After five issues of big men with bigger guns running around a devastated future cityscape, Cable #6 offers a change of pace.  It isn't set in the future.  And for the most part, Cable isn't in it.

Instead, this is a Cyclops story.  You'll recall that the big idea for this series was that Cable had fled into the future, taking the new mutant baby with him - all with Cyclops' blessing.  This issue checks in on Scott, in present continuity, as he wonders what ever happened to the baby.

Understandably, Scott is a bit concerned that he hasn't heard anything yet.  After all, it's time travel.  Cable should be able to get in touch whenever he wants.  So why has it all gone quiet?  Scott is beginning to have the sinking feeling that either Cable has double crossed them, or he's got the kid killed.  Either way, this "sending the brat into the future" idea is starting to seem like a horrible error of judgment.

I've not been massive impressed with this series to date; the first arc was a rather basic story stretched out far beyond its natural span.  But Swierczynski does a much better job here, with a story that's concise and shows a much clearer grasp of Cyclops than most of his recent writers.  The attempt to reposition Cyclops as a take-no-prisoners leader has not been at all convincing; it's made him seem like a pod person.  The guy who's sending X-Force out to kill people is only recognisable as the same character because he's wearing the visor.

Swierczynski, then, gets points for being the first writer to make this version of Cyclops feel like the same character.  Largely, it's just a matter of giving him back a measure of self-doubt, and allowing him to wonder whether his new attitude is a sign of newfound strength, or impulsive weakness.  Swierczynski even has a brave stab at explaining how Cyclops can possibly be keeping things secret from Emma, and more or less gets away with it.  And it works; this feels like Cyclops, in a way that most of his other recent appearances simply haven't.

Guest artist Michel Lacombe, asked to illustrate what amounts to a series of conversation scenes, does a very good, understated job.  He's strong on the emotional subtleties, and has the discipline to focus on selling the scenes instead of showing off to the reader.  I'm not sure he's a natural superhero artist, but he's very well used on this story.

Overall, an unexpectedly good effort, and one that gives me some more confidence that this book could be heading somewhere interesting.

Rating: A-

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