Written by David Tischman, Illustrated by Igor Kordey.
Issues 97 - 100 (one story) of Cable collected into one Trade Paperback.

This 4 part tale collected into one book is from the latter issues of the ongoing Cable series (before it was rebooted & renamed "Soldier X"). Cable (Nathan Summers or "Nate") is a character that began as a flat, stereotypical character but over the years (mainly due to the efforts of writer Fabian Nicieza in the pages of X-Force and the X-Men titles, as well as in Cable's own comics) he has become an interesting character with the potential for great stories. The Shining Path tells of Cable's trip to Peru to save the troubled country from the ambitions of the terrorist organisation named "The Shining Path". As he fights to "save the future by changing the present" he is also attempting to pass on the teachings of the Askani order (the clan in the future that raised him... a long and convoluted story) to the people he runs into.

The concept is an interesting one and could have resulted in a very good story. Instead it just misses the boat, though it's not without redeeming qualities. David Tischman's writing is rather average, solid but lacking in any kind of flare. His thought boxes (for want of a better term) are very basic and adequate at best. His dialogue is of a slightly higher quality though some of it is really cold and emotionless. In particular he writes a very icy and personality-free Cable. Whilst I am unaware of what the character has been through since the first 35 issues I read, I do assume he hasn't been completely destroyed as a human being. The dialogue is mostly functional, perhaps displaying an inexperience in writing this kind of book from Tischman. The plotting is also solid but distinctly lacking in any vibrancy or energy. It's predictable in the way it deals with the whole "terrorists/freedom fighters taking over a country" issue and the story rumbles along without trying to really engage the reader. You want to read on but only just. The rather ropey art doesn't help matters either.

Ropey art? Perhaps. There's a certain style to it and I can't deny that at times during the book I felt a great appreciation of Igor Kordey's work. However there are too many instances when the characters reach new levels of deformity and messiness. The inking (Kordey's own) is far too harsh and "slap it all on". A better inker, such as Dan Green, Tim Townsend or Art Thibert, could have brought his pencils to life in a way that his own flat and overly-simplistic inking cannot. His depiction of Nathan is often overly skinny & short (yes, Cable's size seems to change from panel to panel), which isn't what I'm used to for the character. He also inflicts some truly awful work on Nate's hair throughout the book. Still, bonus points for managing to keep the one artist for all 4 issues collected here. Marvel's notorious ability to have to intersperse fill-in pencillers every 2 or 3 issues had reached new heights when last I read regularly from their output. Visual consistency is important when telling an enclosed story like this.

Overall it's a rather average book. The major revelation for Cable during this story arc is something that should be a really momentous event in his life. Instead it comes across as something that just kind of happens and which he treats in the same cold fashion with which he is written throughout the book. His powers are treated in a nice manner though. Cable's use of telekinetic shielding and small, precise shots of telekinetic & telepathic power suit the setting and task he is engaged in. Perhaps the most interesting part of the tale for me was the introduction of Askani teachings to the small children of the revolutionary camp, who then proceed to prevent the adult fighters returning and continuing to ruin their lives. I would have liked to see more of the teachings being discussed by the kids and spread amongst them. If that had got more focus then the book would be all the better for it. However, as it is "Cable: The Shining Path" is a rather average collection that could have been something more. Unless you're a completist then it's a little hard to recommend parting with the cash for this one. It's certainly unlikely to excite new readers and as an old reader returning to see where the comic had got up to, I would rather have come in someplace else.

Written to Rage Against The Machine - Settle For Nothing