Marvel recently revealed the official codename for its upstart Cyclops replacement in X-Men lore. And far from dispersing rumors that this new character was created in Scott Summers’ mold, the official codename makes it clearer than ever that the two are linked.
Debuting in 1963, Cyclops has become a Marvel icon, but – especially compared to other characters like Spider-Man, Captain America and Hulk – he has few spin-off characters to his name. Other than Beatrice Bartholomew’s Cyclops-Lass, there are few heroes who could be framed as the ‘next Cyclops.’
That just changed thanks to a new mutant who combines the powers of Cyclops and Wolverine. However, far from the leader of the X-Men, he’s their newest enemy…
X-Men Debuts Polyphemus, The Evil Cyclops
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In the recent Uncanny X-Men – from Gail Simone, Juan Frigeri, Matt Wilson and Clayton Cowles – fans learn the official codename of the villainous mutant Polyphemus. A product of Weapon X-Finity’s experiments, Polyphemus is a mutant with fiery optic blasts, brainwashed into fighting his fellow mutants.
A member of the Scavenged, Polyphemus was captured and experimented on in the sublevels of Graymalkin Prison – a mutant gulag built atop the X-Men’s former base at Xavier’s School. The experiments were intended to create “new Wolverines,” with each of the mutants having metallic claws grafted to their bodies.
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The codename ‘Polyphemus’ comes from Homer’s Odyssey, and is the name of the cyclops who captures Odysseus’ crew. If the young mutant’s optic blasts didn’t link him to Scott Summers’ Cyclops, this codename definitely would.
X-Men’s Scavenged Team Explained
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As mentioned above, the Scavenged are former prisoners of Weapon X-Finity, recently broken out by Sarah Gaunt’s Hag. A former lover of Professor X, Gaunt has dedicated herself to corrupting his legacy, taking the Scavenged as her reluctant students.
While Sarah helped hunt and capture the Scavenged for Weapon X-Finity, she’s convinced them to accept her as their leader, utilizing her personal fortune to exert influence over the vulnerable teens. She recently used them to attack the X-Men, showcasing their codenames and powers.
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Ultra-strong physiology, claws forged of mystic ‘Somber Steel.’
Animalistic physique including hooves and antlers.
Biological ‘jet’ wings and rocket-like projectiles.
So far, it’s unclear how much of the Scavenged’s hatred for the X-Men is brainwashing and how much is sincere. While fighting Nightcrawler, Polyphemus referred to the hero as a “demon” (while other members of the team were less condemnatory), hinting he may have pre-existing prejudice against mutants.
X-Men’s Scavenged Claim Their New Base
A newly released preview of Uncanny X-Men just revealed new details about Polyphemus and the Scavenged, hinting that they’re not totally sold on Sarah Gaunt’s leadership. Despite this, she’s been able to leverage their runaway status to install them in her family home and turn them into her personal enforcers.
The issue hints that Gaunt will use the Scavenged to hunt and kill mutants, with Marvel teasing that one of the X-Men’s Outsiders (now the New Mutants) will be forced to join this team. Polyphemus seems to have the least moral qualms about Gaunt’s mission, and is shown in civilian clothing for the first time, with Juan Frigeri and Michele Bandini’s cover art for Uncanny X-Men revealing an orange costume with black stripes, as well as flaming eyes and a Scott Summers-esque visor.
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X-Men just introduced its evil answer to Cyclops, as Polyphemus joins the Scavenged as a member of the franchise’s latest team of evil mutants. With Wolverine’s claws and Cyclops’ optic blasts, Polyphemus is X-Men‘s vicious new villain – one who may or may not be responsible for his actions.
Uncanny X-Men is available now from Marvel Comics, with issue coming November 4.
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