Cyclops Quits the X-Men to Forge His Own Path with 'Champions'

Marvel announced a new series titled CHAMPIONS, a title in which they reached an agreement with Heroic Publishing to use, and young Scott Summers seeks to be a member.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, series creators Mark Waid and Tom Breevort discussed the new series, artist Humberto Ramos, its members, and the concept.

This comic book nerd, however, is all about how it affects his favorite marvel mutant: Cyclops!

Used, abused and under-developed as a character, Scott Summers has needed a change of scenery for quite some time. Stepping away from the mutant soap opera could be just what the doctor ordered. When asked about why the polarizing pioneer of mutant mayhem was included, Mark Waid revealed his fandom:

"I'm in that tiny sliver of people who think Scott Summers is the best X-Man there is. I've loved Scott Summers ever since I first started reading X-Men comics back in the mid-60's," Waid said. "So I campaigned quite heavily to get young Scott Summers on that team. My primary goal was for the doubters: By the end of issue 1, I can make you love Scott Summers."

It's clear that in spite of all the troubles that have surrounded Cyclops over the past few years, Mark Waid is someone who seeks to offer some retribution for the character. Having a younger version to guide on a new path, will hopefully allow the character to shed the stigma of being a complete jackass.

However, Tom Brevoort has a different perspective:

"This is the young Scott Summers pulled from the past. In my head, he's kind of the first challenge the group faces. Which is to say that when they get together and start to do this, what they're doing is not just putting together a superhero team, they're more like activists. They're making an inclusive statement that they mean to be for all members of their generation: It's time to get together and stand up and fix the world. This is a message that goes out and people come in response to it. Cyclops shows up and goes, 'Boy I love what you're putting down, I'd like to be a part of it.' It's kind of like 'kid Hitler' showing up at the door."

'Kid Hitler' sounds little harsh but it's not far off from the truth if you've ever read a message board. So even though young Scott Summers isn't on the same path as adult Cyclops, he still carries the weight of the actions carried out by his future self. The perception is that he can't change and his path has already been set in stone.

On his quest for self-improvement, young Cyclops will be joining the likes of: HULK (Amadeus Cho), Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Nova (Sam Alexander) and Viv Vision in their bid to make the world a better place. All of those characters are very Avengers 'oriented', which makes Cyclops' involvement stand out even more. Together, they intend to show the world that kids can change the world, just as their adult counter-parts can. Although because of their ages, they'll be battling their hormones as well as the heinous.

Back in the early 2000's, under Joss Whedon's guidance,  Cyclops discussed the idea of the X-Men being heroes. No longer seeking to be a mutant rights activist, he felt that the best way to get people to trust them, was to protect them from danger. At some point, that vision was lost and the Avengers vs X-Men storyline ultimately tried painting him as a villain.

In the Marvel Universe a character is either an Avenger or an X-Men. Now, under the new 'CHAMPIONS' moniker, heroes in the MU have a new alternative. An alternative that will allow Scott Summers to change public perception and become the hero he longs to be.