Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops is one of the most polarizing members of the X-Men, and this is nothing new. He was the first in comics, the leader of the team, when Professor X first put them together. He was also the most boring, the one who followed all the rules and seemed like the boring, perfect little boy scout.

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There eventually became more and more reasons for fans to hate Scott Summers. He was spoiled, refused to listen to anyone else, and he thought he was the only one worth leading the team. Eventually, he became the opposite of his original self, going from the do-gooder to an all-out mercenary at times. But does he deserve so much hate from the fans?

10 DOES - HE WAS SANCTIMONIOUS

Many fans disliked Scott Summers from the beginning. He was the one who wanted to follow all the orders and never wanted to break rank. However, he also looked down on other mutants, even if he never meant for it to appear that way. He was dismissive of those who were more freewheeling and always had a cruel thing to say about Wolverine. He just acted like he was better than everyone else, and that is never a good look.

9 DOESN'T - HE WAS A GREAT LEADER

Cyclops Optic Blast feature

While Cyclops was someone who seemed to consider himself better than everyone around him, there was a good reason for it. Professor Xavier put a lot of faith in Scott and put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He never buckled under pressure and was always one of the best leaders of the X-Men.

In later years, when Scott became more dangerous, he was still a great leader, making the hard decisions that others were unwilling to make, leading by example, and ensuring his team always had a chance to win.

8 DOES - HE POUTED WHEN HE DIDN'T GET HIS WAY

If there is one thing that makes Cyclops one of the least liked members of the X-Men, it is his petulant attitude that leads him to pout when he doesn't get his way. He saw Wolverine as an alpha male and a threat and always treated him poorly as a result.

At one point, he was challenged for his leadership role by Storm, and they settled it by sparring in the Danger Room. Storm won, so Cyclops quit the X-Men, took his ball, and went home. He is a baby when he doesn't get what he wants.

7 DOESN'T - HE BELIEVED IN THE CAUSE

Cyclops screaming against a map of the world in Death of X #1

There is a reason Professor X trusted Cyclops to lead the team as a young man. Cyclops believed in what Xavier was teaching. He believed in doing the right thing to protect mutants, not only today but in the future. He believed in doing anything necessary to make sure that the dream became a reality.

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He was the one man who stood by Xavier through it all and rarely questioned him until later in his life when he realized Xavier's dream and the mutant cause was no longer the same. He still believed in the cause, though.

6 DOES - HE WAS A TERRIBLE HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND

Cyclops kisses Emma Frost in Marvel Comics

In the early days of the X-Men, Cyclops loved Jean Grey, and they seemed like the ultimate super couple. However, Scott had some problems at that time and was a little too overly possessive, pushing her away more than once.

When she died, he ended up marrying a new woman in Madelyne Pryor, and the two were expecting a child. When Jean Grey turned out to still be alive, Cyclops left Madelyne and his child. Later, when Jean died again, he moved on to Emma Frost, and when Jean was back again, he kept making poor decisions.

5 DOESN'T - HE OVERCAME A TOUGH LIFE

There is a reason that Cyclops is such a fearless leader and such a strong proponent of the mutant cause. He knows what it is like to grow up with a society that hates him. Unlike most mutants, Cyclops has no control over his powers and has to wear his visor to keep them in check. No matter what he has done to help society, they have always turned on him. He has watched young mutants die, and humans hate them no matter what they do. Scott has a right to be bitter.

4 DOES - HE SENT CHILDREN IN AS MERCS

In X-Men: Schism, the team splintered down the middle. By this time, Cyclops was 100-percent behind the black ops operations of a group like X-Force. He sent a young mutant to take out the Hellfire Club and ordered her to kill them all.

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He sent X-23, a young teenager at the time, to kill people, knowing how her past tormented her. This led to Wolverine and Cyclops in a fearsome brawl, and it ended with the two men leading their own X-Men, with Cyclops still sending in children to kill.

3 DOESN'T - HE IS FEARLESS

There is something to be said about a leader who is willing to do anything he asks someone else to do. Cyclops is that kind of leader. He will charge headstrong into battle. He will take on any enemy, no matter how big or how strong. He will make the tough decision, and while some might think he makes bad choices for his teammates, he is willing to follow them into the depths of hell to save mutant-kind. Cyclops is a fearless leader and doesn't deserve hatred.

2 DOES - THE MUTANT MARTYR

Dark Phoenix Cyclops stands over Xavier's dead body.

During the Avengers V. X-Men storyline, the two sides battled for Hope, with the Avengers wanting to take her into protective custody and the X-Men believing she might save them all if she takes on the Phoenix Force.

What ended up happening the Phoenix took on members of the X-Men and Cyclops was the last man standing after he murdered Professor X and then surrendered to take his place at the mutant martyr. It was a move that made him a villain, and he did it just to reignite the mutants cause against humanity.

1 DOESN'T - HE IS THE ULTIMATE X-MEN Member

There are a lot of people who represent what the X-Men are about. Wolverine is someone many count as a favorite, but he isn't about the X-Men first and foremost anymore, as he took the Avengers side in the way against them. Storm is not around as much, and while Kitty Pryde is the heart of the team, she is not its face. When thinking of the X-Men, Cyclops is the face that leads the way. He is the ultimate X-Men member, and if fans love the X-Men, they should always respect Cyclops.

NEXT: X-Men: 5 Times Cyclops Saved The World (&5 Times He Almost Ended It)