As I pondered a bit about the original X-Men, I remembered how the Beast got stronger, faster and hairier in Amazing Adventures #11. Jean Grey was improved from Marvel Girl to Phoenix in Uncanny X-Men #102. (And yes, I know about all the retcons but let's keep this simple). The Angel was transformed into the deadlier and far more offensive Archangel in X-Factor. And Iceman's powers have been expanding for years.
But what about Cyclops? Has Scott's power ever been increased in a storyline? Do you think that his power has increased? Could he be one of the few Silver Age Marvel characters who has not been upgraded?
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Just a tangent, but Bobby Drake's powers were 'unlocked' by Loki in Thor back during the Simonson run.
I don't recall any expansion of Cyclops' powers, but perhaps it's because he was generally regarded as the most powerful original X-Man in the first place.
Iceman, Angel, the Beast and Marvel Girl were all seriously outclassed power-wise by Cyclops, at least back in the Silver Age. I still think that the Legion of Substitute Heroes could have taken them back then.
Since Cyclops was pretty powerful to begin with, I think Marvel's writers upgraded him in other ways. He's become a better and better leader, to the point where his tactical skills may actually rival those of Captain America at this point. He's also gotten quite a bit better dealing with people on a personal level. This was a guy who was a near-terminal wallflower in the beginning, who has come out of his shell with a vengeance.
I would like to know what happened to his ability to control his blasts without a visor/glasses, as revealed in Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men. That's a pretty major upgrade.
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