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 November 2018 with titles scheduled for release through July 2019.
Looking for Deadpool? You’re not crazy – he and Cable used to share a page! See The Definitive Deadpool Collecting Guide and Reading Order.
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 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 more 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 lot of guns, and a set of shoulder pads that tripled the apparent width of his frame.
(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 be one of Marvel’s biggest phenomenons, shedding all but three cast members in the process and relaunching as mega-seller X-Force.
However, something even more interesting was going on with Cable thanks to the plot in another X-book – X-Factor. In the wake of X-Tinction Agenda, X-Factor saw Cyclops’s son with Mr. Sinister’s Jean Grey clone Madelyne Pryor being kidnapped to the moon and infected with a techno-organic virus by former Sinister mentor Apocalypse before being whisked off to the future by Sister Askani.
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 time-traveler with a missing eye and a metallic arm with hints of telekinesis landed in the present? It didn’t matter, because fan’s obsessions with the idea that Cable could be Cyclops’s son quickly took over and made the character more in-demand than he was before!
That sort of long-term, interconnected, soap opera plotting is what 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’s 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 major blockbusters in the past few decades – including an co-headling with Deadpool, driving both Messiah Complex and Second Coming, and in 2015 anchoring the Avengers “Unity Squad” along with big-league characters like Captain America, Rogue, Human Torch, and Quicksilver – oh, plus his old buddy, Deadpool.
That Deadpool relationship is no small part of Cable’s 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 over 25 years after his debut.
Note that this guide refers to Cable and “Nathan” interchangeably throughout when referring to the character and not the title.
This guide is sponsored via Patreon by No Gods or Kings, an episodic novel by Thomas Judge.
- Early Cable
- New Mutants, X-Force Vol. 1, and Cable: Blood & Metal (1990 – 1993)
- Cable and X-Force (1993 – 2002)
- Solider X (2002 – 2003)
- Cable & Deadpool, X-Force Vol. 2, and X-Men, Vol. 2 (2004 – 2007)
- Messiah Complex, Cable, and Second Coming (2008 – 2010)
- X-Sanction (2012)
- Marvel Now: Cable & X-Force and X-Force Vol. 4 (2012 – 2015)
- All-New, All-Different Marvel: Uncanny Avengers (2015 – 2017)
- ResurreXion & Marvel Legacy
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Early Cable
Cable was introduced in the closing pages of New Mutants #86, with the following thirteen issues laying 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. To read the story of Cable in order, follow this sequence.
X-Men: The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (2014 printing)
This book could easily be called “Cable Beginnings,” as it collects all of the following in a single, handy paperback – Books of Askani, X-Men: Phoenix #1-3, Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4, Marvel Valentine Special (1997), Askani’son #1-4. That gives you a relatively complete sequence of pre-adult Nathan which had previously been collected as detailed below.
Books of Askani
A one-shot comic defining the cast of Askani, the future clan who took Nathan Christopher Summers from the present. Also in Adventures of, above.
X-Men: Phoenix #1-3
An mini-series explaining the future-flung Rachel Summers’ participation in the clan Askani; it doesn’t explicitly feature Nathan but is a part of his story. Only ever collected in Adventures of, above.
Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4
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 Adventures of, above, and reprinted in 2018 in both X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix (full contents below) and X-Men: Cyclops & Phoenix – Past & Future along with Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix and material from Marvel Valentine Special.
During AoCP #2:Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #85 (flashback)
After AoCP #2: Marvel Valentine Special (1997) (5th story flashback)
Askani’son #1-4
The continuing story Nathan’s adolescence in the future after Cyclops and Phoenix depart. Also in Adventures of, above.
After Askani-son, flashbacks in Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #444, Cable (1993) #25, Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #0.5 (very brief), X-Force Vol. 2 (2004) #2, Cable (1993) #5 (flashback), Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #0.5 (very brief, again), X-Force (1991) #1, Cable (1993) #1, Cable (1993) #43. Various brief scenes in Deadpool & Cable: Split Second #1-3 occur in this period.
Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory (ISBN 0785100032)
This one-shot story takes place prior to Nathan’s first adult appearance in New Mutants. It was recollected in Wolverine Epic Collection Volume 12: Shadow of Apocalypse.
Cable (1993) #-1: Not collected. This occurs during the events of Guts and Glory.
After Cable (1993) #-1, flashbacks in X-Force Vol. 2 (2004) #1, Cable (1993) #87, X-Force (1991) #8, Cable (1993) #33, Cable (1993) #72
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 established that prior to meeting the New Mutants, Nathan had established his own present-day team – Wild Pack – which included Domino.
Cable: Blood & Metal #1-2: Cable Classic Volume 1 (ISBN 0-7851-3123-X)
The past episodes of these issues occur prior tohiss debut. This collection collects Nathan’s first adult appearance in New Mutants #87, Cable: Blood and Metal (1992) #1-2, and Cable (1993) #1-4. Also collected in X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
New Mutants, X-Force Vol. 1, and Cable: Blood & Metal (1990 – 1993)
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 before graduating to his own title.
X-Force: Cable & the New Mutants Hardcover (ISBN 0785149708)
This is currently the most-effective way to collect New Mutants #86-94 and Annual #5, which includes Cable’s earliest-released appearances. The New Mutants (1983) #87-91 & 93-94 were collected in an old TPB called “Cable and the New Mutants.” Issue #87 is collected on its own in Cable Classic, Vol. 1, above.
New Mutants #86-92: In Cable & The New Mutants, above. See New Mutants for more information.
After New Mutants #92: Several guides (including Marvel’s own Official Index) listAmazing Spider-Man (1963) #336 as a Cable appearance, but he does not show his face in the Spider-Man story!
Days of Future Present: X-Men: Days of Future Past Oversize Hardcover
This is a 1990 annuals crossover between Fantastic Four Annual 23, New Mutants (1983) Annual 6, New Warriors Annual 1, X-Factor (1986) Annual 5, and X-Men (1963) Annual 14. Nathan does not appear in the Fantastic Four annual. The collection includes Uncanny X-Men (1981) #141-142 & Annual 14; New Mutants Annual 6; X-Factor Annual 5; Excalibur (1988) 52 & 66-67; Wolverine: Days Of Future Past 1-3; and material From Fantastic Four Annual 23 and Hulk: Broken Worlds 2. A 1992 TPB (ISBN 978-0871357397) collected just the annuals.
Wolverine: Rahne Of Terra (1991) OGN (ISBN 978-0871358431)
Collected in Wolverine by Hama & Silvestri, Vol. 2 with Wolverine (1988) #38-46 (in which Nathan appears from #41-43). See Wolverine for more information.
New Mutants #93-94: In Cable & The New Mutants, above.
New Mutants #95-97: X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda
Cable is a supporting player in this crossover event; it shows his earliest interactions with the X-Men beyond the New Mutants. Ran through a Uncanny X-Men (1981) #270-272; New Mutants (1983) 95-97; X-Factor (1986) 60-62, plus a prologue (without Nathan) in Uncanny X-Men (1981) #235-238. Available in oversize hardcover.
Uncanny X-Men (1981) #273: See Uncanny X-Men
Nathan appears significantly in this X-Tinction Agenda epilogue issue, butting heads with the assembled classic X-Men for the first time.
Deadpool vs. X-Force (2014) #1-4
This 2014 mini-series is very carefully situated to work just prior to Deadpool’s first appearance in New Mutants #98, as it’s with a New Mutants teams with Rahne or Feral.
New Mutants #98-100: X-Force: A Force to be Reckoned With Hardcover (ISBN 0785149848)
Collects early Liefeld-illustrated Cable appearances in New Mutants #98-100, X-Force #1-4, and Spider-Man #16 (a crossover to X-Force #4). Note that #98 is Deadpool’s debut! See X-Force for other options, including X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
Kings of Pain: New Warriors Classic, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785142630)
This is a 1991 annuals crossover between New Mutants (1983) Annual 7, New Warriors Annual 1, Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 15, and X-Factor (1986) Annual 6. Cable does not appear in the New Warriors annual. Also in New Warriors Omnibus, Vol. 1 and X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
Marvel Team-Up Vol. 3 (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.
Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #41-43: Wolverine by Hama & Silvestri, Vol. 2
Collects Wolverine (1988) #38-46 and Wolverine: Rahne of Terra OGN (in which Cable also appears).See Wolverine for more information.
After Wolverine: Quasar (1989) #28 (flashback), Excalibur (1988) #41
X-Force (1991) #1-4, Spider-Man (1990) #16 & X-Force (1991) #4: Also in A Force to be Reckoned With (above). See X-Force for other options, including X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #90-97: Not collected
X-Force (1991) #5: X-Force: Under the Gun Hardcover (ISBN 0785149856)
Collects #5-15 and elements of Annual #1. See X-Force for other options, including X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
After X-Force #5: X-Force (1991) #91 (flashback), Shadow Riders (1993) #1 (2nd story, flashback), Warheads (1992) #4-5, Captain America (1968) #406-407
X-Force (1991) #6-10, Annual 1 (3rd story), & 11-15: Also in X-Force: Under the Gun. See X-Force for other options, including X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
After #15: Motormouth & Killpower (1992) #6-9, Shadow Riders (1993) #1-4
Cable: Blood And Metal (1992)#1-2: Cable Classic Volume 1 (ISBN 0-7851-3123-X)
The present day elements of this story fit here. This collection collects Cable’s first appearance in New Mutants #87, Cable: Blood and Metal #1-2, and Cable #1-4. Also collected in X-Force Omnibus, Vol. 1.
X-Force #16-18: X-Men: X-Cutioner’s Song
Cable enters the fray in X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #14 and appears throughout this series. Available in oversized hardcover.
After X-Cutioner’s: Cable (1993) #8 (brief flashback)
Cable and X-Force (1993 – 2002)
Begins in May 1993, concurrent to Uncanny X-Men #300, X-Men #19, and X-Force #22.
Fabian Nicieza scripted for 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 X-Force for collections of Cable’s various X-Force appearances listed throughout.
#1-8: Deadpool & X-Force Omnibus (2017 oversize hardcover)
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
#1-4: Cable Classic, Volume 1 (ISBN 0-7851-3123-X)
Collects Cable’s first appearance in New Mutants #87, Cable: Blood and Metal #1-2, and Cable #1-4
After #4: X-Force (1991) #25-26 & Annual 2, Excalibur (1988) #71, X-Force (1991) #27-28
#5-14: Cable Classic, Volume 2 (ISBN 0-7851-3744-0)
#6-8: X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix (2018 oversize hardcover)
Collects X-Men (1991) #26-35, Avengers (1963) #368-369, Avengers West Coast #101, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #307-310, Cable (1993) #6-8, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #3, Uncanny X-Men Annual 18, X-Men: The Wedding Album, What If? (1989) #60, Adventures Of Cyclops And Phoenix #1-4, and material from Marvel Valentine Special
After #5: X-Force (1991) #29-30
After #8: X-Force (1991) #32-33, New Warriors (1990) #46, X-Force (1991) #34
After #11: Uncanny X-Men (1981) #310, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #30 and What If? Vol. 2 (1989) #60 (implied)
After #14: War Machine (1994) #1-3, X-Force (1991) #35-37
#9-20: Cable & X-Force Omnibus (2019 oversize hardcover)
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.
#15-20: Cable Classic, Volume 3 (ISBN 078515972X)
Also collects Wolverine #85 as part of the Phalanx Covenant crossover.
#16: X-Men: Phalanx Covenant Oversized Hardcover (ISBN 0785185496)
Pending solicitation. Collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #306, #311-314 & #316-317; Excalibur (1988) #78-82; X-Men (1991) #36-37; X-Factor (1986) #106; X-Force (1991) #38; Wolverine (1988) #85; & Cable (1993) #16
#16 X-Men: Origin of Generation X (Phalanx Covenant) out-of-print(ISBN 0-7851-0216-7)
The “Generation Next” crossover that launched Generation X; collects X-Factor #106, X-Force #38, Excalibur #82, Uncanny X-Men #316-317, X-Men #36-37, Wolverine #85, Cable #16, & Generation X #1.
After #16: X-Force (1991) #39
After #19: X-Force (1991) #40-41, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #40, X-Force (1991) #43, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #321, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #41
#20: The Complete Age of Apocalypse, Prelude (ISBN 0785155082)
A paperback with incredibly low reproduction quality on newsprint paper. Collects the issues leading up to the classic Age of Apocalypse crossover, including X-Factor #108-109, Uncanny X-Men #319-321, X-Men#38-41, Cable #20 and X-Men Age of Apocalypse Ashcan Edition.
#20: Age of Apocalypse Omnibus Oversized Hardcover
Collects all but two issues of the original Age of Apocalypse Saga! Contains Uncanny X-Men #320-321, X-Men (1991) #40-41, Cable (1993) #20, and all of the original Age of Apocaylpse issues except for X-Men Chronicles #1-2.
#20: See Marvel Universe Events: Age of Apocalypse for further collection options
(Here Cable becomes X-Man #1-4 for four months as part of the Age of Apocalypse crossover, which does not interrupt the numbering. X-Man continued as a regular series after the Age of Apocalypse event ended.)
Prior to #21: X-Men: Prime (1995), Cable (1993) #46 (flashback), Uncanny X-Men (1981) #322 (implied)
#21-28: Cable & X-Force Classic, Vol. 1 (ISBN 0785184325)
Also collects X-Force #44-48. Read order is Cable (1993) #21, X-Force (1991) #44, Cable (1993) #22, X-Force (1991) #45-47 (doesn’t appear in #48), Cable (1993) #23-28
After X-Force #44: X-Force (1991) #91 (brief flashback)
#29-31: X-Man: The Man Who Fell to Earth (ISBN 0785159819)
Effectively X-Man Classic, Vol. 1. Also includes X-Man #5-14 (#1-4 were part of AoA) and Excalibur #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 & Annual 1995: Cable & X-Force: Onslaught Rising
Collects X-Force (1991) #49-56, Cable (1993) #29-31, X-Man #14, and X-Force/Cable Annual ’95
The Annual comes after issue #28 and is followed by X-Force (1991) #50-51 and Cable #29-31 and a crossover to X-Man #14. Then,
After #31: X-Force (1991) #54 (flashback)
#32-36: See 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 #34 continues to directly to the Hulk #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 Vol. 2 (1968) #444, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #336, X-Force (1991) #58
After #35: Onslaught: Marvel Universe (1996)
After #36: Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1996 /5, X-Men Annual 1996, Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #0.5,
& 96 (2nd story),
#32-39 & X-Force/Cable Annual ’96: Cable & X-Force: Onslaught!
Collects Cable (1993) #32-39, X-Force (1991) #57-61, Incredible Hulk (1968) #444, X-Man (1995) #18-19, and X-Force/Cable Annual ’96. 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 Vol. 2 (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 Vol. 2 (1968) #455
#45-47: X-Men: Zero Tolerance Oversized Hardcover (ISBN 0785162402)
Collects Generation X #26-31, Cable #45-47, X-Men #65-70, X-Force #67-70, Uncanny X-Men #346, Wolverine #115-118, and X-Man #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.
After #47: X-Man (1995) #30, X-Force (1991) #69, X-Force (1991) #70 (all collected with Zero Tolerance, above), Cable (1993) #49-54
#48-58: Cable: The Hellfire Hunt
Collects Cable (1993) #-1 & 48-58; Cable & Machine Man Annual 1998; Machine Man & Bastion Annual 1998; and Wolverine/Cable #1
After #54: X-Force (1991) #75, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #77, then Machine Man annuals
Cable/Machine Man Annual 1998 & Machine Man/Bastion Annual 1998: In Hellfire Hunt, above. An epilogue of sorts to Zero Tolerance.
After #58: Deadpool Vol. 3 (1997) #22
#59-70 & Annual 99: Cable: The Nemesis Contract
Also collects X-Men #46-47, a crossover from Cable #63. A panel from #60 is used as a flashback in Vengeance (2011) #4.
After #63 and X-Man #47: Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #139
#71: Not collected
After #70 (and before Annual 1999): X-Men Unlimited (1993) #23, Contest Of Champions II (1999) #3
After #71: Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2 (1999) #1-3, Uncanny X-Men #375
X-Men: The Shattering
Though this doesn’t include a Cable issue, it collects his next four appearances after #72 and sets up his participation in the next volume. Collects Uncanny X-Men #372-375, X-Men #92-95, Astonishing X-Men #1-3, and X-Men 1999 Yearbook.
#72: Not collected
#73-76: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 1: The Twelve (ISBN 078512263X)
Collects Uncanny X-Men #376-377, Cable #73-76, X-Men #96-97, and Wolverine #145-147 (I’ve verified this personally in my copy; other websites have it wrong!)
After #72-75: X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #96, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #377
After #76: X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #97, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #378
#77: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 2: Ages Of Apocalypse (ISBN 0785122648)
Collects X-51 #8, Uncanny X-Men #378 and Annual 1999, Cable #77, Wolverine #148, X-Men Unlimited #26, X-Men #98, and X-Men: The Search for Cyclops #1-4. Cable appears in Search for Cyclops, but it falls almost a year later in continuity – see below.
After #77: X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #98
#78: X-Men: Powerless (ISBN 0785146776)
Collects Uncanny X-Men #379-380, Cable #78, X-Force #101, Wolverine #149, and X-Men #99.
During #78: Uncanny X-Men (1981) #379
After #78: implied in Uncanny X-Men (1981) #380-BTS
#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
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 (1981) #381-383, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #28, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #384, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #104, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #385, X-Men Forever (2001) #1
After #84: X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #105, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #386-387
After #86: Cable begins the Dream’s End crossover in Uncanny X-Men #388.
#87: X-Men: Dream’s End (ISBN 078511551X)
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’s reading order in Dream’s End is Uncanny X-Men (1981) #388, Cable (1993) #87, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #108
After #88: Uncanny X-Men (1981) Annual 2000, then Search, below
X-Men: Search For Cyclops (2000) #1-4: X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 2: Ages Of Apocalypse
After #95: Gambit & Bishop: Sons Of The Atom (2001) #3-6
For the final 10 issues of its run, writer David Tischman and polarizing artist Igor Kordey shifted the focus of the series to a guerrilla-warfare, anti-terrorist plotline.
#97-107: Soldier X oversize hardcover
Also collects Soldier X (2002) #1-12
#97-100: Cable Volume 1: Shining Path out-of-print (ISBN 0-7851-0909-9)
After #100: Domino Vol. 2 (2003) #2, Deadpool Vol. 3 (1997) #61 (need to check this; based on the timeline it could actually be Domino Vol. 1).
#101-107: Cable Volume 2: End out-of-print (ISBN 0-7851-0963-3)
After #105: Brotherhood (2001) #8
Soldier X (2002-2003)
Both Deadpool (Agent X) & Cable (Soldier X) were relaunched to fall more in line (and letter X) with the main New X-Men series.
#1-12: Soldier X oversize hardcover
Also collects Cable (1993) #97-107
After Soldier X: Weapon X Vol. 2 (2002) #6-13, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #425 (and implied in 426)
Cable & Deadpool, X-Force, and X-Men (2004 – 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.
#1-50: Deadpool & Cable Omnibus oversize hardcover
Includes Deadpool / Great Lakes Initiative: Summer Fun Spectacular.
#1-18: Deadpool & Cable Ultimate Collection Book 1 (ISBN 0785143130)
#19-35: Deadpool & Cable Ultimate Collection Book 2 (ISBN 0785148213)
Includes Civil War tie-in issues.
#36-50: Deadpool & Cable Ultimate Collection Book 3 (ISBN 0785149201)
Also collects Deadpool / Great Lakes Initiative: Summer Fun Spectacular.
Alternately, the entire series was previously collected into slimmer volumes:
#1-6: Cable/Deadpool Vol. 1: If Looks Could Kill (ISBN 0785113746)
#7-12: Cable/Deadpool Vol. 2: The Burnt Offering (ISBN 0785115714)
#13-18: Cable & Deadpool Volume 3: The Human Race (ISBN 0785117636)
X-Force & Cable Volume 1: The Legend Returns (ISBN 0785114297)
Collects limited series #1-6. #1 occurs between C&D #12-13, and the rest of the series occurs during #15 (in which Cable does not appear).
#19-24: Cable & Deadpool Volume 4: Bosom Buddies (ISBN 0785118691)
After #19: Decimation: House of M – The Day After (2006)
#25-29: Cable & Deadpool Volume 5: Living Legends (ISBN 0785120416)
After #27: Thunderbolts (1997) #100 (flashback)
After #29: Civil War (2006) #2, New X-Men Vol. 2 (2004) #29 (implied)
#30-35: Cable & Deadpool Volume 6: Paved With Good Intentions (ISBN 0785122338)
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, Vol. 2 (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).
The correct reading order for this period is X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #190-193, Annual 3, #194-198, C&D #40, X-Men #199, C&D #41, and C&D #42 simultaneous to C&D #200
Nathan does not appear in X-Factor (2006) #23, despite it being listed in some reading guides.
#36-42: Cable & Deadpool Volume 7: Separation Anxiety (ISBN 078512523X)
Issues #43-44 also collected in Wolverine vs Deadpool with several other fights between the two characters.
#43-50: Deadpool vs. the Marvel Universe (ISBN 0785125248)
X-Men, Vol. 2 (1991) #188-199 & Annual 3: X-Men: Supernovas
Nathan does not appear in #188-189. Available in oversize hardcover.
X-Men, Vol. 2 (1991) #200-204: X-Men: Blinded by the Light
Nathan appears only in #200
Messiah Complex, Cable, and Second Coming (2008 – 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) 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!
as recollected in 2018…
#1-12: The Last Hope, Vol. 1
Collects Cable (2008) #1-12, King-Size Cable #1, X-Men: The Times & Life Of Lucas Bishop #1-3, and X-Men: Future History – The Messiah War Sourcebook
#13-25: The Last Hope, Vol. 2
Collects X-Force/Cable: Messiah War #1, Cable (2008) #13-25, X-Force (2008) #14-16, and X-Men: Hope (2010) #1
as originally collected…
X-Men: Messiah Complex
Nathan appears throughout this event as an important player, and it is a large part of the launch of his series. Available in oversize hardcover.
Deadpool & Cable (2011) #25: Deadpool: All in the Family
Though released later, this acts as a sort of epilogue to Cable & Deadpool and shows some behind-the-scenes moments from Messiah Complex.
There are flashbacks to this period in the Messiah War one-shot, below.
#1-5: Vol. 1: Messiah War (ISBN 0785129723)
Also available in hardcover.
#6-10: Vol. 2: Waiting For The End Of The World (ISBN 0-7851-2973-1)
Also collects King-Sized Cable, which is at the beginning of this run (it follows #5 directly). Also available in hardcover.
#11-15: X-Force/Cable: Messiah War (ISBN 0-7851-3173-6)
Collects Cable (2008) #11-15, Messiah War one-shot, X-Force #14-16, X-Men: The Times and Life of Lucas Bishop #1-3, and X-Men: Future History – the Messiah War sourcebook. Despite the name, this has little bearing on the Messiah Complex / Second Coming storyline. [Ed. Note: pick this up in oversized hardcover; the paperback feels flimsy for its heft.]
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.
#16-21: Vol. 3: Stranded (ISBN 0-7851-4167-7)
Also available in hardcover.
#21-24: Vol. 4: Homecoming (ISBN 0785141685)
Also collects X-Men: Hope. Also available in hardcover.
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
Nathan plays a very significant role in this massive story. Collects Second Coming: Prepare, Second Coming #1-2, Uncanny X-Men #523-525; New Mutants #12-14, X-Men Legacy #235-237, X-Force #26-28. Also available in hardcover. You may also wish to purchase X-Men: Second Coming Revelations in hardcover or paperback, which contains companion stories to Second Coming – though, Nathan does not appear.
Cable is missing after Second Coming.
In this period: A single panel flashback in X-Men: Prelude To Schism (2011) #1 is likely to Messiah Complex; a cameo image in Avengers (2010) #2 is from an unspecified point in time. 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 (2011)
Cable returns … to fight 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. However, it’s not really required reading to understand Avengers Vs. X-Men. Collected in oversized hardcover and paperback, this series comes after Schism and acts as a lead-up to Avengers vs. X-Men.
Cable in Marvel Now! (2012 – 2015)
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.
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)
Also collects the story from Marvel Now! Point One (2012) #1
#6-9: Volume 2: Dead or Alive (ISBN 0785166912)
#10-14: Volume 3: This Won’t End Well (ISBN 0785188827)
#15-19: Volume 3: Vendettas (ISBN 0785189467)
Also includes a crossover between Cable and X-Force (2012) #18-19 & to Uncanny X-Force #16-17.
After #17: Uncanny Avengers (2012) #15 & 19-20
After #19 (or maybe after UXF #17): Deadpool (2013) #20 & 27
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. See X-Force.
#1-6: Vol. 1: Dirty Tricks
After #4: Nightcrawler (2014) #7
#7-10: Vol. 2: Hide/Fear
Also includes material from X-Men Legacy #300
#11-15: Vol. 3: Ends/Means
After #15: Deadpool (2013) #45, Guardians Team-Up (2015) #10, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #600, Deadpool (2013) #45 (multiple stories)
All-New, All-Different Marvel: Cable in Uncanny Avengers (2015 – 2017)
In this era of Marvel, Cable joins the Uncanny Avengers team that merged X-Men, Avengers, and Inhumans characters.
Deadpool & Cable: Split Second
It’s unclear to me if this occurs just prior to Secret Wars or just after; Deadpool is still working with Agent Preston at SHIELD.
Uncanny Avengers [II] (2015) #2-5, 7-11: See Uncanny Avengers
Standoff: See Marvel Universe Events. 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
Deadpool (2016) #14
Civil War II: See Marvel Universe Events. Nathan appeared in Civil War II (2016) #1
ResurrXion & Marvel Legacy: Cable (2017 – present)
#1-6: Vol. 1: Conquest
#150-154: Vol. 2: The Newer Mutants
#155-159: Vol. 3: Past Fears
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