PAST FEARS, PART 1: Cable reunites with Hope after a monster from his past seeks him out.
CABLE #155
Authors: Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler
Artists: German Peralta
Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Letters: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
What You Need to Know:
When all hoped seemed lost for mutants, when they were on the verge of extinction, a single mutant baby was born in Alaska. This child, named Hope, was pursued by both the X-Men and Marauders, but it was ultimately Cable who rescued her and took her to the future where he raised her. Eventually, they came back to the present, Hope now a young woman, raised as a soldier. Eventually, Cable would distance himself from Hope, leaving her in charge of his X-Force team while he disappeared.
What You’ll Find Out:
As Cable seeks to rescue a girl from a Nimrod, futuristic Sentinels, in the near-future Japan, he reminisces about the monsters that used to plague him as a child. Most of his fears seemed borne out of his own techno-organic virus. It’s not a metaphorical monster, either, as the virus would sometimes kill others. Only Cable ever seemed to be able to hold it back, thanks to lessons taught to him by his adoptive parents, Redd and Slym. As his mind snaps back to his task at hand, he blasts the Nimrod, saving the girl who is a mutant. He takes her to her parents but then takes them all further into the future where they will be safe from the sentinels. Cable returns to the present day, the quiet allowing him to reflect on his failings as a father to Hope.
Speaking of Hope, she shows up at the X-Mansion in Central Park. She walks onto the grounds with her Cable-like gun and is greeted by Kitty who shows her to a room. Nothing special about her visit. Hope is just lonely, looking for company. As night arrives, Hope cleans her weapons (because that’s what all girls do in their underwear before bed). A face with a glowing eye appears in the dark corner. Hope thinks it’s her father, but this monstrous spider-like creature crawls out. Its body is covered with the techno-organic virus and Hope immediately opens fire. She misses and the spider-creature pins her against the wall. It wants to use Hope to draw Cable out. But it also wants to send him a message as it reaches for her face.
The next day, Cable arrives at the mansion. Kitty heads him off but he bodyslides into Hope’s room where he finds her with the exact same scar over her right eye that he has. He teleports them both away to talk. He explains that the creature’s name is Metus. It’s a creature Cable has had to deal with since he was a child. The two have a heart to heart, reconciling finally. And Hope decides to help Cable against Metus…if he can come up with a plan.
Later that night, alone in the forest, Cable sits in front of a fire, waiting. Metus arrives above him, this time appearing as a bat-creature. The two battle and Metus appears to have Cable on the ropes when Hope steps from the shadows. She mimics Cable’s telekinesis and together they pin Metus to the ground. Then, surprisingly, Cable reaches out and touches Metus. The technorganic virus is absorbed into Cable. Painfully, he reassures Hope that he’s fine.
What Just Happened?
We first get a Cable that seems to exist completely separate from the X-Men Universe, almost forgetting that he even shares a world with mutants.
Then we get a Cable that reminds us he’s a part of it, but doesn’t seem to bother with continuity and doesn’t really care who Cable is.
And now…. Now we finally get the Cable we’ve been wanting. It’s a Cable who exists within the larger world but, as he’s mostly been, is separate from it as well. He’s a man who doesn’t always fit in and instead does what he thinks is best.
But it’s also a more human tale for Cable as he interacts with his daughter (not biological, of course, but he raised Hope as his own). And those scenes are touching. The two have never had the most emotional father-daughter relationship, but if you’ve read the Cable series from 2008, you’ll see that he did love her like a daughter. To say their relationship was complicated would be a vast understatement. But we’re treated to Cable actually trying his best to be her father…and Hope accepting it. This is a heartwarming moment when most comic books nowadays seem to pass over the human moments.
The art by Peralta helps to convey the emotion. It’s not always the most detailed, but the scenes up close really get across what the authors are trying to say. From the gentle touch of Hope’s new scar to the embrace of father/daughter, to the looks they exchange when Hope is concerned for her father. The detail is incredible and the life behind those eyes feel so real.
The book gives us some great fanboy moments too. We now know how Cable received his scars (they’ve always been there, ever since Liefeld first drew him). I hope (get it?) that future artists don’t ignore this detail in Hope now. We’re reminded of Cable’s adoptive parents, Slym and Redd (for those who don’t know, check out the Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix miniseries). Thompson and Nadler definitely know how to satisfy geeks.
Rating: 8/10.
Final Thoughts: A new creative team brings back the Cable we all know and love! Cable and Hope are together again and it’s definitely a story Cable fans won’t want to pass up.
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