If Wishes Were Horses, Then Beggars Would Ride

For those that don't know, Cyclops' eye beams aren't lasers, but instead beams of pure kinetic force.

In the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe from 1982, it was said that Cyclops' eyes actually open portals to a dimension made entirely of kinetic force. This, as it turns out, was not an explanation okayed by Marvel, and was changed in the next version of the Handbook.

(Instead, he generates the beams himself using sunlight he absorbs.)

But the Dimension of Pure Kinetic Force, nicknamed the Punch Dimension, has persisted among fans ever since. It snuck into another Official Handbook in 2004, and in 2017's Ultimates 2 Vol.2 #9 it finally made an official appearance.

America Chavez, who can make portals to other dimensions, defeated an enemy by opening a portal to a "Dimension of Pure Kinetic Force" which shot out a red beam.

It also got mentioned in Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1 from 2024 as the reason why a satellite is falling on their heads:

But Marvel Rivals has gone and made it the source for Cyclops' powers through multiple lines of dialogue referencing it, explicitly calling it the "Punch Dimension".

And with Marvel Rivals being as popular as it is, this has likely ended the Punch Dimension fight once and for all. Most people will now know the Punch Dimension as his power source. It's now an inevitability that it will come into the comics at some point.

And while such synergy is often derided, I've always liked the Punch Dimension, so I'm very cool with this.

first it was the klingons—they’re originally supposed to be this cruel, bloodthirsty, war-obsessed people—and then tng comes along and it’s like wait no maybe war and violence is a part of their culture and actually ties back to ancient traditions and philosophies so we have to be woke about it.

hey these are the ferengi and they’re supposed to represent everything we hate about capitalist society; they’re greedy, scheming, profit-obsessed, and they look like ugly little trolls to emphasize how much we fucking HATE capitalism. oh wait fuck here comes deep space nine and we have to recognize that they’re PEOPLE. okok what if the pursuit of profit is actually part of their culture and ties back to ancient traditions and philosophies. so we have to be woke about it.

this is the borg, they’re a hivemind race of cyborgs who have no sense of individuality and their only motivation is assimilating people into their society. they want to assimilate humanity and we are completely defenseless against them because their technology is eons ahead of our own and they’re incapable of being reasoned with. oh sweet we have a borg prisoner this is the perfect opportunity to commit genocide against them. fuck actually we can’t commit genocide we’re woke and communists and in space.

hey these are the cardassians, they’re part of a cruel and vicious empire which is supposed to be a representation of fascism and authoritarian regimes, they’re a cold, bloodthirsty people with no sense of empathy or compassion, their society literally references 1984 on multiple occasions, and they’re known for the insanely cruel and inhumane methods of torture they use against their prisoners of war. we hate the cardassians…….. except, here’s a cardassian kid who grew up on bajor, and……. fuck. he’s a person. now we actually have to consider his humanity. and being racist is actually……. bad.

this is the jem’hadar, they’re genetically engineered soldiers who have no sense of individuality and only live to defend the state. they’re all born addicted to a synthetic drug that’s manufactured by the state and administered by their masters—this is how they’re kept subservient. they’re ruthless and powerful and they’re incapable of being reasoned with because their only motivation is violence and killing. so we should kill them all, right? FUCK….. what if they’re actually people. goddamnit. now we have to consider their humanity.

Levi's said yes, actually. Assless chaps and a biker vest. Happy Pride.