Editing Cable (character) (section)

==Publication history==
===Creation===
[[File:6.20.19JohnRomitaJrByLuigiNovi44.jpg|thumb|Artist [[John Romita Jr.]] signing a copy of ''[[The Uncanny X-Men]]'' #201, in which Nathan Christopher Charles Summers first appears as an infant]]
Nathan Christopher Charles Summers is the son of Scott Summers (aka [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]]), and [[Madelyne Pryor]] (who was later revealed in the "[[Inferno (Marvel Comics)|Inferno]]" storyline to be a clone of [[Jean Grey]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=226}}</ref> Writer [[Chris Claremont]], who had written the series since issue #94 (Aug. 1975), revealed Madelyne to be pregnant in ''X-Men/Alpha Flight'' #1 (Dec. 1985).<ref>[[Claremont, Chris]]; [[Paul Smith (comics)|Smith, Paul]] (p), [[Wiacek, Bob]] (i). "The Gift - Part 1", ''[[X-Men/Alpha Flight]]'' #1 (Dec. 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> The next depiction of her pregnancy was in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #200, when she goes into premature labor.<ref>Claremont, Chris; [[Romita, John. Jr.]] (p), [[Dan Green (artist)|Green, Dan]] (i). "[[The Trial of Magneto!]]", ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #200 (Dec. 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> In the following issue, #201 (Jan. 1986), Nathan first appears as a newborn infant.<ref>Claremont, Chris; [[Leonardi, Rick]] (p), [[Portacio, Whilce]] (i). "Duel", ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #201 (Jan. 1986). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The character's first appearance as the adult warrior Cable was at the end of ''The New Mutants'' #86 (Feb. 1990). He does not appear anywhere in the issue's story except for the "next issue" teaser. This was followed by a full appearance in ''The New Mutants'' #87 (March 1990). At first, Cable was not intended to be the adult version of Nathan Summers, but was created as a result of unrelated editorial concerns. Editor [[Bob Harras]] wanted to "shake things up" for the book, and felt a new leader was needed, a sharp contrast from the group's founder and first mentor, [[Professor X]]. The book's writer, [[Louise Simonson]], thought a military leader would be a good idea, and Harras tasked the book's artist, [[Rob Liefeld]], to conceptualize the character. Harras may also have suggested the character's bionic eye. in Liefeld's sketches his appearance was dubbed a "Dark Schwarzenegger Type" and derived from [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s roles in ''[[The Terminator]]'' and ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]''.<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/comicbookaddt/status/1773136478366847163 |title=#Wednesdayvibe #comicbookart Original concept sketches of Cable by @robertliefeld |user=comicbookaddt |number=1773136478366847163 |date=March 27, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref> Both Simonson<ref>{{cite web|last=Simonson |first=Walter|author-link=Walter Simonson|date=November 20, 2015|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/10153041734456503/|title=Regarding the creation of Cable...|publisher=[[Facebook]]|access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Terror, Jude|date=November 21, 2015|url=http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/133854-walt-simonson-reprints-25-year-old-letter-regarding-origin-of-cable.html|publisher=The Outhousers|title=Walt Simonson Reprints 25 Year Old Letter Regarding Origin of Cable|access-date=June 12, 2019|archive-date=February 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211031605/http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/133854-walt-simonson-reprints-25-year-old-letter-regarding-origin-of-cable.html}}</ref> and Liefeld each separately conceived of the leader being a mysterious time traveler from the future. Liefeld chose the name Cable for the character.<ref name=CBR4.2.09>{{Cite web | author=Cronin, Brian | url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/04/02/comic-book-legends-revealed-201/ | title=Comic Book Legends Revealed #201 | work=[[CBR.com]] | date=April 2, 2009 | access-date=April 3, 2009 | archive-date=December 17, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217082727/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/04/02/comic-book-legends-revealed-201/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Liefeld explains the creation of the character:

{{blockquote|I was given a directive to create a new leader for the New Mutants. There was no name, no description besides a 'man of action', the opposite of Xavier. I created the look, the name, much of the history of the character. After I named him Cable, Bob suggested Quinn and Louise had Commander X.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/116883849126986.htm | title=Rob Liefeld: Any More Questions? | work=[[Comics Bulletin]] | date=January 14, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114220920/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/features/116883849126986.htm | archive-date=January 14, 2009 }}</ref>}}

Liefeld further explained his inspirations for the character stating "Not only was Cable one of the most popular character's in comic books for over a decade, he was born from my love for [[The Six Million Dollar Man|Six Million Dollar Man]] growing up. My family will attest that Six Mill was my religion growing up. Eye, Arm, so many influences, mimicking Steve Austin. Lee Majors has stated repeatedly that all cybernetic characters that followed Six Million Dollar Man owed a debt to the character. He isn't wrong."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/robliefeld/p/C3doI_MvIbS/?ig_mid=11365285-9472-4108-83A7-AB4C1B9A13AA&utm_source=igweb | title=Instagram }}</ref>

Harras and writer/artists [[Jim Lee]] and [[Whilce Portacio]], who were writing the ''X-Men'' spinoff ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' that starred Cyclops and the other four original X-Men, decided that Nathan would be sent into the future and grow up to become Cable. Liefeld, who conceived that Cable and his archenemy [[Stryfe]] were one and the same, disliked this idea. (Eventually Stryfe was revealed to be a clone of Cable.)<ref name=CBR4.2.09/> In the 1991 ''X-Factor'' storyline, Nathan is infected by the villain Apocalypse with a techno-organic virus. Because he can only be saved by the technology of the far-future, Scott reluctantly allows Sister Askani, a member of a clan of warriors dedicated to opposing Apocalypse, to take Nathan into the future so that he can be cured, a one-way trip from which she tells him she and Nathan will be unable to return.<ref>Claremont, Chris; [[Lee, Jim]]; Portacio, Whilce (w), Portacio, Whilce (p), [[Thibert, Art]] (i). "Endgame Part 4: Finale", ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' #68 (July 1991). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===''New Mutants'' and ''X-Force''===
In his first adult appearance, Cable is seen in conflict with Stryfe's [[Mutant Liberation Front]],<ref>''The New Mutants'' #87 (March 1990)</ref> the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]], and [[Freedom Force (comics)|Freedom Force]].<ref>Simonson, Louise (w), Liefeld, Rob (p), Barta, Hilary (i). "The Great Escape", ''The New Mutants'' #88 (April 1990)</ref> The [[New Mutants]] intervene and he asks for their help against the Mutant Liberation Front.<ref>Simonson, Louise (w), Liefeld, Rob (p), Barta, Hilary (i). "The Gift", ''The New Mutants'' #89 (May 1990). Marvel Comics.</ref> Cable sees them as potential soldiers in his war against Stryfe, and becomes their new teacher and leader.<ref>Simonson, Louise (w), Liefeld, Rob (p), Barta, Hilary (i). "To Hunt the Hunter", ''The New Mutants'' #90 (June 1990). Marvel Comics.</ref> He comes into conflict with [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]],<ref>Simonson, Louise (w), Hall, Bob; Liefeld, Rob (p), Albrecht, Jeff; Barta, Hilary (i). ''The New Mutants'' #92–93 (Aug.–Sept. 1990). Marvel Comics.</ref> who is revealed to harbor a feud with Cable. Despite this, the two warriors and the New Mutants team up against the MLF.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #94 (Oct. 1990). Marvel Comics.</ref> Cable also leads the New Mutants against [[Cameron Hodge]] and the [[Genosha]]ns in the 1990 "[[X-Tinction Agenda]]" storyline.<ref>Simonson, Louise (w), Liefeld, Rob (p), Rubinstein, Joe (i). "Shell Game," ''The New Mutants'' #95 (Nov. 1990). Marvel Comics.</ref>

With the aid of [[Domino (comics)|Domino]], Cable reorganizes the New Mutants into X-Force. ''The New Mutants'' ended with issue #100, with Cable and other characters then appearing the following month in ''[[X-Force (comic book)|X-Force]]'' #1.<ref name="marvel1">{{Cite web | url=http://marvel.com/universe/Cable | title=Marvel Universe Wiki: Cable | work=Marvel.com | access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref> The ''X-Force'' series provided further detail for the character's back story revealing that he was from the future and that he had traveled to the past with the aim of stopping Stryfe's plans as well as preventing Apocalypse's rise to power. Cable traveled between the 1990s and his future with his ship ''Graymalkin'', which contained a sentient [[computer program]] called [[Ship (comics)#The Future|Professor]], the future version of the program built into [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor's]] [[Ship (comics)|Ship]].<ref>''X-Force'' #8</ref>

In 1992, the character starred in a two issue miniseries, ''Cable: Blood and Metal'', written by [[Fabian Nicieza]], pencilled by [[John Romita, Jr.]], and inked by [[Dan Green (artist)|Dan Green]], published in October and November of that year. The series explored Cable and the villain Stryfe's ongoing battle with one another, and its effect on Cable's supporting cast.

===''Cable'' vol. 1, ''Soldier X'' and ''Major X''===
{{Main|Cable (comic book)}}
Shortly after ''Blood and Metal'', Cable was given his own ongoing series titled '''''[[Cable (comic book)|Cable]]'''''. Issue #6 (Dec. 1993) confirmed the character to be Nathan Christopher Summers, the son of Cyclops (Scott Summers) and Madelyne Pryor (Jean Grey's clone) who had been taken to the future in ''X-Factor'' #68 (July 1991), introduced by writer Chris Claremont, and appeared in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #201 (Jan. 1986). The series ran for 107 issues from May 1993 until September 2002 before being relaunched as ''Soldier X'', which lasted 12 more issues until Aug. 2003.

The 1994 miniseries ''[[The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix]]'' provided further information on the character's back story. In the future, Mother Askani, a time-displaced [[Rachel Summers]], pulled the minds of Scott and Jean into the future where, as "Slym" and "Redd", they raised Cable for twelve years. During their time together, the "family" prevented Apocalypse from transferring his essence into a new body, ending his reign of terror.<ref>''[[The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix]]'' (May–Aug. 1994). Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> It is furthermore established that [[Mister Sinister]] created Cyclops' son Nathan (who became the time-traveling soldier Cable) to destroy Apocalypse.<ref>''Cable'' Annual '99. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

The 2019 miniseries ''Major X'' further revealed that at some point in a possible future, where mutants live together in a Utopian society called the X-Istence, Cable has fathered a son named Alexander Nathaniel Summers. Wearing a red-and-black costume that completely covers him from head-to-toe, Alexander under the Major X alias, traveled to the past in search of Cable with the hope he can help save his reality from fading away.<ref>''Major X'' #1. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

===''Cable & Deadpool'', ''Cable'' vol. 2===
[[File:2.9.16RobLiefeldByLuigiNovi4.jpg|thumb|The character's co-creator, [[Rob Liefeld]], holding up a copy of ''New Mutants'' #87, in which the character made his first full appearance]]
After his solo series ended, Cable was paired with the mercenary [[Deadpool]] in a new ongoing series titled ''[[Cable & Deadpool]]''.<ref>{{Cite comic
| writer = [[Fabian Nicieza]]
| artist = [[Mark Brooks (comics)|Mark Brooks]]
| coartists = Shane Law, Christopher Stevens
| story = If Looks Could Kill Part 1
| title = [[Cable & Deadpool]]
| volume = 
| issue = #1
| date = May 2004
| publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
| location = 
| page = 
| panel = 
| id = 
}}</ref> The series largely dealt with Cable's efforts to change the world for the better, including turning his old spaceship ''Greymalkin'' into the floating utopian island of [[Providence (Marvel Comics)|Providence]]. The first story arc of the series features a Cable who has learned to suppress his techno-organic virus to a nearly effortless degree, allowing him to access the better part of his vast psionic powers. He gains a power level similar to his [[Nate Grey]] counterpart from [[The Age of Apocalypse]] reality and tries to use them to force the people of the world to live in peace.

===''Avengers: X-Sanction''===
On July 27, 2011, Marvel announced at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] the return of Cable. The new project, originally titled as "Cable Reborn", was re-titled as ''Avengers: X-Sanction'', written by [[Jeph Loeb]] and drawn by [[Ed McGuinness]]. The miniseries served as a lead-in to the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' storyline beginning in April 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/story/16306/sdcc_2011_cable_reborn|title=D23 Expo: Jack Kirby and Stan Lee Honored as Disney Legends|website=News - Marvel.com|access-date=2011-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518040339/http://marvel.com/news/story/16306/sdcc_2011_cable_reborn|archive-date=2013-05-18|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hunsaker|first=Andy|title=Cable Returns in Avengers: X-Sanction|url=http://www.craveonline.com/comics/previews/174248-cable-returns-in-avengers-x-sanction|publisher=CraveOnline|access-date=2011-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223005323/http://www.craveonline.com/comics/previews/174248-cable-returns-in-avengers-x-sanction|archive-date=2014-02-23|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/story/17810/avengers_vs_x-men|title=D23 Expo: Jack Kirby and Stan Lee Honored as Disney Legends|website=News - Marvel.com|access-date=2011-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207173336/http://marvel.com/news/story/17810/avengers_vs_x-men|archive-date=2013-12-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''Cable and X-Force''===
Cable's next appearance was in a new series, ''[[Cable and X-Force]]'' by writer Dennis Hopeless and artist [[Salvador Larroca]].  The series debuted in December 2012 and features Cable and a new fugitive team, unofficially referred to by the Marvel Universe media as the new "X-Force".<ref name="Cable&X-Force">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40999 |title=EXCLUSIVE: The Future is Hopeless for "Cable and X-Force" |last=Richards |first=Dave |date=14 September 2012 |website=CBR.com|access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref> This version of [[X-Force]] initially consists of Cable, [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]], [[Doctor Nemesis]], Domino, and [[Forge (comics)|Forge]].<ref>''Cable and X-Force'' #1. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> This series focuses on eliminating disasters based on mysterious visions that Cable is receiving, resorting to occasionally more brutal methods than the prime X-teams would use. After the events of "Avengers X-Sanction" Cable is forced to wear an eye patch and an advanced harness for his non-functioning left arm that was created by Forge.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2016}} Although Hope healed his arm, it is useless because it is not his original arm as it has been destroyed a few times, notably in his battles with Silver Surfer and Bastion.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2016}}

===''X-Force''===
Continuing from ''Cable and X-Force'' Cable puts together a new [[X-Force#Volume 4|X-Force team]] with [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]], Dr. Nemesis, [[Fantomex]], [[Marrow (comics)|Marrow]] and new recruit MeMe to track down and deal with mutant threats using lethal force. The story is written by ''[[X-Men: Legacy]]'' writer [[Simon Spurrier]]. Cable is infected with an extra-dimensional Super Soldier Serum that provides superpowers at the cost of killing them in around a year, however Cable is injected with an early version designed to kill him in a day.<ref name="auto1">''X-Force'' vol. 4 #6</ref> Cable's daughter [[Hope Summers (comics)|Hope]] accidentally copies this virus, since it is based on superpowers, and has to be placed into a coma to save her life.<ref name="auto1"/> Cable cannot defeat the virus either, so he creates a new clone each day to replace himself but each clone still has only one day to live. Cable and X-Force eventually track down the man Volga who created the biotech virus and defeat him. However, Fantomex goes insane from needing to "be the best" and betrays the team using new god-like powers derived from a digitized form of the Volga Effect he had copied during a tryst with Meme.<ref>''X-Force'' vol. 4 #11. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Nemesis and Forget-Me-Not unleashes hundreds of Cable clones to fight him, with Hope eventually stopping Fantomex and saving Cable after the last clone is killed wherein her father stepped up to bat while about to catch fire from Volga's poison. Hope then takes over as leader of X-Force and "fires" Cable for his morally questionable methods.<ref>''X-Force'' vol. 4 #15. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

===''Cable and Deadpool: Split Second''===
After traveling through time and fixing several mistakes that a future Deadpool caused, Cable and present-Deadpool eventually fix the timeline. The effects on the timeline causes Cable to revert to his original "status quo", with his robotic arm and his original telekinesis and telepathic power set.<ref>''Cable and Deadpool: Split Seconds'' #6</ref>

===''Uncanny Avengers''===
Cable is seen in the year 2087 dealing with some unidentified issue related to Stryfe, in the aftermath of an Inhuman attack that covers the city of Boston in sentient plant life led by the Shredded Man.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 3 #2</ref> He and his A.I. Belle eventually joins the rest of the [[Uncanny Avengers]] helping [[List of Inhumans|Synapse]] in the present and helps deal with the Inhuman causing the problems, before deciding to join the team when he learns the team's true mission is dealing with the [[Red Skull]] with Professor Xavier's brain and powers.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 3 #4</ref> After Captain America disbands the Uncanny Avengers in the aftermath of the "[[Civil War II]]" storyline and Cable and Rogue team up with villains Sebastian Shaw and Toad to find a cure for the Terrigen Mists,{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2018}} Rogue continues the team in their mission to stop the Red Skull.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 3 #15 Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

===''Cable'' vol. 3/4, Death, Young Cable ===
After the events of ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' storyline, Cable stars in his third ongoing monthly series, as part of Marvel's 2017 "[[ResurrXion|X-Men: ResurrXion]]" relaunch of its ''X-Men'' and ''Inhumans''-related books. In this series, Cable is depicted as a member of an organization that protects the Marvel universe timeline from damage caused by time travel.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=September 2018}} The first arc of this series "Conquest", sees Cable tracking down a time-traveling villain.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=September 2018}} The second arc, "The Newer Mutants", has Cable assemble a team trying to determine who is murdering Externals.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=September 2018}} The third arc, "Past Fears", spans five eras of Cable's history and sees him battling a techno-organic villain known as Metus.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=September 2018}}

During a series called "[[Extermination (comics)|Extermination]]" by Ed Brisson and Pepe Larraz, Cable was assassinated by his younger self who takes his place.<ref>''Extermination'' #1</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/why-cable-is-young-again/ | title=Cable: How Marvel Made the X-Force Icon Young Again | date=10 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>''Extermination'' #6</ref> Later, "Old" Cable returns and obtains a position in [[S.W.O.R.D.]], but assisted his younger self defeating Stryfe, ensuring the younger one is sent back in time.<ref>''Cable: Reloaded'' #1</ref>