X-Men: 6 Times Cyclops Was Right (And Everyone Else Was Wrong)

The X-Men have unveiled some of the most captivating characters within the Marvel Universe’s annals. Characters such as Wolverine, Gambit, Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Jubilee, and numerous others have held fans spellbound since their inception, with villains like Magneto, Apocalypse, Shadow King, Mystique, Bastion, Nimrod, and others adding to the intrigue. Nevertheless, there is one X-Men character who stands out as potentially the most fascinating, despite not always being popularly perceived this way – Cyclops. Although he may not have initially garnered as much attention as other characters, Cyclops has risen to become one of the top leaders in the Marvel Universe and has undergone significant growth over time, particularly since the storyline House of M drastically altered the mutant race for a long period. Initially, Cyclops might have appeared as an ordinary boy scout, but he has since evolved into the quintessential embodiment of this character.

Among followers of Cyclops, there’s a recurring rallying cry, stemming from a statement in the renowned “Riot at Xavier’s” issue of New X-Men – “Cyclops was justified.” This phrase evolved from Quentin Quire’s original “Magneto was right” poster and t-shirt. Over time, there have been numerous occasions when it seemed Cyclops was in the wrong, but he ultimately proved to be correct, bolstering support among his fans. Generally recognized as the top X-Man, it would be advantageous for the inhabitants of the Marvel Universe to acknowledge this fact sooner. This acknowledgment would not only spare them potential blinding optic blasts but also foster a smoother relationship with Cyclops. The following five instances illustrate scenarios where Cyclops was indeed proven right despite initial skepticism.

6) Re-Forming X-Force

Initially, the team known as X-Force debuted under a different identity – they were once the New Mutants who had been rebranded by Cable into his private special ops unit. Over time, this original team disbanded, with the name X-Force subsequently adopted by a band of mutants seeking fame by confronting the most lethal dangers. A new version of X-Force emerged in the early stages of the X-Men’s relocation to San Francisco. The mutant population was dwindling, with only 198 individuals left alive. Preventing their extinction was a concern that humanity could potentially exploit, prompting Cyclops to establish an alternative team aside from the X-Men for this purpose. While the X-Men served as the public ambassadors of mutantkind, their role was to aid humans and improve the mutants’ image in human eyes.

Cyclops didn’t require that particular item; instead, he needed individuals capable of taking action. So, Cyclops approached Wolverine and asked him to assemble a group of mutants who would take necessary steps. This resulted in the creation of a new X-Force team, known for their crucial role in Marvel Comics. The X-Force team handled the tough jobs that kept the mutant species alive. Cyclops and Wolverine concealed this team’s existence from the rest of the X-Men due to potential disapproval. However, it’s clear that Cyclops made the right call. Over the years, the mutant race had been under constant threat, and their traditional methods (fighting enemies and leaving them for authorities) were no longer effective. This decision was controversial but necessary.

5) Bringing Magneto Into the Fold

During their stay in San Francisco, it became clear that Cyclops’ leadership as head of the mutant community was indeed justified. With immense responsibilities, Cyclops had to make challenging choices, such as selecting which mutants to collaborate with and rejecting others. Notably, Magneto re-emerged with his powers post M-Day, seeking inclusion in the mutant society that Cyclops was constructing on Utopia. However, Xavier, who had a history of betrayal by Magneto, strongly advised against this alliance. Interestingly, at the time, Xavier wasn’t even an X-Men member himself. Other mutants on the island shared Xavier’s skepticism.

Yet, despite their counsel, Cyclops chose not to evict Magneto, who instead proved indispensable almost immediately. With his powers, Magneto miraculously rescued Kitty Pryde from a deadly spacefaring bullet. Throughout this period, he emerged as one of Cyclops’s most valued allies, admiring both Cyclops and the self-transformations he underwent greatly. Since then, Magneto has remained an integral member of the X-Men, justifying his initial choice in numerous instances.

4) Challenging Norman Osborn and His Dark Avengers

In the late ’00s/early ’10s, “Dark Reign” stood out as one of Marvel’s most exciting storylines. After eliminating the Skrull Queen Veranke in the event known as “Secret Invasion“, Norman Osborn seized control of the Superhero Initiative and formed the Dark Avengers, a group of villains masquerading as heroes. His dual goals were to safeguard the world and fortify his own power. When an anti-mutant organization, Friends of Humanity, staged a march on San Francisco, mutants responded by battling them in the streets. In response, Osborn deployed the Dark Avengers with the intention of intimidating the mutants. Instead of submitting or negotiating with Osborn, Cyclops chose to mock and outsmart the villain and his team of Avengers.

In my humble opinion as a movie enthusiast, Cyclops demonstrated an exceptional strategic mind throughout the film, consistently staying one step ahead of Norman Osborn. Despite Osborn’s attempts to overwhelm the X-Men with brute force, utilizing HAMMER, the Avengers, and his own team of X-Men against Cyclops, our protagonist proved to be a formidable opponent, outsmarting Osborn at every juncture. Some might say it was a foolhardy move to go up against Osborn’s mighty forces, but Cyclops remained resolute and managed to give Norman Osborn a well-deserved beating. It wasn’t until his Avengers were decisively outmatched by the X-Men that Osborn declared victory – a claim made more out of pride than actual triumph, as he was clearly bested in this battle.

3) Cyclops Was Right in X-Men: Schism

During the San Francisco era, the X-Men underwent a significant shift with the event known as “X-Men: Schism”. Cyclops had been instrumental in safeguarding and advancing the mutant race, working closely with Wolverine more than ever before. Although they had always held each other in high regard, tensions ran deep between them. However, their partnership proved to be a powerful combination; whatever tasks Cyclops needed accomplished, Wolverine was ready to take on.

However, this harmonious relationship was disrupted when a new faction of the Hellfire Club emerged, composed of young, ruthless geniuses who were the offspring of privileged humans. Seeking revenge, they aimed to eliminate not only the X-Men but also all mutants, blaming them for taking over the Hellfire Club from its original, wealthy human creators.

In my perspective as an ardent fan, the masterminds unveiled Quentin Quire in the hallowed halls of the UN, and covertly peddled potent Sentinels to various global governments at a bargain price. The climax arrived when they launched a bold assault on the X-Men during a museum opening in San Francisco. This formidable team consisted of veterans like Emma Frost, Magneto, Namor, Colossus, and Iceman, alongside some of our younger mutants. However, the Inner Circle’s brilliance and cutting-edge technology proved to be their undoing as they outsmarted our team.

The Inner Circle was poised to exterminate everyone in the museum, leaving us with no other option but to act swiftly. Under these dire circumstances, Cyclops ordered a young mutant named Oya to neutralize the Hellfire goons. Despite Wolverine’s vehement protests, Oya carried out the order. This act of obedience infuriated Wolverine, leading him to confront Cyclops, which culminated in a heated altercation between the two.

Although Wolverine had valid concerns about Cyclops employing young mutants as soldiers, the gravity of the situation left us with no other viable option. Losing our most powerful mutants was not an alternative, nor was allowing human casualties. It was a tough call, one that weighed heavily on me, but ultimately, it was the right course of action to take.

2) Getting With Emma Frost

Initially, Jean Grey was Cyclops’s one true love, forming a prominent romantic pairing within the X-Men team. Their young romance flourished until it faced its first obstacle in the well-known tale “The Dark Phoenix Saga”. The demise of Jean Grey left an indelible mark on Cyclops, causing him to depart from the X-Men. Later, he encountered a clone of Jean named Madelyne Pryor and they got married, welcoming a child together. However, upon the resurrection of the original Jean Grey, Cyclops abandoned his family without looking back, reuniting with his high school sweetheart. Their relationship had been built on familiarity and fear of separation, but everything changed when Emma Frost entered the scene. Emma was instantly smitten by Cyclops, and shortly after joining the X-Men, she made her intentions clear: she wanted Cyclops for herself.

In simpler terms, Emma Frost managed to drive a wedge between Cyclops and Jean Grey, who had been together for a while. This was achieved by leveraging the emotional turmoil that ensued when Cyclops was possessed by another entity. Eventually, they began a psychic relationship, which wasn’t discovered until much later. This led to some turbulence until Jean’s untimely demise at the hands of Xorneto.

Following this, Emma and Cyclops started dating. Although the X-Men were initially displeased, it turned out to be a crucial step in Cyclops’ growth as a leader for mutantkind. Emma provided guidance that helped Cyclops make difficult decisions, ultimately helping him evolve as both a person and a character. Despite some disagreements among fans and Marvel editors, many believe that Emma Frost and Cyclops make the ideal X-Men couple because it shaped Cyclops into the strong leader mutantkind needed during their most challenging times.

1) Cyclops Was Right About Hope Summers in Avengers Vs. X-Men

In a twist of events, it seemed like the storyline “Avengers vs X-Men” was deliberately emphasizing Cyclops’ errors, only to later reveal he was correct all along. Cyclops had been grooming Hope Summers, his son Cable’s adopted daughter and thus granddaughter, as the potential savior of mutantkind. When it was foretold that the Phoenix Force would return to Earth, Cyclops devised a strategy: Hope would unite with the Phoenix to revitalize the mutant race. However, the Avengers too became aware of the impending Phoenix arrival, and given his disdain for Cyclops following “X-Men: Schism”, Wolverine (an Avenger) cautioned them against letting Cyclops approach the Phoenix, labeling him as unstable.

The incident resulted in a conflict between the two groups, known as the X-Men and the Avengers. During this battle, Tony Stark inadvertently divided the Phoenix into five parts, each of which was acquired by Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik. For a while, they utilized this newfound power for good. However, the Phoenix is known to corrupt, and as the Avengers continued to attack the X-Men and the group called the Phoenix Five, they were drawn towards darkness. Eventually, Cyclops would absorb the full power of the Phoenix, transforming into the Dark Phoenix. In the midst of this power, he killed Professor Xavier. However, he was finally defeated when Hope Summers took the Phoenix Force from him. With the help of Scarlet Witch, Hope used the power to revive the mutant gene in humanity before relinquishing it. Hope exemplified everything that Cyclops had taught her, proving that his faith in her was justified, even when others doubted him.

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2025-08-17 19:41