Warning: Spoilers for Exceptional X-Men (2024) #1 ahead!Kitty Pryde is a fan favorite and beloved member of the X-Men, serving a staple role on Marvel’s many mutant teams across dozens of iterations. She immediately endeared herself to readers when she was first introduced as a 13-year-old mutant first discovering her powers. This is why it’s so heartwarming to see her character arc come full circle in Exceptional X-Men (2024), when Kitty takes a mutant apprentice under her wing.
Eve L. Ewing, Carmen Carnero, and Nolan Woodward’s Exceptional X-Men (2024) #1 opens with Kitty Pryde being heavily jaded after the fall of Krakoa, doing her best to avoid any mutant activity or getting involved with any iteration of the X-Men. She simply wants to live a normal life as a bartender in Chicago. When security pulls a gun on a young mutant named Trista at a concert, however, Kitty leaps into action to rescue the girl.
From there, Kitty effortlessly falls into the role of mentor as she ushers Trista to safety – a complete reversal of Kitty’s original role when she first debuted decades earlier. Given how much she’s grown as a hero and as a person, it’s no wonder that this series will see Emma Frost seek Kitty out to help run a new X-Men team.
Kitty Pryde’s New Role Marks The Start Of A Mutant Generation
Kitty Has Been The Face Of Marvel’s Mutants For Decades
When Kitty first appeared in Uncanny X-Men (1963) #129 (by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin, and Bob Sharen), she was just another “gifted youngster” with abilities she didn’t understand, being courted by the X-Men and the Hellfire Club alike. The landmark cover for Uncanny X-Men #139 emphasizes Kitty’s role as the neophyte and surrogate through whom new readers are to identify, immortalizing the phrase “Welcome to the X-Men, Kitty Pryde – hope you survive the experience!” into Marvel Comics legend. Whether going by “Sprite,” “Ariel,” “Shadowcat,” or “Kate,” Kitty has been a staple member of the X-Men ever since.
Ever since she debuted, readers have continually related to Kitty Pryde; as such, she has become a Marvel icon on many different levels. Not only is she one of Marvel’s most prominent Jewish characters, she is also bisexual (though she has only recently been able to express that part of her identity on-panel). Kitty resonates with readers in so many different ways that it’s no wonder she’s been a fan favorite for decades. Out of all of the X-Men, few have been able to speak to the masses in the way that she does; she makes readers from all walks of life feel seen.
As comic careers go, Kitty has had one of the most exciting and most varied. She has the alien dragon, Lockheed, as a stalwart companion; served as a swashbuckling member of the Marauders; trained as a ninja and assassin; dated a surprisingly large quantity of the “Peters” in the Marvel Universe; explored the depths of space as a Guardian of the Galaxy; acted as Headmistress for the Xavier Institute; and even led the X-Men herself for a time. One of the greatest delights in reading X-Men over the years has been watching Kitty Pryde grow from the wide-eyed girl from her debut to one of Marvel’s most capable and multifaceted heroines.
Kitty’s Generation of X-Men Is All Grown Up
The Mentor For The Next Generation
Nothing emphasizes Kitty’s growth more, however, than pairing her with her own wide-eyed youngster. Trista isn’t an exact parallel to Kitty; Trista already knows she is a mutant, for example, and seems to have a firm grasp on her gift (turning into metal). Rather, it’s the ease with which Kitty steps into her mentorship role as she shepherds Trista to safety that shows how far she’s come, acting as the aloof and mysterious X-Man to Trista’s wide-eyed neophyte. There’s even a joke about Kitty being out of touch with the current younger generation, emphasizing her role as an older and established teacher.
As of the time of this writing, it has been 44 years since Kitty Pryde made her first appearance. While the general sliding scale of Marvel’s timeline makes it difficult to say just how many years it has been in-universe since Kitty’s debut, there is something both heartwarming and bittersweet about seeing someone who was once the youngest member of the X-Men step into her teachers’ shoes. Now, with Trista as her protégé, it’s more clear than ever that Kitty Pryde’s story has come full circle – from student to mentor, with plenty more stories yet to come in this new X-Men team.
Exceptional X-Men (2024) #1
is available now from Marvel Comics.
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X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
