Nathan Summers' Powers In 'X-Men '97', Explained
X-Men ‘97 (2024) saw the return of Nathan Summers, aka Cable. Now, more than ever, his role is more important than his time in X-Men: The Animated Series (1992). But as the narrative shifts to Apocalypse, audiences are treated to a new version of Cable, Nathan Dayspring Summers of Clan Askani.
X-Men ‘97 Season 2 continues the narrative of Scott Summers and Jean Grey with him in a desolate future, but it also showcases the limitless potential of Nate’s powers. Here, we break down everything Nathan Summers is capable of in the show, as well as how it compares to the comics and even his live-action appearance.
Nathan Summers Has Incredible Power In 'X-Men '97'
When Scott and Jean meet Nate in the distant future as a small boy, it’s unclear just how powerful he’s supposed to be. But by X-Men ‘97 Season 2, the limits of his powers are revealed, at least in terms of what he can do without decades of training.
Nate uses his incredible telepathy and telekinesis in battle, with the most impressive moment being when he uses his abilities to hold back the techno-organic virus that has afflicted him since he was born. Once he taps into his full potential, though, he could use his abilities to fight with his mother and father.
As Nate gets older and becomes Cable, he grows more adept with his abilities, using all of them to hold his virus at bay. However, seeing his powers unleashed as a child, especially his telekinesis, is something to behold and a great tease of what is to come.
Marvel Comics Was The Perfect Template For Nathan Summers' Powers
Everything great about what Nathan Summers can do in X-Men ‘97 Season 2 is perfectly prefaced by what the comics introduced. As the story goes on, Nathan is confirmed to be an Alpha-Level Telepath and Omega-Level Telekinetic.
His training with his parents, however, is less of an accident and more on purpose, as Mother Askani pulls Jean and Scott to the future to help him. Many more elements of Nate’s powers are nurtured over time because of this, as well as a clearer understanding of his purpose.
Without having to cram a narrative into one and a half episodes, you’re able to fully understand and grow with Nathan as he understands his abilities and limitations. More than that, it better showcases how strong he is as he uses all of his telekinetic abilities to hold back his virus, and yet he can still function and do things with ease.
X-Men ‘97 Season 2 is a great summary of Nathan Summers’ powers, but if you want a full exploration of his capabilities, then the comics are the way to go. Nevertheless, the animated series delivered something amazing in terms of a near-perfect adaptation.
'Deadpool 2' Didn’t Deliver The Full Extent Of Nathan Summer's Abilities
The only time Nathan Summers appeared in live action was in Deadpool 2 (2018), where he appeared as Cable. Typically, movies based on heroes like this are best to give the average viewer a rundown of what they’re capable of without getting too complex; that didn’t happen with Nathan Summers.
Instead, everything Cable was capable of was better understood by the fans and never outwardly explained, as his entire story was changed. No longer tied to Apocalypse or Mr. Sinister, it was unclear if Cable even had a techno-organic virus or if his arm was cybernetic.
He also only showed one moment of true telekinesis, and everything else was more about tactical combat with guns. Nathan Summers felt more like an enhanced cop from the future than a freedom fighter struggling to maintain his humanity every day. As a result, the characterization never lived up to the source material in terms of what was explained.
Deadpool 2 may have failed Cable, but it’s great to see that X-Men ‘97 Season 2 has honored the roots of the character and delivered a fitting origin. Now, we can see the best version of his story explained in a way that gives us enough to want to explore more in the comics, and his powers aren’t diminished to do that.
