Written By: Sequoia
Email: swennes@erols.com
URL: Sequoia's Sanctuary

Why is Cyclops a great character? Well, there are three main reasons, IMO, all of which are contingent on the fact that the true Cyclops was replaced by a rather shoddy impersonator pod person during Secret Wars. There is no other rational explanation for his sudden, 180 degree flip in characterization; and thus my essay will be based solely on the man's actions before that dreadful time.

I love Scott Summers first and foremost because he is a hero, in every sense of the word. He does what he does not because he necessarily wants to; but because somebody has to. He always puts others before himself, doing what's best for them, regardless of the cost to him. He is kind, smart, loyal, and moral without being in your face or sanctimonious about it. He commands respect from everyone, and succeeded in making Wolverine a functioning part of the team - something Xavier couldn't do. He is shy and sweet and withdrawn and for some reason that makes him infinitely more attractive than any showoff playboy. He's dependable, honest, and forthright; yet he's also an extremely complex, tortured character with a multitude of untapped potential and original stories that Marvel seems utterly blind to.

The second reason why Cyclops is a great character is this quote, spoken at the end of God Loves, Man Kills, after Xavier has given up and told the X-Men to join Magneto. "I don't accept that, Charles. Granted, times are tough for us and they'll probably get a lot worse. Granted, we could probably conquer the world, though the cost in blood would be staggering. But don't you see - either of you - we're human too! A different branch, perhaps, but the same basic tree! Such a fundamental shift in attitude can't be imposed - to have any meaning it must grow from within. You brought us together to fulfill a dream, Charles - one born of hope and the noblest of human aspirations - and we've sweat and bled, and some of us have died, to make it a reality. I'm not prepared to give up. The means are as important as the end - we have to do this right or not at all. Anything less negates every belief we've ever had, every sacrifice we've ever made."

Lastly, I love Scott because he's just so darn handsome when drawn by Paul Smith, Neal Adams, or John Byrne.

Notes: God Loves, Man Kills and Uncanny X-Men #127 contain the absolute best portrayals of Scott.

Written By: Maggie the Cat
Email: maggiecat@rocketmail.com

Okay, okay--so maybe Scott's not exactly scintillating. He doesn't have a nifty mysterious past, mimbo beard stubble, or more AMAZING POWERS than one can shake a stick at. But he is unequivocally a good character. And I'll tell you why.

Point One: It's A Dirty Job....

Cyclops is the Big Daddy of team leaders. He lead the original X-Men and managed to keep them from getting toasted by the likes of Magneto (pre-Amnesia Lad) and the entire slew of villains which followed. I mean, really--Wolvie's cool, a real bruiser, and Gambit's oh-so-Cajun perfect, but could either of them successfully lead a team on a long-term basis? No. Because they're too busy running off and having wild adventures to mind such a responsibility.

Point Two: Decisions, Decisions....

Being the leader means making choices, many of which won't be popular. What do you need for this position? A sense of self-confidence, rapid-fire mental processes, and the stamina and charisma to make people follow your orders even if they don't personally agree. All of which Scott has, even if some writers would rather use the much easier "Weak, Dull Responsible Guy" stereotype.

Point Three: How Would You Like It?

Honestly, would you like to have to tell Bishop and Psylocke what to do? Deal with Wolverine's hissy fits? Fight for Xavier's dream, try to have a personal life, and look out for everyone else at the same time? Try that for a week and I guarantee you'll understand why Scott seems so stiff. He has to be. It's his job. Hey, if nothing else, you Cyclops-haters must admit that he makes a wonderful foil for those 'popular' characters and keeps things running smoothly so they can afford to mess about....

So that's why, even though you may not agree that he is necessarily an exciting or awesome character, you've gotta admit that Cyclops is a good character. Those limited series, flavour-of-the-month types are neat, but they sure as hell can't deal with a wife, a bunch of rowdy, surly X-Men, and villains before breakfast like good ol' Slim.

Cyclops is a character to admire because he hasn't gone loony. He's endured so much that how could people NOT love him? Here are a couple examples of what he has gone through...Cyclops had a loving family until the day the Shiar came and blew his family's plane out of the sky. Scott didn't know that then though...all he knew was that he was put in charge of looking over his younger brother Alex and thrown out of the airplane with a flaming parachute. He sustained brain damage from the accident. He protected Alex until he was taken from him into foster care. No one wanted Scott because he was "damaged goods" but he ignored the pain. He later met Jean pushed her away to avoid pain but FINALLY let her into his heart and fell in love, and then watched in horror as the Phoenix slowly consumed her. It killed a good portion of his soul, but he took the first shot at her to save the universe. He watched as she killed herself and carried on again.

He finally met Maddie and married her, and found her to be Jean's clone, and she almost sacrificed his son. He found out his father was a criminal and Alex has tried to kill him on more then one occasion. What family love he has there. Scott EVEN dealt with Charles faking his own death more then once. He took the first shot at Onslaught because it was right. Scott stood and watched helplessly as his son was given a TO virus that was slowly killing him, and finally released him into the Askani's hands to try and save him...even though it killed his soul. He pushed the button on the moon, even when he knew that he was killing his son, and later found that Nathan could very well have released the Legacy Virus.

He dealt with Jean's fixation with Wolverine and Warren. He even accepted that his love was not enough and was willing to let her go due to the depth of his love. He dealt with getting snatched out of his body with Jean on their honeymoon and then living in the future for twelve years, raising his son...watching in silent agony as the TO virus slowly killed him, and even ran a rebellion to install hope, returning to the past knowing that he would not see his son grow up. He EVEN dealt with a bomb in his chest...telling the people to get the hell out of there instead of screaming in agony.

I have found in life that endurance isn't easy, and hope is easily shattered. It is hard to build it back up again, but Scott managed to do it and isn't in a corner drooling somewhere due to his life, which is amazing in itself. I would want to be boring and predictable too after that. That is why I respect and admire Cyclops.

Cyclops is a great character because of many reasons. Some of which I will list below.

He has morals, (please exclude the Maddie thing) he is totally loyal, besides the temporary fixation with Betsy (Pyslocke). He always tries so hard to do the right thing, be fair, and he takes into account people's feelings. When he finally does open up to people he is so sweet, loyal and caring. He looks amazing...Anyway, if people think he's such a loser, why don't they write him as they want to see him? Write him acting like Remy or Logan. But no, they just complain. Try to see the Scott/Cyclops' lovers POV. He lost his family young, has to go through so much with Jean and the rest of the X-Team(s). He has to be strong emotionally, physically, and mentally because it's "part" of his personality. Not only is this strength for him but it's for everyone else too. Also he's loyal and sweet, I can't say much more, now it's up to you. Cyclops is generally a great guy in all ways.