With the second annual Hellfire Gala set to begin on July 13th, it seems like Scott Summers is getting ready to welcome the newest iteration of the X-Men into the fold. As always, Cyclops is set to stand as the leader of the team and will doubtlessly do an excellent job of it.
While he's certainly a serious character, Cyclops has had his moments of levity in recent years. And, given that comic book fans love making memes as much as they love the comics themselves, it isn't hard to make light of a character that's more stern than he is friendly.
Can't Make Eye Contact
It isn't always easy to be Scott Summers, especially when it comes to having his eyewear knocked off. Much like Velma scrambling along the floor looking for her glasses, he really can't function without getting his hands on them. After all, he shoots unstoppable concussive blasts each time he opens his eyes.
Though his ruby quartz lenses manage to absorb the emitted rays, if he loses his glasses, Scott just needs to keep a hand over his eyes or needs to squeeze them shut just to avoid destroying everything in the vicinity. It's a painful reality for Scott, but even more painful for anyone around him when he loses control.
Terrible Husband, Worse Father
After the original death of Jean Grey, Scott married Madelyne Pryor — a clone of Jean and one of the most powerful members of the Summers family. The two even have a child together, who eventually turned out to be the X-Man Cable. Unfortunately, after Jean was revealed to secretly still be alive, Scott immediately abandoned his wife and child to join X-Factor with her.
While it was a shocking situation, it was even more shocking that Scott would leave behind a life with a happy family. Though it clearly hurt him to do it, his character was severely diminished by the act, and he proved to be far from the morally upright figure that he initially seemed to be. While he may have loved Jean, it certainly wasn't right.
The Punch Dimension
While it isn't exactly common knowledge, some comic fans know that Cyclops' eyes are sometimes said to be portals to a location called the "Punch Dimension". While it's never fully explained and is sourced back to a single handbook mention from 1983, some fans have latched onto the idea.
It's an incredibly strange way of explaining his powers, but it is a pretty interesting idea. After all, a storyline exploring the punch dimension could be a lot of fun — as long as it doesn't end up ripping any visitors to shreds as soon as they step foot in it.
Abandoning His Son
After abandoning his son, Cyclops actually eventually had to send the young Cable into the future after an infection with the Techno-Organic virus. Hoping the future could save baby Nathan Christopher, he had to say goodbye to his son and hope that he would live a happy life there.
It isn't fair to say that he didn't raise him though. Fortunately, through a series of mishaps, Scott ended up in the future himself, where he was able to help bring Nathan up in a loving — if not wholly safe — environment. He also had the chance to raise him when Kid Cable came back to the past to live in Krakoa.
Dealing With Wolverine
While it isn't always friendly, Wolverine's rivalry with Cyclops has been a longstanding concept in X-Men history. The two have proven to be incompatible partners many times, largely thanks to their endless competition for the affection of the sometimes-present Jean Grey.
At times, Wolverine has even shown up in Scott's bedroom to mock the man about his relationship with Jean, which is certainly awkward. So the idea of Cyclops coming after Logan the same way is certainly a funny one, and it would definitely be a just comeuppance.
The Schism
Another mark of their tumultuous relationship, the idea of Wolverine reminiscing over sucker-punching Scott Summers is more likely than it seems. Though Logan definitely respects his counterpart, the two have had their falling outs through the years, which even led to a schism between the X-Men as a whole in a plot twist that everyone saw coming.
Still, that isn't to say that Scott and Logan can't get along. The two often put their differences aside if they believe the cause is justified enough, which it often is in the world of mutant rights activism. So Wolverine would almost certainly be dreaming of better days when he could fight without concern.
Phoenix King Summers
Scott has been through a lot of phases through the years. He's gone from X-faced revolutionary, desperate to save his fellow mutants at any cost (and despite a PR headache) to the stuffy leader of the original X-Men to finally, the most powerful wielder of the Phoenix since Jean Grey and Rachel Summers.
Scott's time as the Phoenix actually proved that he had a better handle on it than any of the Phoenix Five. While he didn't have full control as Rachel did, Scott did attempt to stop Namor and Emma when they were destroying Wakanda and attacking the Avengers. So, while he wasn't perfect, it was a great showing by Scott.
Cyclops Was Right
One of the most popular meme formats among X-Men fans is the emphasis that a certain character was right. Though it often relates to Magneto, the "Cyclops Was Right" meme managed to become so popular that even the comics repeated it after the Avengers vs. X-Men event.
It's actually a pretty unpopular opinion to think Cyclops was wrong. After all, he took to activism as best as he could and even stood in front of armed police officers to help keep a young mutant safe. Besides, as the Phoenix, Scott tried to build a utopia, and it was only when the Avengers attacked him that things went wrong.
Sometimes Complex
Scott Summers really is an extremely complicated character, and his backstory is rich and filled with fascinating moments with underlying metaphors and hidden meanings. However, it's also incredibly fun to see the X-Men: The Animated Series of Cyclops, as well as the live-action Cyclops, who together have the sole function of screaming after Jean.
It shows how most of the fanbase views him, but it also helps to make fans appreciate the comic version of the character even more. Far from a mere voice box, Scott is an excellent leader doing his best to survive in a somewhat morally ambiguous world.
Father Of Stryfe
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The clone of Scott's son, Stryfe is a deadly villain determined to wreak havoc, thanks to being raised by Apocalypse in a far-off future. Stryfe often comes into conflict with Cable, Jean, and Scott, thanks to his feelings of abandonment and inferiority, so it really is funny to see Scott chastise him like a toddler.
Besides, given that Scott never really had the chance to raise Stryfe, it's even funnier to see him outright try to ground him, and the same for Jean. Given that Stryfe's personality also boils down to "Nobody understands me", it's all the more fitting.