What do you think?
Rate this book
Cyclops (2014)
Cyclops, Vol. 2: A Pirate's Life For Me
RESCUED ! But by whom? And is it really a rescue...or does this put Scott at greater risk than before? And what bounty are they hunting? Lots of shooting and things blowing up! The bad news: the Starjammers are about to die! The good news: Cyclops is no longer a Starjammer. Scott Summers is aboard a new space pirate ship, with a cruel, cutthroat captain, and a crew of criminals and killers. None of them trust Scott-- and a few just might want to kill him! But, hey, that Captain's daughter is kinda cute, right? COLLECTING: Cyclops 6-12
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2015
4 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
John Layman
819 books586 followersJohn Steele Layman is an American comic book writer and letterer. Layman is most known for writing Chew, published by Image Comics.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 10, 2015
More than just decent, but not by a lot. And also not quite as good as the first volume. Why? Well, what I'd really loved about volume one was watching Cyclops and his father get to know each other. Unfortunately, they're separated for much of this book. And I'm afraid I just don't find teenage Cyclops that compelling without somebody more interesting (like his father) to play off of. It's hardly surprising that the scenes I liked best in this book were the ones that featured the Summers men interacting.
I freely admit that I skipped over the last issue, because it's part of the Black Vortex thing. I learned my lesson with All-New X-Men, Vol. 7: The Utopians and didn't even try to follow what was going on there. I'll read it when/if I get around to reading the big Black Vortex book.
I freely admit that I skipped over the last issue, because it's part of the Black Vortex thing. I learned my lesson with All-New X-Men, Vol. 7: The Utopians and didn't even try to follow what was going on there. I'll read it when/if I get around to reading the big Black Vortex book.
December 8, 2025
John Layman takes over the writing from Greg Rucka. Layman is really heavy-handed with the exposition. There's multiple pages of recap every issue. The main story in this volume is that the Starjammers get captured and Cyclops goes undercover to save them. There's a nice dose of piracy on the high spacelanes? but overall the story meanders. The end is rushed so they can cram a Black Vortex crossover in the last issue. There's some horrible costume designs in this last issue. They look like they were created by a 5 year old.
July 10, 2025
Crazy to think I’d enjoy a star jammers comic like this, but again cyclops is the man
November 25, 2015
I originally picked up this title because it was written by Greg Rucka and because I was intrigued by the father-son dynamic of Corsair and Youngclops. Well, this volume Rucka is gone (for very understandable reasons) and Corsair is imprisoned for half the volume. Unsurprisingly, the result was a bit of a let-down.
It wasn't horrible, but the first volume was already fighting against the problem of the space pirate adventures being sorta shallow. Without the various relationships of the Starjammer crew to center it, this volume is even shallower. It's still exciting at times and funny at times, but not that memorable.
I didn't even try to read the last issue, which is one issue out of the 13-part Black Vortex crossover.
Though the first volume was good, I don't think Cyclops is staying in my collection.
It wasn't horrible, but the first volume was already fighting against the problem of the space pirate adventures being sorta shallow. Without the various relationships of the Starjammer crew to center it, this volume is even shallower. It's still exciting at times and funny at times, but not that memorable.
I didn't even try to read the last issue, which is one issue out of the 13-part Black Vortex crossover.
Though the first volume was good, I don't think Cyclops is staying in my collection.
August 28, 2018
Continuing the great x-read of 2017/18....
The three star rating goes for the first issues of this collection - everything up until the last two issues. From there, it goes downhill fast, but we'll get to that...
The story is a little more Star Wars than X-Men but as a Star Wars fan, I am definitely okay with that. Young Scott, once pulled away from his father for awhile, is given a little more room to grow as a character and have some slightly less cliché adventures. It's a fun little romp and I really enjoyed it.
And then some crossover happened. The story was cut short (seriously, the wrap-up of the main storyline was comically bad. It was painfully obvious that a different resolution was planned before the crossover.) And then we get one issue of a (12 part, I think) crossover that is just a bit of a mess without knowing anything else about the Black Vortex story. What a terrible ending to a series that was building into something quite enjoyable.
The three star rating goes for the first issues of this collection - everything up until the last two issues. From there, it goes downhill fast, but we'll get to that...
The story is a little more Star Wars than X-Men but as a Star Wars fan, I am definitely okay with that. Young Scott, once pulled away from his father for awhile, is given a little more room to grow as a character and have some slightly less cliché adventures. It's a fun little romp and I really enjoyed it.
And then some crossover happened. The story was cut short (seriously, the wrap-up of the main storyline was comically bad. It was painfully obvious that a different resolution was planned before the crossover.) And then we get one issue of a (12 part, I think) crossover that is just a bit of a mess without knowing anything else about the Black Vortex story. What a terrible ending to a series that was building into something quite enjoyable.
October 18, 2017
Baby Cyclops is just so cute!! I like this follow up to vol. 1 a lot.
Scott's a little stuck between being an X-Men and a pirate... meaning, he's a little bit of neither at the moment. He's messing up constantly, and it's cost him his father's freedom and possibly his life (and the life of his crew).
This is a big learning volume for Scott. He grows as a character (and as a space pirate), and mans-up by taking care of his dad. There's bittersweet regret , unfair punishment at "the right choice" (isn't that classic Scott though? Or rather, classic X-Man? Try to do the right thing and get trouble for your efforts?), and some weird shit at the end that I didn't understand. Another Marvel crossover? :-/
Excuse me while I go Google The Black Vortex...
Scott's a little stuck between being an X-Men and a pirate... meaning, he's a little bit of neither at the moment. He's messing up constantly, and it's cost him his father's freedom and possibly his life (and the life of his crew).
This is a big learning volume for Scott. He grows as a character (and as a space pirate), and mans-up by taking care of his dad. There's bittersweet regret , unfair punishment at "the right choice" (isn't that classic Scott though? Or rather, classic X-Man? Try to do the right thing and get trouble for your efforts?), and some weird shit at the end that I didn't understand. Another Marvel crossover? :-/
Excuse me while I go Google The Black Vortex...
October 2, 2019
Comicbook reviews are always short and sweet so I will keep the tradition with this one. I really enjoyed seeing Cyclops as a kid and bonding with his father. And space pirates?! I mean that is pretty awesome.
I do have one question though….where was Alex? You know, his younger brother?
The graphic novel had a pretty good pace and kept me interested. I thought it was for a pretty young audience until that ending which surprised me. I can honestly say that I dd not expect it to take the turn it did.
I believe Cyclops is a pretty underrated X-men and deserves more respect considering he is powerful enough to blow a hole through a mountain. SO getting a comic just centered on him and his struggles was fun and enjoyable.
I would say to pick this one up if you want a quick read about adventure and space pirates!
I do have one question though….where was Alex? You know, his younger brother?
The graphic novel had a pretty good pace and kept me interested. I thought it was for a pretty young audience until that ending which surprised me. I can honestly say that I dd not expect it to take the turn it did.
I believe Cyclops is a pretty underrated X-men and deserves more respect considering he is powerful enough to blow a hole through a mountain. SO getting a comic just centered on him and his struggles was fun and enjoyable.
I would say to pick this one up if you want a quick read about adventure and space pirates!
February 23, 2020
Though John Layman is a pretty established name in the comics industry (and Javier Garron is a great artist on his own), there's no denying that this volume of Cyclops' ongoing feels inferior to the first one.
Instead of focusing on Scott's and Corsair's relationship, this feels more like an adventure series, which is not bad on its own, but makes it feel less important than the first trade; besides the Black Vortex tie-in was a pretty bad way to end this run.
As hopeful as I was when this ongoing was announced, I end up feeling just OK with how it ended. Now that X-Men comics are in a very different place, I wish we could still get short series that are more focused on character development like the first trade of this series.
Instead of focusing on Scott's and Corsair's relationship, this feels more like an adventure series, which is not bad on its own, but makes it feel less important than the first trade; besides the Black Vortex tie-in was a pretty bad way to end this run.
As hopeful as I was when this ongoing was announced, I end up feeling just OK with how it ended. Now that X-Men comics are in a very different place, I wish we could still get short series that are more focused on character development like the first trade of this series.
August 13, 2020
Though it starts off silly, A Pirate's Life for Me is ultimately a excellent space adventure with lots of heart. John Layman takes over as writer for Greg Rucka and manages to maintain the father/son bonding while also crafting a propulsive cosmic plot. I especially appreciated how this young version of Cyclops actually feels like a teenager. He makes mistakes! He likes cute girls! He's nervy and brash and rushes into things!
The art is solid and brightly colored in A Pirate's Life for Me, though nothing super special. The last issue is a Black Vortex tie-in that I could have done without. The "I have to become a member of this pirate crew to save my father!" storyline was excellent on its own.
The art is solid and brightly colored in A Pirate's Life for Me, though nothing super special. The last issue is a Black Vortex tie-in that I could have done without. The "I have to become a member of this pirate crew to save my father!" storyline was excellent on its own.
April 10, 2025
Ay yi yi. five issues of Cyclops pretending to be a pirate for the bad guy while helping Corsair and the Starjammers. I thought this would be two issues, three Max but no it went for a loooong time. I think I'm finding I don't like Layman's writing. I don't mind them on Titans.
Art and colours are pretty good. I like Garron quite bit.
I would skip this entirely. just read the first trade a second time.
Art and colours are pretty good. I like Garron quite bit.
I would skip this entirely. just read the first trade a second time.
December 18, 2020
Scott and Corsair get captured by other space pirates. Scott pretends not to know his father, and becomes part of the crew. So he gets to experience the shadier side of being a pirate without making the Starjammers look all evil. The story is a cop out and also way too long, but they had to pad it out so they could get to Cyclops' Black Vortex crossover issue. The art is pretty good.
July 11, 2018
I think it's again difficult to really judge this volume without mentioning that I read it immediately after the first volume. While these issues aren't bad, they feel more like a typical superhero story, missing the strong writing and dialogue of the Rucka written issues.
April 8, 2020
John Layman has done some amazing work in the past but not here. This is the definition of a generic space story. Cyclops' dialogue is incredibly cheesy and Corsair doesn't act like himself. Garron's art was too juvenile for the book. This space pirate book was pretty bad.
May 18, 2017
The first volume of this book was pretty good, featuring a young Cyclops heading into space with his dad, Corsair. That volume had an interesting hook where they were stranded on a deserted planet, and this one stayed a little bit too close to that with Corsair being captured by a rival pirate captain and Cyclops managing to join the crew to try to free him. The theme was just a little too similar to the previous book, for which this book suffered. This book is also harmed by having part of the Black Mirror event in it, which comes as a non-sequitur and also features some weird (in a not-so-good way) costume changes. It takes a fun, intimate book and makes it kind of average (and also ends it).
May 20, 2017
Some of the stories were fun, but the art was a bit inconsistent--some characters, especially the more alien ones, looked much different issue to issue.
July 1, 2017
Not nearly as good as the first volume. Plus the Black Vortex crossover makes it so there's no conclusion.
August 14, 2017
Not enough Scott-Chris bonding. But the GotG/X-Men/I dunno whoall crossover that led into the last segment must have been BANANAS and I guess I'm gonna track it down because whaaaaaaa?
December 22, 2017
I didn't care for the change in art style or writing.
July 31, 2018
I sobbed my way through this one. It’s so good and beautiful and moving. This is what comics should be
January 28, 2019
The Starjammers are caught and Cyclops becomes a double agent to rescue them. Also a Black Vortex tie-in
July 13, 2021
Hey you!
Yeah you!
Are you wondering what to do with a widely hated/loved character? Is he dorky and weird but endearing? Is his father dead? Was his death emotional and momentous for the character?
If you answered those questions,
Have we got an idea for you!
5 Important Steps to making something that has little to no affect on pop culture but was still read by many fans because what the heck was going on there (!)
1) dead dad is actually alive
2) not-dead dad has been living in space for the past 10 years
3) not-dead dad is a space pirate with a crew and a target on his head (?)
4) make your main boy wear cuffed khaki shorts, knee high socks, and a sweater vest (oh boy did that … kind of fit his vibe but was still weird to me)
4.5) give his space suit a belt buckle but no belt (space chics dig belt-less belt buckles)
5) … have him low key cheat on his girl friend because a space chic was hitting on him and homeboy didn’t say no (Oop haha I’m mad about that)
And wham BAM Bipity bop you’ve got this comic
Sweet glory what a wild time that was
You know I’m always here for Cyclops content but man, out of everything remotely X-Men, this was never on the schedule and I kind of love that about it?
Like, no one could have seen this series coming
Literally no one
The idea is so far fetched and so completely random that no one else would have ever thought of it. I mean, there’s probably a Space Pirate Cyclops x reader on Wattpad somewhere but I mean in the general comic universe nothing like this exists. At least not in X-men
Did I dig it? Yeah
Would I read it again? Nope
7/10 Slim accidentally becoming buds with like everyone on the enemy ships was such a Scott thing to do I can’t even
Yeah you!
Are you wondering what to do with a widely hated/loved character? Is he dorky and weird but endearing? Is his father dead? Was his death emotional and momentous for the character?
If you answered those questions,
Have we got an idea for you!
5 Important Steps to making something that has little to no affect on pop culture but was still read by many fans because what the heck was going on there (!)
1) dead dad is actually alive
2) not-dead dad has been living in space for the past 10 years
3) not-dead dad is a space pirate with a crew and a target on his head (?)
4) make your main boy wear cuffed khaki shorts, knee high socks, and a sweater vest (oh boy did that … kind of fit his vibe but was still weird to me)
4.5) give his space suit a belt buckle but no belt (space chics dig belt-less belt buckles)
5) … have him low key cheat on his girl friend because a space chic was hitting on him and homeboy didn’t say no (Oop haha I’m mad about that)
And wham BAM Bipity bop you’ve got this comic
Sweet glory what a wild time that was
You know I’m always here for Cyclops content but man, out of everything remotely X-Men, this was never on the schedule and I kind of love that about it?
Like, no one could have seen this series coming
Literally no one
The idea is so far fetched and so completely random that no one else would have ever thought of it. I mean, there’s probably a Space Pirate Cyclops x reader on Wattpad somewhere but I mean in the general comic universe nothing like this exists. At least not in X-men
Did I dig it? Yeah
Would I read it again? Nope
7/10 Slim accidentally becoming buds with like everyone on the enemy ships was such a Scott thing to do I can’t even
August 21, 2015
John Layman! You have betrayed me! I refuse to believe this is the same guy writing Chew because...well...it sucked. I've learned that I don't like most space comics (except Saga...Saga is perfection). I think my issue is how condescending it makes the book seem. They spew out all of these names of planets and things and it apparently means something to other characters in the book, but it's meaningless to the reader. Unless, of course, these obscure planets are actually longstanding pieces of the Marvel universe that I'm just not enough of a fan to know about.
The art also threw me off. The covers don't match the interiors at ALL. I don't like the aesthetic much. There are weird bits as well. Like Cyclops' uniform is skintight, showing off his six pack for the whole volume, but then when someone grabs the front of his outfit, it stretches out around the person's hand and still is skintight on Scott. Seems like a weird thing to fixate on, but it happened multiple times and pulled me out of the story every time.
The whole thing is disjointed and awkward. Every issue has an upsetting amount of exposition to remind you what happened in every previous issue. All of the plot points are based on coincidence and tropes. There's nothing redeeming, interesting, or unique about this title. I knew in the first volume that it was a bad sign when they didn't understand how Cyclops' powers work. Damn Marvel editors not paying attention to crap. I just hoped that Hepzibah and Scott, and Corsair would be able to save the title. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Don't waste your time.
The art also threw me off. The covers don't match the interiors at ALL. I don't like the aesthetic much. There are weird bits as well. Like Cyclops' uniform is skintight, showing off his six pack for the whole volume, but then when someone grabs the front of his outfit, it stretches out around the person's hand and still is skintight on Scott. Seems like a weird thing to fixate on, but it happened multiple times and pulled me out of the story every time.
The whole thing is disjointed and awkward. Every issue has an upsetting amount of exposition to remind you what happened in every previous issue. All of the plot points are based on coincidence and tropes. There's nothing redeeming, interesting, or unique about this title. I knew in the first volume that it was a bad sign when they didn't understand how Cyclops' powers work. Damn Marvel editors not paying attention to crap. I just hoped that Hepzibah and Scott, and Corsair would be able to save the title. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Don't waste your time.
December 29, 2016
The Starjammers were some of the coolest characters to come out of the 1980's, and some of my all time favorite X-Men stories involved the Starjammers. Having recently read, and not particularly liking the first few X-Men Forever TPBs where Claremont "resumed" his old day X-Men stories, I do find my current self questioning my younger selfs memory and tastes. Were the old stories really as good as I remember, or have I just grown beyond what passed as a good comic back then? And am I too cynical to enjoy mainstream comics now, are is the current stuff just not very good?
I begrudgingly gave this book 3 stars because it had a few good moments, a few interesting characters, and was not terrible. The art, like most Marvel stuff these days, was nothing special. It was cartoony and often out of proportion. The individual covers were really nice, but that it just a ploy by Marvel to get people to by crap art books.
The story was interrupted by another one of Marvel uninspiring, unnessecary, mega-crossover events, The Black Vortex, which gives the reader just a part of a story at the end of the book.
Not surprisingly, the series ended after a very short run, and there is no closure to be found here.
I begrudgingly gave this book 3 stars because it had a few good moments, a few interesting characters, and was not terrible. The art, like most Marvel stuff these days, was nothing special. It was cartoony and often out of proportion. The individual covers were really nice, but that it just a ploy by Marvel to get people to by crap art books.
The story was interrupted by another one of Marvel uninspiring, unnessecary, mega-crossover events, The Black Vortex, which gives the reader just a part of a story at the end of the book.
Not surprisingly, the series ended after a very short run, and there is no closure to be found here.
March 3, 2016
"The only reason I am going to go through this is to ensure that my father is well and I mean it."
Cyclops interesting space-trip with his father continues as they delve deeper into the intricacies involved with being a space-pirate. Starjammers are operational again until a naive mistake by the newest member leads to a major screw-up resulting in an arch-enemy taking and then Cyclops is forced to manipulate his way out of a sticky situation.
Vileena Malafect was a tool of a young lady and indeed, she was something. The all-feeling of love just fades away as soon as she feels even slightly that she was shunned by her crush.
The last issue that leads to the Black Vortex was the biggest high of the series and I really loved the entire transformation of Groot, Iceman and Cyclops as they endeavor to save the world.
Cyclops interesting space-trip with his father continues as they delve deeper into the intricacies involved with being a space-pirate. Starjammers are operational again until a naive mistake by the newest member leads to a major screw-up resulting in an arch-enemy taking and then Cyclops is forced to manipulate his way out of a sticky situation.
Vileena Malafect was a tool of a young lady and indeed, she was something. The all-feeling of love just fades away as soon as she feels even slightly that she was shunned by her crush.
The last issue that leads to the Black Vortex was the biggest high of the series and I really loved the entire transformation of Groot, Iceman and Cyclops as they endeavor to save the world.
September 8, 2016
Black Vortex messed me up so much I don't remember what I thought about this title anymore. I do think it's a less than ideal end to a series, that having the last issue be something in the middle of a major crossover is disappointing (and would leave a reader of only Cyclops comics very confused about his future since it ends with him as a cosmic being being told by his imaginary dad to go out there and save planets.) and the series would be better off ending on issue 11 instead, or not ending ever but continuing forever following the adventures of Scott and his dad in space. The art wasn't terrible but I didn't exactly love it, the story felt like it should've come first and then the story in the 1st volume could've followed and it would've almost made more sense character development-wise.
December 27, 2015
Es la primera vez que abro un cómic de Cíclope en solitario y la segunda vez tras "El Capitán Harlock" de Leiji Matsumoto que leo un cómic de piratas (si no contamos el cómic "La Maldición del Corsario Carmesí" que estaba dentro de Watchmen) y los dos son space óperas. La verdad es que me he quedado con el culo torcío al descubrir el origen familiar del primer alumno mutante. Y otra vez gozando tras descubrir lo realmente bien que dibuja Javier Garrón a la distinta caterva de monstruos que pueblan la tripulación del padre de Cíclope o la de los otros piratas enemigos que protagonizan este cómic. Por favor que alguien piense en los niños y meta a este hombre a dibujar a La Cosa del Pantano.
July 12, 2015
I didn’t think A Pirate’s Life For Me could possibly hold up to the brilliance and emotional intelligence of Starstruck, but it certainly stacks up… different in tone, story, and setting, volume 2 of the young time-displaced Cyclops still manages to deliver a thrilling, affecting adventure while maintaining themes of family, sacrifice, and loyalty. Too bad this series had to end, but I’m all game for a story that ends on its own merit.
November 26, 2015
3.5 stars. I think I probably like this book because I love the character of Cyclops. The story and the art don't really set themselves apart, but they aren't bad either.
This is the last Volume, as Cyclops rejoins the All New X-Men after the "Black Vortex" storyline, and that basically leads right into Secret Wars. But what will become of our young X-Men?
This is the last Volume, as Cyclops rejoins the All New X-Men after the "Black Vortex" storyline, and that basically leads right into Secret Wars. But what will become of our young X-Men?
March 8, 2016
This series fell off considerably from volume one and the Black Vortex tie in feels like a cheap way to end the series. That said, issues six through eleven are still a fun, space pirate story if a little redundant of the first five issues.
August 6, 2021
I love this series and it makes me so happy. 16 year old Scott is wonderfully portrayed and a joy to read about. The bonding moments with Corsair were wonderfully sweet and their characters were so well developed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews