Cyclops (Marvel Comics)

Cyclops
Various incarnations of Cyclops, from a variant cover of House of X #1 (July 2019). Art by Marco Checchetto.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The X-Men #1 (September 1963)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist/co-plotter)
In-story information
Alter ego	Scott Summers
Species	Human mutant
Place of origin	Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Team affiliations	X-Men X-Force X-Factor Phoenix Five X-Corporation Hounds Starjammers Time-Displaced Cyclops: Champions
Notable aliases	Slim Slym Dayspring Eric the Red Mutate #007 Phoenix Captain Krakoa
Abilities	Optic blasts Spatial awareness Energy resistance Expert pilot Master tactician and strategist Master martial artist & hand-to-hand combatant

Cyclops is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and is a founding member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the comic book The X-Men. Cyclops is a member of a subspecies of humans known as mutants, born with superhuman abilities. Cyclops emits powerful beams of energy from his eyes and can only control the beams with the aid of special eyewear, which he must always wear. He was the first member of the X-Men,[1] a team of mutant heroes who fight for peace and equality between mutants and humans, and one of the team's primary leaders.[2][3]

The first-born son of Corsair, Scott Summers is the older brother of Havok. His first and most enduring love interest is his wife, Jean Grey, with the two having a daughter, Rachel Summers, from an alternate future. Other significant love interests include his ex-wife Madelyne Pryor—a clone of Jean and mother of his son Cable—and fellow X-Man Emma Frost. Cyclops' archenemy is Mister Sinister, who is obsessed with the Summers and Grey bloodlines and has often manipulated events in Cyclops' life, resulting in various clashes with the X-Men.

While Cyclops was initially portrayed as a traditional heroic figure and counterposed to antiheroes who challenge authority, in later decades he becomes increasingly morally ambiguous.

James Marsden portrayed Cyclops in the first three entries in 20th Century Fox's X-Men films (2000, 2003, and 2006), and will reprise the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Avengers: Doomsday (2026). Younger versions of the character were portrayed by Tim Pocock in the prequel film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and Tye Sheridan in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019), as well as a cameo in Deadpool 2 (2018).

Cyclops first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963). He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and has been a mainstay character of the X-Men series. In the initial issue, Cyclops is introduced along with Beast, Iceman, Warren Worthington III, and Jean Grey as the students of Professor X, who battle Magneto.[4] Lee said that Cyclops and Beast were his two favorite X-Men, elaborating that "I love tortured heroes—and he was tortured because he couldn't control his power."[5] Originally dubbed "Slim Summers", by The X-Men #3 his name was changed to "Scott", with "Slim" becoming a nickname.[6]

Scott Summers is the first of the X-Men recruited by Professor X; Xavier hand-picks Scott to lead his X-Men, and to carry on the legacy of his mutant-human-harmony ideals.[7] In X-Men #7, Professor X briefly leaves the X-Men and leaves Cyclops in command. Ben Saunders observes that "the direction of the X-Men will often pivot on the question of Xavier's absence or presence, and the emotional impact of his comings and goings on the team, particularly on Cyclops."[8] Xavier views Scott as one of his most prized pupils; their relationship exhibits father/son qualities.[9] From time to time, Scott's extreme loyalty to Xavier has cost him dearly in his relationships with others; but, over the course of the characters' publication history, he eventually emerges from Xavier's shadow as the X-Men's undisputed leader. Douglas Wolk describes Cyclops as the "closest thing early X-Men has to a central protagonist," characterizing him as a "subdued, repressed young man."[10]

Later issues of X-Men of the mid-1960s written by Roy Thomas emphasize the subplot of the "melodramatic unrequited romance" between Scott Summers and Jean Grey.[11] Cyclops appears in his first solo story in X-Men #45 (June 1968).[12]

In the early 1970s, X-Men only reprinted earlier issues.[13] It was revived in 1975 by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, creating a new international group.[14] Cyclops was the only character who remained from the original team.[15] Chris Claremont became the primary writer of the series with issue #94 (August 1975) and continued for the next sixteen years.[16]

Cyclops and Jean Grey have a complex relationship, with Cyclops sometimes competing with Wolverine for her attention.[17] In X-Men #98, Scott and Jean solidify their relationship when she initiates their first kiss.[18] In this period, Clarement introduces a tension between the leadership responsibilities of Cyclops and the personal desires of Scott Summers.[19] When Jean Grey becomes the Phoenix, Cyclops expresses fear and insecurity regarding her extraordinary power level.[20]

Cockrum created the Starjammers, including Corsair, and collaborated with Claremont to develop the characters; they decided to make Corsair the father of Cyclops to tie them to the group.[21] The Starjammers first appeared in X-Men #107 (October 1977).[22]

During The Dark Phoenix Saga, Cyclops engages in competition with Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) for the affections and destiny of Grey, with Wyngarde attempting to corrupt her.[23] Grey appears to die at the conclusion of the story.[24]

Cyclops remained a central member of the team up through The Uncanny X-Men #138. After departing the main cast, he was a recurring character in the series. The Uncanny X-Men #141 (January 1981) introduces Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from the alternate timeline of the Days of Future Past. She joins the X-Men in a storyline concluding in issue #199.[25] In the mid-1980s, Storm becomes increasingly powerful and respected among the X-Men, challenging Cyclops' leadership role. In Uncanny X-Men #201 (January 1986), Cyclops cedes his leadership to her.[26]

Cyclops meets Madelyne Pryor, a woman who is mysteriously identical to Jean Grey; she first appears in Uncanny X-Men #168 (April 1983).[27] He eventually marries and fathers a child with her.[28] Claremont intended Cyclops to retire from the superhero life and to settle into marriage and fatherhood. However, Marvel's editors decided that he should appear in a new series.[29] This new series, X-Factor, launched in 1986 and starred the original X-Men team.[30] Jean Grey is revealed to remain alive, while the Phoenix only assumed her form. Cyclops leaves his wife and child behind to lead the reunited original X-Men, under the X-Factor name.[31] Claremont expressed dismay that Jean's resurrection ultimately resulted in Cyclops abandoning his wife and child, tarnishing his written persona as a hero and "decent human being".[32] For X-Factor, writer Bob Layton was partly inspired by the film Ghostbusters; the X-Factor team advertised themselves as mutant hunters, but worked to rehabilitate and educate the mutants they discovered. Layton left the title after five issues and was replaced by Louise Simonson, who introduced the new villain Apocalypse,[33] first appearing in X-Factor #6 (July 1986).[34]

Mister Sinister, a geneticist who sometimes works with Apocalypse, first appears in Uncanny X-Men #221 (September 1987).[35] Pryor is eventually revealed to be a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister, who has been meddling with the Summers family for decades.[36] She displays mutant powers and becomes a villain named the Goblin Queen, seeking revenge for being jilted.[27] Scott's son, Nathan, is infected with a techno-organic virus.[37] Rachel Summers brings him to the future to be saved.[25]

Scott stayed with the X-Factor title through X-Factor #70. In October 1991, Summers returns to the X-Men to appear in a central role in a new title, X-Men #1.[38] This series was the second of two X-Men titles and featured Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Gambit, Psylocke, and Rogue, as the "Blue team".[39] The issue was a best-seller, written by Claremont with art by Jim Lee. Claremont left the title after the third issue, and Lee left Marvel by the end of the year. Scott Lobdell became the new writer.[40] In the X-Cutioner's Song story line (1992-1993), Scott and Jean are captured by Mister Sinister and traded to a new villain, Stryfe.[41] After escaping, they eventually discover that Cable is Nathan, the son of Scott and Madelyne Pryor, having grown up in a future timeline, and that Stryfe is Cable's clone.[42] Cyclops and Jean Grey then marry, in X-Men vol. 2 #30 (March 1994).[43] In summer 1994, Cyclops appeared in the four-issue miniseries The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, which recounts how he and Jean Grey traveled to the future to raise Nathan Summers, explaining the childhood of Cable.[44] In 1995, the X-titles were all replaced in a crossover taking place in an alternate future called Age of Apocalypse.[45] An alternate version of Cyclops starred in a new title written by John Francis Moore titled Factor X.[46] The decade concluded with a storyline called Apocalypse: The Twelve in which Apocalypse takes control of Cyclops' body.[47]

In 2000, Joe Harris wrote the four-issue run titled X-Men: The Search for Cyclops that dealt with Cyclops's return after merging with Apocalypse in the events of the Twelve from The Uncanny X-Men #377.

In February 2001, an alternate version of Cyclops began appearing in a new ongoing series by Mark Millar, Ultimate X-Men.[48] This version of Cyclops was killed off in January 2009.[49]

In July 2001, Cyclops appeared as a leading character in New X-Men. Written by Grant Morrison, the series pursued a more experimental approach to storytelling and characterization.[50] In the course of the story, Cyclops begins a new relationship with Emma Frost.[51] Jean Grey dies again in New X-Men #150 (February 2004).[52]

Also in 2001, writer Brian K. Vaughan wrote the four-issue series titled Cyclops, the character's first solo miniseries.

Beginning in July 2004, Astonishing X-Men features Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost, Shadowcat, and Colossus as a team. The series was initially written by Joss Whedon, well-known for creating the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series.[53] During Whedon's run of Astonishing X-Men, Cyclops adopts a new attitude unfamiliar to most accustomed fans. After Emma Frost's psychic intervention at the mansion, he temporarily loses his powers after confronting his traumatic past. In an interview, Whedon explains:

No, he doesn't have his powers. Well, he had a choice to either be completely out of control or bury them. He can't use them. That's pretty much it. But the thing that would be fun is that, with no powers, he's going to be the best that he's ever been. That's what the arc is about. [Cyclops has] been the team leader and the team washout in terms of popularity. He was defined by Jean [Grey] so much, and I just think that this guy is so interesting in his struggle against mediocrity. Then, when it's all laid on the line, when you find out the thing that's been holding him back from being just a complete bad ass has been himself all his life, that he's been lying to everyone, including himself, about who he is — that should be freeing. The Scott we're going to see is going to be a little bit different. This guy is either completely out of control or in control of something we're not used to. I wanted him to be an unabashed tough guy. He is shooting people and turning very much into a leader. Not everyone is going to like it.[54]

In the House of M storyline (2005), the Scarlet Witch magically alters reality so that almost all mutants are de-powered, with only 198 remaining. This event is referred to as "M-Day." As a consequence, the X-Men feel particularly besieged and Cyclops becomes desperate to protect the remaining mutants.[55]

X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1 (January 2006) introduces Vulcan, the younger brother of Cyclops and Havok, who was enslaved by the Shi'ar and raised in secret by Moira MacTaggert.[56] In April 2008, Cyclops forms a new X-Force team, a deadly clandestine strike force, appearing in its own title.[57] Part of the X-Men: Messiah Complex crossover, X-Men #205 (January 2008) introduces Hope Summers, the first mutant born after M-Day. She is orphaned and adopted by Cable.[58] In the Dark X-Men storyline of 2009, Scott Summers and Emma Frost enter into a complex dispute, with Frost aligned with Norman Osborn. Marvel writer Matt Fraction indicated that Emma's alliance with Osborn places Scott and Emma at odds with one another, creating "a profound schism".[59] Throughout this time, Cyclops continued to make appearances in Uncanny X-Men.[60][61]

Cyclops becomes overprotective of those close to him and pessimistic in his view of humanity. In X-Men: Schism (2011), written by Jason Aaron,[62] Cyclops and Wolverine have a severe disagreement about employing teenage mutants in defense against the Hellfire Club. This splits the X-Men into two factions.[63] Cyclops envisions his group as an "Extinction Team" who can fight global threats; his faction includes Emma Frost, Magneto, Storm, Magik, Hope Summers, Colossus, and Danger. This team featured in a new volume of Uncanny X-Men,[64] written by Kieron Gillen with art by Carlos Pacheco, beginning in January 2012.[65]

In Avengers vs. X-Men, the Phoenix Force returns to Earth, potentially inhabiting Hope Summers.[66] The Avengers become concerned about the destructive potential of mutants harnessing the Phoenix, and this leads to an extensive conflict between the Avengers and the X-Men.[67] Eventually the Phoenix Force takes over Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, and Namor: The Phoenix Five.[68] The Phoenix Five attempt to use their powers in a benevolent way, but many others, including Professor X, believe that their power is too great.[69] The other X-Men eventually turn against the Phoenix Five, and Cyclops kills Professor X.[70] The Phoenix Force dissipates, but new mutants begin to appear around the world. Cyclops is imprisoned.[71] Gillen portrays Cyclops as suicidal in a five-part epilogue: AvX: Consequences.[72]

Beast time-travels to meet the five original X-Men, explains the contemporary crisis, and brings them to the present day to restore the moral compass of the mutants. While the present-day Cyclops intended to serve his sentence, he discovers the survival of Mister Sinister and decides to assemble a new team to counter him (along with Magneto and Emma Frost).[73] Cyclops is featured in volume 3 of The Uncanny X-Men, which was launched in February 2013,[74] Uncanny X-Men features the remnants of Cyclops' Extinction Team, who have taken up a revolutionary, and sometimes violent course to promote mutant rights, and started up a new school for new mutants, the New Charles Xavier School for the Gifted.[75] The younger Cyclops, time-traveled to the present from the 1960s, tries to make sense of his future and find a place for himself, while deciding if he even wants to stay an X-Man; he features in All-New X-Men.[71] All-New X-Men was written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Stuart Immonen,[76] while the new Uncanny X-Men was written by Bendis and drawn by Chris Bachalo.[77] In the Battle of the Atom crossover of 2013, the Cyclops from the past teams up with the present-day Cyclops.[78] Cyclops's team of X-Men battle with S.H.I.E.L.D..[79] Cyclops is eventually able to unite the mutant population and recommit the X-Men to Professor X's goals of coexistence and tolerance. Cyclops and the other X-Men are then involved in an extensive conflict with the Inhumans, in Inhumans vs. X-Men (2016-2017).[80]

In March 2019, Marvel announced that Jonathan Hickman would relaunch all of the X-Men titles. The relaunch began with House of X and Powers of X, with art by Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva. The new era of X-Men was organized around a new idea: the Krakoan age, in which the world's mutants relocate to a living island and found a new nation there.[81] Cyclops is given the rank of Captain Commander.[70] The X-Men Senior Editor Jordan D. White said, regarding Cyclops' role:

"I think he [Cyclops] is the rock that their island nation is built upon. And I think that he is still very much a leader of his people, I think the people of Krakoa know him and what he has done for them over the years, and they look up to him. He is the head of the X-Men in any Super-Hero activity which is essentially the military of Krakoa. He might not be RULING Krakoa, but he is definitely leading it."

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As a young boy, Scott Summers is orphaned after watching his parents die in a plane crash.[83] His father, USAF Major Christopher Summers, took the family for a flight in their private plane when it came under attack by an alien Shi'ar spaceship. Scott and his brother, Alex, were the only survivors as their parents placed the two boys in the only available parachute and forced them to jump from the plane just prior to crashing.[7] Christopher Summers is kidnapped and enslaved by the Shi'ar.[84] Scott struck his head and fell into a coma. The boys become wards of the state and are separated. Scott's powers manifest and he has limited control, partly because of his injury.[70] He runs away from the orphanage and tries to learn to control his powers; he briefly partners with a mutant criminal named Living Diamond.[85] He is eventually rescued and tutored by Charles Xavier. Along with other young mutants, he founds the X-Men.[70]

Along with the X-Men, Cyclops battles Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Xavier chooses him as field leader whenever he is absent.[8] Cyclops has a complex relationship with Jean Grey during their time in the "original" X-Men.[11] She eventually reciprocates his affections.[18] During one of the X-Men's adventures he rediscovers his brother Alex; he joins the team, as Havok.[86]

When the original team of X-Men are defeated by Krakoa, Cyclops is the only member able to escape. He helps train a new group of X-Men, which includes Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Thunderbird, Sunfire and Wolverine to rescue the others.[87] When the other original X-Men decide to leave, Cyclops stays, feeling that he will never be able to lead a normal life because of his uncontrollable powers.[88] As an adult member of the X-Men, Cyclops unknowingly meets his father, now known as Corsair, leader of the Starjammers, a group of aliens in rebellion against the Shi'ar empire.[89] Jean learns of Corsair's identity but keeps it from Scott; several more years pass before he learns his father's true identity.[90]

Jean dies trying to pilot a space shuttle through a solar flare, and then is reborn as Phoenix; this strains her relationship with Scott. She eventually becomes the Dark Phoenix, commits mass murder, and then sacrifices herself. Cyclops discovers that Corsair is his father.[90] He also finds out that he has living grandparents, who own a shipping company in Alaska.[91] During his first visit to his grandparents he meets Madelyne Pryor, a woman who is nearly identical to Jean. Eventually he marries her, and after she gets pregnant he retires from the X-Men.[92] Scott has a difficult time adjusting to life outside of the X-Men. He challenges Storm to a battle in the Danger Room for leadership of the X-Men, and she defeats Cyclops. Madelyne gives birth to their son, Nathan, and Scott returns to retirement from the X-Men.[93]

Shortly after the birth of his son Nathan, Jean Grey is discovered and revived. It is revealed that Jean Grey was alive and had never been the Phoenix. In fact, a cosmic entity called the Phoenix Force placed a dying Jean Grey in a healing pod at the bottom of Jamaica Bay and replaced her, taking on her appearance and memories.[94] After hearing that Jean is alive, Cyclops leaves his wife and son and rejoins the other original X-Men as X-Factor, who pose as mutant hunters but in reality are trying to help their genetic brethren.[95] Meanwhile, Pryor becomes an assisting member of the X-Men, although she is left with feelings of despair over the loss of Scott. The demons S'ym and N'astirh draw on Madelyne's negative feelings to transform her into the Goblin Queen. Madelyne seeks revenge on Scott for leaving her. When it is revealed that she is a clone created by geneticist Mister Sinister, Madelyne kills herself. Scott reclaims his son and pursues a romance with Jean.[96] Scott learns that Mister Sinister ran the orphanage in which Scott was raised.[97] Scott reencounters Apocalypse, who infects Nathan with a techno-organic virus. Scott saves his son with the help of his teammates. However, he is unable to save his son from the fatal infection; he sends his son into the future where he can be cured.[98]

Cyclops and X-Factor rejoin the X-Men team, and Scott is named leader of a newly created "Blue Team".[99] Cyclops and Jean encounter Cable and Stryfe, identical men who claim to be the Nathan Summers, grown to adulthood in a future timeline.[100] It is eventually established that Cable is the authentic Nathan, while Stryfe is a clone.[101]

Scott Summers and Jean Grey marry.[102] They are brought into the future, where they raise Cable for the first 12 years of his life. After helping Cable defeat the future version of Apocalypse, they are sent back to the past. At the request of Rachel Summers, Jean assumes the Phoenix identity. Mister Sinister tells Cyclops that there is another Summers brother. Apocalypse attempts to seize the body of Nate Grey, an alternate version of Cable, which will make him virtually omnipotent. [volume & issue needed] In order to save Nate, Cyclops willingly merges with Apocalypse.[103] Jean and Cable track him down in Egypt and separate him from Apocalypse.[104]

Cyclops' relationship with Jean becomes estranged.[105] Jean, confused by the change in their relationship, confides in Logan, but Logan is unwilling to interfere with their marriage.[106] Scott turns to Emma Frost for consolation. Their relationship ostensibly begins as a series of psychic therapy sessions, but the two soon engage in a full-fledged psychic affair.[107] When Phoenix discovers the affair, Cyclops claims he and Emma shared only thoughts. Emma's jeers provoke Jean into a psychic confrontion. She forces Emma to admit her true feelings for Scott. Scott confronts Jean and demands that she read his mind; Jean complies, discovering that Scott and Emma never engaged in any physical contact. Scott leaves the Xavier Institute, and Emma is found shattered in her diamond form, apparently dead.[108] Scott finds himself at the Hellfire Club, now a sleazy strip club, and attempts to escape the responsibilities that he feels are unjustly placed on him by the X-Men. During his time with Wolverine, Scott reveals that he feels his relationship with Jean is stagnant. He also confesses that he feels that Jean is so concerned with the school and her new powers that the two no longer communicate. When Scott finally returns to the X-Men, their new teammate Xorn attacks the X-Men. Having reached full Phoenix power, Jean confronts Xorn and is killed in the process. As she is dying, Scott apologizes for hurting her, but Jean instead tells him that she understands, and urges him to live on. Scott is devastated by Jean's death and considers leaving the X-Men once more. Had he done so, it would have led to an apocalyptic alternate future; to prevent this, a resurrected, future-version of Jean uses her powers as the White Phoenix of the Crown and telepathically reaches back in time to tell Cyclops to move on, leading him to start a real relationship with Emma. Together, the pair rebuild the Xavier Institute as co-headmasters. Deciding that the X-Men need to play more of a role in emergency rescue and aid, thereby improving the public reputation of mutantkind, Cyclops chooses a new team of himself, Emma, Beast, Kitty Pryde, and Wolverine.

Emma Frost presents Cyclops with the possibility that his lack of control over his optic blasts stems not from physical brain damage, but from a mental block that the young Scott imposed upon himself after the combined traumas of the loss of his parents, separation from his brother, and manifestation of his powers. Scott admits that this theory is true, and he temporarily loses his powers.[109] All mutants are depowered except 198 of them, and Professor X goes missing. Cyclops and Rachel Summers encounter Vulcan), who reveals that he is Cyclops' younger brother.

Cyclops and Cable discover that a new mutant has been born; while they have disagreements about the destiny of the baby, Cable eventually brings it with him into a future timeline.[110][111] Scott and Emma rescue San Francisco from destruction. As a result, the Mayor of the city offers to help the X-Men reestablish themselves in the city.[112] After building a new headquarters, Cyclops sends word to all the world's mutants that San Francisco is now a safe haven for mutantkind.[113]

Cyclops revives X-Force as a clandestine black-ops team. He places Wolverine in charge of the team and resolutely keeps X-Force's existence secret from the other X-Men, including Emma Frost.[114] Cyclops makes a number of controversial decisions.[115] There is an increase in mutant hate crimes, causing Scott to open the X-Men's base to anyone seeking refuge.[116] During this time, his growing secrecy concerning X-Force and Emma's suspicions create a rift between them.[114] Emma secretly agrees to participate in Norman Osborn's Cabal, in her own attempt to ensure the protection of the mutant population.[117]

Beast confronts Scott and Emma, stating that he is aware of both of their clandestine actions.[118] An anti-mutant coalition in San Francisco forms, and this leads to violent rioting by mutants. Norman Osborn utilizes the Dark Avengers to stop the riots and arrest Cyclops and his team of X-Men, calling in Emma to lead a new team of "Dark" X-Men.[119] Emma's Dark X-Men get the city under control, and Scott's X-Men deal with a group of bio-sentinels attacking San Francisco.[120] Emma reveals herself as a double agent, working against Osborn.[121] Cyclops founds a new international mutant community on a Pacific island he names "Utopia".[70] After discovering X-Force, Beast leaves Utopia, blaming Cyclops' judgment.[volume & issue needed] Cable returns to present day Westchester, New York, with Hope Summers, the new mutant baby, who has grown to young adulthood. Hope begins to demonstrate signs of the Phoenix Force, and more mutants begin to be born on earth.

Cyclops' newer, darker uniform. Art by Chris Bachalo.

Wolverine and Cyclops develop serious disagreements about the appropriate use of violence.[122] The ideological differences between Cyclops and Wolverine lead Wolverine to leave Utopia and bring others with him.[123] The team splits.[124] Wolverine returns to Westchester, New York to open the Jean Grey School for the Gifted while Cyclops organizes new teams of X-Men and remains on Utopia.[70]

Cyclops believes Hope as Phoenix can be used to 'jump-start' the mutant population. The Avengers are concerned about the destructive potential of this project. The Phoenix Force is divided and instead inhabits five X-Men, including Cyclops.[125] The Phoenix Five begin to transform the world. Cyclops kills Xavier and transforms into Dark Phoenix.[126] The Avengers and X-Men weaken Cyclops enough for Hope to absorb the Phoenix Force into herself. She undoes the changes to the world caused by Cyclops and she and the Scarlet Witch then spread out the Phoenix Force across the globe, causing thousands of people to become mutants. Cyclops is held captive in a ruby quartz cell; while guilt-stricken over killing Xavier, he is pleased at the increase of the mutant race.[127]

Cyclops works with Magneto to escape from prison.[128] The X-Men are disturbed at Scott's militant policies. Beast pursues a new solution; he travels back in time to recruit the Scott Summers from the early days of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters to convince the present Scott that what he is doing was wrong.[129] Cyclops makes a new base in the old Weapon X facility in Canada to train new mutants with Emma Frost, Magik and Magneto. He calls it New Xavier School for the Gifted. It is revealed that Scott, Emma, Illyana, and Magneto have been infected with nanite sentinels that have corrupted their powers and caused them to be unpredictable. Cyclops then begins recruiting new mutants for his new Uncanny X-Men.[130] He uses Cerebro to find new mutants and often clashes with Sentinels, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and even mutants from the future.[131]

Storm finds Cyclops's new school in order to tell him that Xavier's last will and testament will be read in Westchester, and they will allow him back on the original school's campus again.[132] After the reading of Xavier's will, in which he left everything to the present Scott and noted that he always saw Scott as a son, Scott decides to close the New Xavier School and send all his students to the Jean Grey School, reflecting on his desperate behavior.[133] Cyclops is killed, but resurrected by the Phoenix Force with the help of Cable. Later, he is one of the leaders of the sovereign nation-state of Krakoa for mutants, created by Charles Xavier, Magneto, and Moira X.[134]

J. Andrew Deman draws attention to Cyclops's characterization under Claremont's tenure as an "alpha male" who nonetheless often expresses physical affection and intimacy.[135] Cyclops experiences extreme guilt after the death of Thunderbird.[136] In an interview, Claremont expressed the cultural overtones of his portrayal of Cyclops:

My image of [Scott Summers] was more like a very young Henry Fonda. Very Nebraska, very mid-Atlantic; middle-class is right. Middle America is better. Yet with surprising sidelines to his personality, again like Fonda.[137]

In later decades, the character becomes increasingly desperate and aggressive.[138]

Stories featuring Cyclops in a starring role generally focus on the pressures of leadership and associated emotional repression.[139] While most of the X-Men represent some type of national or cultural minority, Cyclops is closest to a traditional normative identity in American culture; that is to say, white, male, heterosexual, American, and mostly able-bodied.[137] Commentators have pointed out that Cyclops is traditionally portrayed as an archetypal hero of traditional American popular culture, in contrast to the anti-authority antiheroes that emerged in American popular culture after the Vietnam War (e.g., Wolverine, his X-Men teammate).[140][141] However, the stories also often depict his ambivalent and troubled relationship with women who rival him in power and who have pronounced dark sides:[83] Jean Grey, Madelyne Pryor, and Emma Frost. Stories in later decades depict his increasingly ruthless strategies to protect the mutant population, a tiny minority group, and to build national homelands for them (in San Francisco, Utopia, and eventually Krakoa).[142] Stories with Cyclops as a protagonist also often include time travel, cloning, and various alternate futures.[143]

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Cyclops emits powerful beams of energy from his eyes, described as "optic blasts", which have the appearance of red light and deliver massive concussive force. The beams cause no recoil or heat, are tremendously powerful, and can be used to rupture steel plates and pulverize rock, or even punch a hole through a mountain.[144] The beams constantly emanate from his eyes involuntarily, and can generally only be stopped by his own eyelids, or by shielding his eyes with "ruby-quartz", a translucent mineral. Cyclops wears ruby-quartz as lenses in his sunglasses or in his visor, which is generally the only way for him to safely see without inadvertently damaging his surroundings. The beams' involuntary nature has been explained as a psychological shortcoming that resulted from childhood trauma.[145][146] Cyclops can nevertheless manipulate the beams in several different ways, partially through the use of adjustable apertures in his visor that allow the beams to fire through their shielding at variable levels.

In addition to varying the beam width, height, and intensity, Cyclops has demonstrated a high degree of skill and accuracy in manipulating his optic blast. Cyclops is able to reflect the beam off hard and shiny surfaces.[147][148][149] This feat also demonstrates his intuitive sense of spatial geometry between objects.[147][148] The reflective qualities of the beams allows him to bounce the beam off many different surfaces in rapid succession. It has been observed to be focused tight enough to punch a pinhole through a coin,[150] drill through the trunk of a log,[151] and pierce the skin of the Blob.[152] Cyclops has shown the power of his optic blast by blasting through the walls of a hardened building,[153] tunneling through solid rock,[154] and blowing the top off a mountain.[95]

Early accounts describe Cyclops' optic beams as the product of his body metabolizing sunlight and other ambient energy.[155] This is similar to his brother Alex (alias Havok), who metabolizes cosmic radiation. This metabolized energy is then released in the form of the beam from his eyes. In some stories, Cyclops depletes his body's energy reserves and needs to recharge through exposure to sunlight. When depleted, Cyclops continued to emit the beams; however, their intensity was greatly diminished.[volume & issue needed]

The original 1983 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe volume stated that Cyclops' eyes contain inter-dimensional apertures, releasing powerful energies from another dimension into his own via the beams. This account states that his body naturally metabolizes ambient energy that is used to open and focus the apertures in his eyes. The energy of the beam itself originates from this other dimension. This explanation, however, was later changed for the 1986 The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition.[156]

Cyclops's body is naturally immune to the force of his own beams.[157] His mind projects a psionic field that envelops his body rendering it immune to his optic beam, allowing him to shut it off by simply closing his eyes. Scott is also immune to the power of his brother Alex (Havok) who has the ability to emit waves of energy that heat the air into plasma. Likewise, Havok has demonstrated immunity to Cyclops's optic beam. Scott has been shown as being able to absorb Storm's lightning bolt, although this act caused Cyclops a great deal of pain.[158] The ruby quartz used in his battle visor has been said to resonate with his body's psionic field.

In his X-Men uniform, he uses a ruby quartz battle visor in place of the glasses. His uniform has firing studs incorporated into his gloves and on the sides of the battle visor that control the visor's aperture. In the event that the visor has a power failure, the apertures are spring-loaded to automatically close so Cyclops can at least see normally. He has also been observed using casual sunglasses and contact lenses made from the same ruby quartz as his visor lens.[159]

Cyclops' power has been altered by his exposure to the Phoenix Force.[160] His optic blasts are more powerful, now appearing as multiple curved beams.[161]

Cyclops is an expert pilot of fixed-wing aircraft, a skill he appears to have inherited from his father. Cyclops has spent most of his superhero career as the leader of either the X-Men or X-Factor and has developed exceptional leadership skills. Cyclops also has extensive training in martial arts and unarmed combat.[162] While not a telepath himself, Cyclops has trained himself in various psychic defenses after his relationships with Jean Grey and Emma Frost.[163]

Cyclops was originally created as part of an ensemble, the original X-Men, along with Professor X, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Warren Worthington III.[4] He has an ambivalent relationship with some of his later teammates, particularly Wolverine and Storm.

Cyclops has had three serious relationships: Jean Grey, Madelyne Pryor, and Emma Frost. Cyclops' relationships are particularly complicated because of the many retcons involved in the publication history of the Jean Grey and Madelyne Pryor characters.

In terms of publication time, Cyclops's longest and deepest romantic relationship is with his second wife Jean Grey, who dies and is resurrected multiple times. Previously, he married Grey's clone, Madelyne Pryor. Asked whether or not Cyclops was really in love with Madelyne, X-Factor writer Louise Simonson answered, "I think she was a substitute for Jean."[164] Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont noted that Cyclops's love for Madelyne was genuine; he intended Cyclops to settle down and retire from the team, stating, "It's a metaphor for us all. We all grow up. We all move on."[165]

Jean Grey and Scott finally marry in X-Men #30. Afterward, Scott seemed to have reached a happy ending. Subsequently, Scott becomes possessed by Apocalypse and the lingering effects from this would taint his relationship with Jean. This combined with Jean's returning Phoenix powers creates stress in their romantic relationship. Confused, Scott turns to Emma Frost, who takes advantage of Scott's emotional problems, which leads to a telepathic extramarital affair.[166] When confronted by Jean, Scott claims that they shared "only thoughts" and that he had done nothing wrong; Jean, however, disagrees and demands that Emma explain herself, but Emma only jeers and insults her. Enraged, Jean unleashes the immeasurable Phoenix ability on Emma, rifling her memories and forcing her to confront the truth about herself.

In the aftermath, Scott then leaves the X-Men for a time to understand his own conflicting feelings. He returns to tell Emma that he had made a decision between her and Jean, but Jean is killed in battle before it is revealed which woman he had picked. After Jean's death, Scott feels disillusioned with Xavier's dream, leaves the X-Men, and refuses Emma's offer to reopen the school. Had the school remained closed, this outcome would have led to an apocalyptic future. To avoid it, Jean, who was resurrected in this apocalyptic future, used her Phoenix abilities to absorb this future timeline into the White Hot Room. She then mentally pushed Scott past the guilt he felt over her death and made him accept Emma's offer of reopening the school with her. Emma and Scott have a complex and ambivalent relationship that includes keeping secrets from one another.[167]

Cyclops has an extensive immediate family, including various clones and kin from alternate timelines. These include his father, Corsair;[22] and his brothers, Havok and Vulcan;[56] He has a son, Cable, who has an evil clone, Stryfe;[42] there is also a younger version of Cable from another timeline, Nate Grey.[168] He has a daughter from an alternate future, Rachel Summers,[25] and an adopted granddaughter, Hope Summers.[58]

There are various alternate versions of Cyclops in the Marvel Universe. These include a variant who exists in the Age of Apocalypse and a variant in the Ultimate Marvel imprint.[45][48] More recently, a young version of Cyclops from the original incarnation of the X-Men from decades ago was brought into the contemporary continuity.[71] This version of Cyclops features in the title All New X-Men; he sometimes works together with his older counterpart.[129] The young time-displaced Cyclops also featured in his own miniseries.[169] The character is also a member of the new Champions team.[170] This version of Cyclops was in a relationship with X-23.[171]

In a 2011 poll, readers of Comic Book Resources voted Cyclops as 9th in the ranking of 2011 Top Marvel Characters.[3]

• In 2006, IGN ranked Cyclops 1st in their "Top 25 X-Men" list.[1]
• In 2008, Wizard Magazine ranked Cyclops 106th in their "200 Greatest Comic Book Characters of All Time" list.[141]
• In 2011, IGN ranked Cyclops 39th in their "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" list.[2]
• In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Cyclops 2nd in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[172]
• In 2014, BuzzFeed ranked Cyclops 1st in their "95 X-Men Members Ranked From Worst To Best" list.[173]
• In 2019, ComicBook.com ranked Cyclops 25th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes Ever" list.[174]
• In 2021, CBR.com ranked Cyclops 4th in their "10 Bravest Mutants in Marvel Comics" list.[175]
• In 2022, The A.V. Club ranked Cyclops 72nd in their "100 best Marvel characters" list.[176]
• In 2022, Newsarama ranked Cyclops 3rd in their "Best X-Men members of all time" list.[177]

Cyclops is one of the X-Men characters who appears in most of the media adaptations of the X-Men franchise, including the 20th Century Fox X-Men films, television, computer and video games. He was first portrayed by James Marsden in X-Men (2000), who reprised the role in X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). He was subsequently played by Tye Sheridan in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019). In animation, he appears in X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), X-Men: Evolution (2000–2003), and Wolverine and the X-Men (2009).

• Brownfield, Troy (2025). X-Men for Dummies. Marvel. ISBN 978-1-394-36274-5.
• Cebulski, C.B., ed. (2024). Marvel Encyclopedia: New Edition. DK. ISBN 978-0-5938-4611-7.
• Deman, J. Andrew (2023). The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-3075-3.
• Ridout, Cefn, ed. (2022). Marvel Year by Year: A Visual History: New Edition. DK. ISBN 978-0-7440-5451-4.
• Saunders, Ben, ed. (2023). X-Men. Penguin Classics. ISBN 978-0-14-313576-0.
• Wolk, Douglas (2021). All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told. Penguin Press. ISBN 978-0-7352-2216-8.

• Cyclops (Scott Summers) at Marvel.com
• Cypher (Age of Apocalypse) at Marvel.com
• Cyclops (Ultimate) at Marvel.com