“They Offered Me A Cable Series”: Rob Liefeld Turned Down One Final Ride With His Iconic X-Men Hero

In an interview with comic book legend Rob Liefeld, the author and artist revealed that Marvel asked him to revisit Cable for the character’s 35th anniversary next year – but Liefeld turned down the offer, stating that, “at some point, you just got to walk away.“ While the celebration of the iconic time traveling X-Men hero will carry on, it will be without the illustrator who defined the character’s aesthetic.

Liefeld spoke with Screen Rant about the upcoming revival of his pioneering Image Comics series Youngblood; as part of that conversation, he touched on his decision to retire from writing Deadpool with one final story for Marvel, and in the process, he explained why he turned down the chance to do the same with Cable.

Both characters were instrumental in solidifying Liefeld’s place in the comic book industry early in his career, and remain the centerpieces of his legacy at Marvel Comics.

Why Rob Liefeld Said “No” To Returning To Cable For The Character’s 35th Anniversary, Explained

“If I Keep Saying Yes, I’ll Never Leave”

The characters Cable and Deadpool are Rob Liefeld’s most lasting contributions to the Marvel Universe, which is what made it particularly notable when the artist declared that he would write one final Deadpool book before riding off into the proverbial sunset. Now, fans know that Liefeld is turning his full attention to his creator-owned characters, starting with a new volume of Youngblood, the first ever Image Comics series. According to Liefeld, this was the right decision for him, but not an easy one. As he told Screen Rant:

Marvel tempted me. They offered me a Cable series. They said, “Rob, the 35th anniversary of Cable is in 2025. We’re going to celebrate. Will you do some covers?” And I said…”No.”

For Liefeld, this wasn’t a matter of wanting to leave Cable behind, necessarily, but rather needing to. In his interview, he spoke candidly about being in the latter stage of his career, and needing to prioritize Youngblood and his cadre of other memorable comic book creations. As he explained:

At some point, you just got to walk away. If I keep saying yes, I’ll never leave.

Certainly, just like with his Deadpool swan song, one more run with Cable for Rob Liefeld would have been meaningful, but fans will understand that the artist had to follow his inspiration, and that rather than continually looking to the past, he remains focused on his future in the industry.

Liefeld’s Presence Will Still Be Felt As Marvel Honors Three-Plus Decades of Cable

Cable, First Apperance: New Mutants #87 – Written By Louise Simonson; Art By Rob Liefeld; Released In 1990

Upon revealing to Screen Rant that he turned down working on Cable’s 35th anniversary, Rob Liefeld acknowledged that it wasn’t a painless thing to come to terms with. However, his presence won’t be entirely missing as Marvel pays tribute to three-and-a-half decades of the character. According to Liefeld, his version of the character will be represented in some way, shape, or form. Liefeld said:

God, just telling you that hurt me. I’m going to watch other people do Cable 35th anniversary covers, right? And I’m not one of them. They’ll repurpose some art of mine. I’m certain of it. I already saw, in solicitations, there’s some old art, and I dig that. I love that. I have nothing against that, but you just gotta walk away and say, “my time here is done.”

In other words, fans will have the opportunity to honor Liefeld’s history with the character, and the publisher, while he moves on to the return of Youngblood.

In his conversation with Screen Rant, Rob Liefeld emphasized his ambitions as a creator, and the importance of his legacy in the medium to him, especially as he grows older. At the end of the day, Liefeld recognized that the best way to serve his ambitions was to tell the collection of Youngblood stories he’s been holding onto for a long time; further, he seemingly reached the conclusion that the best way to continue shaping his legacy was to attempt a grandiose revival of his Image Comics series, rather than taking one final victory lap at Marvel.

As Rob Liefeld Says Goodbye To Marvel, The Future Of His Iconic Creations Remains Bright

Cable And Deadpool Continue To Grow More Popular

Over the past several years, Deadpool has ascended to a level of popularity unimaginable to Rob Liefeld when he created the character decades ago, becoming one of Marvel’s most commercially successful heroes. Cable, meanwhile, has continued to be an integral part of the X-Men mythos, something that will continue as he celebrates thirty-five years in publication in 2025. With an ambitious new series on the way, and more surprises likely to be revealed in due time, both characters remain pivotal to the future of Marvel, even as their creator says goodbye to them.

Both Deadpool and Cable have changed dramatically since their early 1990s origins, and their roles in the Marvel Universe are significantly different now than when they first entered. More than just owned by Marvel Comics, the characters are deeply engrained in its fictional world; as such, they have far surpassed their creator, and truly only belong to the fandom now. In that sense, it is fitting that Rob Liefeld opted not to return to Cable one last time, as sometimes, even in comics, the magic of the past simply can’t be recaptured.

Check back soon for Screen Rant’s full interview with Rob Liefeld!