WW PHILLY: KING SIZE CABLE

[MattBrady]

by Steve Ekstrom

This weekend at Wizard World Philadelphia—during the Mondo Marvel Panel—Marvel Comics announced that Cable would be getting the “King-Sized” treatment. Written by Cable writer, Duane Swierczynski and drawn by industry veteran Ken Lashley—King-Size Cable takes off immediately after the end of the sixth issue.

Since the launch of his new ongoing, Cable has been on the run, in the future, as the guardian of the mysterious mutant baby who appeared during Marvel’s Messiah Complex earlier this year. Not only is Cable on the run—he’s running from the traitorous Bishop—and in King-Size Cable readers will get to see things from Bishop’s point-of-view.

Newsarama spoke with Swierczynski and Lashley about Marvel’s time-spanning mutant and this upcoming King-Sized undertaking.

Newsarama : First off Duane, can you explain how King-Sized Cable fit into the current storyline? Or does this take place afterwards?

Duane Swierczynski: It tucks in neatly after Cable #6 (also a stand-alone), and sets up #7. I had originally planned for this story as a two-issue arc, with a good old-fashioned cliffhanger in the middle, but as we started working on it, it seemed to make more sense to serve it up in one massive shot. Which is good, because once you see Ken’s pencils, you’ll be thankful you didn’t have to wait a month for part two.

NRAMA: Cable's role in the X-books plays a pretty crucial role--he's guarding the mysterious baby from Messiah Complex. So far, he's done a pretty good job of making sure she's safe—how long can that safety last though?

Ken Lashley: I can not confirm or deny anything you are asking; but, I will say he has a job I wouldn't want.

DS: It lasts pretty much until this issue.

NRAMA: Will there be a villainous presence in this King-Sized project?

DS: This one is told from Bishop’s POV, so in a way, Cable’s the heavy. Sure, he’s trying to protect the baby, and that’s sweet and all, but he’s still a hardcore soldier, and now that he knows Bishop is after him, he’ll do everything he can to cover his tracks. Mean things. Nasty things.

KL: Villains…so much grey area.

NRAMA: Will Cable be fairly stationary in the future or will there be more time travel in the series?

DS: There’s a lot of time-traveling in this one. It’s kind of an ADD issue of Cable: we’re jumping all the hell over. And you’ll find out how a cop like Bishop tracks someone who could be literally anywhen in the timestream.

Going forward… well, you’ll see.

KL: Again...time travel can be very tricky.

NRAMA: Ken, Cable has come a long way since his humble, yet extravagantly shoulder padded origins--when you're drawing the character, what do you find yourself most focused on in terms of portraying the character in his uniquely icon look?

KL: Shoulder pads? Whatever do you mean? (laughs)

Cable has been around for a while and when I was asked to do this book I went on a tear looking for as many books that I could get with him in it. I soon realized that each artist really had their own take on the 6'-8'' mutant so I decided to draw him the best way I know how—it was pretty well received by the Marvel brass and I was glad. Cable is an X-Men icon. I was pretty excited to be asked, but at the same time I was thinking, “Don't mess it up”.

Cable is a tough guy; there are facial expressions that just don't fit his profile. I was very aware of the range of things that fit with him and what does not. I was also having a blast because I got to draw a ton of things that artist dream about. I just can't wait until it comes out, people will be entertained.

Cable is unique; it was a joy to draw 44 plus pages of mutant love—who could ask for anything more.

NRAMA: Are there going to be any more mysterious characters from all over the time-stream showing up in Cable in the near future?

DS: There’s one nice little cameo that I think longtime Cable-heads will enjoy. Think: ex-girlfriend.

NRAMA: Ken, you're involved with a couple of different X-related projects coming up—covers on X-Men: Legacy and now King-Sized Cable—what else can fans expect from you in the near future?

KL: Hey, when you get the call you would have to be an idiot not to want to do it. I am working on a few things; some X- related, some not. I will be doing some X-Men: Legacy work and I just did a cover for issue #215 of the Legacy title. I think I am a X-guy at heart; I know the characters best and it feels like home. I don't have to struggle with anything when I work in the X-office—they were the books I collected before I ever worked in the biz.

I also have a very huge Marvel project coming up that starts in a few weeks. I'm stoked; I have waited a long time to get my hands on a project that has the right people around me. Great writers; talented artists…and little old me; I hope to hold up my end. I look forward to getting my hands on that project.

Oh and I will be going to Japan as a guest of Lucasfilm at Star Wars Japan in July; that is the only thing non-Marvel work I'm doing this summer.

NRAMA: Wrapping things up, what else can readers expect from the King-Sized Cable Spectacular?

DS: You’ll see Bishop acting like the hero that he is. Or isn’t.

KL: Big explosions and lots of Mutant Mayhem! Oh and a very large…wait, I can't say. (laughs)

[protege]

What is the purpose of these "King size" issues? With Hulk, it was very much filler space until the next issue comes out- but Cable's running on time, isn't it?

[Zombie Uatu]

Originally Posted by protege

What is the purpose of these "King size" issues? With Hulk, it was very much filler space until the next issue comes out- but Cable's running on time, isn't it?

To tell stories that somehow 'don't fit' into the main series, or to help hurry along a slow-moving plot. Both of which apply here. Swierczynski keeps promising interesting sounding stuff for Cable and has said things speed up after this arc. Hope he holds to it.

[BKThomson]

King-Size issues were staples back in the 70's, similar to annuals, Though I thought back then they were mostly reprints. I could be confused with Giant-Size, which only produced something of interest with X-Men.

[aceatkins]

I just don't understand why Marvel would ask readers to shell out $4-$5 for another side of a story when nothing is happening in the main book. I personally dropped after issue 2 left me with a vote of no confidence.

And yeah, that King-Size Hulk was a slap in the face.My brother bought it and I openly laughed at his ass.

[Zombie Uatu]

I love how, having noticed that the story was slow-moving, you read two issues, and then decided, even though you knew the story was slow-moving, to drop it, rather than sticking out the first arc and seeing if things picked up pace.

[novak]

I can't believe Marvel is actually going to ask readers to shell out 5 bucks for some Cable special when absolutely jack squat has happened in the series. Give me a break.

Why wasn't this 48 pages in the previous issues? Maybe they would have actually been enjoyable rather than a waste of money.

But at least Ariel Oliveti isn't working on this. Glad to see Ken Lashley back at Marvel.

[rwsmith]

Cable is 6'8"? That's taller than Colossus in human form. No one draws him that tall. I'd have pegged him around 6'3" or 6'4" tops.

[Dawfydd]

I may be missing something, but is anyone else ticked off by the characterisation of Bishop over the last year or so?
He was one of the new crop of X-Men characters that really caught my interest in the early 90's and brought me into reading comics big time, and over the years he has had (what I felt) were some interesting moments of chartacterisation (yes, I liked Extreme X-Men dammit!), but ever since Civil War, it seems that someone at Marvel has had a mission to make him into a complete schmuck.
I can kind of appreciate the logic behind his actions from Messiah Complex onwards, it just seems to be at complete odds with the character from any point after his initial introduction.
Just a thought...

[Mundungus]

I don't mind the angle of Bishop fighting strongly and desperately to stop his future from happening (that takes balls), but it seems that he's been written as a remorseless villain so far.

[k lashley]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

Cable is 6'8"? That's taller than Colossus in human form. No one draws him that tall. I'd have pegged him around 6'3" or 6'4" tops.

l know....l thought so too but the Marvel site wouldn't lie ...would it?

l drew him about 6-4''.....

[Tony Snark]

not to mention he's a huge musclebound guy who's trying to murder a baby

[House of J]

I'm afraid I've got a king-size no thanks for this one.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by k lashley

l know....l thought so too but the Marvel site wouldn't lie ...would it?

l drew him about 6-4''.....

That's more how I picture him too. About an inch or two taller than his father.

Looking forward to checking this out (but I have to confess that I keep hoping Cable will return to the present and rejoin the X-men sometime soon).

[Reliant]

Originally Posted by Dawfydd

I may be missing something, but is anyone else ticked off by the characterisation of Bishop over the last year or so?
He was one of the new crop of X-Men characters that really caught my interest in the early 90's and brought me into reading comics big time, and over the years he has had (what I felt) were some interesting moments of chartacterisation (yes, I liked Extreme X-Men dammit!), but ever since Civil War, it seems that someone at Marvel has had a mission to make him into a complete schmuck.
I can kind of appreciate the logic behind his actions from Messiah Complex onwards, it just seems to be at complete odds with the character from any point after his initial introduction.
Just a thought...

You're not alone. Bishop was my favorite X-Man and I really liked the possibility of something quietly brewing between him and Sage back in X-Treme and their brief stint in Uncanny. X-Men: Civil War was really the end of Bishop as an X-Man, IMO, but his dedication towards law and order fit with the character. The frothing at the mouth, baby-hatin' Bishop I saw in Messiah Complex was someone I didn't recognize.

He's gotta be a Skrull...

[jonnynyc]

These King Size issues seem like nothing but a shameless cash grab on Marvel's part.

[grimace]

Originally Posted by Reliant

You're not alone. Bishop was my favorite X-Man and I really liked the possibility of something quietly brewing between him and Sage back in X-Treme and their brief stint in Uncanny. X-Men: Civil War was really the end of Bishop as an X-Man, IMO, but his dedication towards law and order fit with the character. The frothing at the mouth, baby-hatin' Bishop I saw in Messiah Complex was someone I didn't recognize.

He's gotta be a Skrull...

Amen to both posts, I think they went the wrong with Bishop. I just can't buy that the guy has been in the past for as long as he has and never once mentioned anything about M-Day or a Messiah baby.

[LuisMa316]

Originally Posted by Tony Snark

not to mention he's a huge musclebound guy who's trying to murder a baby

The baby is evil in his mind. It's like going back in time and killing an evil person when they where a baby......like Paris Hilton.

[ejulp]

Originally Posted by Mundungus

I don't mind the angle of Bishop fighting strongly and desperately to stop his future from happening (that takes balls), but it seems that he's been written as a remorseless villain so far.

BUT, and heres the neat twist, with the exception of killing Cable (who is a soldier and knows the rules) and killing the baby (to save millions), all the people he's possibly killing in the future WILL NOT EXIST if his mission to prevent it is accomplished. He didn't mean to shoot Charles in the face, and didn't kill Forge when he had the chance (even hesitated on shooting the baby).

I think Bishop is stealing the spotlight in Cable's book, as theres really nothing compelling new or interesting about Nathan in there, where as Bishop has become a fascinating character willing to make the tough decisions most would not be able to, because of where he grew up A CONCENTRATION CAMP, heck his choices in Civil War even made sense, the man is totally selfess. Cable needs to give us his side of the story, and we need more info on the baby, the book is kind of ridiculous for not doing so thus far (after a 13 issue crossover).

That book needs to pick up the pace, so far about one and half issues of story have been told...I think this King Size issue should have been included in the story arc.

Really I'm just getting this book now for Bishop, Cable himself is pretty boring.

[ejulp]

Originally Posted by grimace

Amen to both posts, I think they went the wrong with Bishop. I just can't buy that the guy has been in the past for as long as he has and never once mentioned anything about M-Day or a Messiah baby.

He's responding to it more than anything...I mean, hes from what, like a hundred years or more in the future...imagine traveling back to 1908 and trying to prevent WW1, etc, knowing all the details, and all the places to be; especially, when, in his future the "facts" of history are hidden much more than they are now, as Layla and Jamie discovered in that one issue of XMEN during Messiah Complex in the library.

Seriously, this book could be so great if Duane would just put more story on a page.

[ejulp]

Originally Posted by Reliant

You're not alone. Bishop was my favorite X-Man and I really liked the possibility of something quietly brewing between him and Sage back in X-Treme and their brief stint in Uncanny.
He's gotta be a Skrull...

Eh, I really liked him and Deathbird

[Reliant]

Originally Posted by ejulp

Eh, I really liked him and Deathbird

Oooo...good call. I actually forgot about her. Yeah, she was a really fun match for him...

[Moosarama]

Originally Posted by Zombie Uatu

I love how, having noticed that the story was slow-moving, you read two issues, and then decided, even though you knew the story was slow-moving, to drop it, rather than sticking out the first arc and seeing if things picked up pace.

If a book can't hook a reader after only a single issue, why should the reader continue to care?

[Tony Snark]

Originally Posted by LuisMa316

The baby is evil in his mind. It's like going back in time and killing an evil person when they where a baby......like Paris Hilton.

nevertheless

it's like that simpsons scene where skinner goes crazy "it's the butterfly i tell you! the butterfly!"

[steve2275]

Originally Posted by k lashley

l know....l thought so too but the Marvel site wouldn't lie ...would it?

l drew him about 6-4''.....

yea it would
cable has always been 6' 8'' 350 lbs
and now u know