Anything that challenges the status quo will be challenged. It's sad just how true this volume was when it came to depicting real-life politicians and governments. ( )

In the second collection of this series, Cable has built his refuge, Providence, and has attracted the attention of the world governments. The X-Men (which includes his father, Cyclops) are the first team to try to take him down, but things don't go as smoothly as anticipated, and Reed Richards is peripherally brought in to call the Silver Surfer. An epic throwdown between the Silver Surfer and the highly-powered Cable ensues, which ends with Deadpool "lobotomizing" Cable (at Cable's behest) to prevent him from burning out (like his clone, X-Man, had). The next two issues show Deadpool desperately attempting to bring Cable back to health (although he can't exactly remember where Cable is stashed).

This is one of my favorite collections in the series. I love that the unwilling relationship forged in the first series (by their DNA being linked) blossoms into a true friendship. One of Deadpool's long-standing goals (introduced pre-Kelly, even) is to become a hero. And, for a while, that had morphed into a desire to join the X-Men. And once he's recruited by the X-Men (which involves a hilarious moment of Deadpool demanding to wear a particular uniform), what does he do? He betrays them, effectively killing his chances to EVER be considered for the roster, to save Cable. And then, even after the world believes that Deadpool turned Cable into "a stalk of celery," he still fights to bring Cable back (which he does, in the end). Also, the appearance by Agent X? PURE GOLD. As is Weasel. Major win all the way around. ( )