Cable first appeared in Slightly New Mutants #143 emerging out of Kirby's Rib Shack carrying his infamously oversized assault rifle and a to-go order of extra-spicy pig's feet. One thing lead to another, and suddenly Cable found himself leading the rag tag group of mutants in a battle to defend a world that hates and fears them. Teaming up with Wolverine at least once a month in at least two different X-books lead to his status as the second most prominent mutant in Marvel comics.