Magneto Explains Why Cyclops is A Better Hero Than Wolverine, & It Comes Down To 1 Specific Superpower

Warning: spoilers for X-Men #7Cyclops and Wolverine have always been at odds with each other, whether it was over Cyclops’ style of leadership, or their famous love triangle with Jean Grey. Wolverine may be the fan favorite, but Cyclops is the one chosen to lead the X-Men. Now Magneto tells Cyclops exactly why he's a better hero than Wolverine, and it comes down to one tragic factor: Wolverine's immortality.

In the preview of X-Men #7, Cyclops is brooding over his struggle to envision the future for the X-Men, when Magneto goes to talk sense into him by telling him that stewing over hypotheticals and inaction might make Wolverine popular, but the X-Men depend on Cyclops' focus and sense of urgency. Wolverine has time to kill, but Cyclops heard the clock ticking for his people every second of the day.

Wolverine’s Immortality Means He Lacks The Vision Needed To Lead

X-Men (2024) #7 - Jed MacKay, Netho Diaz, Sean Parsons, Livesay, Marte Garcia & Fer Sifuentes-Sujo

It’s undeniable, Wolverine is an incredibly strong superhero with one of the best healing factors in the Marvel Universe, and his immortality has given him over 200 years of combat experience. In the preview, Magneto points out that the consequences of Wolverine’s long life have manifested in a hardened personality, antisocial tendencies, and a disregard for time. Wolverine is a role model and leading figure to the X-Men, but he can never be a consistent and dependable leader the way that Cyclops can.

Related

I Never Knew Wolverine Had This Power, But It Actually Suits Him

Marvel's preview for Wolverine #2 just revealed a useful new ability for Wolverine, and it makes perfect sense for the adamantium-clawed X-Men hero.

Wolverine has experienced many tragedies in his life, lowering the significance of any one he could face next, and teaching him to avoid investing in friends or family, let alone letting their wellbeing guide his actions. In Uncanny X-Men #3 by Gail Simone and David Marquez, Rogue begs Wolverine to help her lead the runaway mutant kids, but he refuses and leaves, subtly admitting heroes like Rogue and Cyclops are better suited to lead.

Mortality is What Makes Cyclops The Leader Mutants Need, And A True Superhero

While Wolverine Has Immense Power, Cyclops Excels in What Wolverine Lacks

Cyclops is by no means perfect, sometimes making morally questionable choices, but he is at his core a level-headed hero who will always make his main priority the X-Men’s mission at hand. Magneto points out that Scott's mortality means he's too aware of the stakes, and acts admirably in response. Even though Cyclops doesn’t have Wolverine’s healing factor or longevity, he is still an elite strategist and accomplished fighter who’s even defeated Wolverine in several X-Men story arcs.

Wolverine and Cyclops often clash and this is partially due to how opposite the two are: Wolverine is the rule breaker while Cyclops is Charles Xavier’s prudish star pupil. Cyclops knows he won’t live as long as Wolverine, but because of this, Cyclops knows his days are numbered, and has devoted every one of them to the mutant cause.

X-Men #7 will be available on November 06, 2024 from Marvel Comics.

Wolverine

The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men's wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He's played in Fox and Marvel's movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.