10 Things You Didn’t Know about Cyclops from X-Men

[[{“value”:”

Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, is one of Marvel Comics’ most underrated heroes. He is so often mocked and looked down on as a lesser hero on the X-Men’s roster, and that simply could not be further from the truth. Scott Summers is one of the most compelling, engaging, adept heroes in Marvel’s history, and he deserves the same level of love and admiration that characters like Wolverine receive.

Although Cyclops has existed for far longer than many other X-Men characters, fans often don’t know all that much about his character and the depth of his backstory and lore. With so many facets of his personality and character arc tied to what he has experienced and dealt with over his long history, many of Scott Summers’ most important attributes and histories are unknown to fans.

10

Cyclops’ Father Is the Space Pirate, Corsair

Cyclops’ Family Tree Is Especially Complicated

Scott Summers and his brother Alex were both involved in an accident that led to the unfortunate deaths of both their parents—or so they thought. When their small plane went down, the young Summers brothers were given the only parachute and thrown from the craft in the hope they’d survive. Christopher and Katherine Summers stayed on the plane, heading toward certain death

Growing up thinking that their parents were dead, Cyclops was shocked to discover that his father, Christopher Summers, had actually survived and had been taken into deep space. He became the leader of the Starjammers, one of Marvel’s most iconic cosmic teams, and took on the name Corsair. Though their newly reformed relationship started off a bit rocky, Cyclops’ connection to Corsair has evolved and strengthened over the years.

9

Cyclops Has Uncanny Aim

Cyclops’ Spatial Awareness Makes His Optic Blasts Even More Effective

Though many fans consider Scott Summers one of the weaker members of the X-Men, that could not be further from the truth. His leadership skills, tactical mind, and incredible mastery over his signature optic blasts make him a formidable opponent, capable of facing off against enemies far more powerful than him.

On top of the sheer power of his optic blasts, Scott possesses an incredible sense of trigonometry, something that allows him to survey his surroundings and perfectly find ways to bounce and ricochet his blasts off of any object or surface around him. This talent makes his moves unpredictable to enemies, and it allows further mastery of an otherwise unruly power.

Cyclops Let Grief Blind Him from the Truth of Madelyne Pryor

In the wake of the iconic events of The Dark Phoenix Saga, Scott Summers was inconsolable after his long-time love, Jean Grey, seemingly died to rid the world of the deadly Phoenix. Overcome by grief, Scott temporarily left the X-Men and stumbled upon Madelyne Pryor, a woman who bore a shocking resemblance to Jean Grey herself.

Their romance and relationship evolved and grew at a rapid rate, and the pair quickly married. Eventually, the relationship even led to the birth of their son Nathan Summers, the mutant who would eventually become the hero Cable. Eventually, it was revealed that Madelyne was a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister as part of a plot to destroy Apocalypse, and Scott and Madelyne’s relationship crumbled.

7

Scott and Alex Summers Have Another Brother

Cyclops and Havok Were Shocked to Discover the Existence of Their Brother, Vulcan

Despite the fact that their father was still alive, the Summers brothers still believed that their mother died in the plane accident when they were children. This was, apparently, not the case. Surviving a while longer alongside her husband Christopher, Scott and Alex’s mother, who also happened to be pregnant, was taken prisoner by the Shi’ar.

After giving birth to a son, Gabriel, Katherine Summers died on the Shi’ar Throneworld. Corsair, Cyclops and Havok’s father, was also unaware that Gabriel had been born and had survived on the Shi’ar world, and, wanting to spare his sons pain, lied to them and told them that their mother had died earlier. After Vulcan revealed himself to the world, he became a major threat to the X-Men, fueled by hatred and a yearning for revenge. He has, however, since reconciled with his brothers.

6

Cyclops Spent Years Secretly Raising Cable In the Future With Jean Grey

Cyclops and Phoenix Traveled to the Future to Watch Over Nathan Summers

Despite the fact that Jean Grey is not technically the birth mother of Cable, she still has a certain maternal instinct for him. Her relationship with Scott is complicated and messy, but their love has allowed them to conquer incredible odds together. During the events of the underrated The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, Scott and Jean traveled to the future to assist Cable and others in need of their help.

Taking on the personas of Slym and Redd, Scott and Jean took the young Nathan Summers under their wings, and chose not to tell him who they really were. Believing that his real parents had abandoned him, Nathan found comfort in the arms of Slym and Redd. Many fans were under the impression that Cyclops had unfortunately left his son alone to grow up, but The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix gave so much more impact and context to the tragic father-son relationship.

5

Cyclops Killed Charles Xavier

Cyclops Let the Phoenix Force Overcome Him and Kill His Mentor

During the events of the iconic Avengers VS X-Men crossover, Cyclops, alongside a few other major mutant characters, became imbued with the Phoenix Force, the terrifying entity that originally inhabited Jean Grey herself. Overtaken by the corrupting power, Scott and the other members of the “Phoenix Five” began a crusade to better the world by any means.

The remaining X-Men teamed up with the Avengers to fight back against the new Phoenix hosts, and this eventually led to a final confrontation between Cyclops and his long-time mentor, Professor Charles Xavier. Their showdown led to Cyclops making a tragic mistake, killing the man who was the closest thing he had to a father while growing up.

4

Cyclops Once Controlled His Powers Without a Visor

Cyclops’ Visor Typically Helps Hold Back His Immensely Powerful Optic Blasts

For a long time, it was implied that the reason that Scott Summers couldn’t control his optic blasts was because he had suffered a heavy blow to the head while attempting to parachute to safety as a child. Later on, however, it was revealed that a major facet of Cyclops’ lack of control over his mutant ability actually stems from a psychological block.

During the events of Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men run, Cyclops, with the help of Emma Frost, one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe, was able to take full control of his optic blasts. Without the need for a visor, Scott was more powerful than ever before, and the mental blocks surrounding his powers were gone. Eventually, he returned to needing a visor, but this story proved that he might not actually need it.

3

Cyclops Split the X-Men In Half After Fighting Wolverine

Cyclops and Wolverine’s Clash Brought About the Schism Event

Though Cyclops is often seen as the more buttoned-up rule-follower, and Wolverine is seen as the brash loose cannon, the events leading up to Schism proved otherwise. In the wake of a devastating event that wiped out the vast majority of the Earth’s mutant population, the X-Men were desperate for a miracle. Their species was in danger of extinction, and their leaders needed to make tough decisions.

With some of the remaining mutants being children and teenagers, Wolverine wanted to allow them to have normal lives—or at least as normal as the lives of mutants in the Marvel Universe could be—while Cyclops wanted to recruit them in a war against their enemies. This major moral dispute fractured the X-Men, and it sent the status quo of the X-Men universe spiraling.

2

Cyclops Once Became a Radical Revolutionary

Cyclops Led a Team of Revolutionary X-Men in the Wake of AVX

After the death of Charles Xavier at his hands, Cyclops found himself the enemy of the Marvel Universe. There weren’t many characters who considered him a friend or ally, and his mistakes during Avengers VS X-Men only exacerbated things. Donning a brand-new costume, a new attitude about the world, and a demeanor much closer to the previously villainous Magneto, Cyclops reinvented himself.

Leading a new team of X-Men that worked from the shadows and sought mutant liberation, Cyclops became somewhat of an antagonist to Wolverine and his group of more traditional X-Men. This was an era of disruption and disconnect for the X-Men, and though it was controversial with fans, it led to some excellent stories being told. The way Cyclops handled situations like major Omega Level threats during this era was a treat to see, and it proved why he is one of the best X-Men of all time.

1

Cyclops’ Powers Come from Another Dimension

Cyclops’ Optic Blasts Are Extra-Dimensional Concussive Energy

Many casual readers and fans see Cyclops’ optic blasts and think that they are somehow similar to Superman’s heat vision or any other energy blasts. This is not the case. Cyclops’ optic blasts are not heat blasts, and instead of melting through objects, they act as a concussive force.

Not only do Cyclops’ optic blasts not produce heat, but they also have a bizarre source that not many people know of. Scott Summers’ power technically allows him to produce energy from another dimension — a dimension full of incredible power that he can unleash from his own eyes. It’s a relatively small difference in the grand scheme of things, but it lets people know that Cyclops is so much more than meets the eye.

“}]] Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, is one of the most underrated characters by casual fans, and many readers don’t know about his incredible lore.  Read More