Cable #34Cable #34
Title: “Loose Cannons”
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Penciller: Ian Churchill
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Mike Thomas
Editor: Mark Powers
A mile beneath the surface of the desert, Ozymandius, as he has for the past millennia, records the events of this world, in order to determine how they will lead to a time when only the strong survive. Ozymandius carves a picture of Cable in the stone. He says that the one who is called the Chosen One draws ever closer to his destiny of facing Ozymandius’ captor, Apocalypse. Ozymandius says that the world stands at the end of “The Age of Wonders”. He says that before Cable can face his ultimate fate he must face the greatest test of strength. Ozymandius says that the all but omnipotent Onslaught fears Cable’s enormous psionic power so he has possessed “the being with the supreme physical power.” He is a force of destruction that was unleashed by the atom, and his fractured psyche makes him “virtually impervious” to Cable’s telepathy. He says that a shadow has fallen over humanity and that the planet’s only hope is about to be extinguished like a candle in a gale force wind. Ozymandius carves an atom in the stone.
In Baltimore, Maryland, Cable gets up. He
says that he barely survived his encounter with Post, and that he
can hardly keep his telekinesis focused enough to stop the
techno-virus from spreading over his body. Cable says that now he
is going to have to deal with this. He heads toward his
motorcycle. Cable pulls a weapon off the front of the motorcycle.
He says that one of the good things about being telepathic is
that when someone is coming for you that you have a pretty good
idea of who it is. Cable says that he hates being dependant on
technology as the weapon powers up. Cable turns. He sees the Hulk
standing there. Hulk shouts, “Puny human with puny gun
cannot stop Hulk! Hulk is the strongest one there is!” Cable
wonders if Onslaught is controlling the Hulk the way he sent Post
after him. He says that their opponent seems to know their
strengths and weaknesses so well. He says that Bishop always
spoke of a traitor, and that if the traitor is who he suspects
that they are all in big trouble. Hulk shouts that he will smash.
Cable says that he doesn’t want to hurt Hulk. Hulk says that
he isn’t going to hurt Cable either. He says that he was
just joking and that even though they haven’t met before
that they can be reasonable. Cable asks why Hulk is there then.
Hulk says that he is there to help and tells Cable to put down
the gun. Cable says that Hulk’s mind is telepathically
blocked from him. He says that there can only be one reason for
that and that it is a bad reason. Hulk crushes Cable’s
weapon. He explains that he came there to help, but that he didn’t
say who he was there to help. 
Hulk sends
Cable flying with a kick and says, “By the way…
Onslaught sends his regards. Cable hits the ground. He looks
around and sees the Hulk coming right at him. Cable isn’t
sure how much psionic energy he can spare to fight the Hulk and
still keep himself together, but he manages to hold the Hulk
aloft in the air using telekinesis. Cable thinks about how
Blaquesmith once told him that he had power that he hadn’t
even tapped, and that he was worried that he would become like
the Hulk… an uncontrollable force of nature. Cable thinks
how both he and the Hulk rely on their strength of will to
maintain control. He blasts Hulk and sends him flying. He says
that they will just have to see whose will is stronger. While
Hulk is on the ground, Cable tries to psi-link with Banner. He
tells Banner to help him. He tells him to fight back and free his
mind. Cable tells him not to be a victim. A gray hand reaches out
of the crater. Hulk says, “Did you say victim? I ain’t
no victim!” Hulk hits Cable. Hulk says, “Nice try, but
I’ve got a job to do. It’s not personal. It’s
business. And I ain’t never backed out on a job before.”
Cable asks, “Banner?” Hulk hits Cable and says that he
wishes. Cable tells Banner to fight him or he will peel his mind
like an orange. Hulk hits him again. He asks Cable if he really
thinks he is afraid of his mental power. Hulk palms Cable’s
head and says, “That’ll be the day! You aren’t
very bright, are ya? I don’t wanna do this… but I have
to! Onslaught needs you outta the picture… and outta the
picture you’re gonna be!”
The Baltimore Police Department is cordoning off the area.
Over Manhattan, SHIELD’s helicarrier turns south. GW Bridge watches the Hulk/Cable fight. He says that first it was the Pentagon, then Cyclops’ breakout, and now this. He says that the mutant thing has exploded out of control. Bridge identifies himself as the liason to mutant affairs and says that the situation requires their immediate presence. He tells all stations to go to “White Hot Alert” and that the President has authorized putting Baltimore under martial law. Dum Dum tells Bridge that this wouldn’t have happened if he had taken Cable out when he had the chance. Acting head of SHIELD, Contessa Valentina de Fontaine comes on the screen. She tells Dugan and Bridge to save it. She says that they have to get to Baltimore before there isn’t a Baltimore to get to.
Cable’s arm has morphed. It’s
longer and more jagged. He keeps trying to reach Banner
telepathically. He asks if he really understands the extent of
Onslaught’s power. He says that they are talking about the
end of the world as they know it. He tells him that he is better
than this, and to assert his will. Hulk tells Cable to get out of
his head. He says that he has to do what he has to do. Hulk picks
up an entire diner and smashes it onto Cable. Hulk dusts his
hands off and says, “Like I said. Nothin’ personal.”
Hulk feels it getting cold, but says that it doesn’t feel
natural. Storm flies onto the scene. She says that it is natural
and that she was given the power to ultilize nature. She tells
Hulk to stand down and summons hurricane winds to blow him away.
Storm raises the diner off of Cable. She asks how much they have
to endure. She says that first Xavier goes mad, the truth about
Onslaught, and now this. She sees Cable lying on the ground. The
techno-virus is spreading before her eyes. She puts her head to
his chest and hears that his heart has stopped beating. Storm
starts performing CPR on Cable. She says that she knows that he
is a fighter, and that she needs his courage now. Storm shouts
that she won’t allow this. She summons lightning and zaps
Cable’s chest. Cable opens his eyes and says, “Aliya?”
Storm says that she is not his wife and identifies herself. Cable
asks if the rest of the X-Men are with her. Ororo says that they
aren’t and that they are dealing with a crisis beyond
anything they could imagine. Storm tells Cable that Xavier is
Onslaught. Cable says that he knows. He says that no one else
could have deceived them all. Cable says that he always thought
Xavier’s way was a pipe dream, but that he always respected
what he wanted to achieve, and he wanted to believe it was
possible. He asks what is left of the dream now and of those that
followed the dreamer. Storm says that they don’t know, and
that all they know is that he has to be stopped. 
Hulk says,
“Never happen. You’ll never beat Onslaught… ‘cause
you haven’t got a prayer at beatin’ me!” Cable
tells Storm to open her mind and link with him. Guided by Cable,
Storm hits Hulk in the head with lightning and shorts out the
synapses of his brain, and Cable follows immediately with a
telepathic bullet. Hulk falls to the ground. Cable says that he
doesn’t think that they brought Banner to the surface. He
says that it is almost as if his mind shut down. Storm says that
he is changing colors right before them. The savage Hulk turns
around and growls. He says, “Kill!” as he punches Cable
across the face and backhands Storm at the same time.
Ozymandius says, “Like a candle in a gale force wind… it is a hope that is soon to be extinguished.” Apocalypse stands behind Ozymandius and says that it is done. Ozymandius turns and sees his lord. He bows before him. Apocalypse says, “Do you feel it, “High Born”? Have you yet realized that we have reached the end of an age? Humanity has entered it’s darkest hour… and my greatest enemy nears death. What better time to prepare for… the dawn of Apocalypse!”
Mutant Scum rating: 10 out of 10
The Onslaught period in X-men was a tremendously cool one… until they cheated Professor X out of being the traitor. Jeph Loeb does an amazing job with this issue. Cable on the ropes. His handling of the Hulk is better than anyone’s since Peter David left the book leading me to believe that he should have been the writer to succeed PAD. Ian Churchill’s work is extraordinary. His Hulk is massive, his Apocalypse is ominous, his angles are impressive, and his storytelling fantastic. One of the things that makes Hulk the threat he is, is that he goes into other people’s books and still kicks their butt, too bad Hulk will have to lose for the heroes to eventually triumph.
CONTINUED IN INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 2 #444
Review and pictures by The Leader