After keeping readers in suspense, Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe has finally confirmed the debut of a new version of Cyclops, like Natsu Tsukishima officially releases his powers for the first time. The historic moment is delivered in Last X-Men #8 by Peach Momoko, featuring a pivotal scene with Natsu, allowing her to finally use her powers and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who she was meant to represent.
In this brief but essential scene, Natsu and Mori are approached by a group of peers, mocking the pair for their involvement in the Children Of The Atom cult. The bullying quickly takes a dark turn when they begin insinuating that Natsu is a murderer before one of them prepares to throw a can at her. However, a red beam of energy shoots out of Natsu’s left eye, destroying the can as the teens call her a freak and a murderer.
This scene confirms for sure that Natsu is Last X-Menis the equivalent of Scott Summers, the famous X-Men leader known as Cyclops in the main continuity.
Natsu is officially Marvel’s new twist on Ultimate Cyclops
How Natsu’s Cyclops Powers Compare to Scott Summers’
At this point, the world is more than familiar with the iconic optic blast mutations wielded by Cyclops, aka Scott Summers. Famously not the X-Men version of heat vision, Cyclops has the ability to fire hard-hitting optical blasts from both eyes, due to their nature as portals to a ‘Punch Dimension’ of pure kinetic force. These explosions are extremely powerful, capable of even blowing holes in mountains and tanks.
While the upper limits of Natsu’s optic blasts remain unknown, it is entirely possible that his optic blasts function very similarly, if not identically, to Scott’s. Although the presence of blood coming from his left eye indicates additional disadvantages that Scott does not have. (The jury is still out on whether or not Natsu also has Scott Summers’ superhuman neck muscles.)
Natsu and Cyclops are similar, but it’s the differences we’re excited about
Fans had previously speculated that Natsu would be this book’s equivalent of Scott Summers: both characters are older brothers in their respective families, and both characters wear blue with yellow accents (Natsu’s name can also be translated as “Born in Summer” in Japanesee, and she always wore an eye patch over her left eye). Now Peach Momoko has firmly chosen her as Last X-Men equivalent to Scott Summers. However, both characters also share notable differences.
Natsu’s childhood within the Children Of The Atom cult already sets her apart from Scott, although the genetic experimentation within the cult certainly harks back to Scott’s time at the State Foundling Home, where he and his brother Alex were experimented on by Mister Sinister. And while Natsu was effectively a child soldier during her adolescence, like Scott was in the X-Men, the notion that she may have killed someone in her past suggests a similarly dark origin story, albeit one pulled in a different direction.
Last X-Men #8 is now available from Marvel Comics.