** = Cable does not know all his relatives, and who knows where the next Summers may pop up ?
Cable was introduced in New Mutants #86 as a cameo promo, then recieved a full story in # 87. From that point, he would dominate the book and even transform it into X-Force. In The New Mutants, we never learned his real name, his powers, or much detail on his background. However, three things were clear. He had a long record of subversive activities, a cold heart, and bionic/cybernetic body parts. This soon changed.
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The origin of the man known as Cable is a tale of two characters who became one. Rob Leifeld submitted the initial character design for Cable along with a batch of sketches that would turn into Stryfe, The M.L.F., Shatterstar, Deadpool and Domino to name a few. As the penciler for The New Mutants, Leifeld worked with long-time writer Louise Simonson, then eventually took over plotting at issue # 98 (after the X-Tinction Agenda) with Fabian Nicieza. He would work on X-Force for a little over one year before leaving to form Image Comics. In that time, we learn that Cable's name is Nathan and that, somehow, Stryfe looks exactly like him in New Mutants 100. (Fabian Nicieza's suggestion) | 
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Soon after, Scott gets a call from Angel asking him to come to New York because Jean Grey had been found alive by The Avengers. In a rough period, Scott abandons his wife to reunite the original X-Men as X-Factor. The tale of Scott and Maddie is for another time, so to make a long story short; Mr. Sinister had created Madelyne and orchestrated the whole meeting to produce and control baby Nathan, knowing what power he would have. (see X-Factor 38 of INFERNO)
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The beginning of the merger of Baby Nathan and Cable starts with Chris Claremont and Whilce Portaccio's idea. In X-Factor 68, baby Nathan is safe in the custody of Scott and Jean after his attempted sacrifice by his mother, The Goblin Queen, and a trip to another planet to be judged by Celestials (see Judgement War). This safety would not last for long. In X-Fator 67, Apocalypse infects Ship and baby Nathan with a Techno Organic disease which slowly takes over its host transforming it into a liquid metal of living circuitry. Things look grim for Nathan but, mysteriously, a traveler from the future named Askani appears to help. She claims that Nathan is destined to lead her people and that his only chance for survival is to let her transport him to the future. Scott reluctantly agrees and the path is clear for the combination of baby Nate and Cable. Once in the future, he is given the custody of his timelost Sister Rachel (The Mother Askani - leader of Cable's future tribe). Rachel feared that Nathan would not live, so she panicked and created a failsafe clone. Unfortunately, the healthy baby fell into the hands of Apocalypse and would grow to become the madman known as Stryfe. The real Nathan was raised in the care of Redd and Slym, (Scott and Jean in other bodies - see Adv. of Cy. and Phnx.). In the X-Cutioner's Song, the clone story of Cable and Stryfe plays out, but it is still uncertain who is who and what happened. The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix along with Cable 6-8. "Fathers and Sons" confirm, at last, that Nathan is the same Nathan that Askani took to the future and that he has come back to the timestream of his origin. We also learn that what we thought were bionics, were actually the TechnoOrganic infested limbs with some extra enhancements. |
In his future, the 41st Century, Cable is prophecized to be "The Chosen One" or "The Askani'Son" who will lead his people from the opression of The Canaanites who rule with an iron hand in the manner of Apocalypse. Scott, Jean, Nathan and Ch'Vayre helped destroy Apocalypse in the future, but the terror continues for The Clan Askani (see A o C & P and F A o C & P). It is assumed his presence in this timeline has something to do with Apocalypse and/or insuring the High Lord ascension of Cannonball. However, it is still not exactly clear what his purposes are in this timeline, thatis apparently "his business" and not our's, but through his protector, Blaquesmith, we learn that Nathan is still yet to fulfill his ultimate destiny. A new Mysterious "protector" has appeared to put Nathan on his path, but his methods may be suspect. Stay tuned for the latest happenings in Nate's life uner the direction of the new Series writer James Robinson !!
Cable's powers manifested as a baby and are psionic in nature. He has both telekinetic and telepathic powers. As a child, he could transfer his thoughts and erect a force shield. As an adult, Cable has relied more on his supreme hand-to-hand combat skills and futuristic weaponry, because a great deal of his telekinetic powers are necessarily diverted to keeping his TechnoOrganic infection from spreading. Under Jeph Loeb's direction, Cable began to use his powers more and fulfill his potential. He can communicate telepathically, mind link with those he trusts, create forcefields, create force blasts, enter minds to heal or control, and Professor X even helped boost his "latent time travel abilities" before the Age Of Apocalypse.
His full potential is yet to be reached, but again, it is severely limited due to Apocalypse's infection. Despite this handicap, he still ranks among the most powerful psis on the planet with the battle instincts of a cunning veteran warrior. By combining these attributes Cable is a one man army.
Cable's character traits have often been contradictory to his supposed role as a religious "savior", but he is learning. In the beginning, Cable lies to X-Force and when he does speak it is often half truths, dancing around issues of his past. He worked as a ruthless mercenary for hire and believed early on that you have to get the bad guy before they get you - Kill or be Killed. Along the way, he also made several enemies by serving only his own personal agendas and hatreds. After his recent encounter with an alternate version of himself, Nate Grey, Cable seems to be taking a "kinder, gentler" approach to dealing with situations fitting more into the mold of "The Chosen One", but the potential for danger and destruction is always lurking just below Cable's surface. Once a warrior, always a warrior.
Cable has stolen, lied, cheated, killed and destroyed in his life, but as the Askani saying goes, "what is ... is". Cable knows better than anyone that you can not change the past, only the future.