CABLE #11 – May 1994

The Killing Field Part 3 – Divide & Conquer

Credits: Glenn Herdling (writer), M. C. Wyman (penciler), Farmer/Barta/Lowe/Conrad/LaRosa/Hanna/Rodier (inkers), Richard Starkings (letterer), Marie Javins (colorist)

Summary

Cable escapes from the Acolytes by turning off the lights in Magneto’s former base. He learns that only he can control the alien headquarters because it is techno-organic, like half of his body. The Acolytes planned on recruiting him, hoping that he would be able to use Magneto’s arctic base to their advantage. The Acolytes try to escape Earth before Omega Red’s death spores are released, but Cable uses his control over the base to stop them. Amelia Voght teleports Cable away, explaining to him that the Acolytes have gone behind her back by forcing Omega Red to stay on Earth and poison the planet. In her original plan, he really was supposed to reach space. She tries to stop Omega Red while Cable fights Colossus. Cable uses his telepathic and telekinetic powers to force Colossus back to human form and saves Voght from Omega Red. The Acolyte Katu uses his power on Omega Red and the two implode.

Continuity Note

Magneto’s arctic base is revealed to be some form of techno-organic alien. How he ended up with it isn’t explained.

Review

The Omega Red/Acolytes arc finally ends, losing Fabian Nicieza along the way. Glenn Herdling is given the unenviable job of finishing up another writer’s storyline that wasn’t very good in the first place. He does a decent job of going through the motions until the very end, when one of the Acolytes (not even introduced in this issue), uses his vaguely defined powers to end the story in a couple of panels. This isn’t an especially plot-heavy issue, so there should have been more than enough room for a better conclusion. M. C. Wyman has seven inkers in this issue, giving the entire issue an inconsistent, rushed look. Eleven issues in and Cable is still a disappointment. I was deep into completism at this point.