Cyclops #1 Kicks Off His First Series in Years With a Bang but It Feels Hollow (Review)

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Cyclops has experienced a significant evolution in recent years. After a period where the character was presumed dead – returning in 2018 just before the launch of the Krakoa era – he’s become a central figure in X-Men storylines. He played a key role in both Jonathan Hickman’s and Gerry Duggan’s runs on X-Men, and this focus continued with Jed MacKay’s work on the title. For years, fans have wanted a solo series dedicated to the X-Men’s iconic leader, and that’s finally happening in 2026 with Cyclops #1. While it’s an exciting start to the series, it does have some issues.

Alex Paknadel wrote this issue, and he does a solid job. He previously honed his skills with the X-Men on Marvel Unlimited and in the Sentinels series, demonstrating a knack for writing many X-Men characters. He’s taking over a challenging role, as even critics of MacKay’s X-Men run acknowledge his strong portrayal of Cyclops. This first issue shows Paknadel clearly understands the character. It starts with a standalone X-Men adventure – similar to the recent Rogue #1 – where the hero uses both leadership and fighting skills to save the day. It’s an enjoyable way to begin this new series.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Pros Cons
Paknadel gets Cyclops; you won’t get anything new, but you’ll get the character you love Donald Pierce doesn’t really feel right for this book; it’s weird that Wolverine villains keep getting stolen for these minis
Roge Antonio’s art fits the story and has some cool moments Some of Antonio’s faces don’t look great and his style of art feels too safe and “house style”-y
Seeing Scott and Alex being brotherly is a welcome change The plot isn’t all that interesting

Cyclops #1 Does Familiarity Well

Scott Summers, or Cyclops, isn’t a particularly complicated character, but he definitely has a commanding presence. The writer, Paknadel, really nails his role as a natural leader – someone who inspires both respect and a little fear. Like many of these limited series, this one doesn’t try to drastically change the character, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s a classic Cyclops story, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

This story delves into the character’s history, surprisingly shows the Summers siblings working together, and creates a plot reminiscent of a dangerous game. My main issue with it is the villains. Donald Pierce was recently controlled by an outside force in a Wolverine story, so his sudden reappearance here feels out of place. It’s also odd that a Rogue comic recently featured a similar Wolverine villain. These connections feel minor and coincidental, like a recurring pattern from the X-Men writing team.

Roge Antonio’s Art Is Good, but It’s Starting to Feel Like There’s an X-Men House Style

Roge Antonio is a talented artist who’s been consistently delivering strong work, and his latest book, Cyclops #1, appears to be his most impressive yet. The opening action sequence is particularly well-done and visually striking. Antonio excels at depicting Cyclops’s optic blasts, as showcased on a standout page. He also handles character expressions effectively – a challenge with Cyclops, given his obscured eyes – and provides a good level of detail throughout, with well-structured page layouts.

Over time, I’ve observed that Antonio’s artwork can be inconsistent. While the faces in this book aren’t always the best, it’s a bigger issue that many of the X-Men comics are starting to look the same. A lot of artists seem to be copying Ryan Stegman’s style, and Antonio’s work fits that trend. His art isn’t poor, but it’s not particularly outstanding, and it seems he was selected to match the established style of Stegman and Netho Diaz, who have been the primary artists on Cyclops. Though Antonio is skilled, I believe he wasn’t the ideal choice for this book because his style is too similar to Stegman and Diaz, but doesn’t quite reach their level. This creates a sense of visual repetition that weakens the book’s overall identity.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, but it quickly fell into familiar territory, feeling like a typical Cyclops story. A common issue with recent X-Men comics is a lack of originality – they’re fun, but don’t offer much depth. This issue, Cyclops #1, suffers from the same problem, and the artwork feels equally generic. It’s not a bad comic, and it has some enjoyable moments and decent art, but don’t expect it to offer a fresh or groundbreaking take on the character. Existing Cyclops fans will probably enjoy it, but it’s unlikely to attract new readers.

Cyclops #1 is on sale now.

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2026-02-11 17:11