As the Cyclops is already tearing down his brother Havok over the decision to found his own spin-off X-Factor team. The Summers brothers have had a rocky relationship for most of their adult lives, but as X-Men's mutant heroes break apart into new factions, it's clear Cyclops doesn't approve of a choice that could soon make Havok one of his most prominent enemies.

In Ryan Stegman and Jed MacKay's X-Men #3, Cyclops faces off against Agent Lundqvist of the Office of National Emergency, aka O*N*E. Lundqvist is desperately trying to keep control of Cyclops' new X-Men roster, especially as rumors of a 'mutant virus' are increasing the tensions between humans and homo superior. But when Lundqvist tries to throw Havok's leadership of X-Factor in Cyclops' face, Scott Summers replies that he's aware of the team, just as he's aware that "my brother has never been able to operate on my level."

Cyclops' negative view of Havok is notable given it's only been a couple of years since he was willing to go to war with Xavier and Magneto for his brother's freedom. Of course, that was at the height of mutantkind's power. Now, Earth's mutants are more hated and feared than ever, and Cyclops' X-Men and Havok's X-Factor have very different approaches to what's next.

Cyclops' rivalry with his brother represents a major fight over where the X-Men franchise is heading next.

Cyclops Tears Down His Brother as a Leader

...Right as Alex Summers Is Busy Proving Him Right

Marvel is currently in the early days of its new 'From the Ashes' era, which sees mutantkind on the back foot after the mutant nation of Krakoa left the material plane of existence. Mutants are now scattered and hated, with even big-name heroes like Wolverine and Kate Pryde disenchanted with Xavier's dream and unwilling to continue their activities with the heroic team. In the fallout, Cyclops has formed a new high-powered X-Men team including formerly villains Magneto and the Juggernaut. Cyclops has made it clear that he sees it as the team's remit to save any and all mutants who find themselves under threat, even if it puts him at odds with human power structures.

Meanwhile, Havok has gone in the opposite direction, ing a new X-Factor team who work directly for the government. Countries around the world are scrambling to create their own mutant teams now that Krakoa is no more, and America has chosen a selection of heroes to market to the public as the acceptable faces of mutantkind. Sadly, X-Factor threatens to harm the 'real' X-Men's legitimacy in the eyes of the public - as Agent Lundqvist puts it, "You know we've got our own X-Men now, right?"

Havok's leadership of X-Factor is turning into a disastrous mistake - one that could cost many mutant lives.

Cyclops' biting putdown makes it clear that while Havok might be trying to do good with X-Factor, no part of him sees his brother as a true equal when it comes to protecting mutants... and he's not wrong. Mark Russell and Bob Quinn's X-Factor is only two issues in, but it's already painting Havok's decision as a terrible one. The new X-Factor is being used against his fellow mutants, and his longtime love Lorna Dane, aka Polaris, has already fallen victim to Havok's inability to steer the team towards true heroism.

Havok Has Never Been Cyclops' Equal

Despite Leading His Own Avengers Unit, Alex Summers Is No Cyclops

Havok is an immensely powerful mutant who once beat the Hulk solo, but he's never been as stalwart and reliable as Cyclops. Separated during a childhood accident, Alex was adopted while Scott underwent experimentation by the villainous Mister Sinister. Later taken in by Charles Xavier and trained as a mutant hero, Cyclops has spent most of his life being honed into one of Marvel's greatest leaders, while Havok has essentially always existed in his shadow.

That's not to say that Havok hasn't had his own victories, with a lengthy stint in space as leader of the Starjammers and a major role in the Avengers' Unity Squad among them. However, he's a deeply conflicted individual - someone who doesn't accept the idea of humans and mutants as two separate groups, even in a world that won't allow them to live any other way.

He's also never been comfortable with his truly incredible power level. In Chris Claremont and Alan Davis' X-Men Annual #11, Havok is tempted by being plunged into a world that embodies his greatest hidden desire. Rather than being a leader or hero, Havok's true desire was to stop holding back his power, allowing it to explode out of him until he became a literal star. Havok's faith in himself took further hits when his alternate-timeline daughter with Avengers' Wasp was stolen by Kang, and when his personality was inverted during the AXIS event, which ended with Havok as one of the few people who weren't reset to their former status quo.

X-Men is heading towards a mutant civil war - one in which Cyclops' X-Men and Havok's X-Factor are likely to find themselves on opposite sides.

Havok struggled with his rage and darkness in the Krakoan Era's Hellions series, where he was asked to serve alongside a group of former villains on missions designed to offer release, therapy and redemption. He also fought hard to have his lover Madelyne Pryor recognized by the mutant nation, despite her many acts of evil. X-Factor is a chance for Havok to take charge of his destiny and truly make the world better for mutants, but the series so far shows the project spinning out of control just like many of the other major events of his life.

This Is Far from the Biggest Summers Brother Blow-Up

Cyclops' Brother Vulcan Makes His Relationship with Alex Look Perfect

But while things may be bad between Cyclops and Havok at the moment, even the very different missions of the X-Men and X-Factor are nothing compared to their relationship with their long-estranged brother Vulcan. Born after the alien abduction of Scott and Alex's parents, Vulcan is an unbelievably powerful mutant who Cyclops and Havok only learned existed when he attacked the X-Men, seeking revenge over a betrayal by Xavier. Vulcan later conquered the Shi'ar empire, with Havok's Starjammers fighting to stop him conquering the galaxy. In the years since, Vulcan has reclaimed some of his humanity and a hesitant place in the larger Summers family, but he remains the deadly black sheep of the brothers.

X-Men is heading towards a mutant civil war with the 'Raid on Graymalkin' crossover, which will turn Cyclops and Rogue's mutant teams into explicit enemies. Given Cyclops' outlaw status, it's possible that the government will view him as an explicit villain after this event, which makes it likely that Havok's X-Factor will be asked to stop his older brother in his tracks.

Havok vs Cyclops may not be the most intense rivalry in Summers brother history (that 'honor' goes to Vulcan, and the many lives lost to his tantrums), but it certainly seems like X-Men's feuding brothers could be heading for a conflict that damages their relationship for years to come.

X-Men #3 and X-Factor #2 are available now from Marvel Comics.