It’s a well-known Marvel Comics fact thatCyclopsis theX-Men’s go-to leader whenever a new team forms, with his tactical prowess on the battlefield and his seniority as a seasoned mutant warrior making him a solid choice no matter the situation. During the finale of thestatus quo-shatteringUtopiastoryline,Cyclops wages war against dark versions of the Avengers and X-Men, setting up an epic battle that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Scott Summers is hands down Marvel’s best tactician.
A battle set during an era of the X-Men that saw Scott transition from a capable if not slightly anxious leader into a more determined, calculating, confident, and serious man, Cyclops’ more stringent, military-like mindset slowly began to reveal itself here, something that hadn’t fully been seen before.
InDark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1, all facets ofCyclops' role as a leaderconverge, withthe final drag-out brawl against Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men seeing Cyclops secure the winafter playing a game of 4D chess against one of the most tactical villainous minds in Marvel Comics.
Cyclops Outplays Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men in a Battle of Wits and Brawn
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1- 2009 (Matt Fraction, Mike Deodato, Terry Dodson, and Rachel Dodson)
Sending his army to the budding nation of Utopia to bringCyclops and the X-Mento heel, Norman Osborn — acting as Iron Patriot and head of H.A.M.M.E.R. at the time — believes himself unbeatable. But as the fight begins, it’s clear Cyclops is one step ahead. Utilizing his X-Men in ways that play to their strengths and weaknesses, Cyclops sends Colossus after Venom, Archangel after Bullseye, Emma Frost and Namor after Sentry, Wolverine and X-23 after Dakan, and evendevelops a counter-measure for the God of War himself, Ares, with Scott’s tactical choices succeeding every time.
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Eventually pushing Norman’s troops to where they have to either surrender or commit to killing dozens of mutants, Scott forces Norman to retreat after revealing he’s broadcasting their battle around the world so that millions of people can witness a potential act of genocide — a decision that would destroy Norman’s reputation beyond repair. Handing Scott a decisive victory over a S.H.I.E.L.D.-level organization seemingly with ease,Cyclops,like Captain America, has a mind like a steel trap and won the day after analyzing every potential angle of the fight before a single punch was thrown.
Cyclops' Tactical Mind Doesn’t Get Enough Credit Though It’s Comparable to Captain America’s
Though the X-Men have been through much since this story concluded — specifically the Age of Krakoa where the X-Men experienced the rise and fall of yet another mutant nation as well as the colonization of Mars — the currentFrom the Ashesrelaunchrestores Cyclops as the leader of the X-Men, bringing back a status quo that sets Scott up with even more chances to show off his incredible strategic mind.Cyclopsand the rest of theX-Menperpetually have their work cut out for them, withScott proving here that he deserves recognition as one of the best tacticians around.
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1is available from Marvel Comics.
Cyclops
Cyclops, a.k.a. Scott Summers, is the X-Men’s core team leader and one of the first characters to appear in the franchise. As a human/mutant hybrid, Cyclops has the power to launch massive bursts of energy from his eyes that are regulated through the use of a specially designed visor. Despite his calm and collected demeanor, he tends to lose it when in the presence of a fellow team member, Wolverine.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
