Warning: Contains spoilers for Exceptional X-Men #3One of Marvel’s fiercest rivalries – between the iconic X-Men heroes Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost – is reignited in an epic preview of Exceptional X-Men #3. Starting out as enemies in love, Emma and Kate’s complicated relationship slowly healed into a reluctantly respectful partnership, but it seems like all that goodwill flew out the windowas Frost reveals that she is messing with Pryde’s mind.
Since the fall of Krakoa beloved Kitty Pryde is hiding out in Chicago trying to live a normal lifebefore inadvertently acquiring a crew of new, untrained mutants, Axo, Bronze, and Melee.
Marvel Preview for Exceptional X-Men #3, by writer Eve L. Ewing and artist Carmen Carnero, reveals the beginning of an epic battle between Kitty Pryde and the White Queen, as Frost attempts to psychically kidnap Axo, Melee, and Bronze while insulting Kittyprompting Bronze to declare that they better leave before the fight turns “Super Saiyan”, a reference to Dragon Ball Z.
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Exceptional X-Men #3 (2024) |
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Release date: |
November 20, 2024 |
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Writers: |
Eva L. Ewing |
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Artists: |
Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard |
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Cover artist: |
Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard |
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EMMA FROST VS KITTY PRYDE! Kitty Pryde’s determination to stubbornly stay away from all things X-Men becomes more strained by the day as EMMA FROST once again sticks her nose into things. Meanwhile, our new team is finding its rhythm. AXO, MELEE and BRONZE have officially entered the fray! |
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The X-Men rivalry between Kitty and Emma goes back decades
Only in recent years have the two heroines truly confronted their past.
The relationship between Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost could not have started more bitterly. Both characters debuted in the same issue – 1980s Mysterious X-Men #129 – where Frost attempted to recruit Kitty into the villainous Massachusetts Academy, before she captured several X-Men heroes. Kitty escaped Emma’s clutches and helped the X-Men escape as well, which means the White Queen is the first true villain Pryde fought against. Emma’s inclusion in the X-Men, first as a school teacher, Generation Xand later as a prominent member of Amazing X-Menwas constantly rebuffed by Kitty Pryde, who refused to believe that Emma had changed.
In an alternate reality, the universe of And if…? Amazing X-MenKitty went so far as to kill Emma, placing her heart after her chest, after Frost became a “Dark Phoenix”, showing how tense and conflicted their relationship was in the past. Over the years, Kitty and Emma began to respect each other, particularly their passion for teaching, leading the two to become true confidants while running the Hellfire Trading Company on Krakoa. Emma has always seen herself as the best of Kitty, which can be seen in Exceptional X-Men when she tells Pryde that she has more experience as a teacher but still thinks highly of Kitty. The two heroes haven’t fought in years, so it will be fascinating to see who “wins” the battle in Exceptionaland if they can overcome Emma’s invasive actions.
Hero or antihero, Emma and Kitty are passionate about mentoring young mutants
But can they work together to help these new students?
Teaching has been fundamental to Emma Frost’s characterization since her debut. Emma was devastated by the deaths of her Hellions students at Massachusetts Academy, dedicated herself to mentoring the Gen X mutants and witnessed the massacre of the young mutants she taught while in Genosha. Everything she does is “for the kids,” and while her attempt to kidnap Bronze, Melee, and Axo is obviously bold, it almost certainly comes from a desire to do good. Likewise, Kitty Pryde was the principal of the Jean Gray School, taught the time-displaced X-Men, and mentored many young mutants.
If Kitty and Emma can overcome this rekindled rivalry, the two X-Men The heroes could become Marvel’s greatest teaching team in history, forging a future for a whole new generation of mutant leaders. Of course, someone has to win the fight first…
Exceptional X-Men #3 from Marvel Comics debuts on November 20, 2024.