X-Men ’97 Confirms Cyclops Will Never Stop Being a Stick in the Mud

Warning: Spoilers for X-Men ’97 (both the comic and Disney+ show) ahead!X-Men leader Cyclops has never been known for being a party animal. The new X-Men ‘97 series has just confirmed that, despite other changes, Scott Summers will continue to be a stick in the mud: trying to honor Charles Xavier’s memory, and fighting for mutant rights while also fighting other mutants.

A prequel to the current animated series, itself a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series of the 1990s, the X-Men ‘97 comic has already set up some of the Disney+ show’s changes. In the first issue, written by Steve Foxe, with art by Salva Espín and Matt Milla, and letters by Joe Sabino, Charles Xavier is dead, and his very public assassination has turned public opinion in favor of mutant equality. Storm updates her hairstyle for the “dawn of a new millennium,” clipping her ’90s locks into a modern mohawk. Mr. Sinister, a villain who knows the importance of change and evolution, admits that the old tactics against the X-Men won’t work anymore.

Yet Cyclops remains, as ever, a too-serious leader.

Cyclops Thinks Being an Uptight Leader Is Best

After the death of Charles Xavier, Cyclops feels the need to step up more than ever. This has made his uptight attitude even worse, but rather than getting the X-Men to step in line, it leads to even more rebellion within the group. In X-Men ‘97 #1, Gambit tries to prod Scott into relaxing just a bit as the team takes out some kidnappers. However, Cyclops isn’t having it; he chastises the team for spending more time on their one-liners than fighting in formation.

Wolverine has always been a thorn in Scott’s side, resistant to authority and jealous of Cyclops and Jean Grey’s love, but he seems to have stepped up his aggression a notch, too. Though it’s revealed to be a Danger Room simulation, Logan is so over Scott’s orders that he performs an amateur move like throwing his metal body at Magneto. The two men spend the rest of the issue taking out their aggression on each other, to the point that Scott ignores requests for a private moment with his wife Jean, revealing that a better leader is already present: Storm.

Cyclops Could Learn a Thing or Two from Storm

Cyclops should take notes on Storm’s leadership qualities. During the Danger Room practice, she also scolds Wolverine for his outburst, but explains to him how his actions affect the rest of the team. She notices that something’s up with Jean well before Scott does, and offers her support. Storm knows the importance of taking time to relax; she’s prepared to join the team at Dazzler’s concert, while Scott wants to run more Danger Room simulations. Her most important advice for Scott could be something she actually says to Bishop: “Change is on the winds…You would benefit from embracing it.”

Scott being a stick in the mud even leads to one of the animated series’ major changes. In the show, Jean’s pregnancy has already given birth to Nathan Summers, but she’s also been revealed to be a clone. In the original comics, Scott uncharacteristically abandons his wife and son after learning this, leading to Nathan’s kidnapping by Mr. Sinister and the clone becoming the villainous Madelyne Pryor. In X-Men ‘97, however, Scott does the honorable thing, saying he’ll stay by their sides. Cyclops has always been a dull, responsible adult, and X-Men ‘97 confirms that, although times are changing, Scott Summers stays the same.