X-Men #17, written by Jed MacKay, with art by Ryan Stegman, features Cyclops’ Alaska X-Men fighting off Cassandra Nova’s forces, when their leader, Schwarzschild, essentially tells Cyclops he has a lame superpower. However, Cyclops quickly shuts him up by taking him down with the help of Juggernaut, reminding fans that Scott Summers’ powers aren’t what make him the X-Men’s best leader, but his superior tactical skills are.

Here, Cyclops illuminate why he is the definitive X-Men leader, while this moment also subtly shows how Cyclops’ powers are tied to his leadership abilities.

X-Men Confirms What Makes Cyclops A Dangerous Leader, And It’s Not His Mutant Power

X-Men #17; Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Ryan Stegman; Ink by JP Mayer, Ryan Stegman, & Livesay; Color By Fer Sifuentes-Sujo; Lettering By Clayton Cowles

It’s no secret that Cyclops is not the X-Men’s most powerful mutant, and his rigid personality doesn’t do him any favors, but it begs the question for many fans on why Scott Summers is one of the X-Men’s most consistent leaders. Cyclops explains that while he is dangerous, it’s not because of his mutant abilities, but because Scott can set up the battlefield and see the outcome of the fight before it even happens. This reasoning aligns incredibly well with Cyclops as a character, but more importantly, it confirms one suspicion about Scott Summers' power.

The reason Cyclops provides on why he is the X-Men’s leader not only proves his merit but also subtly alludes to Cyclops' spatial awareness power, the same power he uses to ricochet his optic blasts. In X-Men #17, Scott reveals that he can visualize and predict the outcome of a fight, giving Cyclops a literal precognitive twist to his powers. Calculating angles to ricochet an optic blast is one thing; calculating multiple super-powered individuals' moves is another. This skill may not make Cyclops stronger, but it does make him incredibly valuable and deadly on the battlefield.

Scott Summers Demonstrates That Power Is Not What Makes A Great Leader

Cyclops' Tactical Strength Is His Genius

Cyclops, noting that leaders aren’t always the most powerful, brings up an important fact about powerscaling in the Marvel Universe. Just because a hero such as the Sentry or the Hulk has incredible, god-like powers, doesn’t mean they are completely unbeatable or skilled in combat. In Scott’s fight with Schwarzschild, Cyclops proves that despite Schwarzschild being the more powerful mutant, Scott’s tactical skill and teamwork made him the better hero. Cyclops’ X-Men are chock-full of powerhouses like Juggernaut and Magneto, but it’s clear they all respect and hold unwavering loyalty to Scott.

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Cyclops once again reasserts why he's replaced Charles Xavier and Magneto as the new face of the X-Men. He's a tactical genius and a proud mutant.

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Professor X conditioned Cyclops to become the X-Men’s perfect leader, and history has shown he has lived up to that standard as he has always led with confidence and undeniable skill. In X-Men #10, written by Jed MacKay, with art by Netho Diaz, Cyclops reveals he has plans that go to the absolute extremes in case the government were to attack their base, showing he is constantly thinking of every outcome and possibility. Cyclops standing up to the government is a moment that emphasizes the sheer aptitude he has when it comes to being a leader and a fighter.

Throughout Marvel History, Cyclops Has Proven He Is the Definition Of The Perfect X-Men Leader

Cyclops Is The Face Of The X-Francise For Good Reason

Scott Summers is by no means a perfect hero, with moments such as Scott leaving Madelyne Pryor and his son Nathan, aka Cable, after finding out Jean Grey was alive, and his affair with Emma Frost standing as a point of debate when it comes to analyzing his character. However, in spite of his complex personal qualms and problems, it has always been apparent that Cyclops is the backbone of the X-Men. Moreover, with Charles Xavier retiring from the X-Men, it’s never been more apparent that Cyclops is his successor, as he holds both the experience and skill to foster mutant-kind’s future.

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When Cyclops defeats Schwarzschild, he demonstrates that leading the X-Men is not just about power but requires skill, skills which Scott Summers has shown many times that he possesses more so than the average mutant. This instant also confirms Cyclops’ precognitive powers bleed into his leadership abilities, allowing him to see the battlefield and lead in a way that no other hero can, making him the X-Men’s most irreplaceable asset. Cyclops isn’t the most powerful X-Men, but critics of Scott Summers can’t deny that moments such as this highlight his true skill as the X-Men’s finest leader.

X-Men #17 is available now from Marvel Comics!

X-Men

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.

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