Warning! Contains Spoilers For X-Men #5!
Cyclops’original nickname, dating back to the earliest days of theX-Menfranchise, has just been reintroduced in Marvel canon; even as Scott Summers seeks to forge a new path forward for mutantkind in thewake of the Krakoan era,some classic elements of his history have came back around, including his “Slim” nickname.
X-Men#5 – written by Jed MacKay, with art by Ryan Stegman – features a moment in whichthe team’s telepath, Quentin Quire, nonchalantly calls Cyclops “Slim,“which quickly earns anirritated response from Cyclops. While this might just seem like playful banter, it actually goes just a bit further than that.
Cyclops' negative reaction to being called Slim is likely because it actually was his original nickname, a very long time ago. Almost everyone had a nickname growing up that they may not be proud of now, and it seems that’s the case for Cyclops.
In Marvel’s Early X-Men Comics, Cyclops Was Originally Known As “Slim Summers”
The Return Of “Slim”:X-Men#5 – Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Livesay, Marte Gracia, & Clayton Cowles
The revival of the “Slim” nickname, even if just a one-off, is a reminder to readers justhow much Cyclops has changed in his six decadesas a top-level Marvel hero – and at the same time, just how much about the character has stayed fundamentally the same. It also speaks more generally to the evolution of comics over those decades. Things like Superman’s ability to “leap over tall buildings in a single bound” are holdovers from an earlier era, which might not necessarily fit in the character’s contemporary conception, yet they provide a bridge to the genre’s past.
The revival of the “Slim” nickname, even if just a one-off, is a reminder to readers just how much Cyclops has changed in his six decades as a top-level Marvel hero.
What someX-fans might not realize is thatCyclops was known as “Slim” Summers, going back to the earliestX-Mencomics, going back to their 1963 debut.Most readers will recognize this as Wolverine’s nickname for Scott, but rather than his own teasing invention, it is actually a callback to Cyclops' origins. That makes it even more exciting for readers – though perhaps for Cyclops himself, it is irritating – that the nickname makes a comeback inX-Men#5, courtesy of Kid Omega.
No Matter How Much Cyclops Evolves, He Will Never Escape His Origins As “Slim”
X-Men#5 – Available Now From Marvel Comics
Cyclops has been called a lot of things over the years, but Slim seems to be the one nickname that will never truly go away.While Wolverine has been keeping it alive for decades, now characters like Quentin have also picked it up again, there is a chance it could stick. Over the decades, Scott has taken on many roles and different names; yet it seems that the one identity that he’ll never truly be able to shed is that of Slim Summers, no matter how muchCyclopsis irritated by his fellowX-Menusing the nickname.
Cyclops Has Replaced the X-Men’s Original Psychic with a God-Tier Hero
The X-Men have always counted powerful psychics among their ranks, and Cyclops is continuing the tradition with this Omega-level telepath.
X-Men#5is available now from Marvel Comics!
Cyclops
Cyclops, a.k.a. Scott Summers, is the X-Men’s core team leader and one of the first characters to appear in the franchise. As a human/mutant hybrid, Cyclops has the power to launch massive bursts of energy from his eyes that are regulated through the use of a specially designed visor. Despite his calm and collected demeanor, he tends to lose it when in the presence of a fellow team member, Wolverine.
