# Cable (comic book)

Cable is the name of multiple comic book titles featuring the character Cable and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Cable comic book series which debuted in 1993.

## Publication history

In 1992, the character was featured in his first solo series, a two issue miniseries, titled Cable: Blood and Metal, written by Fabian Nicieza, pencilled by John Romita, Jr., and inked by Dan Green, published in October and November of that year.

### Volume 1

Shortly after Blood and Metal, Cable was given his own ongoing series titled Cable. The book initially had trouble finding a stable creative team. A writer/penciller team would complete no more than three issues in a row until Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill began work on issue #20 and finish on #35 (though with a gap between issues #20 and #21 due to the Age of Apocalypse event). Loeb and Churchill provided the first instance of stability, working together on 15 of the 20 issues from #20–39. During their run, they explored characters in Cable's past, his feeling of responsibility toward Nathan Grey, his relationship with Domino and Blaquesmith, and further adventures with Kane, the Sugar Man, and the Microverse.
Cable #34–35 were part of the "Onslaught" storyline, which was a top vote getter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Comic-Book Story for 1997.
The series ran for 107 issues from May 1993 until September 2002 before being relaunched as Soldier X, which lasted 12 more issues until Aug. 2003.
After his solo series ended, he was paired with the mercenary Deadpool in a new ongoing series titled Cable & Deadpool.

### Volume 2

In 2008, Marvel Comics released Cable vol. 2, a new ongoing series by Duane Swierczynski and artist Ariel Olivetti. This new series directly follows the events of "Messiah Complex". The series features Cable, and the messianic child's time traveling adventures. The dangers of the future and pursuit by Bishop are balanced with the humor of "Cable the soldier" becoming "Cable the Nanny."
According to Duane Swierczynski, although the writer "missed Cable's heyday in the early 1990s," Cable is "[his] kind of antihero—the cryptic, Man with No Name of mutantkind. If [Swierczynski had] quibbles with the Cable of yesteryear, it's that he was just a tad too powerful. [Cable] could port around the world at will, fetch beer from the fridge with the power of his mind, and then crush said beer can against his metallic love handle." When asked whether Nathan Summers was a tragic character in his mind, Swierczynski replied that, "Cable's still a bad ass soldier, make no mistake. But [the mission to protect Hope Summers in X-Men: Messiah War] is breaking him down like he's never been broken down before" and said that "[the readers are] going to see Cable struggling with a new bodily problem, one directly borne out of his experiences in 'Messiah War.'"
In 2009, Cable vol. 2 had a seven-issue crossover with X-Force, X-Force/Cable: Messiah War, which is the second story in a three-part storyline that began in X-Men: Messiah Complex.
Cable was canceled in April 2010 with issue #25 (the final issue being called Deadpool and Cable #25).

### Volume 3

A third volume of Cable, written by James Robinson and drawn by Carlos Pacheco, was launched in April 2017 as part of the ResurrXion relaunch. The series ran for five issues before it was renumbered under legacy issue numbering as part of Marvel's Legacy relaunch, starting with #150. Under this legacy numbering, the title was written by Ed Brisson (#150-154) and Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler (#155-159), and drawn by Jon Malin (#150-154) and German Peralta (#155-159).

### Volume 4

Cable was relaunched in March 2020 as part of Dawn of X. Written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Phil Noto, the series focuses on the younger version of Cable who is at the center of Krakoa's teenage revolution. The fourth volume concluded after a brief run of 12 issues.

#### Cast

| Issues | Year | Characters |
| #1 | 2020 | ArmorCableCurseFaunaPixieWolverine |
| #2 | 2020 | CableCyclopsEmma FrostStepford Cuckoos |
| #3 | 2020 | CableDeadpoolEsme Cuckoo |
| #4 | 2020 | CableCyclopsEsme CuckooEmma FrostJean Grey |
| #5 | 2020 | CableCyclopsJean GreyMagik |
| #6 | 2020 | X of Swords crossover |
| #7 | 2021 | CableCyclopsJean GreyRachel Summers |

#### Prints

| Issue | Publication date | Writer | Artist | Colorist | Comic Book Roundup rating | Estimated sales to North American retailers (first month) | Notes |
| #1 | March 11, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.1 by 16 professional critics | 52,143 | None |
| #2 | July 29, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.1 by 8 professional critics | Data not available | None |
| #3 | August 19, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.4 by 6 professional critics | Data not available | None |
| #4 | September 2, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 7.5 by 5 professional critics | Data not available | None |
| #5 | October 14, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.1 by 8 professional critics | 32,500–36,000 | X of Swords tie-in |
| #6 | November 18, 2020 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.0 by 9 professional critics | Data not yet available | X of Swords tie-in |
| #7 | January 20, 2021 | Gerry Duggan | Phil Noto | Phil Noto | 8.5 by 7 professional critics | Data not yet available | None |

### Volume 5

The fifth volume was launched in January 2024 as part of the Fall of X relaunch, taking place at the end of the Krakoan Era. The story finds Cable teaming up with his younger self, to survive a war against Neocracy and Orchis. Being written by longtime X-men writer Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Scot Eaton, the volume concluded after 4 issues.

## Collected editions
### Volume 1 (1993)

| Title | Material collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
| Cable Classic: Volume 1 | New Mutants (vol. 1) #87; Cable: Blood and Metal; Cable (vol. 1) #1–4 | March 2008 | Paperback: 0-7851-3123-X |
| Cable Classic: Volume 2 | Cable (vol. 1) #5–14 | August 2009 | Paperback: 0-7851-3744-0 |
| Cable Classic: Volume 3 | Cable (vol. 1) #15–20, Wolverine (vol. 2) #85 | August 2012 | Paperback: 0-7851-5972-X |
| Cable and X-Force Classic: Volume 1 | Cable (vol. 1) #21–28; X-Force (vol. 1) #44–48 | May 2013 | Paperback: 978-0-7851-8432-4 |
| Cable and X-Force: Onslaught Rising | Cable (vol. 1) #29-31; X-Force (vol. 1) #49-56, X-Man #14 and X-Force/Cable Annual '95 | February 2018 | Paperback: 978-1-302-90949-9 |
| Cable and X-Force: Onslaught! (TPB) | Cable (Vol. 1) #32-39; X-Force (Vol. 1) #57-61; Incredible Hulk (Vol. 1) #444; X-Man #18-19; X-Force/Cable Annual '96 | March 2019 | 978-1302916190 |
| X-Man: The Man Who Fell to Earth | Cable (1993) #29–31; Excalibur (1988) #95 and X-Man #5–14 | July 4, 2012 | Paperback: 978-0-7851-5981-0 |
| X-Men: Prelude to Onslaught | Cable (vol. 1) #32–33; X-Men (vol. 2) #50; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #333; X-Man #15–17, | April 2010 | Paperback: 0-7851-4463-3 |
| X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic Volume 1 | Cable (vol. 1) #34; X-Force (vol. 1) #57; X-Men (vol. 2) #53–54; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #334–335; and more. | December 2007 | Paperback: 0-7851-2823-9 |
| X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic Volume 2 | Cable (vol. 1) #35; X-Force (vol. 1) #58; X-Men (vol. 2) #55, Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #336; and more. | June 2008 | Paperback: 0-7851-2824-7 |
| X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic Volume 4 | Cable (vol. 1) #36; X-Men (vol. 2) #56–57; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 2) #337; Onslaught: Epilogue and more. | January 2009 | Paperback: 0-7851-2826-3 |
| X-Men: Operation Zero Tolerance | Cable (vol. 1) #45–47; X-Force (vol. 1) #67–70; X-Men (vol. 2) #65–70; and more. | March 2000 | Paperback: 978-0-7851-0738-5 |
| Cable: The Hellfire Hunt | Cable (vol. 1) #-1, 48–58; Cable & Machine Man Annual 1998; Machine Man & Bastion Annual 1998; Wolverine/Cable #1 | November 2017 | Paperback: 978-1-302-90785-3 |
| Deathlok: Rage Against The Machine | Cable (vol. 1) #58–62; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #371; X-Men (vol. 2) #91; X-Men Annual 99'; Deathlok (vol. 3) #1-11. | February 2015 | Paperback: 978-0-7851-9291-6 |
| Cable: the Nemesis Contract | Cable (vol. 1) #59-70 and Cable (vol. 1) ANNUAL '99 and X-Man #45-47 | January 2018 | Paperback: 978-1-302-90948-2 |
| X-Men Vs. Apocalypse, Volume 1: The Twelve | Cable (vol. 1) #75–76; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #376–377; X-Men (vol. 2) #96–97; Wolverine (vol. 2) #146–147 | March 2008 | Paperback: 0-7851-2263-X |
| X-Men Vs. Apocalypse, Volume 2: Ages of Apocalypse | Cable (vol. 1) #77; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #378; X-Men (vol. 2) #98; The Search for Cyclops #1–4; and more. | September 2008 | Paperback: 0-7851-2264-8 |
| X-Men: Powerless | Cable (vol. 1) #78; X-Force (vol. 1) #101; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #379–380; X-Men (vol. 2) #99; and more. | August 2010 | Paperback: 0-7851-4677-6 |
| Cable: Revolution | Cable (vol. 1) #79-96 | April 2018 | Paperback: 978-1-302-91217-8 |
| X-Men: Dream's End | Cable (vol. 1) #87; Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #388–390; Bishop: The Last X-Man #16; X-Men (vol. 2) #108–110. | December 2004 | Paperback: 0-7851-1551-X |
| Cable: Shining Path | Cable (vol. 1) #97–100 | May 2002 | Paperback: 0-7851-0909-9 |
| Cable: The End | Cable (vol. 1) #101–107 | November 2002 | Paperback: 0-7851-0963-3 |
| Cable: Soldier X | Cable (vol. 1) #97-107, Soldier X #1-12 | October 2018 | Hardcover: 978-1-302-91398-4 |

### Oversized hardcovers

| Title | Material collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
| X-Force Omnibus – Vol. 1 | New Mutants #98–100, Annual #7; X-Men Annual #15; X-Factor Annual #6; X-Force #1–15; Spider-Man #16; Cable: Blood & Metal #1–2; material from New Warriors Annual #1, X-Force Annual #1 | February 2013 | 0-7851-6595-9 |
| X-Men: X-Cutioner's Song | X-Force #16–18; Uncanny X-Men #294–296; X-Factor #84–86; and X-Men (vol. 2) #14–16 | May 1994 | 0-7851-0025-3 |
| Deadpool and X-Force Omnibus | X-Force #19-31, Annual #2; Cable (vol. 1) #1–8; Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-4; Deadpool (vol. 1) #1-4; New Warriors (vol. 1) #31; Nomad #20 | November 2017 | 978-1-302-90830-0 |
| Cable and X-Force Omnibus | X-Force #32-43, Annual #3; Cable #9-20; New Warriors #45-46; X-Factor #106; Excalibur #82, Wolverine #85 | July 2019 | |
| X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught | Cable #32-36; X-Force #55, 57-58; Uncanny X-Men #333-337; X-Man #15-19; X-Men #53-57; X-Men Annual '96; X-Men Unlimited #11; Onslaught: X-Men; Onslaught: Marvel Universe; Onslaught: Epilogue; Avengers #401-402; Fantastic Four #415; Incredible Hulk #444-445; Wolverine #104-105; X-Factor #125-126; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Green Goblin #12; Spider-Man #72; Iron Man #332; Punisher #11; Thor #502; X-Men: Road to Onslaught #1; material from Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #416 | March 2022 | |
| X-Men: Operation Zero Tolerance | X-Force #67–70, Generation X #26–31, X-Men #65–70, Uncanny X-Men #346, Wolverine #115–118, Cable #45–47, X-Man #30 | August 2012 | 0-7851-6240-2 |
| X-Men vs. Apocalypse: The Twelve Omnibus | Uncanny X-Men #371-380 and Annual '99; X-Men (vol. 2) #91-99 and Annual '99 (#94, A-story only); X-Men Unlimited #24-26 (#24, A-story only); Astonishing X-Men (vol. 2) #1-3; Wolverine (vol. 2) #145–149; Gambit #8-9; Cable #71-78; X-Man #59-60; X-51 #8; X-Force #101; X-Men Yearbook 1999 | February 2020 | |
| Cable: Soldier X | Cable (vol. 1) #97-107, Soldier X #1-12 | October 2018 | Hardcover: 978-1-302-91398-4 |

### Volume 2 (2008)

| Title | Material collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
| Cable: The Last Hope, Volume 1 | Cable (vol. 2) #1–12; King-Sized Cable; X-Men: The Life and Times of Lucas Bishop #1-3; X-Men: Future History - The Messiah War Sourcebook | April 2018 | 1-302-91216-X (softcover) |
| Cable: The Last Hope, Volume 2 | Cable (vol. 2) #13-24; Deadpool & Cable #25; X-Force/Cable: Messiah War #1; X-Force (vol.3) #14-16; X-Men: Hope #1 | December 2018 | 1-302-91394-8 (softcover) |
| Cable, Volume 1: Messiah War | Cable (vol. 2) #1–5 | January 2009 | 0-7851-3226-0 (hardcover); 0-7851-2973-1 (softcover) |
| Cable, Volume 2: Waiting for the End of the World | Cable (vol. 2) #6–10; King-Sized Cable | June 2009 | 0-7851-3391-7 (hardcover); 0-7851-2973-1 (softcover) |
| X-Force/Cable: Messiah War | Cable (vol. 2) #11–15; Messiah War one-shot; X-Force (vol. 3) #14–16; X-Men: The Times and Life of Lucas Bishop #1–3; X-Men: Future History – The Messiah War Sourcebook | August 2009 | 0-7851-3157-4 (hardcover); 0-7851-3173-6 (softcover) |
| Cable, Volume 3: Stranded | Cable (vol. 2) #16–20 | February 2010 | 0-7851-4241-X (hardcover); 0-7851-4167-7 (softcover) |
| Cable, Volume 4: Homecoming | Cable (vol. 2) #21–25; X-Men: Hope #1 | November 2010 | 978-0-7851-4509-7 (hardcover); 978-0-7851-4168-6 (softcover) |
| Avengers: X-Sanction | Avengers: X-Sanction #1–4 | December 2012 | Paperback: 0-7851-5863-4 |

### Volume 3 (2017)

| Title | Material collected | Publication Date | ISBN |
| Cable, Volume 1: Conquest | Cable (vol. 3) #1–5 | December 18, 2017 | Paperback: 978-1-302-90482-1 |
| Cable, Volume 2: The Newer Mutants | Cable #150–154 | April 24, 2018 | Paperback: 978-1-302-90483-8 |
| Cable, Volume 3: Past Fears | Cable #155–159 | September 19, 2018 | Paperback: 978-1-302-91196-6 |

### Volume 4 (2020)

| Title | Material collected | Format | Publication date | ISBN |
| Cable by Gerry Duggan – Vol. 1 | Cable (vol. 4) #1–4 | Trade paperback | November 24, 2020 | ISBN 978-1-302-92178-1 |
| Cable by Gerry Duggan – Vol. 2 | Cable (vol. 4) #7–12 | Trade paperback | October 12, 2021 | ISBN 978-1-302-92179-8 |
| Cable by Gerry Duggan (Hardcover) | Cable (vol. 4) #1-4, 7-12 | Oversized Hardcover | April 2022 | |