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Cable – The Definitive Collecting Guide and Reading Order

Updated Mar 18, 2025! The Cable comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated March 2025 with titles scheduled for release through September 2025.

No single character defines so much of what is right and what is wrong about the venerable X-Men franchise as Nathan Christopher Dayspring Summers AKA Cable.

Cable returns in Uncanny Avengers (2015) #3Cable was the creation of Rob Liefeld in 1990 when he took over pencilling New Mutants and was charged with creating a leader for the team that contrasted with Professor X’s non-violent philosophy. The character he came up with couldn’t be more of a 90s extreme – a Terminator-esque mysterious time-traveler with a glowing eye, a metal arm, a massive gun, countless pouches, and a set of shoulder pads that tripled the width of his body.

(Alex Ross would later say, “I felt like it looked like they just threw up everything on the character.”)

Cable (and Liefeld) lead the New Mutant team out of passivity and lower sales to become one of Marvel’s biggest sales phenomenons, shedding all but three cast members in the process and relaunching as mega-seller X-Force just one year later in 1991. The first issue was the top-selling comic of all time for exactly one month, until X-Men (1991) #1 outpaced it the next month.

However, something even more interesting was going on with Cable thanks to the plot of another X-book: X-Factor. In the wake of X-Tinction Agenda, X-Factor saw Cyclops’s son with Madelyne Pryor (Mr. Sinister’s clone of Jean Grey) being kidnapped to the moon. There, baby Nathan was infected with a techno-organic virus by former Sinister mentor Apocalypse before being whisked off to the future by Sister Askani in an effort to save his life.

Was it intention or coincidence that a telekinetic baby who was the heir apparent to the X-Men franchise was infected with a metallic virus and sent to the future just months after a telekinetic time-traveler with a missing eye and a metallic arm landed in the present? It didn’t matter, because fan obsession with the idea that Cable could be Cyclops’s son quickly took over and made Liefeld’s extreme new character more in-demand than he was before!

That sort of long-term, interconnected, soap opera plotting is a major part of what makes X-Men comics great. However, Cable’s subsequent adventures offer the insufferable underbelly of X-Men: constantly revised powers, convoluted time travel, unendingly retconned secret agendas, and multiple apparent deaths. Even as a Cable fan it can be hard to say what his current mission is or how many more intermittent jumps to the future he’s conducted since his last appearance.

Despite that, Cable has been central to some biggest comic blockbusters in the past few decades – including co-headling a series with Deadpool, driving both Messiah Complex and Second Coming, anchoring the Avengers “Unity Squad” of Uncanny Avengers along  with Rogue, and ushering in the final stages of the pre-Hickman era in 2019.

Cable’s ongoing frenemy relationship with Deadpool is a big part of his lasting appeal. While he’s a militant curmudgeon on his own, as the Merc With a Mouth’s eternal straight man it’s a little easier to see the heart of gold that makes him so central to the X-Men franchise over 30 years after his debut.

Note that this guide refers to Cable and “Nathan” interchangeably throughout when referring to the character and not the title.

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Where to Start Reading Cable

Cable has plenty of easy onboarding points that mark a fresh start to his ongoing story. Here are eight different places you can leap into the over 30 years of comics featuring everyone’s favorite mutant curmudgeon from the future.Cable (2020) #1 Hidden Gem Variant Textless

Cable’s Pre-History. If you really want to start at the start, just begin with the first section of the reading order! Cables pre-debut history spans over a dozen issues telling his future origins in the war against Apocalypse.

Debut in New Mutants (1983) #87. Witness Cable’s earliest stories starting with New Mutants (1983) #87, where Rob Liefeld and company still have a relatively fuzzy concept of who he is and will be.

Cable: Blood & Metal (1992) #1-2 & X-Cutioner’s Song. Why read an entire X-Men crossover to get started with Cable? X-Cutioner’s song is the first chronological story after the half-flashback / half-present tale in his first mini-series. The enmity between Cable and Stryfe is the center of the crossover, which yields a big payoff.

Cable (1993) #1. Are you less interested in backstory and more interested in reading Cable’s solo adventures? You’ll do perfectly fine starting at the start of his first solo ongoing series.

Cable (1993) #97. This kicked off two years of a more-grounded version of Cable that moved him as far as he has ever been outside of the radius of the X-Men. If the excesses of the crossover-filled 90s aren’t your thing, this could be a good place to get to know the character.

Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1. Do you love the Deadpool films? If that’s the tone you want from a Cable comic, look no further than this 50-issue series. It combines our taciturn terminator with everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth. Though they had many run-ins before this point, it’s this series that firmly established their long-running buddy cop dynamic.

Messiah Complex & Cable (2008) #1. Cable has often played a paternalistic role to various young X-Men, but we’ve rarely seen him as a father before this series spinning out of Messiah Complex. After a big blowout crossover, you get 25 issues of Nathan parenting Hope through time, punctuated by one classic fight against Stryfe alongside Wolverine’s X-Force. At the end, another blowout: Second Coming, which was the biggest Cable story since X-Cutioner’s Song!

Cable (2020) #1. Why am I suggesting you jump headlong into the Age of Krakoa to read about a teenage version of Cable that’s interrupted in the middle for (yet another) massive crossover? Because this is the best version of the Summers Family we’ve ever had. Read about Cable as a son, brother, and father all at once with utterly gorgeous artwork from Phil Noto and let it inform your deep dive into older comics.

Cable Reading Order

Cable’s Early History

Cable was introduced in the closing pages of New Mutants #86 as a gruff soldier with a mysterious past. Many of the clues and inferences in the following thirteen issues laid the groundwork for two decades of character development.

However, as a time-traveler, Cable’s debut issue isn’t necessarily his first story in Marvel continuity. Up until 2018, the following issues represented the core of his pre-history. After 2018, that changed slightly – as explained sans spoilers below. [Marvel Unlimited: Books of Askani, X-Men: Phoenix, Adventures of, Askani’son]

all of Cable’s young adult stories in a single collection….

Young Cable in Askani'son (1996) #1

X-Men: The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785188339 / digital)
This book could easily be called “Cable Beginnings,” as it collects all of the following in a single, handy paperback: X-Men: Phoenix (1999) #1-3, Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1994) #1-4, Marvel Valentine Special (1997), Askani’son (1996) #1-4, and X-Men: Books of Askani (1995) #1.

Cable’s early history by single issue or series…

Books of Askani (1995) #1 (1995 comic / digital)
A one-shot comic defining the cast of Askani, the future clan who took Nathan Christopher Summers from the present. Since this was released after Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, it includes character profiles which spoil some of the events of that series.

For the briefest of prologues on the odd family dynamics of the Summers clan, you could preface your read by revisiting Nathan’s birth in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #201.

X-Men: Phoenix (1999) #1-3 (digital)
A mini-series explaining the future-flung Rachel Summers’ participation in the clan Askani after the events of Excalibur (1988) #75. It doesn’t explicitly feature Nathan but it establishes the backdrop of his childhood story.

Here you could read X-Factor (1986) #67-69 as a set-up for the following stories.

Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1994) #1-4 (1995 paperback + alternative listing, ISBN 978-0752201399 / digital)
Jean Grey and Cyclops are whisked from their honeymoon to inhabit the bodies of Nathan’s adoptive parents in the far-flung future. Also in both X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302913229) and X-Men: Cyclops & Phoenix – Past & Future (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302913793 / digital) along with Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4 (1996) and material from Marvel Valentine Special (1997).

During Adventures #2: a flashback in Wolverine (1988) #85

After Adventures #2: Marvel Valentine Special (1997) (5th story flashback)

Askani’son (1996) #1-4 (1997 paperback, ISBN 978-0785105657 / digital)
The continuing story Nathan’s adolescence in the future after Cyclops and Phoenix depart.

At this point, you could optionally continue to Extermination (2018) below for a completely chronological read of Young Cable’s life. However, since that particular portion of the present-day history of his younger self was not invented until 2018-2021 (directly as a result of story elements from 2013 forward), it has no direct impact on his original future history.

After Askani-son and before Guts and Glory, flashbacks in Incredible Hulk 1968) #444, Cable (1993) #25, Wolverine (1988) #0.5 (very brief), X-Force (2004) #2, Cable (1993) #5, Wolverine (1988) #0.5 (very brief, again), X-Force (1991) #1, Cable (1993) #1, and Cable (1993) #43. Various brief scenes in Deadpool & Cable: Split Second #1-3 occur in this period.

Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory (1999) OGN (Oct 1999)

[Marvel Unlimited]

Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory (1999) OGN (1999 paperback, ISBN 0785100032 / digital)
This one-shot story takes place prior to Nathan’s first adult appearance in New Mutants. It is also collected directly below in Hellfire Hunt as well as with 1999-era Wolverine comics. See Guide to Wolverine, Logan for more collection information.

Cable (1993) #-1: The Hellfire Hunt (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302907853 / digital)
Collects Cable (1993) #-1 & 48-58; Cable & Machine Man Annual 1998; Machine Man & Bastion Annual 1998; and Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory (1999) OGN.

After Cable (1993) #-1, flashbacks in X-Force (2004) #1, Cable (1993) #87, X-Force (1991) #8, Cable (1993) #33, Cable (1993) #72

Cable: Blood & Metal (1992) #1-2 (Oct – Nov 1992)

Cable’s first solo comic was a two-issue limited series introducing elements of his mystery-shrouded past written by X-Force scribe Fabian Nicieza and penciled by legend John Romita, Jr.

This story plays out in the present day just after X-Force (1991) #15, but also during some point prior to Cable’s debut in New Mutants (1983) #87. As a result, it works in a chronological read in either place – either here with flashes forward, or after X-Force (1991) with flashbacks. It establishes that sometime prior to meeting the New Mutants, Nathan had his own team – Six Pack – which included Domino. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-2: Cable Classic Volume 1 (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785131236 / digital)
This collection collects Nathan’s first adult appearance in New Mutants (1983) #87, Cable: Blood and Metal (1992) #1-2, and Cable (1993) #1-4. This series is also typically collected alongside X-Force issues in omnibus and Epic Collection, since it was interwoven with their present day continuity. See Guide to X-Force for more information.

Cable’s Debut in New Mutants (1983) #86-100 & Annual 6-7 (Feb 1990 – May 1991)

Cable was a regular presence in New Mutants from his introduction in the final pages of #86 through their transformation to X-Force with #100, and then continuing through the end of the X-Cutioner’s Song crossover in X-Force (1991) #18 before transitioning to his own title. [Marvel Unlimited]

#86-92: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men

The full debut of Cable in New Mutants (1983) #87

After New Mutants #92, several guides (including Marvel’s own Official Index) list Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #336 as a Cable appearance, but he does not show his face in the Spider-Man story!

Annual 6: Days of Future Present: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men or Guide to Marvel Universe Events – 1990 Annual Crossovers. Nathan appears in the present day portions of this peculiar time-travel story in New Mutants (1983) Annual 6, X-Factor (1986) Annual 5, and Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 14. (Nathan does not appear in the chapter in Fantastic Four (1961) Annual 23). While the story isn’t particularly significant, this shows some of Nathan’s first present-day interactions with several X-characters prior to X-Tinction Agenda.

Wolverine: Rahne of Terra (1991) OGN: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men or Guide to Wolverine, Logan. Nathan plays only a supporting role in this story.

#93-94: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men. A two issue face-off slash team-up with Wolverine. New story pages originally added in a Cable & New Mutants (1992) trade paperback are often included in collections of these issues.

#95-97: X-Tinction Agenda: See Guide to Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont, Guide to X-Factor, or Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men . Nathan appears throughout this event, which runs through Uncanny X-Men (1963) #270-272, New Mutants (1983) #96-97, X-Factor (1986) #60-62. New story pages originally added in an X-Tinction Agenda (1992) trade paperback are often included in collections of these issues. He also appears significantly in an epilogue issue in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #273, though this is not typically collected alongside the event.

Deadpool vs. X-Force (2014) #1-4: See Guide to Deadpool or Guide to X-Force. This 2014 mini-series is very carefully situated to work just prior to Deadpool’s first on-panel appearance in New Mutants #98, as it’s with a New Mutants teams without Rahne but not yet including Feral.

#98-100: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men or Guide to X-Force. These post-X-Tinction-Agenda issues are often treated as a defacto prologue to X-Force and have been universally collected alongside of X-Force starting in the 2010s.

Annual 7: Kings of Pain: See Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men, Guide to X-Force, or Guide to Marvel Universe Events – 1991 Annual Crossovers. Nathan appears throughout this story with the fully-formed X-Force team in New Mutants (1983) Annual 7, New Warriors (1990) Annual 1, Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 15, and X-Factor (1986) Annual 6.

Marvel Team-Up (2005) #19: Marvel Team-Up, Vol. 4: Freedom Ring
This Wolverine, Jubilee, and Nathan retroactive team-up seems to be set prior to Cable’s canonical appearance in Wolverine’s 1998 series. The collection includes #19-25. Also, see Guide to Marvel Team-Up (eventually)

Wolverine (1988) #41-43: See Guide to Wolverine, Logan. This was Nathan’s first significant guest-starring appearance in the 90s.

After the end of New Mutants, Nathan makes a brief detour through a retcon story Marvel Team-Up (2005) #19 prior to Wolverine, then is in a flashback in Quasar (1989) #28 and a cameo in Excalibur (1988) #41 before arriving in X-Force (1991) #1.

Cable leads X-Force (1991) #1-18 & Annual 1 (Aug 1991 – Jan 1993)

Rob Liefeld and co-plotter and artist Fabian Nicieza pick up exactly where New Mutants left off with this more aggressive version of a squad of young mutants. The first year-and-a-half of this book is heavily focused on the team’s increasing unease with Nathan’s style of leadership. [Marvel Unlimited]

Cable leading X-Force - Vol01 - 0001 fullX-Force (1991) #1-3, Spider-Man (1990) #16, & X-Force (1991) #4: See Guide to X-Force

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #90-97: Not collected in a modern collection, but was reprinted in 1991 as a single issue, “Ghost Rider and Cable: Servants of the Dead.”

X-Force (1991) #5-10, Annual 1 (3rd story), & 11-15: See Guide to X-Force

Cable: Blood And Metal (1992)#1-2: Cable Classic Volume 1 (ISBN 0-7851-3123-X)
This collection collects Nathan’s first adult appearance in New Mutants (1983) #87, Cable: Blood and Metal (1992) #1-2, and Cable (1993) #1-4. This series is also typically collected alongside X-Force issues in omnibus and Epic Collection, since it was interwoven with their present day continuity. See Guide to X-Force for more information.

#16-18: X-Cutioner’s Song: See Guide to X-Force. Cable is central to this story. He enters the fray in X-Men (1991) #14 and appears throughout this series.

After X-Force #2: Portions of the third arc of Cable (2007) occur here, and we catch some glimpses of this present day version of Nathan. However, I don’t suggest you read that story here!

After X-Force #4: An out-of-continuity story in Major X (2019) #1-3 ostensibly fits here.

After X-Force #5: X-Force (1991) #91 (flashback), Shadow Riders (1993) #1 (2nd story, flashback), X-Men: Times & Life Of Lucas Bishop (2009) #3, Captain America (1968) #406-407, Warheads (1992) #4-5

After #15 & Blood & Metal: Motormouth & Killpower (1992) #6-9, Shadow Riders (1993) #1-4

After X-Cutioner’s: Cable (1993) #8 (brief flashback)

Cable (1993) #1-107, -1, X-Force/Cable Annual 1995-1998,
Cable & Machine Man Annual 1998, Machine Man & Bastion Annual 1998,
& X-Force (1991) #25-30, 32-37, 39-41, 43-47, 50-51, 55, 58-61, 63-64, 67, 69-70, 75, & Annual 2 (May 1993 – Sep 2002)

Begins in May 1993, concurrent to Uncanny X-Men #300, X-Men #19, and X-Force #22.

As Rob Liefeld’s attention for plotting waned, Fabian Nicieza gradually took over as the steward of Cable’s continuity and past story. When Nathan left X-Force at the end of X-Cutioner’s song, Nicieza continued scripting him in this title almost two years before ceding scripting duties to Jeph Loeb, who stuck around through issue #39.

Afterwards the title bounced around to multiple creative teams before settling with writer Joe Casey for a lengthy run. See Guide to X-Force for collections of Cable’s various X-Force appearances listed throughout. [Marvel Unlimited]

in oversize hardcover…

Cable - 1993 - 0001 full

#1-8: Deadpool & X-Force Omnibus (2017 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302908300)
Collects  X-Force (1991) #19-31 & Annual 2; Cable (1993) #1-8; Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-4; Deadpool (1994) #1-4; New Warriors (1990) #31; and Nomad (1992) #20. Issues #6-8 are also collected in X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302913229)

#9-20: Cable & X-Force Omnibus (2019 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302917777)
Collects X-Force (1991) #32-43 & Annual 3; Cable (1993) #9-20; New Warriors (1990) #45-46; and Phalanx Covenant crossover issues X-Factor (1986) #106; Excalibur (1988) #82; and Wolverine (1988) #85. Issue #16 is also collected on its own in X-Men: Phalanx Covenant (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785185499) along with the entire line-wide crossover.

#20: X-Men: Legionquest (2018 oversize hardcover / digital)
Cable appears throughout many of these stories leading into the Age of Apocalypse between #19-20. Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #318-321, X-Men (1991) #38-41 & Annual 3, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #4-7, X-Factor (1986) #107-109, and Cable (1993) #20

#20: Age of Apocalypse Omnibus (2012 oversized hardcover, ISBN 978-0785159827 / 2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302930028 / digital)
Collects all but two issues of the original Age of Apocalypse Saga as well as all of its lead-in issues! Contains Uncanny X-Men (1963) #320-321, X-Men (1991) #40-41, Cable (1993) #20, and all of the original Age of Apocalypse issues except for X-Men Chronicles #1-2.

#21-44 & Cable/X-Force Annual 1995-1997: Not collected in oversize format, but collected below in paperback through issue #39.

#45-47: X-Men: Zero Tolerance (2012 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785162407 / digital)
Collects Generation X (1994) #26-31, Cable (1993) #45-47, X-Men (1991) #65-70, X-Force (1991) #67-70, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #346, Wolverine (1988) #115-118, and X-Man (1995) #30. A prior X-Men: Zero Tolerance TPB (ISBN 078510738X) in the old “Marvel’s Finest” trade dress collected only #27 from GenX, and omitted X-Force #70 and the UXM issue.

#48-70: Not collected in oversize format, but collected below in paperback

#71-78: X-Men Vs. Apocalypse: The Twelve (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302922870)
Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #371-380 & Annual 1999, X-MEN (1991) #91-93, 94 (A-Story), 95-99, & Annual 1999, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #24 (A-Story) & 25-26; Gambit (1999) #8-9; Astonishing X-Men (1999) #1-3; Wolverine (1988) #145-149; Cable (1993) #71-78; X-Man (1995) #59-60; X-51 (1999) #8; X-Force (1991) #101; and X-Men 1999 Yearbook

#79-86: Not collected in oversize format, but collected below in paperback

#87: X-Men: Revolution by Chris Claremont Omnibus (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302912147)
This issue is part of the direct “Dream’s End” crossover that follows the Revolution period. Collects X-Men (1991) #100-109 & Annual 2000; Uncanny X-Men (1963) #381-389; X-Men Unlimited (1993) #27-29; X-Men: Black Sun (2000) #1-5; Bishop: The Last X-Man (1999) #15-16; and Cable (1993) 87

#88-96: Not collected in oversize format, but collected below in paperback

#97-107: Soldier X (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302913984 / digital)
Also collects Soldier X (2002) #1-12

in trade paperback…

Cable (1993) #15#1-4: Cable Classic Volume 1 (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785131236 / digital)
Collects Cable’s first appearance in New Mutants (1983) #87, Cable: Blood and Metal (1992) #1-2, and Cable (1993) #1-4

#5-14: Cable Classic, Volume 2 (2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785137443 / digital)

#15-20: Cable Classic, Volume 3(2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785159728 / digital)
Also collects Wolverine (1988) #85 as part of the Phalanx Covenant crossover. Issue #16 is collected with many other collections of the Phalanx Covenant crossover. See Guide to X-Force for more information.

#16: X-Men Milestones: Phalanx Covenant (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302920548 / digital)
Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #305-306, 312-313, & 316-317; Excalibur (1988) #78-80 & 82; X-Men (1991) #36-37; X-Factor (1986) #106; X-Force (1991) #38; Wolverine (1988) #85; and Cable (1993) #16

#16: X-Men: Origin of Generation X (Phalanx Covenant) (2001 paperback, ISBN 978-0785102168)
The “Generation Next” crossover that launched Generation X; collects X-Factor (1986) #106, X-Force (1991) #38, Excalibur (1988) #82, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #316-317, X-Men (1991) #36-37, Wolverine (1988) #85, Cable (1993) #16, & Generation X (1994) #1.

#20: The Complete Age of Apocalypse, Prelude (2011 newsprint paperback, ISBN 978-0785155089)
Buyer beware! A paperback with incredibly low reproduction quality on newsprint paper. It’s unclear on whether this collects the entirety of each of these issues, or just portions relevant to the crossover. Collects X-Factor (1986) #108-109, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #319-321, X-Men (1991) #38-41, Cable (1993) #20, and X-Men Age of Apocalypse Ashcan Edition.

#20: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Age of Apocalypse for further collection options

(Here Cable becomes X-Man (1995) #1-4 for four months as part of the Age of Apocalypse crossover, which does not interrupt the numbering of this series. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Age of Apocalypse. X-Man continued as a regular series after the Age of Apocalypse event ended – see Guide to X-Man, Nate Grey for collection information.)

Click to expand a list of X-Force appearances and guest appearances from issues #1-20

Prior to #21: X-Men: Prime (1995), Cable (1993) #46 (flashback), Uncanny X-Men (1963) #322 (implied)[/wpex]

#21-28: Cable & X-Force Classic, Vol. 1 (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785184324 / digital)
Collects X-Force (1991) #44-48 and Cable (1993) #21-28. X-Force issue #48 crosses over to Uncanny X-Men (1963) #323, though that issue is not collected here. Read order is Cable (1993) #21, X-Force (1991) #44, Cable (1993) #22, X-Force (1991) #45-48 (Cable doesn’t appear in #48), Cable (1993) #23-28

After X-Force #44 (and prior to Cable #22): a brief flashback in X-Force (1991) #91

#29-31: X-Man: The Man Who Fell to Earth (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785159810 / digital)
Effectively X-Man Classic, Vol. 1. Also includes X-Man #5-14 (#1-4 were part of Age of Apocalypse) and Excalibur (1988) #95. Cable’s reading order in this collection is Cable (1993) #29, X-Man (1995) #13, Cable (1993) #30, X-Man (1995) #14, Cable (1993) #31

#29-31 & X-Force/Cable Annual 4/1995: Cable & X-Force: Onslaught Rising [AKA Classic, Vol. 2] (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909499 / digital)
The Annual is the first story in this sequence, directly between #28-29. Collects X-Force (1991) #49-56, Cable (1993) #29-31, X-Man (1995) #14, and X-Force/Cable Annual 4/1995. Material from Annual 1995 is also in X-Men: Domino.

The Annual follows issue #28 and is followed by X-Force (1991) #50-51, Cable #29, X-Man #13, Cable #30, X-Man #14, Cable #31, and then a flashback X-Force (1991) #54.

#32-36: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Onslaught. You can either buy these issues in a single Onslaught Omnibus, or spread across a series of Onslaught Epic Collections. Note that issue #34 continues to directly to the Hulk (1968) #444 guest appearance below.

After #32: X-Force (1991) #55, Storm (1996) #1-4, Youngblood/X-Force and X-Force/Youngblood (not in continuity)

After #34 (and part of Onslaught): Incredible Hulk (1968) #444, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #336, X-Force (1991) #58

After #35: Onslaught: Marvel Universe (1996)

After #36: Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1996 /5, X-Men Annual 1996, Wolverine (1988) #0.5 & 96 (2nd story)

#32-39 & X-Force/Cable Annual 5/1996: Cable & X-Force: Onslaught! [AKA Classic, Vol. 3] (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302916190 / digital)
Collects Cable (1993) #32-39, X-Force (1991) #57-61, Incredible Hulk (1968) #444, X-Man (1995) #18-19, and X-Force/Cable Annual 5/1996. The annual follows Cable #36 and bookends Cable’s appearances in X-Force (1991) #59-61

After Annual 1996: X-Man (1995) #25

#40-44 & Cable/X-Force Annual 1997: Not collected. Annual 1997 follows issue #44. Issue #-1 was released after #44, but it does not fall there in continuity order – it is listed above in Early Cable and collected below in Hellfire Hunt

After #42: Captain America (1996) #6 (may not be a canonical appearance, since Captain America was in the Heroes Reborn universe at the time).

After #44 & Annual 1997: X-Force (1991) #63-64 & 67 and Incredible Hulk (1968) #455

#45-47: X-Men Milestones: Operation Zero Tolerance (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302923969
/ digital)
Collects Generation X (1994) #27, X-Men (1991) #65-70, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #346, Wolverine (1988) #115-118, Cable (1993) #45-47.

After #47: X-Man (1995) #30, X-Force (1991) #69, X-Force (1991) #70 (all collected with Zero Tolerance, above), Cable (1993) #49-54

#-1 & 48-58, & Cable/Machine Man Annual 1998: The Hellfire Hunt (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302907853 / digital)
Collects Cable (1993) #-1 & 48-58; Cable & Machine Man Annual 1998; Machine Man & Bastion Annual 1998; and Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory (1999) OGN. The two annuals follow issue #54 in sequence. Issue #58 is also collected in Deathlok: Rage Against Machine (2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785192916 / digital)

After #54: X-Force (1991) #75, X-Men (1991) #77, then Machine Man annuals

 After #58: Deadpool (1997) #22

#59-70 & Annual 1999: The Nemesis Contract (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909482 / digital)
Also collects X-Men (1995) #46-47, a crossover from Cable #63. A panel from #60 is used as a flashback in Vengeance (2011) #4. Issues #58-62 are also collected in Deathlok: Rage Against Machine (2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785192916 / digital)

After #63 and X-Man #47: Wolverine (1988) #139

Cable (1993) #75

#71-72: Not collected, except in omnibus, above.

After #70 (and before Annual 1999): X-Men Unlimited (1993) #23, Contest Of Champions II (1999) #3

After #71: Astonishing X-Men (1999) #1-3, Uncanny X-Men #375

X-Men: The Shattering (2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785137337 / digital)
Though this doesn’t include a Cable issue, it collects his next four appearances after #71 and sets up his participation in the next storyline. Collects Uncanny X-Men #372-375, X-Men #92-95, Astonishing X-Men #1-3, and X-Men 1999 Yearbook.

#73-76: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 1: The Twelve (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785122630 / digital)
Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #376-377, Cable #73-76, X-Men (1995) #96-97, and Wolverine (1988) #145-147 (I’ve verified this personally in my copy; other websites have it wrong!)

After #72-75: X-Men (1991) #96, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #377

After #76: X-Men (1991) #97, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #378

#77: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 2: Ages Of Apocalypse (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785122647 / digital)
Collects X-51 (1999) #8, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #378 & Annual 1999, Cable (1993) #77, Wolverine (1988) #148, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #26, X-Men (1991) #98, and X-Men: The Search for Cyclops (2000) #1-4. Cable appears in all of Search for Cyclops, but it falls almost a year later in continuity – see below.

After #77: X-Men (1991) #98

#78: X-Men: Powerless (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785146773 / digital)
Collects an indirect crossover storyline in Uncanny X-Men #379-380, Cable #78, X-Force #101, Wolverine #149, and X-Men #99.

During #78: Uncanny X-Men (1963) #379

After #78: implied in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #380

Issue #79 marked the start of the Revolution storyline that rebooted the arcs of all X-Books, coincident with X-Men Vol. 2 #100.

#79-96: Cable: Revolution (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302912178 / digital)
Cable appears in X-Men: Search For Cyclops (2000) #1-4 between #88-89.

#87: X-Men: Dream’s End (2004 paperback, ISBN 978-0785115519 / digital)
Collects the crossover of Uncanny X-Men #388-390, Cable #87, Bishop #16 and X-Men #108-110, in which Cable acts as Senator Kelly’s bodyguard.

Cable (1993) #102

X-Men: Search For Cyclops (2000) #1-4: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 2: Ages Of Apocalypse (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785122647 / digital)
Full contents listed above

During #84: Cable joins the main X-Men teams, making for a dense run of appearances in X-Men Unlimited (1993) #27, Black Sun: X-Men (2000) #4, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #381-383, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #28, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #384, X-Men (1991) #104, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #385, X-Men Forever (2001) #1

After #84:  X-Men (1991) #105, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #386-387

After #86: Cable begins the Dream’s End crossover in Uncanny X-Men #388. Cable’s reading order in Dream’s End is Uncanny X-Men (1963) #388, Cable (1993) #87, X-Men(1991) #108

After #88 and before Search For Cyclops: Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 2000

After #95: Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom (2001) #3-6

For the final 11 issues of this run, writer David Tischman and polarizing artist Igor Kordey shifted the focus of the series to a guerrilla-warfare, anti-terrorist plotline. These issues are collected in full along with the subsequent Soldier X series in a single Soldier X hardcover (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302913984 / digital).

#97-100: Volume 1: Shining Path (2002 paperback, ISBN 978-0785109099 / digital)

After #100: Domino (2003) #2, Deadpool (1997) #61 

#101-107: Volume 2: End (ISBN 0-7851-0963-3) (2002 paperback, ISBN 978-0785109631 / digital)

After #105: Brotherhood (2001) #8

Soldier X (2002) #1-12 (Sep 2002 – Aug 2003)

Both Deadpool (Agent X) & Cable (Soldier X) were relaunched to fall more in line (and letter X) with the main New X-Men series. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-12: Soldier X (2018 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302913984 / digital)
Also collects Cable (1993) #97-107

After Soldier X: Weapon X (2002) #6-13, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #425 (and implied in 426)

Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1-50, X-Force (2004) #1-6, and X-Men (1991) #188-200 (Mar 2004 – Feb 2008)

Begins in May 2004, just prior to X-Men Reloaded – concurrent with Uncanny X-Men #441 and X-Men #154 (the end of Grant Morrison’s run). House of M intersects the series at issue #17.

Cable was the headliner of this series when it debuted in 2004 – again, from the pen of Fabian Nicieza, who writes the entire series (penciled mostly by Patrick Zircher).

However, in reprints Deadpool is pulling top billing – after almost two decades in the Marvel Universe, he’s one of their hottest (and most humorous) properties. Thanks to that, Marvel collected this entire series into and omnibus and three trade paperback ultimate collection editions. [Marvel Unlimited: Cable & Deadpool, X-Force, X-Men]

in a single omnibus oversize hardcover…

#1-50: Deadpool & Cable Omnibus
(2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785192763 / 2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302949921 / digital)
Includes Deadpool / Great Lakes Initiative: Summer Fun Spectacular and and material from Deadpool (2012) #27.

as recollected in Epic Collection…

Modern Era Epic Collection Volume 1: Ballistic Bromance (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302960902 / digital TBA)
Collects issues #1-18 – the same as the prior Ultimate collection.

in a trio of Ultimate Collection paperbacks…

Cable and Deadpool (2004) #1

#1-18: Ultimate Collection Book 1 (ISBN 0785143130) (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785143130 / digital)

#19-35: Ultimate Collection Book 2 (ISBN 0785148213) (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785148210/ digital)

#36-50: Ultimate Collection Book 3 (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785149200 / digital)
Also collects Deadpool / Great Lakes Initiative: Summer Fun Spectacular.

as originally collected…

#1-6: Volume 1: If Looks Could Kill (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785113744 / digital)

#7-12: Volume 2: The Burnt Offering (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785115717 / digital)

#13-18: Volume 3: The Human Race (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785117636 / digital)

X-Force & Cable Volume 1: The Legend Returns (2005 paperback, ISBN 978-0785114291 / digital)
Collects X-Force (2004) #1-6. Though he is not credited in the title, this effectively a Cable title – as reflected in the trade collection title. Issue #1 occurs between C&D #12-13, and the rest of the series occurs during #15 (in which Cable does not appear).

#19-24: Volume 4: Bosom Buddies (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-0785118695 / digital)

After #19: Decimation: House of M – The Day After (2006)

#25-29: Volume 5: Living Legends (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-0785120414 / digital)

Civil War: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War. Nathan appears in Civil War (2006) #2-4 and several tie-ins (listed in guest appearances, below).

After #27: Thunderbolts (1997) #100 (flashback)

After #29: Civil War (2006) #2, New X-Men (2004) #29 (implied)

#30-35: Volume 6: Paved With Good Intentions (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785122333 / digital)

After #30: Daily Bugle Civil War Special (2006) # /9 (flashback)

During #31: Civil War (2006) #3 (7 – 16:2), Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #534 (flashback), Civil War (2006) #3 (16:3 – 22), Civil War (2006) #4

After #35: Thunderbolts (1997) #107 (implied in #108)

After #35 (and its subsequent guest appearances), Cable joins Rogue’s X-Men team in X-Men (1991) #190 and appears through #200 and does not return to his own title until #40-42, after which he does not appear again (though he is implied in #50). See Guide to New X-Men.

The correct reading order for this period is X-Men (1991) #190-193, Annual 3, 194-198, C&D #40, X-Men #199, C&D #41, and C&D #42 simultaneous to X-Men #200. Nathan does not appear in X-Factor (2006) #23, despite it being listed in some reading guides.

#36-42: Volume 7: Separation Anxiety (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785125235 / digital)
Nathan only appears in issues #40-42. Issues #43-44 also collected in Wolverine vs Deadpool with several other fights between the two characters. This is the last of Nathan’s appearances in this title – he next appears in Messiah Complex in the next section beginning with X-Men (1991) #205.

#43-50: Deadpool vs. the Marvel Universe (AKA Vol. 8) (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785125242 / digital)
Nathan does not appear in these issues, which is why the collection doesn’t have his name in the title.

Messiah Complex, Cable (2008) #1-25, King-Sized Cable, X-Force/Cable: Messiah War (2009) #1,
Deadpool & Cable (2010) #26, & Second Coming (Mar 2008 – Apr 2010)

Begins May 2008, on the heels of the Messiah Complex crossover and concurrent with the launch of X-Force (Vol. 3) and the newly rechristened X-Men Legacy #208, as well as Uncanny X-Men #496. In the Marvel Universe, it begins a month prior to Secret Invasion.

The entire run of Cable deals with his ushering his young charge, Hope, through her life (and the timestream), beginning with Messiah Complex and leading up the 2010 X-Men event Second Coming. The run bears a significant sci-fi, dystopian vibe, as Nathan can only travel forward in time. Much of the 25-issue run bears stunning covers that merge comics bombast with photo-realistic details – with some interior art to match!

Note that issue #25 is sometimes credited as “Cable & Deadpool” or “Deadpool & Cable,” but in the indicia it was officially still “Cable (2008)” and was counted as a Cable issue for later Legacy numbering. By contrast, issue #26 was released a year later in February 2011 after Second Coming under a separate title.

After the conclusion of Second Coming, Nathan’s whereabouts are unknown. [Marvel Unlimited: Cable, King-Sized, Deadpool & Cable #25-26, Messiah War One-Shot, X-Force]

as recollected in 2018…Cable (2008) #6

#1-12: The Last Hope, Vol. 1 (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302912161 / digital)
Collects Cable (2008) #1-12, King-Size Cable (2008) #1, X-Men: The Times & Life Of Lucas Bishop #1-3, and X-Men: Future History – The Messiah War Sourcebook

#13-24 & #25: The Last Hope, Vol. 2 (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302913946 / digital)
Collects X-Force/Cable: Messiah War #1, Cable (2008) #13-24, X-Force (2008) #14-16, X-Men: Hope (2010) #1, and Deadpool & Cable #25.

Issue #26 is primarily a Deadpool issue and is not collected with these volumes.

as originally collected…

X-Men: Messiah Complex (2008 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785128991 / 2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785123200 / digital / 2020 “Milestones” paperback / digital)
Nathan appears throughout this event as an important player, and it is a large part of the launch of his series. Collects X-Men: Messiah Complex One-Shot (2007), Uncanny X-Men (1963) #492-494, New X-Men (2004) #44-46, X-Men (2004) #205-207, X-Factor (2005) #25-27. The

Deadpool & Cable (2011) #25: Deadpool: All in the Family (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785157830 / digital)
Though released later, this acts as a sort of epilogue to Cable & Deadpool and shows some behind-the-scenes moments from Messiah Complex. However, it does contain some minor spoilers for the run, since Deadpool’s commentary is unavoidable. Collects Cable (2008) #25, Deadpool & Cable (2008) #26, Deadpool Family #1.

There are flashbacks to this period in the Messiah War one-shot, below.

#1-5: Vol. 1: Messiah War (2008 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785132264 / 2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785129721 / digital)

King-Sized (2008) #1 & #6-10: Vol. 2: Waiting For The End of the World (2009 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785133919 / 2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785129738 / digital)
King-Sized directly follows issue #5.

#11-15: X-Force/Cable: Messiah War (2009 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785131571 / 2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785131731 / digital / 2020 “Milestones” paperback, ISBN 978-1302922849 / digital).
Collects X-Force (2008) #14-16, X-Men: The Lives and Times of Lucas Bishop (2009) #1-3, Cable (2008) #11-15, X-Force/Cable: Messiah War Prologue (2009) #1, and material from X-Men: Future History – The Messiah War Sourcebook (2009) #1. See Guide X-Force for additional collection options.

After #12: X-Men: Second Coming (2010) #2 (flashback), Psylocke (2010) #1 (2nd story), Dark X-Men (2010) #1 (2nd story), X-Men: Legacy (2008) #230 (2nd story) X-Force (2008) #22 (2nd story) – all later collected as X-Men: Hope (2010) #1.

Cable reunited with X-Force in X-Force (2008) #27

#16-21: Vol. 3: Stranded (2010 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785142416 / 2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785141679 / digital)

#21-24 & 25: Vol. 4: Homecoming (2010 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785145097 / 2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785141686 / digital)
Also collects X-Men: Hope.

During #21: X-Force Vol. 3 (2008) #28 (flashback) and X-Force Vol. 3 (2008) #22 (2nd story)

After #23: Avengers (2010) #2 (need to check – I don’t think Nathan should have been free to appear at this point)

X-Men: Second Coming (2010 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785146780 / 2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785157052 / digital / 2020 “Milestones” paperback, ISBN 978-1302923976 / digital)
A direct crossover between all of the core X-titles. Wolverine’s team and their secret operation is a major topic! Collects X-Men: Second Coming (2010) #1-2, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #523-525; New Mutants (2009) #12-14, X-Men Legacy (2008) #235-237, X-Force (2008) #26-28, and material from Second Coming: Prepare (2010) #1.

You may also wish to purchase X-Men: Second Coming Revelations (2010 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785150077 / 2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785157069 / digital), which contains companion stories to Second Coming. Nathan does not appear.

Deadpool & Cable (2011) #26: Deadpool: All in the Family (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785157830 / digital)
An epilogue to Cable’s series as well as Second Coming, primarily featuring Deadpool. Collects Cable (2008) #25, Deadpool & Cable (2008) #26, Deadpool Family #1. Also collected in the Deadpool Classic line – see Guide to Deadpool.

In this period: A single panel flashback in X-Men: Prelude To Schism (2011) #1 likely occurs during Messiah Complex; a cameo image in Avengers (2010) #2 is from an unspecified point in time and a future version Nathan that appears in Uncanny X-Force (2010) #28-29 is likely made impossible due to the actions in that story.

Avengers: X-Sanction (2012) #1-4 (Dec 2011 – Mar 2012)

Cable returns … to kill the Avengers? It’s a four-issue knock down, drag out bash with some major consequences for Cable and the Marvel Universe as a whole. This series comes after Schism and acts as a lead-up to Avengers vs. X-Men. Though it was teased as a prologue to Avengers vs. X-Men, it only vaguely relates to the upcoming event. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-4: Avengers: X-Sanction (2012 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785158622 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785158639 / digital)

Marvel Now:
Cable and X-Force (2012) #1-19 (Dec 2012 – Jan 2014)

Cable and X-Force (2012) #16

A relaunched X-Force are lead by Nathan as they commit crimes to try to avoid a future apocalypse. Written by Dennis Hopeless with regular art from Salvador Larroca, and starring Nathan, Domino, Colossus, Forge, Dr. Nemesis, and Boomer.

This title is surprisingly effective in maintaining the classic X-Force vibe of humor merged with wanton violence. [Marvel Unlimited]

First: Marvel Now! Point One (2012) #1, AVX: Consequences (2012) #5, Deadpool vs. Thanos (2015) #1, A+X (2012) #1

#1-5: Volume 1: Wanted (ISBN 0785166904) (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166900 / digital)
Also collects the team’s story from Marvel Now! Point One (2012) #1

#6-9: Volume 2: Dead or Alive (ISBN 0785166912) (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166917 / digital)

#10-14: Volume 3: This Won’t End Well (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785188827 / digital)

#15-19: Volume 3: Vendettas (ISBN 0785189467) (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189466 / digital)
Also includes Uncanny X-Force (2013) #16-17, which is a crossover with Cable and X-Force (2012) #18-19 and. Issues #18-19 are also collected with Uncanny X-Force – see Guide to X-Force.

After #17: Uncanny Avengers (2012) #15 & 19-20

After #19 (or maybe after UXF #17): Deadpool (2013) #20 & 27

Marvel Now:
X-Force (2014) #1-15 (Feb 2014 – Feb 2015)

A new X-Force title penned by Si Spurrier merges some of the casts of the two prior X-Force books, starring Nathan, Psylocke, Fantomex, and a back-from-obscurity Marrow! Nathan is the lead of this team and star of the title. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-15: See Guide to X-Force

After X-Force#4: Nightcrawler (2014) #7

After #15: Deadpool (2013) #45, Guardians Team-Up (2015) #10, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #600, Deadpool (2013) #45 (multiple stories)

Deadpool & Cable: Split Second Infinite Comic (2016) #1-6
by Fabian Nicieza & Reilly Brown (Oct 2015 – Jan 2016)

It’s unclear to me if this team-up occurs just prior to Secret Wars or just after; Deadpool is still working with Agent Preston at SHIELD. [Marvel Unlimited: Infinite Comic, Regular Comic]

#1-6: Deadpool & Cable: Split Second (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785195146 / digital)

All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Cable in Uncanny Avengers (2015B) #2-23 (Nov 2015 – May 2017)

In this era of Marvel, Cable joins the Uncanny Avengers team that merged X-Men, Avengers, and Inhumans characters beginning with issue #2. He does not appear in #16. [Marvel Unlimited]

Uncanny Avengers (2015B) #2-5, 7-11: See Guide to Uncanny Avengers

Standoff: See Guide Marvel Universe Events – Standoff & Civil War II. Nathan appears in All-New, All-Different Avengers (2016) #7-8, Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega (2016) One-Shot, Captain America: Sam Wilson (2015) #8

Civil War II: See Guide Marvel Universe Events – Standoff & Civil War II. Nathan appeares in Civil War II (2016) #1

Uncanny Avengers (2015B) #12-14, 16-19, & 23: See Guide to Uncanny Avengers

In this period, Nathan appears in Deadpool (2016) #14 and Old Man Logan (2016) #19. Also, he makes a retcon appearance in Deadpool: Bad Blood OGN.

In this period, Nathan also appears in Ultimates Vol 3 5, International Iron Man Vol 1 4, Uncanny X-Men Vol 4 12, Uncanny Avengers Vol 3 21, Captain America: Steve Rogers Vol 1 15, Uncanny Avengers Vol 3 22

ResurrXion & Marvel Legacy:
Cable (2017) #1-5 & 150-159 (May 2017 – Jul 2018)

Ed Brisson reboots Nathan in the X-Men ResurrXion line as a dutiful time-cop trying to right past and future wrongs. A third arc by Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler digging into Nathan’s own past and his relationship with Hope is a must-read! [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-5: Vol. 1: Conquest (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302904821 / digital)

#150-154: Vol. 2: The Newer Mutants (2018 paperback, 978-1302904838 / digital)

#155-159: Vol. 3: Past Fears (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302911966 / digital)

In this period, sometime after this first arc Nathan also appears in Deadpool (2016) #33 & 36, X-Men: Blue (2017) #8, Spider-Man (2016) #20-21, Despicable Deadpool (2017) #287-290, X-Men: Gold (2017) #14, Guardians of the Galaxy (2018) #150, Rogue & Gambit (2018) #4, X-Men: Black (2018) Juggernaut, Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey (2018) #2, Dead Man Logan (2018) #4, Avengers No Road Home (2019) #10, Amazing Spider-Man (2018) 25, Free Comic Book Day 2020 (X-Men/Dark Ages) 

Also near or after the end of this title, Nathan appears in Defenders (2017) #10, Spider-Man (2016) #238, Domino (2018) 1-2, Invincible Iron Man (2016) #600, X-Men Gold (2017) #30, Multiple Man (2018) #4, Domino (2018) Annual 1, Season’s Beating (2018) #1

Also, he makes flashback appearances in History of the Marvel Universe (2019) #4-5

Cable/Deadpool Annual (2018) #1 (Aug 2018)

To the best of my knowledge, this David Walker annual was never collected with either Cable or Deadpool series. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1: Not collected (digital)

Extermination (2018) #1-5 by Ed Brisson (Oct 2018 – Feb 2019)

Ed Brisson penned this series to put an end to the “All New, All Different” era of the teen X-Men team from the past, but it also focused on other time-traveling X-characters. That included Cable, which pulled the original 1991 line-up back into action. [Marvel Unlimited]

Extermination [AKA X-Men Blue Vol. 6] (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302913571 / digital)
Collects Extermination (2018) #1-5 and Extermination stinger pages that lead up to this series.

X-Men: The Exterminated (2018) #1 (Dec 2018)

An epilogue to the mini-series that allows Cable series writers Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler to put an end-cap on their run. He also appears in and Uncanny X-Men Annual and a holiday short story. All three issues have been collected together in a single trade paperback. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1: X-Men: Summers and Winter (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302919429 / digital)
Collects X-Men: The Exterminated (2018) #1, Uncanny X-Men (2018) Annual 1, and Merry X-Men Holiday Special (2018) #1. Nathan appears in all three issues.

After these issues, Nathan appears in Uncanny X-Men (2018) #11.

X-Force (2018) #1-10 by Ed Brisson (Dec 2018 – July 2019)

A new volume penned by Ed Brisson spinning out of the events of Extermination, this features the classic 1991 line-up headlined by Domino rather than a Cable, Wolverine, or Psylocke-driven squad. However, Cable was a presence in every issue of this story – as was Rachel Summers. See Guide to X-Force for collection information. [Marvel Unlimited]

Nathan makes non-continuity appearances in Major X (2019) #1-3.

The Age of Krakoa – Dawn of X:
X-Men (2019) #1-2 & Fallen Angels (2019) #1-5

Teen Cable forms an uneasy truce with a team of Krakoans under the service of Mister Sinister in this brief, uneven series. It’s not required reading for Cable fans. [Marvel Unlimited: X-Men, Fallen Angels]

All issues of this series are also collected in the Dawn of X and Reign of X anthology trades – see Guide to X-Men – The Age of Krakoa for collection information.

X-Men (2019) #1-2: See X-Men – The Age of Krakoa for collection information.

Fallen Angels (2019) #2-6: See Guide to Mister Sinister for collection information.

In this period, Nathan also appears in Marvel Comics (2019) #1000, X-Force (2019) #2, Savage Avengers (2019) #0, New Mutants (2019) #7, and X-Men (2019) #7. He also makes an flashback appearance in History of the Marvel Universe (2019) #6

The Age of Krakoa:
Cable (2020) #1-12 by Gerry Duggan & Phil Noto & S.W.O.R.D. (2021) #1-4

This is more than just a Cable series. Really, it could’ve been titled “The Summers Clan,” as it costars Rachel, heavily features Cyclops and Jean, and includes appearances from auntie Emma, the Stepford Cuckoos, and Deadpool!

The 12 issues of this series form a single, complete, engaging story that connects to Nathan’s history as a character (which means it connects to the future for Teen Cable). It transforms a character who at first came off as an awkward reboot into someone who is dynamic and sympathetic. [Marvel Unlimited]Teen Cable in Cable (2020) #1

All issues of this series are also collected in the Dawn of X and Reign of X anthology trades – see Guide to X-Men – The Age of Krakoa for collection information.

in oversize hardcover…

#1-4 & 7-12: by Duggan & Noto (2022 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302933968 / digital)

#5-6: X of Swords (2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302927172 / 2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302929978/ digital)
Collects X of Swords (2020) Creation, Stasis, & Destruction, X-Men (2019) #12-15, Excalibur (2019) #(12?)13-15, Marauders (2019) #13-15, X-Force (2020) #13-14, New Mutants (2019) #13, Wolverine (2020) #6-7, Cable (2020) #5-6, Hellions (2020) #5-6, X-Factor (2020) #4

as originally collected in paperback…

#1-4: by Gerry Duggan, Vol. 1 (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921781 / digital)

#5-6: X of Swords (2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302927172 / 2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302929978/ digital)
Nathan appears throughout this event. Collects X of Swords (2020) Creation, Stasis, & Destruction, X-Men (2019) #12-15, Excalibur (2019) #(12?)13-15, Marauders (2019) #13-15, X-Force (2020) #13-14, New Mutants (2019) #13, Wolverine (2020) #6-7, Cable (2020) #5-6, Hellions (2020) #5-6, X-Factor (2020) #4

King in Black: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – King in Black. Nathan appears only in issue #1 of the main event, but the event factors heavily into the opening issues of S.W.O.R.D.

S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #1-4: See Guide to X-Men by Jonathan Hickman. Teen Cable appears in all four of these issues between the end of X of Swords and the end of his series. Since the events in the final issues of his series occur quickly, it’s best to read these all here.

#7-12: by Gerry Duggan, Vol. 2 (2021 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921798 / digital)

In this period, prior to X of Swords Nathan also appears in X-Men (2019) #10, Marauders (2019) #12, X-Force (2019) #12, X-Men: Marvels Snapshots (2020) #1. After X of Swords and during/after King in Black, he appears in X-Men (2019) #16, New Mutants (2019) #15

In this period, Nathan also makes retcon appearances in X-Men Legends (2021) #1 & 3-4 and Deadpool Nerdy 30 (2021) #1

The Age of Krakoa:
Cable Reloaded (2021) #1, The Last Annihilation (2021), & S.W.O.R.D. (2021) by Al Ewing (2021)

This Reloaded one-shot comes in the midst of Al Ewing’s Last Annihilation intergalactic crossover between S.W.O.R.D. and Guardians of the Galaxy (including Wiccan & Hulkling), but you don’t need to be in the middle of the event to appreciate the issue. It reintroduces an older Cable to our present-day continuity as well as functions as a brief X-Force reunion. After Reloaded, Nathan joins the cast of S.W.O.R.D. for the remainder of the volume. [Marvel Unlimited: Reloaded, S.W.O.R.D.] [Comixology: Reloaded, S.W.O.R.D.]

All issues of this series are also collected in the Dawn of X and Reign of X anthology trades – see X-Men by Jonathan Hickman for collection information.

Reloaded #1: The Last Annihilation (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302933111 / digital)
Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #16-18, Cable Reloaded (2021) #1, The Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulking (2021) #1, The Last Annihilation: Wakanda (2021) #1, and S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7.

Reloaded #1: S.W.O.R.D. by Al Ewing, Vol. 2 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302931469 / digital)
Collects Cable Reloaded (2021) #1 and S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7-11. Nathan does not appear in #7-8.

In this period, he appears in Deadpool: Black, White & Blood (2021) #2 and X-Men (2021) #4.

He also appears in retcon stories in X-Force: Killshot Anniversary Special (2021) #1 and Deadpool: Bad Blood 2 (2022) #1-2. He makes an out-of-continuity appearance inin Hulk: Grand Design (2022)  Vol 2 1

The Age of Krakoa – Destiny of X:
X-Men Red (2022) #1-10 by Al Ewing

Following the conclusion of S.W.O.R.D., Nathan continues with some of that cast of that book (including Storm and Magneto) into X-Men Red – which is set primarily on Mars. [Marvel Unlimited] [Comixology]

#1-5: by Al Ewing, Vol. 1 (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302932831 / digital)
Nathan does not appear in #4

#5-6 & A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022): See Guide to Marvel Universe Events: A.X.E. – Judgment Day. Nathan appears in Judgment Day #1-3, X-Men Red (2022) #5-6, and Immortal X-Men (2022) #5

#6-10: by Al Ewing, Vol. 2 (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302947521 / digital)
Nathan appears through issue #10 and then does not continue in this series. He is next in Children of the Vault (2023) #1-4 – see Guide to X-Men – Age of Krakoa (2019 – 2024) for collection information.

Also in this period, he appears in Spider-Man 2099: Exodus (2022) #3, 5, & Omega, New Mutants (2019) #28, X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic (2021) #61, Legion of X (2022) #6, Immortal X-Men (2022) #10

Cable (2024) #1-4 by Fabian Nicieza & Scot Eaton (Jan 2024 – May 2024)

Yes, you read that right: Fabian Nicieza, the writer who defined so much of Cable’s early character is back to write him in 2024! And, it is not a retcon series – it has to do with present-day continuity (including Orchis) and stars both young and old Cable! [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-4: United We Fall (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302957452 / digital)

After this series, Nathan is next in X-Men: Forever (2024) #3 and X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse (2024) #1-4 – see Guide to X-Men – Age of Krakoa (2019 – 2024) for collection information.

Timeslide (2024) #1 by Steve Foxe (Dec 2024)

This special one-shot issued re-teamed Cable and Bishop for a follow-up on Children of the Vault (2023) and also served as a teaser for big Marvel stories upcoming in 2025. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1: Collection TBA


Cable: Love and Chrome (2025) #1-5 (Jan – May 2024)

[Marvel Unlimited]

#1-5: (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302961633 / digital TBA)

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