By Marc Strom

CABLE #18 cover by Ariel Olivetti

Beginning in CABLE #18 on September 2, writer Duane Swierczynski and artist Gabriel Guzman send the two mutants on their own space odyssey, but trouble still has a way of finding them.

"With Cable, it's a strategic move," Swierczynski qualifies. "Bishop's been able to track him anywhere on the planet, so going off-world—especially with Earth itself circling the drain—is a smart move."

Bishop's ongoing quest to kill Hope has met with its fair share of snags along the way, but his inability to follow through has done little to deter him so far.

"Bishop's always been a hero," relates Swierczynski. "Heroes always beat impossible odds to save the day. I think it's in the contract. So Bishop believes that he will save the day, and prevent this dangerous mutant from fulfilling her nightmarish destiny.

"That said, Bishop's actually got it fairly easy in this upcoming arc. All he has to do is pretty much push a button. I can say no more."

Art from CABLE #18 by Gabriel Guzman

Though it may seem like Cable may paint himself into a corner by heading into space, with little room to escape from any potential threat, he ultimately had no other choice.

"Well, it's pretty much last call on planet Earth, and space makes for a very attractive hiding spot," Swierczynski elaborates. "Neither Cable nor Bishop can teleport, so putting light years between Bishop and Hope would seem like a good thing.

"At first."

As for just how much longer Cable intends to keep Hope away from the present, Swierczynski divulges that Nathan doesn't feel he can make that decision himself.

"Cable will go back when Hope tells him she's ready," the writer goes on. "Don't forget, the whole reason Cable took her into the timestream is to let her choose her own path, and not be a pawn in someone else's plan. He's not going to wake up one day and say, 'Okay, young lady, enough of this crap. Grow some mutant abilities or you're grounded.'"

CABLE #18 also features art from newcomer Gabriel Guzman, and Swierczynski says the artist made a perfect fit for this story.

Art from CABLE #18 by Gabriel Guzman

"Guzman doesn't bring much [to the book]...except awesomeness," exclaims Swierczynski. "I don't want to say too much and give away some of the shocks ahead—but this story demanded a James Cameron level of action, and Guzman delivers in a big way. And I wouldn't be surprised if you see Guzman hanging around Cable's future a lot more."

And while Cable and Hope's immediate future will involve a bit of space faring, Swierczynski teases that it will also hold at least one or two major changes as well.

"Some fans have been clamoring to see Hope's mutant powers. Some fans have been clamoring for Bishop to die. And some fans have been clamoring for Cable and Hope to return to the present. Well, let's just say that some of these fans will be very happy in the near future..."

Get your copy of CABLE #18 on September 2!

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