Few characters are as complex, misunderstood, and unpredictable as Cable. He's arguably the character with the most convoluted backstory in the entire Marvel Universe, what with him being a time-traveling, cybernetic, Omega-Level mutant with an obscure set of powers. Not to mention, he has the most confusing family-lineage ever, with clones popping up behind every corner. But aside from all of that, Cable's actions in themselves are often misunderstood.

As a time-traveler, Cable frequently runs into difficult moral dilemmas. In order to prevent a bad future, he'll take it upon himself to commit the lesser-evil in the present. In this respect, he's not much different from other great Marvel villains like Doctor Doom or Magneto who are convinced that they're fighting for a greater good -- albeit, one that comes at a cost. We decided to take a look at the very busy history of Cable and pick out his most heroic and most villainous deeds. For every morally reprehensible thing that he appears to do, there are several selfless acts he commits for others. Heck, he may have saved the entire mutant species on several occasions. Here are ten of Cable's most heroic acts and ten of his most villainous acts.

20 HEROIC: PROTECTS HOPE

Cable played a prominent role in the huge X-Men crossover "Messiah Complex", as well the fallout from the event. Towards the beginning of the story, it's revealed that Cable has found the first baby mutant to be born since M-day. Cable's plan for the baby differed from that of the X-Men, and of Bishop, who thought that the baby was a major threat that needed to be extinguished. After battling with the mutants of the present day, Cable escaped into the future with the baby thanks to a future Cannonball. For the following years, Cable protected the child, who came to be known as Hope Summers. He continued to clash with Bishop and protected her until she was old enough and prepared to return to her present day to fulfill her destiny.

For a while, Cable was defined as Hope's protector. It's arguably the biggest role he's played in the X-Men universe to date, and certainly among some of the most heroic things he's done. The relationship he forged with Hope, who he took in as his daughter, also added a lot to his character, humanizing a character that can often be seen as cold and heartless due to faith that the ends always justify the means.

19 VILLAINOUS: DECIMATES THE AVENGERS

an image of cable shooting erratically in front of the avengers

Avengers: X-Sanction, a miniseries written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Ed McGuinness, featured arguably Cable's greatest feat to date: Nearly single-handedly defeating the Avengers. Naturally, Cable believed he was doing the right thing, and the conflict erupted in response to a dark future that Cable had heard of. Cable's friend Blaquesmith told him that, in his timeline, the Avengers killed Hope. Cable, who was dying from the techno-organic virus, returned to the present and hunted down the Avengers. First, he subdues Falcon and Captain America. Next, he manages to take down Iron Man and the Red-Hulk. Eventually, the combined efforts of the Avengers are too much for him. He's apprehended and taken to Utopia, where he warns Cyclops of the coming war between the X-Men and the Avengers.

This was another standout story for Cable. Not only does he seemingly rise from the dead (after he apparently exploded at the end of "Second Coming"), but he comes back and nearly takes out the Avengers. And while he may not have gone about things in the best manner, he did foresee the events of Avengers Vs. X-Men. For better or worse, without him talking to Cyclops about the coming war, the events of Avengers Vs. X-Men could've turned out much differently.

18 HEROIC: LEADS X-FORCE

Cable was the leader and one of the founding members of the original X-Force. Why it was that Cable decided to stick around in that era and lead the team remained a mystery until X-Force (Vol. 1) #8, which was written by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld and drawn by Liefeld and Mike Mignola. During the issue, Sauron nearly kills Cannonball (Sam Guthrie), setting off a flashback in Cable's head. It turns out that in the future Cable learned that Guthrie would be the next in a group of immortal mutants called the High-Lords. Cable then took it upon himself to mentor Guthrie and guide him towards his destiny by traveling into the past and leading the X-Force.

As mentioned later in this list, Cable's first experience with a team in the 20th century didn't go so well. But his time with X-Force went much better, although the way he'd eventually leave the team would be less than ideal. Still, X-Force and all of its iterations can't be considered without thinking of Cable. He was also responsible for putting together future versions of the team, which, in time, came to be known as a kind of black-ops team for the X-Men.

17 VILLAINOUS: DITCHES X-FORCE

A while after taking on the responsibility of leading the X-Force, Cable seemingly ditched the team. Of course, he had a reason to do so -- but from the perspective of his teammates, he'd deserted them. It went down in X-Force (Vol. 1) #14-15, written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Terry Shoemaker. Cable had separated from the team after he'd discovered that his teammate Domino, who was working for Tolliver, was planning on betraying them. Cable acted before Domino by faking the deaths of his teammates. Later, it turned out that that wasn't the true Domino. Rather, it was a copycat. Cable rescues Domino and sends her to find the X-Force, while Cable heads underground -- his teammates unaware of what exactly he's doing.

You'll notice at least one recurring theme on this list, and it's that Cable isn't really a team player. His agenda always takes first priority, even if he thinks his plan will be to the benefit of his team. The funny thing is that this doesn't stop him from popping up on all sorts of superhero teams, lately having even become an Avenger. Unfortunately, Cable only seems to know how to leave a team one way -- and it doesn't involve anything close to clear communication.

16 HEROIC: PROVIDES RUMEKISTAN WITH ELECTRICITY

Sometime after the events of "House of M", Cable found himself concerned with the Republic of Rumekistan. Chronicled throughout the series Cable & Deadpool, Cable became an active supporter of the country's revolution. Rumekistan was a country formerly under the possession of the Soviet Union. In the wake of being freed, the country was taken over by a tyrant by the name of Flag-Smasher and remained extremely poor. For a time, Cable acted as the secret leader of the Rumekistan resistance and came out of hiding after Domino assassinated Flag-Smasher. Unfortunately, Cable and Rumekistan continued to struggle with an opposition that seemed intent on keeping them done. One of the good things that Cable did was return electricity to the country. Deadpool, who'd betrayed Cable, had worked with Six Pack and taken out the country's electricity.

Cable's efforts to help the nascent and oppressed country were indicative of his character at the time. He'd taken on the role of a savior of sorts and some other examples of this will be explored further down on the list. Thanks to Cable, who was thought to have died in action protecting the country, was instrumental in Rumekistan reforming its government and building up its economy.

15 VILLAINOUS: BECOMES A HORSEMAN OF APOCALYPSE

Cable went missing after a battle with the monster Skornn. To locate him, Deadpool, Cannonball, and Siryn traveled to alternate worlds. In one world, as the Cable had transformed into a messiah and ruled as a benevolent dictator referred to as Brother Nathan. In another world, Phalanx had spread across the Earth and possessed Cable. In a third world, Cable had become War -- a horseman of Apocalypse. Cable & Deadpool (Vol. 1) #15 featured the battle between the trio of mutants and Cable's War. Deadpool and company stood no chance against War and were left with no other option than to transport out that reality. Eventually, Deadpool, Cannonball, and Siryn would find their Cable in a reality where he'd been raised by the evil Mr. Sinister.

Of all of the villainous things that Cable has done, this is one that he's hardly responsible for. The way Apocalypse gathers his horseman is by abducting powerful mutants and brainwashing them. That being said, the story did show just how lucky the X-Men are that Cable hasn't gone fully to the dark side in the main reality. He's proven to be a handful for even the Avengers -- and when he fought them, he was holding back, not aiming to kill.

14 HEROIC: TARGETS APOCALYPSE BEFORE HIS RISE TO POWER

Going by the name of 'Traveler', one of Cable's early missions involved going back in time to kill En Sabah Nur, Apocalypse, before his rise to power. The beginning of the saga is told through flashbacks in X-Force (Vol. 2) #1, created by Rob Liefield and Fabian Nicieza. Cable's first battle with Nur didn't go so well. He came into conflict with Nur shortly after he'd found the Celestial ship that would grant him his incredible power, and there Nur and his Dark Riders fended off Traveler. During a later battle, after Nur ripped Traveler's cybernetic arm off, Cable shot Nur in the head and left him for dead. However, unbeknownst to Traveler, some of his techno-organic blood mixed with Nur's blood and ended up resurrecting the latter.

Most of Cable's early stories involved his obsession with killing Apocalypse who he saw as potentially the greatest threat facing the mutant species and the world. It's a testament to Cable's deeply embedded sense of justice that he trailed Apocalypse for so long -- chasing the threat across time. While he may have failed here, Cable would get another shot at defeating his nemesis. And when that time came, he would make sure Apocalypse was dead.

13 VILLAINOUS: DESTROYS THE X-MEN

In What If? (Vol. 2) #46, the premise is "What If Cable Destroyed the X-Men?" The story picks up as Professor X returns to the X-Men after an extended break from the team. When he comes back, he learns that the team has changed dramatically, utilizing methods that he doesn't approve of. A fight breaks out between Cable and the mutants loyal to him and everybody else. Cable and his crew escape, but they're determined to get rid of Professor X and his influence. Awhile later, Cable assassinates Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Professor X by lobbing a bomb at them while they're having dinner. This event causes enough schism within the X-Men, as a group led by Wolverine are intent on killing Cable while an opposing group led by Storm want to apprehend him. More death and chaos ensue.

Eventually, Wolverine succeeds in hunting down and killing Cable, but the chain of events that he's set up continue to plague the X-Men after his death. While this is a "What if" story, it's not difficult to imagine Cable taking out the X-Men (he did nearly destroy the Avengers). In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if some form of this story took place in the future -- and was canon. Cable is somebody who sticks to his convictions no matter what.

12 HEROIC: LEADS THE AVENGERS

Not that long after Cable nearly single-handedly destroyed the Avengers, he led his own team of rag-tag Avengers in an effort to prevent a terrible future. Cable arrives from the future in Uncanny Avengers (Vol. 3) #2 and lets the team of Unity Avengers -- which includes Deadpool of all people -- know that they screw up big time in his future. He commandeers the team to prevent the Shredded Man from spreading his toxin across the globe. Cable succeeds in leading the team to victory over the Shredded Man and preventing a global crisis and even decides to stick around a while longer. In subsequent adventures, Cable helps the team to track down the Red Skull, who'd gotten his hands on Professor X's brain, and in a fight against Ultron.

Things turn around quickly in the Marvel Universe. Not long after Cable took out Captain America during Avengers: X-Sanction, Captain America wants Cable to stick around and lead the Unity Avengers. Of course, that wouldn't be the first time that Marvel's superheroes have forgiven Cable for his questionable methods. It must be a testament to the near-universal trust that the superhero community puts in the time-traveling mutant. Seriously, few superheroes are as easily forgiven as Cable is -- just look at some of the other things he's gotten away with.

11 VILLAINOUS: MISSION GOES HORRIBLY WRONG WITH DEADPOOL

Cable and Deadpool go way back. The two worked together at times and clashed at other times during Cable's time with X-Force, and though they'd occasionally come into conflict with one another in the following years, they'd eventually establish a somewhat secure working relationship that was explored in the series, Cable & Deadpool. When that concluded, they both went their own way for awhile and then met up again in the miniseries Cable & Deadpool: Split Second. The story begins with Cable approaching Deadpool and warning him not to kill a scientist that he's been hired to kill. Then the time-traveling assassin named Split Second interferes and things get messy. Deadpool accidentally kills several innocents, including a child and a pizza-boy. Thankfully, there's no shortage of time-travel devices in the story, and the two are able to travel back in time and right their wrong.

While this may not exactly be Cable's fault, we can't help but wonder why Cable hangs around with Deadpool in the first place. There an odd pair for sure. Deadpool's antics seem to utterly clash with Cable's super-serious approach to his duty. Sometimes, it even seems as if Cable is encouraging Deadpool's violent chaos -- an absurd thing to do for someone concerned with the greater good.

10 HEROIC: FINALLY DESTROYS APOCALYPSE

Years after his failed attempt to kill Apocalypse before his rise to power, Cable would capitalize on an opportunity to finally fulfill his destiny. The chain of events was set off in X-Men #97, created by Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, and Terry Kavanagh. After a failed attempt to transfer his consciousness into the body of X-Man, Apocalypse instead merged with Cyclops, producing 'Cyclopalypse'. Following that, there's a four-part story called "The Search For Cyclops", created by Tom Raney, Joe Harris, and Scott Hanna. The team eventually catches up to Apocalypse, and Jean Grey and Cable manage to rip Apocalypse's consciousness from Cyclops's body. Lucky for Cable, he has his Psimitar handy -- a type of spear that concentrates and amplifies psionic energy. Cable takes the Psimitar and thrusts it through Apocalypse's ghost-like consciousness, finally putting the evil mutant to rest.

Here, Cable's victory is a two-for-one. He saves his father, as well as finally kills the evil mutant that he's been chasing across time and space. But, what's perhaps even more impressive about Cable, is that he doesn't rest after this. You'd think that maybe he'd retire, having fulfilled what appeared to be his life's mission. Instead, he continues to fight for the greater good.

9 VILLAINOUS: REVIVES APOCALYPSE

As a time-traveling mutant who's always aware of the distinction between larger and lesser evil, Cable has a bit of a savior complex. He'll do anything if he thinks it's in the name of the greater good. For instance, he'll revive Apocalypse -- the evil mutant that he'd spent the entire first half of his life trying to kill. In the wake of "House of M", Apocalypse emerged to the shock of the X-Men. How this happened was revealed in Cable & Deadpool (Vol. 1) #26, written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Lan Medina. Cable revealed that he used the techno-organic virus to revive Apocalypse, arguing that the mutant community needed a common enemy in order to unite them after the tragic events of "House of M".

You'd think that reviving Apocalypse would be the last thing that Cable would ever consider doing. Sure, Cable can take extreme and highly-questionable measures to fight for the greater good, but revive Apocalypse? Arguably the most powerful and malicious mutant to ever live and the mutant that Cable had spent a lifetime trying to kill? It just goes to show you that when it comes to serving the greater good, nothing is off limits for Cable.

8 HEROIC: RETURNS FORGE TO SANITY

If you just so happen to lose your mind, Cable is a pretty good friend to have. During "Messiah Complex", Forge received a traumatic blow to the head from Bishop, which set into motion a new strange pattern of behavior. In his strange state of mind, Forge caused an interdimensional invasion of Earth. The X-Men confronted him but were not able to help him. Soon after, Cable began receiving visions of a terrible future, prompting him to organize a new X-Force team. Before he could do so, he had to get Forge on board. Cable contacted Forge and thought of a way to return Forge's sanity. Cable used his telepathy to convey to Forge a scenario where his mind was like a machine. Forge then went about fixing his own mind, and soon he was back to normal.

Cable's method of helping to return his friend back to his right mind was nothing short of ingenious. Just as much of this event was proof of Cable's good heart, it was proof of his intelligence and creativity -- two qualities that probably don't immediately come to mind when you think of Cable. For all the times Cable has failed his friends, he's also done incredibly kind things like this. Of course, with Cable, it was for the greater good. But it was kind nonetheless.

7 VILLAINOUS: LEAVES HIS TEAM BEHIND

After decades of traveling between the future and the ancient past, Cable decided to camp out in the 20th century for a while. There he threw together a team of mercenaries known as Six Pack, who were often contracted by Mr. Tolliver -- somebody who'd eventually become a thorn in Cable's side. Cable screwed up big time when he decided to scrap a mission that involved chasing down Stryfe. This didn't sit well with Mr. Tolliver, who, in response to Cable's decision, sent men to kill the Six Pack. The members of the Six Pack were able to fend off the enemies, but only at the expense of a growing disdain for their leader, Cable. There began the downfall of Six Pack, thanks to an uncharacteristically cowardly move from Cable.

This was one of the more surprising things that Cable has done, which is saying something, considering how Cable is one of the most unpredictable mutants around. However, most of the unexpected things that he's done are done for a noble reason. In this case, it appears to be a selfish act of cowardice -- one that would be followed up by an even more appalling act of selfish cowardice. Indeed, Cable's time with Six Pack represents a shameful period in his career.

6 HEROIC: SAVES KANE FROM STRYFE

Cable and Stryfe fighting from Marvel Comics

Like Apocalypse, Stryfe is a villain that Cable fought across different time periods, their two fates inextricably intertwined. That's not really surprising when you consider how Stryfe is an evil clone of Cable, raised by Apocalypse. Stryfe's hatred for Cable often proved dangerous for Cable's allies. Two Cable's teams, Six Pack, and X-Force, both found themselves caught in the war between Cable and Stryfe. Awhile after Cable had originally ditched Garrison Kane and Six Pack, Cable found himself in a similar scenario. Stryfe held Kane hostage, but this time around Cable maneuvered a way to save Kane without sacrificing the mission. Furthermore, after a battle with Stryfe, Cable teleported out of there and took Kane with him.

During this time, after fans had discovered Cable's acts of cowardice via flashback, it wasn't clear if Cable was who they thought he was. Cable's past cast a shadow on some of his more heroic deeds, and he needed this redemptive act to remind fans where he stood. The act of saving Kane in a scenario that matched the one where Cable left his team to die was a clear indicator that Cable had grown and learned from his mistakes. Of course, he would continue to do apparently villainous things, but gone were his episodes of cowardice.

5 VILLAINOUS: ABANDONS SIX PACK

Shortly after he screwed his team over by letting Mr. Tolliver down, Cable did something much worse. Considering how noble Cable has behaved in certain other stories, the way he left the Six Pack is nothing less than shocking. Shortly after Six Pack's failed mission, they proceeded to tail Stryfe. They track Stryfe to an underground bunker. A battle ensues, and at one point, Stryfe holds Six Pack member Garrison Kane hostage, and then sends off an explosion in the base. With the building crumbling around them, Cable uses his powers to teleport out of there -- leaving his teammates behind. While all of his teammates end up surviving the event, they don't easily forgive him.

As if screwing his team over earlier wasn't enough, Cable commits the most cowardly act he's ever committed and leaves his team to die. This isn't exactly what you'd want out of a leader. No, you'd want a leader that took care of you before they took care of themselves. Cable, who could've probably used his powers to at least teleport away some of his teammates before the building collapsed, left them all to die. It was an all-time low for him. Thankfully, his time with Six Pack was a bit of an anomaly in an otherwise heroic career.

4 HEROIC: BUILDS PROVIDENCE

As previously mentioned, Cable has a bit of a savior complex. It's motivated Cable to do some great things and some terrible things. After receiving the Legacy Virus, which weakened Cable's techno-organic virus, Cable's power-level reached an all-time high. Aware that he wouldn't be able to sustain that level of power for too long, Cable quickly took action to do the most he could possibly do and leave a legacy behind. Cable used his telekinetic powers to gather the pieces of his old spaceship, which were scattered across the planet. Using the pieces, he forged a floating island called Providence. Cable invited the planet's greatest minds and hearts to live on his floating utopia.

On the surface, this seems like a perfectly noble act on Cable's part. His intentions, along with those behind most utopias, seem good. It could even be judged to be the greatest thing that Cable has ever done. Not only has Cable prevented terrible things from happening, with Providence, he's also built a better future. However, all is not how it seems -- as most things with Cable are. It turns out that there was good reason for the world governments to be suspicious of Cable and his utopia.

3 VILLAINOUS: CREATES A GLOBAL THREAT

The governments of the world grew suspicious of Cable and his island. It was unclear what Cable's endgame was, and what it meant for the rest of the world. Part of Cable's intentions was revealed when he teleported aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and demanded that the various governments of the world all destroy their weapons. Following that, the U.S. government launched a missile strike at Providence, which Cable blocked using his telekinetic powers. The X-Men then met up with Cable to try to reason with him. Cable revealed to Cyclops that he had a death wish -- that his grand plan was to unite the world against a common enemy. And that common enemy would be him.

Along with reviving Apocalypse, this is one of the most quixotic things that Cable has done. And yet there's still a tragically heroic element to it. Cable wanted to be the greatest villain of them all so that the world governments could set aside their differences and unite against a common enemy. Fortunately for Cable, he has a good habit of bouncing back from these events. Soon, he'd find Hope and protect the future of the mutant species, redeeming himself by doing something truly noble on a grand scale.

2 HEROIC: SACRIFICES HIS LIFE

The peak of Cable's heroism came near the end of the epic X-Men crossover called "Second Coming". The event kicked off after Hope had become old enough, and desired to fulfill her duty where she was needed. Cable and Hope returned to the present day and immediately met with struggles with Bastion and his Human Council. In chapter 13 of "Second Coming", which took place in X-Force (Vol. 3) #28, written by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, and drawn by Mike Choi, Cable sacrifices his life. In the issue, Cable has allowed the techno-organic virus to consume him as he strains to keep a portal open to allow the X-Force back into the present day. Holding the portal open takes its toll on Cable, and he ends up disintegrating from the pressure.

Cable's heroic self-sacrifice represented the peak of his redemptive character arc that began with "Messiah Complex". After doing absurd things like posing as a global threat and bringing Apocalypse back to life, Cable finally did something supported by most mutants. Plus, sacrificing himself for the sake of the X-Force served as a redemptive moment for the times he'd let down the Six Pack, X-Force, and his other teams.

1 VILLAINOUS: SHOOTS HIS SON

One of Cable's worst decisions, which, unsurprisingly, ended up causing a lot of trouble in the long-run, was shooting his son, Tyler Dayspring. Tyler was the offspring of Cable and his first wife, Jenskot. Tyler was abducted and then brainwashed by Stryfe. Tyler captured Cable's friend, Dawnsilk, and then created a neural link with her in order to steal important secrets from Cable's group. In order to prevent Stryfe from obtaining the information, Cable shot Tyler and disconnected the neural link. As a result, Tyler suffered minor brain damage and never forgave his son for it. Tyler then became Mr. Tolliver, a villain who'd frequently come into conflict with Cable and the X-Force during the 20th century. At a later point, Tyler became the villain known as Genesis and was put down for good by a berserker Wolverine.

Cable not only shot his own son, but he's also responsible for what his son became -- namely, a first-tier supervillain. As Mr. Tolliver and then Genesis, Tyler plagued Xavier's squads for years until he was finally put to rest. The silver lining is that Cable had a much better relationship with his adopted daughter, Hope. If this list has taught us anything, it's that Cable seems to be learning from his mistakes as time moves on.