Besides that, Longshot wasn’t really concerned about being a better fighter when he made his decision to leave. From uncannyxmen.net:

“Not long after that, however, Longshot questioned his use to the team when he couldn’t do anything to help during their fight with the Super-Sentinel Master Mold. Dazzler’s attempts to cheer him up provided only some temporary comfort, because he also found himself plagued by nightmares of Spiral, Rita and himself being unable to save the people he loved. Lacking any true sense of self or identity, Longshot finally began to question his amnesia instead of just “living for the moment” as he had been ever since he joined the X-Men. Bidding his good-byes to Storm, Longshot left the team in order to search out some clue to his true origins. [Uncanny X-Men #247-248]”

Here’s a link to that page, you have to scroll down to the bottom…

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/spotlight/showquestion.asp?faq=10&fldAuto=117&page=3

Actually, that was not it either. Indeed, that myth plainly states Longshot wasn’t supposed to be Gambit. Again I’d heard it from several people, and my own readings of the books support this. Longshot became disillusioned with himself right before the Siege Perilious Fiasco. (This was from how Inferno ended and I think this happened around Uncanny 247-428.) He literally disassembled himself, talking to Storm, and said something to the effect of “I need to become better, stronger… a better fighter.” He was then not seen again until his appearance in X-Men #5-7.

Now this does not mean that idea was entertained for long, but the name Cable (TV themes in Mojoworld), the glowing eye (Both of their left eyes glow), the idea about becoming a better fighter and the mysterious arrival of Cable shortly after Longshot’s disappearance lend credence to this theory. It really seems like a logical progression of thought to link the two, so I was curious if other’s had heard this.

No that was Gambit as covered in 181: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/11/13/comic-book-legends-revealed-181/

And I do agree that it was very disrespectful of Harras, Lee, and Portacio to do what they did, especially as Liefeld didn’t want for Cable to have that origin, especially as he was working on the character at the time. The retconning of Cable doesn’t make sense, especially the later elements such as his using his powers to suppress the TO virus, which makes scenes that happened during the X-tinction agenda even more strange – when Cable’s and everyone elses powers were shut off, shouldn’t the virus have gone crazy? And it also makes scenes in early X-force issues, where Cables fake skin was damaged and he looked the Terminator also strange…of course, if he was using fake skin to cover up part of his face, why not cover up the arm as well? I guess he thought a cybernetic arm looked cool…but I digress…

Looking back, I am curious as to whether or not Liefled adapted the origin Harras and co. provided. For the most part, I’m not sure, thought there are a couple of scenes (X-force #1, maybe?) where we see Cable using low level telekenetic abilities…

I have no idea who Ahab was supposed to be.

Your excerpt of Walt Simonson recalling the design process of Cable in a message he posted on racmx is interesting when you consider Dan Fraga, ex-Liefeld stablemate, previously mentioned Cable’s design going further back than “New Mutants” #87 to Marvel’s Star Wars #16, where Valance The Hunter first appeared in 1978.

It is interesting that the Hunter was designed by Walt Simonson, husband of NM-writer Louise Simonson, the writer credited with creating much of Cable’s initial personality and purpose, despite Rob denying Louise having any such input.

On the subject of Ahab though, like you I agree he was never intended to be Cable.

But if was not originally intended as Cable then who was he intended as?

While writers later created Rory Campbell to be the younger version of the Master of Hounds, this was obviously not the original intention of creators such as Claremont whose dialogue in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 revealed he already had plans for Ahab’s identity, the most telling excerpt being when Ahab calls Cyclops “laddie-buck” suggesting his being of Scottish descent. But the major telltale sign I’ve heard no one else mention before is how the Master of Hounds was going grey in a really unusual pattern.

The only question I’m left with is whether Claremont intended him as Rogue’s father, brother or son and what circumstances led to her mother moving all the way to the lower Mississippi?

Cheers,
James.

Would a writer of Louise Simonson’s skill actually use a name like, “Commander X.” How generic can you get!

My first thought after hearing that name (ok, second thought, after “gee, that’s generic”) was that if Charles Xavier was “Professor X” this would be “Commander X”, someone with a more militant approach to human/mutant relations than Xavier’s “scholarly” approach, which is what Cable was intended to be initially.

So it might have worked, despite being terribly generic.

While I think most people agree that Mr. Liefeld produced the first sketch of the character now known as Cable, there has been talk in the past of where he may have gotten his starting point. A former co-worker has suggested that the concept was lifted a bounty hunter who appeared in from Marvel’s Star Wars #16. As the May 2006 of Lying in the Gutter recounts, the description of this character is: “…an imposing human in his mid-fifties whose rugged and grim demeanor hides a terrible secret: a body that is half cybernetic. The left half of his body, which is cybernetic, is normally covered with syntheflesh; a small scar above his right eye…. In battle carries a variety of weapons included a repeating blaster that his enhanced strength allows him to easily wield.” In looking at the cover (http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=32709&zoom=4), you can see the resemblance to Cable once you add in the bionic eye, which Harras apparently suggested.

My sense is that Cable the character represents the pasting together of input from a group of people and any attempt by one person to claim credit is ignoring the creative process.

And just to be clear, I am not Sean Murphy the artist so this is not some big deal. I’m just a guy who once enjoyed Mr. Liefeld’s work, but grew disenchanted with the selfless promoting even while past commitments were not being met.

We can name drop a bunch of villians post-Ditko to counter the argument, but how many of those are household names (well, almost house hold names) like Dr. Octopus, Green Goblin, Sandman, Kraven, Lizard, Mysterio, Electro Scorpion, the Vulture?!?!

Since Spider-Man 3 came out, three. Before that, two.

STRIPERELLA!!!

and as for this:
“How many great comic book characters did Stan Lee create without Lee or Ditko? Zero.”

Assuming you meant “KIRBY or Ditko”, Daredevil and Iron Man still spring to mind.

Liefield created Cable. Wein & Trimpe created Wolvie (first appearance was in Incredible Hulk, remember?.

“Rhino, Shocker, the Kingpin, Morbius, the Jackal, the Hobgoblin, Hydro-Man, Venom, and Carnage”

Note: I said classic.

Rhino, Shocker and Hydro-man: maybe. Morbius & Jackal: relics of the 70s. Hobgoblin: I love him, but he’s Green Goblin without the green. Kingpin: was nothing until Frank got a hold of him. Venom? cool costume, weak motivation. Carnage? Uh…no. Not unless we’re going to add ‘the Spot’ to this list.

We can name drop a bunch of villians post-Ditko to counter the argument, but how many of those are household names (well, almost house hold names) like Dr. Octopus, Green Goblin, Sandman, Kraven, Lizard, Mysterio, Electro Scorpion, the Vulture?!?!

Of course there are some half-decent characters to come along since then, but Amazing Spidey 1-38 have earned the tagline ‘superheroes 101′ for a reason!

If these sketches were truly the first rough ideas behind his characters (as they seemed to be, since they were very rough sketches and had certainly been revised a bit by the time they saw print), then it would seem Cyber was the first scribbled name attached to the concept.

So Cyber is the name on his birth certificate. What a big, bionic liar.

Someone pointed out that we all mock Liefeld’s art, though there were clearly a gajillion people buying his books back then…that’s an excellent point! Here’s how it went in my neck of the woods: I remember standing around in the comic book with a bunch of fellow artists and writers, none of whom were Liefeld enthusiasts, wondering what the heck it was about this guy that people liked so much. The store owner then pointed out how much his early issues were selling for. One by one, we all started picking up the current stuff, hoping to sell it further down the line to pay for more comics (preferably ones drawn by competent artists).

In short, I suspect it was speculation that caused Liefeld’s fanbase to swell beyond that initial bunch of people awed by his detail and visual angst, but lacking in the overall visual accuity to recognize his inconsistency and lack of figure-drawing ability.

With the exception of Rhino, Shocker, the Kingpin, Morbius, the Jackal, the Hobgoblin, Hydro-Man, Venom, and Carnage, respectively.

(Not to sound like a know-it-all jerk or anything.)

Have a good day.
John Cage

People may just be thinking that Kirby created the look because of that.

Silly people.

~P~