Release: June 2026 | Writer: Alex Paknadel | Artist: Rogê Antônio | Colorist: Fernando Sifuentes | Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Cyclops finally faces Pierce face to face. Who will walk out victorious?!
*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!*
Rescue Mission:
Cyclops has reached the coal mine successfully. Tearjerker's body is still being dragged around by him as he questions Scott on what his plan here really is. When he gives his simple plan of stopping Pierce and saving the kids, Tearjerker mocks him.
The kids finally are able to free themselves from their collars. Pierce monologues to them about what he's finally discovered. Uru metal, created by the rock of creation. A metal that he feels is more desired than adamantium. It's something that he can use to overpower mutants and keep them under his thumb.
He feels unstoppable.
Unstoppable enough to come into contact with this mineral and fuse with it. Becoming an armored, powerful being. But this connection causes the mountain to rumble and collapse. Mei is doing what she can to use her strength to stop the rocks from killing the remaining kids around her. When they try to find a way out through the rock...a voice calls out to them.
Cyclops blasts through the layers of rock, causing an opening for the kids to escape from, and Mei is happy to see him.
Before they can get too far into a conversation, Pierce punches through the rock that is on top of him. Escaping through the rubble, he attempts a blast towards Cyclops and the kids. He grabs the body of Tearjerker that Cyclops brought, he takes Tearjerker and rips him into two pieces with ease before Cyclops takes a shot at him with Tearjerker's blaster.
Pierce taunts Scott, saying he doesn't have the heart to kill him. Saying that he's just a boy scout, Cyclops attempts to prove him wrong. Blasting Pierce with his optic blast causing a giant crater into the mountain. But Pierce seemingly takes this full damage with ease and attempts to kill Cyclops. Luckily the kids are still here. They vow to help Cyclops. He came for them so they are going to be there for him as well.
He tells them that they need to be X-Men for him right now and follow what he says. After agreeing to this, the kids work together to disorient Pierce and cause damage to his protective armor. Leaving an opening for Cyclops to blast a hole in his chest.
After threats from Pierce, the mountain collapses on top of Pierce, allowing everyone to escape safely.
That doesn't mean Pierce is safe though. While trapped in the rubble, the remains of Tearjerker appear. Like a horror movie, he climbs on top of Pierce and begins ripping parts from his body, claiming that he may even take Pierce's name after this.
The cavalry comes for Cylops and the kids as The Marauder appears.
Mei begs Cyclops to be an X-Man. He thinks about this for a member before he tells her no. He tells Mei that she thinks that she should have a normal life and leave the dangerous X-Men life to him and his team.
"Me? I'll be an X-Man so you don't have to."
Conclusion:
And that's a wrap on Cyclops. I really like how the door was left open on this one. I was happy with the ending to this. Seeing Scott guide a group of young mutants to fight back against the man keeping them as his property basically. Was relieving to see the big bad get what was coming to him.
Tearjerker as the next in line for a potential future villain was set up nicely and made his presence and all these issues matter. He has seen first-hand what Cyclops can do and could be a great foil to him in the future. This is another Marvel title that has been relegated to a mini series that deserves a full length run. The vibe from the end of this issue shows that there’s more left to be told. When this is collected in a trade paperback, it's a very easy book to recommend to someone. Especially someone that loves themselves some Cyclops.