Marvel Comics has revealed the cover and plot details for X-Men: The Exterminated #1, where the titular mutant group comes together to mourn the loss of Cable, who perished in X-Men: Extermination #1.
The issue will follow Hope Summers as she grieves the death of her adoptive father. Hope’s journey could easily descend into darkness and Jean Grey may be her only salvation.
Helmed by Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler (the creative team behind Marvel’s Cable series), X-Men: The Exterminated #1 has its cover illustrated by Geoff Shaw, and a special back-up story penned by legendary X-Men scribe Chris Claremont.
“This issue is our chance to say a proper farewell to Cable, to honour his legacy, and to really see the immense impact the time travelling mutant had on those closest to him. Most importantly, it’s about how the Summers family copes with grief, and the difficulty of forging ahead. The issue is packed with fan favourite X-Men from all different eras, and we’re super excited to be bringing them together, despite the somber occasion,” said Nadler.
Cable passed away in the first issue of X-Men: Extermination after a series of gory attacks on time-travelers left multiple mutants dead. Among the deceased was Cable and Bloodstorm. The issue’s end was even more impactful by the reveal of Cable’s killer — Cable himself, albeit a younger version of the hero.
Created by Claremont, Rick Leonardi, Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld, Cable was first introduced in Uncanny X-Men #201 in 1986. The character proved to be hugely popular among readers and since then, he has gone to become a staple of not just the X-Men comics, but also Marvel Comics in general.
While he has long been considered an incredibly powerful mutant telepath, Cable’s mutant abilities have always been in flux. Much of his power was consciously used to keep his Techno-Organic Virus affliction at bay. On the rare instances when he has been relieved of his future-viral burden, Cable has proven to be an incredibly powerful psychic.
Cable’s death comes at the height of the character’s popularity. Josh Brolin recently played Cable in the critically acclaimed Deadpool 2, marking the character’s big screen debut. Cable is slated to appear in the X-Force spinoff film, also played by Brolin.
