Marvel Introduces a Tragic Version of X-Men’s Cyclops

Marvel Introduces a Tragic Version of X-Men’s Cyclops

As a longtime follower of the X-Men universe, I must say that the new take on Cyclops in Ultimate X-Men has truly captured my heart and left me utterly captivated. The emotional depth and complexity brought to Natsu Tsukishima’s character is unparalleled, and her struggles with her powers are a poignant reminder of the heavy burden that comes with being an X-Man.

Cyclops, the ultimate X-Man, has seen a significant surge in popularity following his prominent role in X-Men ’97. This series effectively highlighted all that makes Cyclops exceptional, helping him shake off the “unpopular” image from earlier years. Right from the opening scene where he utilized his optic blasts as rockets, to the final episodes where he, Jean, and Cable battled against immense adversity and emerged victorious, Cyclops is now receiving the recognition he deserves. Despite facing numerous challenges, he consistently comes out on top.

Marvel’s latest Ultimate Universe is causing quite a stir, offering fresh takes on well-known stories for fans. Of all the new releases, Ultimate X-Men stands out as particularly unique, reimagining the X-Men mythology through a horror manga lens, focusing on a team of teenage Japanese mutants. In issue #10 of Ultimate X-Men, written and illustrated by Peach Momoko, we see this group’s “Cyclops” character discover the devastating consequences of losing control over her powers, and it’s incredibly emotional.

Spoiler Warning!

The New Cyclops’s Powers Are Just As Dangerous as the Classic Version’s

Marvel Introduces a Tragic Version of X-Men’s Cyclops

The characters in the comic series “Ultimate X-Men” are primarily young Japanese females grappling with their abilities, alongside “the Children of the Atom,” a Japanese mutant group that views mutants as superior beings. A notable character is Natsu Tsukishima, a new take on Cyclops, who’s named after summer in Japanese, symbolizing her connection to the original Cyclops. Unlike the traditional Cyclops, she can only fire energy blasts from one of her eyes. Until now, she had managed to keep her powers under control; however, an emotional exchange with her mother in “Ultimate X-Men” #10 causes her to lose self-control over her abilities.

Following the Children of the Atom’s leader, the Maester, speaking, Natsu’s mom attempts to persuade her to join the group, but Natsu refuses. Despite this, her mother continues to push, which angers Natsu so much that she unintentionally releases a powerful blast through her bedroom door. The argument between them intensifies, and in another outburst, Natsu’s powers strike again, causing her mother to fall to the floor. Upon checking on her mother, Natsu tragically finds that her energy blast went straight through her mother’s eye, resulting in her death. Overwhelmed by sorrow, Natsu loses all control over her powers, causing more destruction to her deceased mother’s body.

Cyclops Can’t Get a Break in Any Universe

Marvel Introduces a Tragic Version of X-Men’s Cyclops

In contrast to the traditional Cyclops, Natsu’s abilities appeared relatively mild at first glance. Unlike the classic version who always wears a ruby-quartz visor and often sports an eyepatch over one eye, images of Natsu usually show her with only an eyepatch. However, as revealed in Ultimate X-Men #10, it seems that her powers are more similar to the original Cyclops than initially perceived. Moreover, a tragic event – the accidental killing of her mother – is set to significantly impact Natsu and escalate the tension between mutants and humans to unprecedented levels.

In the comic series “Ultimate X-Men,” the tension between mutants and humans has been gradually escalating. The common populace perceives the Mutants, or Children of the Atom, as having conducted harmful experiments on humans, a notion that isn’t improved by the recent speech from Maester implying mutant superiority. When it is unveiled that Natsu’s mother has been killed, public anger towards mutants, and particularly Natsu, will likely boil over. Thus far, the X-Men in this universe have managed to maintain a low profile, fighting against their universe’s version of the Shadow King as the conflict with the Children of the Atom intensifies. However, Natsu’s actions are not only going to shatter her personally but also put all mutants at greater risk.

Imagine Scott Summers trying to carry that weight on his shoulders…

Ultimate X-Men #10 is on sale now.

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2024-12-17 01:11