Joe Casey Comics: Cable #68

[Continuing my look at Joe Casey's run on Cable. New posts Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.]

Apocalypse's Harbinger has been set on self-destruct and is going to destroy New York City. Which may be a good thing because prophecy says that the destruction of NYC will actually prevent Apocalypse from doing what he does. But don't tell that to Cable or the Avengers, because they won't have none of it!

More high stakes action as Cable volunteers to sacrifice himself by using Iron Man's jet-boots to take Harbinger out to the Atlantic. What I particularly like is that, once again, Cable puts on his full-face mask, taking the role of the superhero again--particularly with the inclusion of flight. The idea that Cable will sacrifice himself also plays into his messianic role.

However, just before Harbinger explodes, hands appear out of a transdimensional warp and carry Cable away, saving him. Can we say "deus ex machina"? This may, in fact, be the closest thing to the traditional deus ex machina that I've seen in comics in a while--the deus ex machina was a crane that would lift characters out of harm's way in Greek theatre.

Despite this, everyone thinks Cable is dead. The page when before his rescue/"death," Ladronn does a great job by showing a large picture of Cable clutching Harbinger with small panels depicting people in Cable's life slowly takes over the page, showing how his life flashes before his eyes. And the range of people depicted covers Cable's entire life. The last panel is Cable kissing Stacey.

Stacey's point of view is big in this issue as she struggles with the fact that someone she cares about is out possibly dead--and, then, at the end, is certain he's dead. This sets up the next two issues, the last of Casey and Ladronn's run.

Next week will conclude my look at Cable with the final two issues of Casey and Ladronn's run, and the Wolverine/Cable: Guts 'n' Glory one-shot.