Cyclops is in an interesting position as a character. Long a prominent face in the X-Men and one of their most natural, consistent leaders, but seen in a solo capacity very often. There was a Marvel Comics Presents arc that spotlighted the character, a Brian K. Vaughn mini-series in 2001, and then another limited series by Greg Rucka and Russell Dauterman in 2014.
Cyclops (2026) #1 is the first issue of a new mini-series for the character, the first after 12 years. Written by Alex Paknadel (Sentinels, From the Ashes Infinity Comic) and drawn by Roge Antonio (Carnage), with colors by Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo (X-Men), Cyclops #1 is a violent, gritty beginning to a harrowing survival story.
An Action Heavy Start
Part of the lack of success of Cyclops as a solo character has been the limited nature of his powers. While visually spectacular, their utility has limited the character’s presence in combat scenes and made it difficult to envision what an extended focus on the character could look like. Cyclops #1 begins with a fight sequence against AIM agents, where Cyclops rescues his teammates in a well-drawn, well-executed fight sequence that highlights the strategic prowess of the X-Men leader as well as his versatility.
His team’s failure and recklessness aggravate Cyclops, however, and he chastises them for not being “soldiers,” which leads to a short debate with Beast. It’s a good bit of writing here that feels natural and authentic to Jed MacKay’s work on X-Men (2024), the main title featuring these characters. Cyclops is so often a man under siege, and this first issue brings to the forefront his war-like mentality.
Of course, this cleverly sets up his dark mirror in this series: Donald Pierce. The Reaver leader presides over a grisly scene where he is in the process of making new Reavers. His actions are a warped, twisted version of Cyclops; Pierce seeks soldiers too, those who can obey without question and who can suffer for his bigoted, hateful cause.
Character History is Respected
There are strong nods to the past and to the history of the character in this issue: Cyclops goes back to Nebraska, to his old orphanage in a sequence that invokes Classic X-Men #41 and #42. He has a surprising meeting with Dr. Robyn Hanover, a psychiatrist at the orphanage, which is now being torn down and built over. Cyclops’s difficult feelings about his past and his revelations about his protectiveness toward Alex are reemphasized, and a short but engaging conversation with his brother ensues.
Of course, things can never truly go smoothly for Cyclops, and soon he finds his plane shot down by Pierce’s new Reavers, and after briefly musing to Jean about a head injury, he realizes to his horror that his visor has broken.
These nods to the character’s past and his connections are very effective, particularly as X-Men often makes Cyclops an island of a character: one with very few acknowledgements of those he cares about, in a way that can be frustrating. In just a few short lines, Paknadel is able to give more of a sense of who Cyclops truly is. And so, the setup is done, and the story begins just as the issue ends: Cyclops is without his protective visor, a new mutant stumbles upon him, and Pierce and his new Reavers are on the hunt for him.
A Consistent Artistic Tone
It’s a largely effective first issue, one that gives readers a strong look at the lead, and one that dives deep into the character’s past for material for this story and for a look into his psyche. The framing of the conflict between Cyclops with his team and Pierce with his own is well done and subtle. The premise itself is not particularly unique, there have been at least three instances in the past of Cyclops losing his visor and having to survive while hunted. Paknadel’s writing is solid, but this reader would have liked to have dwell more on the sequences with Dr. Hanover, Alex, or even with Jean. Of course, these are superhero comics, and so there is the presumption that most readers won’t enjoy an extended therapy session for the character.
Roge Antonio and Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo bring the art and colors to this issue. Sifuentes-Sujo’s colors bring continuity to the color palette, matching it with that of X-Men to keep a connection to the main series. Antonio excels at action sequences and portrays them well. His designs work well with the horror and brutality of the Reavers, and match up well with X-Men, where art is now led by Tony Daniel and Netho Diaz. It’s not a flashy issue, but the art is well done.
Cyclops #1 is a strong, effective start to what promises to be a brutal, gritty survival story. Nods to past X-Men story are appreciated, particularly in how they are contextualized in the present, and while some of those encounters could have used more time to develop, the highlighting of Marvel history is worth praising nonetheless. Antonio and Sifuentes-Sujo provide a consistency to the art that makes the comic feel like a true off-shoot of Jed MacKay and Tony Daniel’s X-Men series
Cyclops #1 Review
Cyclops #1 is a strong, effective start to what promises to be a brutal, gritty survival story. Nods to past X-Men story are appreciated, particularly in how they are contextualized in the present, and while some of those encounters could have used more time to develop, the highlighting of Marvel history is worth praising nonetheless.
