I had absolutely no idea who the Cable character was. I've honestly never seen them mentioned anywhere before, but while browsing through the Marvel comics releases I noticed the name, saw the cover art, and figured it was something worth jumping into. It seemed different. And I like different. I've been reading through a variety of newer releases as of late and also jumping into various characters that I never thought I'd attempt to care for. Some of them have been pretty fun, others have just been the usual fatigue met with multiverse tie-ins and the boredom that comes with a story being so vastly connected with other comics and characters from other stories that it became a bit too overwhelming. I was hoping that Cable wouldn't be like this either, that it would be a standalone concept that focuses purely on the character without any connection to anything else. I do like that recently I have been more opening to jumping into things that I otherwise used to ignore, and I do think slowly I have been shaping a bit more of an understanding of what sort of comics I do enjoy and for which reasons. Things brings me to Cable: the concept art seemed more my thing, a bit more of a cyberpunk concept with some futurism to it. It reminded me of the 90s era of the genre and how creative it was, a bit more serious and with more darker themes. Given it's a Marvel comic, I knew I couldn't expect that sort of attention, however.
Cable: Love and Chrome started off with a bit of a Mad Max styled environment, showing the ruins of a once thriving city now coated in sand and dust. Context states it's the last days of the second Roxxon War in the year 3077. The story introduces itself with a bit of a comedic undertone, something that felt like it was the introduction of a feature film: the protagonist introducing themselves, the location, the time period, and the unfortunate circumstances behind their current events. Cable being strapped to the front of a vehicle as a bunch of bikers and punk-like waste landers speed through the environment, though Cable states he's exactly where he needs to be. Immediately we're thrown into the concepts of time travel technology and telepathy. Interesting concepts for a story, and very early on throwing out some themes in the first few pages. I liked that side of the story, the introduction that throws us into the action but gives us context without the pacing dropping off. I mentioned that 90s cyberpunk atmosphere, but I didn't mention the comedy and cheesy nature of how many of them were. And I felt that with Cable's narration. A character that knows what he wants, how to get ahead of his enemies, and finds time for those silly one-liner's that just mock the people that challenge him, putting themselves into certain defeat. I actually had no idea the character was part of the X-Men line-up, but the comic goes out of its way to also inform us he's the son of Cyclops. Almost killed by a virus but kept alive with his mutant powers.
I found the character interesting based on his situation in which his body is riddled with metal and technology. While the cocky behaviour is part of his comedic personality, there's the contrast in which a physical and emotional pain is felt within his actions. The constant battling against the virus and how it sometimes increases in intensity, mixed with the physical pain of being riddled with mechanical pieces that can break off and fragment. Not entirely machine, not entirely a human either. Cable didn't seem like the usual superhero type based on this, it seems more like an unfortunate situation that led to this lifestyle in which he's battling raiders, jumping through time, dealing with being stabbed and beaten up by various foes. Not something he necessarily chooses to do out of fun, but has to do. As is the usual, there was a bit of the flashback stuff that shows his childhood, the fear of hospitals and the fear of being. For a superhero character there's a genuine fear of death, and I found it to be a great addition to his personality as it's something that the reader can actually connect with. Not all the shining fight sequences in which he's victorious and looking cool. But also his flaws and inabilities to live an ordinary live. Whether it's battling the virus or his own mind. I think that is something that is often found within the X-Men concept, where characters are mutants and often have been placed under strange situations since childhood, leading them into adulthood with a skewed idea of how to live.
Its themes were of no surprise, however. The volume was great, and after finishing it I noticed the excerpt from its creators in which they state their influences dating back to the 90s. Mentioning the raw action and the turmoil the characters find themselves in. I can see that influence quite clearly. They did a great job portraying that more 90s aesthetic that would've been found with such a genre and character. But added a little more to it that focused on the challenges faced. It was ultimately a story on a man that is constantly facing death, suffering greatly from a virus that is just one endless battle. And all the people that try to kill him are just another problem he's had to face, hardly something of threat when each day is already so uncertain. I'm excited to see more of it. For a first volume I'd say it felt like a full story for the most part. It could've easily just been a short comic with a start and an end. So I'm definitely interested in the next volume to come. I didn't expect a character from the X-Men line up to be interesting to this degree. It was nice to see something that wasn't all that oriented around powers, but more physical strength from something that was actually considered to be a negative.
I'm now very curious about the previous stories on the character, if any. Less interested in whether they're connected with the rest, though. I do prefer these more singular stories that focus on characters and their lives.