Nate Grey fight Stryfe
Madelyn Pryor helps C fight Doom robots
Stryfe trying to siphon Nate’s powers
XM 47
Madelyn stays with Stryfe and starts pilfering the collected Psy energy
Maddy shoots the Psy energy into Nate
Nate destroys Stryfe
This seemed rather unceremonious for the return of a major character like Stryfe. It would be one thing if he was back and continued to be a thorn in Cables side, but the fact that he is (seemingly) definitively killed after 3 issues (two of them taking place in the unread X-Man) makes this seem even less impactful than it could have been.
My Connections & Creators
Joe Casey steps in and is barely treading water. These stories weren't terrible, but they certainly weren't great. I'm not considering giving up the series or anything (I've given up enough lately), but this was just a long, weak run. What's up with the penciler only have one name, Ladronn!? His art is ok. Not great, not terrible.
I do kind of like the ongoing with Irene serving as a sidekick, Cable flirting with the waitress, and Blaquesmith serving as a mentor. A good solo hero needs his trusty team, and this isn't too bad. I really like the Irene character. Blaquesmith has always seemed generic and a bit like a Mary Sue.
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