What do you think?
Rate this book
The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (Collected Editions) #1-2
X-Men: The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix
Join Cyclops and Phoenix on the wildest honeymoon of all time, and learn how young Nathan Summers became the man called Cable! When the newlyweds are pulled 2,000 years into the future, they must raise Cyclops' son Nathan in the shadow of Apocalypse. Can this post-nuclear family overthrow the ancient tyrant and his sadistic protégé, the boy called Stryfe, before Cyclops and Phoenix return to the present? In the aftermath, Nathan meets the mysterious Blaquesmith, falls for the lovely Aliya, and seeks out the hidden Askani order - but why are they hailing him as their chosen one?
COLLECTING: ADVENTURES OF CYCLOPS & PHOENIX 1-4, ASKANI'SON 1-4, X-MEN: PHOENIX 1-3, X-MEN: BOOKS OF ASKANI, MATERIAL FROM MARVEL VALENTINE SPECIAL
COLLECTING: ADVENTURES OF CYCLOPS & PHOENIX 1-4, ASKANI'SON 1-4, X-MEN: PHOENIX 1-3, X-MEN: BOOKS OF ASKANI, MATERIAL FROM MARVEL VALENTINE SPECIAL
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2014
6 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Scott Lobdell
1,620 books230 followersScott Lobdell (born 1960) is an American comic book writer.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 30, 2020
I didn't expect to enjoy this as I did but the original miniseries of The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix was probably the best X-Men related work that Scott Lobdell did in the early nineties. In this reader's opinion, Lobdell's early X-Men work was an unabashed aping of Claremont's writing style. The future setting of The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, about two thousands years or so into the the distant future, allowed Lobdell to escape Claremontian X-Men mythology and weave his own tales.
This was also a breakthrough for artist Gene Ha. For this reader, this is best known early work and Ha just went crazy on this post-apocalyptic future design sense. It has a look of its own that could stand out from the other books of this vintage. It is really incredibly good.
This was also a breakthrough for artist Gene Ha. For this reader, this is best known early work and Ha just went crazy on this post-apocalyptic future design sense. It has a look of its own that could stand out from the other books of this vintage. It is really incredibly good.
April 7, 2018
The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix. In the mid '90s, the Summers family tree was a mess. There was Cable, the son who had been sent into the future to save him, and Rachel, the daughter who came back from the future to save the present. And neither of them was technically the offspring of 616 Jean and Scott. Then there was Stryfe, the insane clone.
1993's X-Cutioner's Song had helped to put some of the puzzle pieces together, primarily the Stryfe and Cable mysteries that had become greatly confused in Rob Liefeld's X-Force. However, The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix was the story that put all of these disparate, yet connected elements into a single narrative, and also connected that up to the Age of Apocalypse.
It's rather deftly done, and has some very nice moments between the various members of the Summers clan. It also offers a great backstory for Cable and a neat look at a dystopic future. By today's standards, the plot is pretty turgid, but this book is so full of great character moments that it gets by anyway. Overall, one of Lobdell's best X-works ... and I say that not being a Lobdell fan [4/5].
Askani'Son. This sequel comic does a great job of bringing together even more characters from Cable's '90s stories: young Cable, Aliya, BlaqueSmith, The Professor, Stryfe, Zero, Ch'Vyare, the Askani, and probably a few I missed. It sort of gives them origins, but like this entire comic, those origins are murky and aimless. Way too wordy too. So, what could have been a magnificent tying together of so many of Cable's plot threads (most of which have sadly been lost over the years), and a continuation of the great story in The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, is instead just a mess [2/5].
X-Men: Phoenix. The last mini-series in this volume is a critical link in the Cable/Nate narrative, detailing how Rachel comes to the future and creates the Askani religion. And, it's entirely boring. The plot is about as non-existent as in Askani'Son, the art is muddy, and the storyline manages to miss anything at this narrative node that might have been of interest. The only exception is that we get the rest of BlaqueSmith's backstory [1+/5].
As a whole, this volume is worthless other than "The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix" itself. I've been keeping almost all of my X-Men TPBs in my collection, but this one is going as soon as Marvel produces The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix omnibus, which will include the old Wedding TPB, The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, and the other X-comics from the time ... but not the terrible stuff in this volume.
1993's X-Cutioner's Song had helped to put some of the puzzle pieces together, primarily the Stryfe and Cable mysteries that had become greatly confused in Rob Liefeld's X-Force. However, The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix was the story that put all of these disparate, yet connected elements into a single narrative, and also connected that up to the Age of Apocalypse.
It's rather deftly done, and has some very nice moments between the various members of the Summers clan. It also offers a great backstory for Cable and a neat look at a dystopic future. By today's standards, the plot is pretty turgid, but this book is so full of great character moments that it gets by anyway. Overall, one of Lobdell's best X-works ... and I say that not being a Lobdell fan [4/5].
Askani'Son. This sequel comic does a great job of bringing together even more characters from Cable's '90s stories: young Cable, Aliya, BlaqueSmith, The Professor, Stryfe, Zero, Ch'Vyare, the Askani, and probably a few I missed. It sort of gives them origins, but like this entire comic, those origins are murky and aimless. Way too wordy too. So, what could have been a magnificent tying together of so many of Cable's plot threads (most of which have sadly been lost over the years), and a continuation of the great story in The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, is instead just a mess [2/5].
X-Men: Phoenix. The last mini-series in this volume is a critical link in the Cable/Nate narrative, detailing how Rachel comes to the future and creates the Askani religion. And, it's entirely boring. The plot is about as non-existent as in Askani'Son, the art is muddy, and the storyline manages to miss anything at this narrative node that might have been of interest. The only exception is that we get the rest of BlaqueSmith's backstory [1+/5].
As a whole, this volume is worthless other than "The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix" itself. I've been keeping almost all of my X-Men TPBs in my collection, but this one is going as soon as Marvel produces The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix omnibus, which will include the old Wedding TPB, The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, and the other X-comics from the time ... but not the terrible stuff in this volume.
April 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this foray into the future with X-men.
It's a little jarring at times but a great bind up of comics from the 90's and then comics from the 00's which not only flesh out the story of Cable, but that of one of my favourite characters Rachel Summers/Grey.
The artwork is gorgeous, particularly in the phoenix comics from the 00's, but at times I did find it a little distracting and detrimental to the story. More often than not, the artists changed mid-issue, and in a 3 issue mini-series with a fantastic art style, that shouldn't happen.
Overall a great package, that take a little while to ramp up but when it does, it goes full throttle! And one that is explained greatly by the last comic which I think, would be better served reading first and then jumping into The Adventures Of Cyclops & Phoenix mini-series!
It's a little jarring at times but a great bind up of comics from the 90's and then comics from the 00's which not only flesh out the story of Cable, but that of one of my favourite characters Rachel Summers/Grey.
The artwork is gorgeous, particularly in the phoenix comics from the 00's, but at times I did find it a little distracting and detrimental to the story. More often than not, the artists changed mid-issue, and in a 3 issue mini-series with a fantastic art style, that shouldn't happen.
Overall a great package, that take a little while to ramp up but when it does, it goes full throttle! And one that is explained greatly by the last comic which I think, would be better served reading first and then jumping into The Adventures Of Cyclops & Phoenix mini-series!
Read
November 16, 2022It was a big book but i delayed each mini series to not jump years in my x men reading, it was not needed since they didn't really spoil anything that happened or is happening, but better safe than sorry.
April 8, 2024
Pretty good mini-series for back in the day, before the X-Men basically became immortal and de facto gods. IT isn't as good as the Dark Phoenix story, but it does work in a good slice of history.
Read
November 14, 2017DNF - will come back to it later.
November 21, 2018
This book collects three limited series that reveal Cable's Askani origins.
Chronologically, we start with X-Men: Phoenix which was published last. Rachel Summers is one of my least favorite X-Men, but I originally picked up this title for the sole purpose of learning more about the Askani timeline. John Francis Moore delivered just enough on that front. That is an impressive challenge since there has been so many vague hints, slight reveals, and inconsistent storytelling, but he manages to knit together the many different bits and pieces revealed through the years. He explains the origin of Clan Askani, Blaquesmith and Ch'Vayre, but I didn't see any real character development or deeper insight. It is an uninspired tale that is drawn by Pascal Alixe whose art I do not like.
I've grown to really like the next limited series, The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix . I was not originally a fan, but I could not put it down this time around. It is a great read that finally explains what happened to Nathan after X-Factor #68. Cyclops and Phoenix are brought to the distant future by their daughter Rachel Summers (from yet another alternate timeline) to raise and protect a child that they thought they lost as his parents Slym and Redd.
It is a future in which Apocalypse rules. We see this world through the eyes of his most loyal acolyte, Ch'Vayre. The trusted prelate watches with disappointment as the mutant caste descent into decadents, and he worries about his leader's obsession to use the young boy they named Stryfe to defy death. Ch'Vayre no longer see a world where only the fittest survive.
Gene Ha's unique artistic style brings a distinctive touch to a well-written story. I was particularly drawn to Ch'Vayre and his growing disillusionment of a society and a leader that grew cruel and complacent generations after their victory.
The success of The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix led to a sequel Askani'son, but Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha were unable to rekindle the magic.
With his "parents" Slym and Redd returned to their own time, Nate is left to travel a new world with his best friend, Tetherblood. Apocalypse has been defeated leaving a power vacuum filled by ruthless mutants called the New Canaanites. The despotic regime renews the search to find and destroy what is left of the Clan Askani.
This follow-on series is not as deep as its predecessor, but it does explain the final pieces of the Askani lore (New Canaanites, Clan Chosen, Tetherblood, etc). I am still not sure how the sentient being know as the "Professor" finds its way into Nate, but everything else (mostly) makes sense in an average, comic book storytelling kind of way.
Chronologically, we start with X-Men: Phoenix which was published last. Rachel Summers is one of my least favorite X-Men, but I originally picked up this title for the sole purpose of learning more about the Askani timeline. John Francis Moore delivered just enough on that front. That is an impressive challenge since there has been so many vague hints, slight reveals, and inconsistent storytelling, but he manages to knit together the many different bits and pieces revealed through the years. He explains the origin of Clan Askani, Blaquesmith and Ch'Vayre, but I didn't see any real character development or deeper insight. It is an uninspired tale that is drawn by Pascal Alixe whose art I do not like.
I've grown to really like the next limited series, The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix . I was not originally a fan, but I could not put it down this time around. It is a great read that finally explains what happened to Nathan after X-Factor #68. Cyclops and Phoenix are brought to the distant future by their daughter Rachel Summers (from yet another alternate timeline) to raise and protect a child that they thought they lost as his parents Slym and Redd.
It is a future in which Apocalypse rules. We see this world through the eyes of his most loyal acolyte, Ch'Vayre. The trusted prelate watches with disappointment as the mutant caste descent into decadents, and he worries about his leader's obsession to use the young boy they named Stryfe to defy death. Ch'Vayre no longer see a world where only the fittest survive.
Gene Ha's unique artistic style brings a distinctive touch to a well-written story. I was particularly drawn to Ch'Vayre and his growing disillusionment of a society and a leader that grew cruel and complacent generations after their victory.
The success of The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix led to a sequel Askani'son, but Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha were unable to rekindle the magic.
With his "parents" Slym and Redd returned to their own time, Nate is left to travel a new world with his best friend, Tetherblood. Apocalypse has been defeated leaving a power vacuum filled by ruthless mutants called the New Canaanites. The despotic regime renews the search to find and destroy what is left of the Clan Askani.
This follow-on series is not as deep as its predecessor, but it does explain the final pieces of the Askani lore (New Canaanites, Clan Chosen, Tetherblood, etc). I am still not sure how the sentient being know as the "Professor" finds its way into Nate, but everything else (mostly) makes sense in an average, comic book storytelling kind of way.
February 13, 2016
A futuristic take on the story of a man called Cable. Apocalypse meet his maker finally after 4000 years. A fantastically well written adventure of Scott Summers and Jean Gray as Slym and Redd. How they were psionically taken 2000 years into the future by their daughter Rachel Summers aka Mother Askani to care and protect Scott's son Nathan Christopher Summers who was infected by the Techo-Organo virus. The future of the earth depend on Nathan to someday become the man call Cable.
January 21, 2019
Probably could have used an extra issue...a lot of world building (which was strong) made it so some of the in-scene activity harder to follow visually.
October 14, 2019
The first third of the compilation was decent (Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix). Redd and Slym go to the future to raise a young Cable and fight Apocalypse, with appearances by Stryfe. Decent story, and neat to show how Jean begins to feel like Cable's actual mother. Decent story and elaborate artwork (not necessarily good, but elaborate).
The middle third was kind of a sequel to the first third. It shows Nathan growing up, his teen years. It shows more character building as Cable learns to be come the man he will eventually be. It introduces some interesting characters. Again, a decent story and elaborate artwork (but not great artwork).
The final story might be the most interesting. Phoenix (Rachel) is pulled into the future. This is a prequel to the other two stories, and perhaps the most interesting, since we've seen how the Askani religion is revered in the other tales. This is the beginnings of that story, and how she became Mother Askani. The story was solid, but the artwork was odd. It was the same artist throughout, and some parts were amazing while others seemed rushed and poorly portrayed. Not sure what contributed to that, but it really changed the tone without meaning to.
All in all, this is a good read for the diehard Cable fans, but can be skipped by just about everyone else!
The middle third was kind of a sequel to the first third. It shows Nathan growing up, his teen years. It shows more character building as Cable learns to be come the man he will eventually be. It introduces some interesting characters. Again, a decent story and elaborate artwork (but not great artwork).
The final story might be the most interesting. Phoenix (Rachel) is pulled into the future. This is a prequel to the other two stories, and perhaps the most interesting, since we've seen how the Askani religion is revered in the other tales. This is the beginnings of that story, and how she became Mother Askani. The story was solid, but the artwork was odd. It was the same artist throughout, and some parts were amazing while others seemed rushed and poorly portrayed. Not sure what contributed to that, but it really changed the tone without meaning to.
All in all, this is a good read for the diehard Cable fans, but can be skipped by just about everyone else!
April 21, 2018
I started this book because I read the first half of the Rise of Apocalypse book only to realize it somehow came after this one, and half of that book is a sequel to this one. This is a hard one to review, because I rather liked the part of it that was actually The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, but really disliked the part that was about Rachel Grey and her journey to becoming Mother Askani, primarily on account of the terrible art, but also for the rather disjointed story. The final issue in the collection was some kind of weird art and poetry book, and felt like it was a cash grab when originally published, and was of little interest. Even the book I liked was a bit of a garbled mess, honestly, but it was interesting to see Cable's youth and this weird sort of parenting.
May 1, 2023
Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1994): 9/10
Askani'son (1996): 7/10
Phoenix (1999): 6/10
X-Men continuity would be only half as complicated as it is if we didn't have Summers-Grey drama, but it would be all the poorer for it. This series doesn't just make sense of a convoluted history of Scott and Jean, Cable, and Rachel Summers, but enriches it through an emotional family drama in an apocalyptic world. In many ways, it is quintessentially X-Men, with all its time travel and clones in a world that hates and fears our heroes, and the ties that push them through against the impossible odds.
Askani'son (1996): 7/10
Phoenix (1999): 6/10
X-Men continuity would be only half as complicated as it is if we didn't have Summers-Grey drama, but it would be all the poorer for it. This series doesn't just make sense of a convoluted history of Scott and Jean, Cable, and Rachel Summers, but enriches it through an emotional family drama in an apocalyptic world. In many ways, it is quintessentially X-Men, with all its time travel and clones in a world that hates and fears our heroes, and the ties that push them through against the impossible odds.
February 4, 2021
Tepid AoA storyline
May 29, 2024
Is this an amazing comic? No. But it is fun and it's great to see Scott and Jean raise Nathan.
January 15, 2016
I've never been that interested in cyclops and only a bit more in jean grey, so this collection probably wasn't the one for me anyway. The weight of filling in all this backstory on the summers clan and cable really bog down the growth of the characters and events. Apocalypse's world is terribly constipated and I never get what he wants to do with it. I guess that's the tragedy of who he is, but it is pretty annoying because all the political machinations within the askani world lose their power because everyone just seems greedy or crazy.
The other problem with this collection is that the stories don't even come up with a complete arc. The phoenix story is especially bad, almost stopping half way through. Everything just feels like it was made on the off chance of being successful, but the product just didn't work.
The other problem with this collection is that the stories don't even come up with a complete arc. The phoenix story is especially bad, almost stopping half way through. Everything just feels like it was made on the off chance of being successful, but the product just didn't work.
April 19, 2016
This trade contains The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, Askani'son, and X-Men: Phoenix, all detailing the history of the future Cable grew up in. The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix is legitimately a good story, with interesting characters and pretty neat action scenes, and great art by Gene Ha. Askani'son is okay, but clearly inferior to Adventures, with characters thrown in seemingly at random and a really abrupt ending, but at least Gene Ha is still on art. X-Men: Phoenix is the worst of the lot, with very few redeeming qualities (Ozana the Gibson-Sterling Mark Nine Warbot is one of them) and terrible, terrible art by people who are not Gene Ha.
April 19, 2015
Decent story that pulled together a lot of important background on the Summers-Grey family.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews