What are the X-Men Character Cyclops' powers?

Answer 1

Cyclops, otherwise known as Scott Summers, has the mutant ability to release optic blasts from his eyes. Over the years, there have been several disputes about where these blasts come from, especially when considering comics vs movies vs Cartoons.

The most recent, official release on where his powers come from are his body absorbing ambient energies like solar and cosmic energy and metabolizing it in his body. This then released as a ruby colored concussive energy from his eyes, which at its most powerful has been said to be the force of 500 pounds per square inch. His blasts have been described as having the power to punch holes through mountains on many occasions. In the first edition of the Official Marvel Handbook, Cyclops' blasts were said to originate from an alternate dimension which his eyes have apertures to. This has been disputed since though, throughout the years.

It is also worth noting that Cyclops is unable to fully control his optic blasts. The reason for this has also been disputed and changed over the years, but the most prominent explanation, and the one most used by fans, is that when he was thrown from the plane as a child, he hit his head causing brain damage. This damage was apparently irrelevant at first, having no obvious effects, until his mutation manifested and caused him to not have complete control. However, in recent years, it has been said that his lack of control is completely psychological, which has been evidenced by him gaining control over his blasts until the Phoenix Force possessed him.

There is a common misconception about his blasts that they are lasers, and therefore produce heat and can cause fire. This misconception has even made its way into the films. This is FALSE!! His blasts are completely concussive force, and the only ways that a fire can be caused is by blasting something flammable or through friction. His blasts themselves don't burn. Though a few X-Men comic writers over the years have made errors themselves on this issue, most notably having Cyclops start a fire with his blasts when really all he should have been able to do is blast the branches into splinters.

He also has a few other abilities related to his mutation. First, he is resistant to his own energy projections / blasts. He is also immune to his brother, Alex's, but not his other brother, Gabriel's. He also has incredible spatial awareness and an enhanced sense of trigonometry, giving him greater capabilities as a tactician. He is also a master tactician and strategist, first-rate leader, expert pilot, expert martial artist, and has shown some degree of telepathic resistance.