Hold On, Cable: Marvel Has a Mysterious New Time-Traveling Villain On the Loose
Contains Spoilers for Cable: Love and Chrome #1!Cable has foes from all over Marvel's timeline, but now, the publisher has introduced a villain whose very nature is a complete mystery. They are very likely also a time-traveler, but readers know little more than that, so far, about the enemy who’s able to beat Cable to a standstill, one who vows to destroy the hero once and for all.
Cable: Love and Chrome #1–written by David Pepose, with art by Mike Henderson – has introduced a mysterious new enemy for the time-hopping hero, a masked-figure known as "Cicada," who has a vendetta against Cable that has lasted centuries.
While in the future fighting an Asgardian-worshipping cult, Cable is attacked by the new masked villain, who calls him a hypocrite. Cicada is just as strong as Cable, and also has the ability to morph their arms into tentacles. Even stranger, however, is that Cicada follows Cable through time after the hero is stranded even further in the future by accident.
Cable's New Nemesis, The Mysterious "Cicada," Is Marvel's Dangerous New Temporal Threat, But Who Exactly They Are Remains TBD
Cable: Love and Chrome #1–Written By David Pepose; Art By Mike Henderson; Color By Arif Prianto; Lettering By VC’s Joe Sabino
There are a few different possibilities as to how Cicada made it to the future alongside Cable. It’s possible that Cicada just hitched a ride during Cable’s accident, since it was the two fighting that caused the problem in the first place. However, Cicada doesn’t seem native to the Max Max-esque future Cable: Love and Chrome #1 opens in either. This means that they’re either a time-traveler themselves, or, like Cicadas often symbolize, incredible long-lived, and/or literally immortal. If Cicada is a time traveler, then they could potentially be anyone from Cable’s past or future.
The most notable thing about Cicada's role in Love and Chrome is that they appear masked, raising the possibility that it is a pre-existing character within Marvel lore. Traditionally, Cable doesn't lack masked antagonists who could potentially fit the role. To name just a few, there is Cable’s arch-nemesis Stryfe, his evil clone. However, Cicada doesn’t match the physique or MO of Stryfe, who’s much more ostentatious. There’s also Cable’s future son Tyler Dayspring; However, Tyler hasn’t been seen for decades, so his reappearance would be even more surprising than Stryfe – and again, direct confrontation with Cable isn’t his style.
"Cicada" Could Be An Entirely New Marvel Character, Making Their Potential As A Villain – Or Hero – Limitless
Marvel's Newest Character Has Just Scratched The Surface
While Marvel fans will immediately gravitate toward this idea that "Cicada" is a new take on a pre-existing character, equal merit should be given to the possibility that they are an entirely new creation. Whichever scenario turns out to be the case, readers should expect the character's backstory to be an important aspect of Love and Chrome's subsequent issues. It also raises the question of whether "Cicada" will remain an antagonist throughout the course of the story, or experience a shift in their dynamic with Cable over the next several issues.
Whoever "Cicada" is revealed to be, there’s still plenty of time for Cable’s new nemesis to surprise as Love and Chrome continues.
One possible identity for Cicada is that they’re a future version of Avery Ryder, another character introduced in Love and Chrome #1. Avery is the commander of the Resistance in the world that Cable finds himself in, Salvation Bay. Shockingly, everyone in Salvation Bay is infected with the same techno-organic virus as Cable, despite him thinking himself the only victim. Avery’s a hero, but a lot can happen when you’re dealing with time travel, and she’s the only suspect so far. Whoever "Cicada" is revealed to be, there’s still plenty of time for Cable’s new nemesis to surprise as Love and Chrome continues.
Cable: Love and Chrome #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Video Game(s)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
