History Comicbook / Cable

%%Only add tropes relating to the Cable SERIES; character tropes go on the character page.

** Cable also has an Absalom thing going on with his son Tyler...or at least, he did, until Wolverine killed him.

* CurbStompBattle: In Cable's attempt to unite the world against him in a GenghisGambit, SHIELD and Reed Richards get nervous. So after being effortlessly defeated by Cable, they call in [[spoiler:the ComicBook/SilverSurfer]] to take care of Cable. It... does not end well for Cable. This was a shocking event, given that [[spoiler:the Surfer]] generally does not get involved in Earth's affairs. Nevertheless, part of why he loses is because he didn't prepare for or anticipate the Surfer. Cable still holds his own for awhile while repairing all the destruction their fight causes, and his powers are simultaneously diminishing as he fights the Silver Surfer. He also destroys the Surfer's indestructible board.
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: In The Extermination arc he is casually and anti climatically killed off in the first issue, for cheap shock value and to inspire angst in the rest of the cast. He is then replaced by a younger alternate version of himself, who is the one that murdered him in the first place.

* FutureMeScaresMe: In ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'', a different version of Cable is revealed to be [[spoiler:Wolverine from the future]], sans an arm. (Which Apocalypse tore off and used to fillet his face.).

* LoveInterest: A couple of his most important relationships are with Domino and [[HotLibrarian Irene Merryweather]].

* RedHerring: At the start of ''X-Force'', false hints were dropped that Cable and his arch-enemy Stryfe might be the same person (they use a bunch of the same catchphrases, and Stryfe removes his helmet for the first time showing readers that [[CloningBlues he has the same face as Cable]]), playing X-Force and the [=MLF=] against each other for some reason.

* EviCounterpart: The 2008 series positions Bishop as one to Cable, being a time-travelling cyborg mutant from a post-apocalyptic future.

%%* AmbiguouslyBi
* AntagonisticOffspring:
** His son, Tyler, aka Genesis, who was kidnapped by [[EvilUncle Stryfe]] spent several arcs making his father's life miserable before being killed by Wolverine.
** Stryfe himself is arguably this to Scott and Jean, his biological parents. He's also this to Apocalypse, his adoptive father.
* {{Archenemy}}: Stryfe and Apocalypse. Also Bishop, during the man's "gotta kill Hope" phase.
* ArchNemesisDad: His son Tyler was turned against him by Stryfe.
* BadassBeard: Has sported one on a couple of occasions, but usually sports {{Perma Stubble}}[=/=]{{Perma Shave}}.
* BadassGrandpa: His exact age is hard to pin down due to the amount of time-traveling in his history; he was around 50 in his first appearances as an adult, and must be around (or over) ''70'' at this point after having raised Hope for 17 years on top of that. Being aged and deaged several times makes it a little complicated. He's still ''not'' someone you should mess around with.

** And let's not talk about [[AndIMustScream what happens to him]] in ''ComicBook/EarthX''...

* ComicBookDeath: It happens. He's an X-Person after all. In 1993's X-Cutioner's Song him and Stryfe are apparently killed during a climactic battle on the moon, but reappeared again soon after. ''X-Men'' vol 2 issue 204 has him supposedly blow himself up to stop the Marauders getting at his database. He popped up again partway through the ''Messiah [=CompleX=]'' storyline a few months later. And at the end of ''Second Coming'' in 2010, he blew up trying to hold a time-portal open. He got better from that one, too. He was also murdered by his younger self during the 2018 Extermination event. Time will tell if, or when he recovers from it.

* GoodIsNotNice
* HamAndDeadpanDuo: Is often paired with Deadpool in teamups.

* ItsPersonal: Apocalypse and Stryfe have more or less killed everyone that Cable has ever loved. Mister Sinister also applies, due to his machinations and role in Cable's origin story.
* KnightTemplar: Cable continually verges on this.

** In his earliest appearances he became the protective mentor, leader and drill sergeant gruff father type figure for the New Mutants. In turn his students, who he considers his children, helped tone him down a bit over time, helping his character growth.

* RememberTheNewGuy: Cable was introduced in 1990, but once he was introduced he was treated as though he had been around and known for a long time. Justified mostly by TimeTravel.

* TeleFrag: A problem that Cable has occasionally suffered from.
* WalkingTheEarth: Cable does this whenever the pressures of being a time traveling demigod get to him.

-->-- '''Cyclops'''

-->-- '''Scott Summers'''

* PlotRelevantAgeUp:
** Hope Summers, with the frequent time skips in their series together. In issue 1, she's a baby, by issue 24, she's a teenager.

** [[spoiler:Even after being cured of the techno-organic virus a few times, he usually winds up losing one of his limbs and replacing it with cyber enhancements.]]

* BodyHorror: While Cable's body was still infected with the TO virus, he could become [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/204270-31903-cable_super.jpg hideously distorted]] if it was allowed to run unchecked. At one point in his childhood (as depicted in one issue of ''The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix''), he looked like something out of ''Film/TheThing1982''.

** Sent to the future as an infant - Returned a few decades older than his parents, before the point he was abducted.

-->-- '''Scott Summers, The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix'''

-->-- '''The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix'''

->''"You'll never be alone, son. Not in your heart... not in the only way it really matters. Because I'll be there, Nate. Because I love you, son. Remember that always! You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''[[FutureBadass respected]]'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''[[HeroAntagonist hated]]'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher... but know that you'll never be alone. Never."''

-->-- '''Scott "Cyclops" Summers'''

->''"You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''[[FutureBadass respected]]'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''[[HeroAntagonist hated]]'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher..."''

As mentioned above, Cable got his start in the ''ComicBook/TheNewMutants'' series before it transitioned into ''ComicBook/XForce'' in 1991. Cable originally got his first ongoing solo series in 1993, which lasted 108 issues before it was relaunched in 2002 as ''Soldier X'', which lasted for 12 issues. In 2004, Cable then appeared in the ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' series that lasted for 50 issues. In 2008 he received another solo ongoing launched in the aftermath of the ''Messiah Complex'' crossover that lasted 24 issues. In 2012, he starred in the ''Avengers: X-Sanction'' miniseries that acted as a pseudo lean-in to the ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' event. Once that event was completed, he starred in a titled ''Cable and X-Force'' for 19 issues before being relaunched as ''ComicBook/XForce'', with Cable as lead, which lasted 15 issues. He was a member of the [[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers the Unity Squad]] for a few issues, working alongside his old pal Deadpool, before receiving another ongoing in the aftermath of the ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'' event that lasted 15 issues, and when that ended, he became a key player in the ''ComicBook/Extermination2018'' event. In the aftermath of ''that'' event, a younger version of Cable dubbed "Kid Cable" stars in a new ''[[ComicBook/XForce2018 X-Force]]'' series that reunites the surviving members of the original X-Force team.

As mentioned above, Cable got his start in the ''comicBook/NewMutants'' series before it transitioned into ''ComicBook/XForce'' in 1991. Cable originally got his first ongoing solo series in 1993, which lasted 108 issues before it was relaunched in 2002 as ''Soldier X'', which lasted for 12 issues. In 2004, Cable then appeared in the ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' series that lasted for 50 issues. In 2008 he received another solo ongoing launched in the aftermath of the ''Messiah Complex'' crossover that lasted 24 issues. In 2012, he starred in the ''Avengers: X-Sanction'' miniseries that acted as a pseudo lean-in to the ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' event. Once that event was completed, he starred in a titled ''Cable and X-Force'' for 19 issues before being relaunched as ''ComicBook/XForce'', with Cable as lead, which lasted 15 issues. He was a member of the [[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers the Unity Squad]] for a few issues, working alongside his old pal Deadpool, before receiving another ongoing in the aftermath of the ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'' event that lasted 15 issues, and when that ended, he became a key player in the ''ComicBook/Extermination2018'' event. In the aftermath of ''that'' event, a younger version of Cable dubbed "Kid Cable" stars in a new ''[[ComicBook/XForce2018 X-Force]]'' series that reunites the surviving members of the original X-Force team.

Cable originally got his first ongoing solo series in 1993, which lasted 108 issues before it was relaunched in 2002 as ''Soldier X'', which lasted for 12 issues. In 2004, Cable then appeared in the ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' series that lasted for 50 issues. In 2008 he received another solo ongoing launched in the aftermath of the ''Messiah Complex'' crossover that lasted 24 issues. In 2012, he starred in the ''Avengers: X-Sanction'' miniseries that acted as a pseudo lean-in to the ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' event. Once that event was completed, he starred in a titled ''Cable and X-Force'' for 19 issues before being relaunched as ''ComicBook/XForce'', with Cable as lead, which lasted 15 issues. He was a member of the [[ComicBook/UncannyAvengers the Unity Squad]] for a few issues, working alongside his old pal Deadpool, before receiving another ongoing in the aftermath of the ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'' event that lasted 15 issues, and when that ended, he became a key player in the ''ComicBook/Extermination2018'' event. In the aftermath of ''that'' event, a younger version of Cable dubbed "Kid Cable" stars in a new ''X-Force'' series that reunites the surviving members of the original X-Force team.

->''"You'll never be alone, son. Not in your heart... not in the only way it really matters. Because I'll be there, Nate. Because I love you, son. Remember that always! You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''[[FutureBadass respected]]'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''[[HeroAntagonist hated]]'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher... but know that you'll never be alone. Never."''
-->-- '''Scott "Cyclops" Summers'''

->''"You'll never be alone, son. Not in your heart... not in the only way it really matters. Because I'll be there, Nate. Because I love you, son. Remember that always! You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''[[OldSoldier respected]]'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''[[HeroAntagonist hated]]'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher... but know that you'll never be alone. Never."''

* GeniusBruiser: One of the most notable examples of brains and brawn, having a high intellect from being raised 2000 years in the future, as well as being a time traveler with access to advanced technology that he understands perfectly. Easily one of the best fighter, leader, strategist and soldier to exist in the Marvel universe, and has easily defeated many notable characters.

->''"You'll never be alone, son. Not in your heart... not in the only way it really matters. Because I'll be there, Nate. Because I love you, son. Remember that always! You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''respected'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''hated'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher... but know that you'll never be alone. Never."''

->''"You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''respected'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''hated'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''[[MeaningfulName cable]]''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher..."''

->''"You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''[[MessianicArchetype loved]]''' and '''respected'''. Other times '''[[GoodIsNotNice feared]]''' and '''hated'''... almost always [[HeroWithBadPublicity misunderstood]]. Someday, you'll be a '''cable''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher..."''

* GeniusBruiser: One of the most notable examples of brains and brawn, having a high intellect from being raised 2000 years in the future, as well as being a time traveler with access to advanced technology that he understands perfectly. Easily one of the best leaders, strategists and soldiers to exist in the Marvel universe.

->''"You'll be many things to many people... sometimes '''loved''' and '''respected'''. Other times '''feared''' and '''hated'''... almost always misunderstood. Someday, you'll be a '''cable''' that unites the past with the present and future -- yesterday with today and tomorrow. You'll be all those things, Nathan Christopher..."''

!!This comic contains examples of:

* NinetiesAntiHero: Cable is probably the original; if not, he's certainly a major TropeCodifier. However, in a much later [[ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool subversion]] by Fabian Nicieza, he will apparently try to leave the territory entirely at times.
** Magog, the first villain of Mark Waid's ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'', was modeled on Cable's appearance. Waid threw out the design as an embodiment of [[TakeThat everything he hated about modern comics]], though he and Ross eventually admitted to a certain fondness for the guy.

* AntiHero: Usually type a PragmaticHero, but introduced as type a UnscrupulousHero. (Sticking enemy heads on pikes as a warning, etc)

* ArtificialLimbs: The [[AppliedPhlebotinum techno-organic virus]] has transformed most of the left half of his body into metal.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Marvel canon states that Cable is biologically the child of Jean Grey-Summers because his actual mother was her clone, Madelyne Pryor. In fact, Nate Grey (X-Man) is his ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' counterpart, driving home the idea. However, [[ScienceMarchesOn modern science has discredited that possibility]]. Even if two individuals (such as twins or clones) are genetically parallel, they are not ''identical'', due to the epigenetic markers shaped by the individuals' unique environments. Even a clone that is produced on the spot will not be ''completely'' identical to its progenitor, no less producing the same sperm or egg cells which carry its genetic material.

* BashBrothers: Occasionally with Nate.
* BigBrotherInstinct: has a degree of this towards Nate, who... well, he doesn't like Cable very much, but in a very little brotherly 'get out of my life and leave me alone' sort of way, and he does eventually (if somewhat grudgingly) warm up to Cable. Even before that, they are more than willing to work together when required.

* {{BFG}}: One of Cable's trademarks.
* ByronicHero: DependingOnTheWriter. When operating alone Cable has no problem using any means at his disposal to achieve his goals, such as torturing Captain America prior to AvX. But he has a habit of teaming up with morality pets to rein himself.

* TheChosenOne: He's the messianic figure of the Askani

* CoolOldGuy: Cable's role in many comics.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Cable's initial appearances, before his complicated character development/retcons.
* DuringTheWar: A lot of Cable's backstory comes from his conflicts in the future against Apocalypse and the [[MeaningfulName New Caananites]].

* FutureBadass: He was born "in the present" - roughly five or six years ago in ComicBookTime - and sent to the future to save his life, then growing up to become a warrior and freedom fighter.

* GeniusBruiser: He's a huge, intimidating man and a highly experienced, very dangerous warrior and soldier whom some accounts describe as having an intellect rivaling ''[[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]]''. He also apparently has a law degree. When he reveals this, he makes an offhand comment about finding the New York bar exam laughably easy.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Well, one eye, anyway. A vestigal holdover due to being the son of Cyclops.

* GuileHero: Pulled off some messed up actions sometimes balanced by his OmniscientMoralityLicense from being a time-traveller, to make sure the world doesn't lead to the future he grew up in. Such as turning everyone pink to eliminate racism and changing them back, showing KnightTemplar tendencies and playing up his [[MessianicArchetype role as a messianic figure]] when [[PowerCreepPowerSeep his powers were boosted]] to get the world's leaders to unite against a common enemy: himself. And later reviving his arch-enemy Apocalypse for the same reason when the mutant race threatened with extinction, in the aftermath of the Decimation Wave.
* HamAndDeadpanDuo: is often paired with Deadpool in teamups.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}. They are extremely close despite Deadpool's personality being obnoxious even at the best of times, and Deadpool was the first person Cable pictured/made psychic contact with while trying to decide whether to blow himself up. They were genetically commingled, so that "one phone call" would have happened even without intent... and Cable needed to make that contact to manipulate Deadpool into doing the right thing. The two even have a secret pact that no one else has be clued in on that says they need to protect each other's loved ones if the other dies by destroying the deceased's safe houses.

* InformedAbility: In his early years, his telekinesis was so weak that he could only use it to move really small objects[[note]]it's theorized that his mutant power was originally a token power given him by the writers to justify Liefeld's "cyborg gunman" character leading the New Mutants[[/note]]. Later [[RetCon RetConned]] that he was the most powerful non-Phoenix telepath/telekinetic on Earth (as routinely demonstrated by his counterpart, Nate Grey), but 99.9999999999% of his power was committed to holding back his techno-organic infection. Rachel Summers even states that he has the power to extinguish a star with barely a conscious effort.

* KnightOfCerebus: His first appearance in ''New Mutants'' marked the beginning of UsefulNotes/{{the Dark Age|of Comic Books}}.

* LighterAndSofter: Over time, he became this thanks to a burgeoning sense of heroism, and the revelation of his origin and family.
* LightningBruiser: Cable's not only huge, he's capable of reacting and moving at higher than normal speed, although it's not really {{Super Speed}} in the traditional sense.

* MechanicalMuscles: His mechanical arm is extremely jacked, just like the rest of him.

* MessianicArchetype: Cable is always like this but totally embraces this role in ''Cable and Deadpool.''
* MoralityPet: Hope; Sam Guthrie (Cannonball); Deadpool (!!).
** Cable and Deadpool seem to function as Morality Pets ''for each other.''
*** It could be read as Cable teaching Deadpool about morals and the like, but having to constantly change his own actions so he doesn't end up saying "Do as I say, not as I do."
** Also [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]], essentially his alternate counterpart, who Cable went to a great deal of effort to try and protect on the grounds that he saw him as having the chance to be his own man that Cable himself never did. Unfortunately, even being in each other's presence was painful for both of them, and Nate wasn't exactly the most trusting individual, having already been subject to multiple attempts to manipulate and control him from all sides by the time they met, and having also inherited his mother's HairTriggerTemper.
* OddFriendship: Part of the fun of ''Cable and Deadpool'' was the acknowledgement that the two had nothing in common and probably should be mortal enemies.
* PapaWolf: Cable is very protective of the new mutant child Hope, raising her as his daughter.

* PlotRelevantAgeUp: Sent to the future as an infant - Returned a few decades older than his parents, before the point he was abducted.
* PowerLimiter: It's stated that Cable's inherent telepathic and telekinetic powers are almost off the charts, but he can very rarely use them to their fullest extent because the techno-organic virus that makes him a cyborg could completely consume him if he wasn't constantly, actively suppressing it. When he broke free of that, he could use his powers to their maximum... and promptly [[DePower burned them out with overuse]].
** Interestingly enough, he has two sets of powers and they ''both'' act as {{Power Limiter}}s to ''each other''. His techno-organic virus has been compared to the virus that created the Phalanx, a HiveMind behind a CrisisCrossover. Phalanx members and a few rare {{Phlebotinum Rebel}}s have shapeshifting powers and {{technopathy}}, and both abilities can be seen in Cable in minor ways: whenever his psychic powers are overtaxed his metal body parts physically grow and start to take over the rest, and he can physically interface with machines. If the virus ever really consumed Cable, his Phalanx-like abilities would be used to their fullest... but presumably he would be patient zero for [[TheVirus a serious threat]].
*** The result of Cable becoming the virus was actually shown in an AU that Deadpool hopped into while he was looking for Cable - it's where the infamous "tentacle scene" comes from.
** [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey a.k.a. X-Man]] is the ultimate example of what Cable is capable of without the virus -- he's "the ultimate telepath and telekinetic", "the most powerful psychic in any reality" and comparable to Dark Phoenix even at the age of 17. And this last was said when he was only approaching his full power. By the time he got a full handle on his powers, he was capable of resurrecting himself at will, treating the multiverse as his personal stepladder, stepping outside of time, and being compared by Norman Osborn to Dark Reign era Sentry in terms of raw power (with whom, incidentally, he might have previously taken on Galactus. While Nate could have been lying, his dialogue suggests that he was telling the truth). A possible future showed a fight between Nate and Stryfe. It wiped out half the planet.
* PsychicPowers: He's both a telepath and a telekinetic. His power levels varies according to the needs of the plot, usually involving his techno-organic virus.

* RuggedScar: Has a scar (or several, DependingOnTheArtist) over his right eye. It serves to show that he's a FutureBadass from a BadFuture, although his early appearances played up the gruff aspects of his character as well.
* SignatureScent: According to Comicbook/{{Sabretooth}}, he smells of gunpowder and Old Spice.
* SociopathicHero: In his original portrayal. Louise Simonson made a personal statement that this was to introduce a "constructive" youth role model teacher counter to Xavier's "whiny" idealism. He was later clarified as trying to prevent the engineering of an apocalyptic warzone... Then Nicieza turned him into a more moral character instead, and nowadays he seems like a much tamer "general non-bloodcrazed soldier" version of the original.

* TangledFamilyTree: Cable is a member of the Summers/Grey family, and contributes a lot to the complexity of said family tree. His biological parents are Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor (a perfect clone of Jean Grey who contained part of the Phoenix Force), he grew up in the future, was raised by Scott and Jean [[MentalTimeTravel inhabiting the bodies]] of people from that period as arranged by his sister from a different future timeline, returned to the present before he was born (or [[TimeTravelTenseTrouble maybe slightly after]], and [[CasualTimeTravel then went back even further]]), and, as of 2011, he seems to have [[spoiler: acted as adoptive parent to the reincarnation of]] Jean Grey (in ''another'' future timeline). He's not [[MyOwnGrandpa His Own Grandfather]], but he might as well be.
* {{Technopath}}: he was this for a little while, when the techno-organic virus got stronger.

* TimeyWimeyBall: He's older than his father, mother and big sister, all thanks to time travel.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: one alternate reality comic set in the future shows that [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]] will grow up to look exactly like Cable, to the point where an elderly Sunfire mistakes the two. Conversely, a de-aged Cable in ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' looks ''exactly'' like ComicBook/XMan, SkunkStripe and all.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: Back when he was just little Nate Summers. It's been a long time since then.