WARNING: SPOILERS FOR EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN (2024) #1 AHEAD!Kitty Pryde is a fan favorite and beloved member of the X-MenServing a staple role in Marvel’s many mutant teams in dozens of iterations. She immediately endeared herself to readers when she was first introduced as a 13-year-old mutant first discovering her powers. That’s why it’s so heartwarming to see her character come full circle 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 severely 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 just 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, Kitty jumps into action to save the girl.
From there, Kitty effortlessly falls into the role of mentor as she ushers Trista to safety – A complete reversal from 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 the series will see Emma Frost seek out Kitty to help lead a new X-Men team.
Kitty Pryde’s new role is the beginning of a mutant generation
Kitty has been the face of Marvel’s mutants for decades
When Kitty first appeared in Invisible X-Men (1963) #129 (by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin and Bob Sharen), she was just another “talented fellow” with abilities she didn’t understand, being courted by the X-Men and the Hellfire Club. The landmark cover for Invisible X-Men #139 emphasizes Kitty’s role as the neophyte and surrogate through whom new readers should identify, immortalizing the phrase “Welcome to the X-Men, Kitty Pryde – hope you survive the experience!“In Marvel Comics Legends. Whether going by “Sprite,” “Ariel,” “Shadowcat,” or “Kate,” Kitty has been a staple member of the X-Men ever since.
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Since she debuted, readers have constantly connected with 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’s also bisexual (though she’s 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. Of all the X-Men, few have been able to speak to the masses like her; She makes readers from all walks of life feel seen.
As a comic career, Kitty has one of the most exciting and most varied. She has the alien dragon, Lockheed, as a powerful 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; Explore the depths of space as a guardian of the galaxy; Acted as Headmistress for the Xavier Institute; And even led the X-Men themselves for a time. One of the greatest joys in reading X-Men over the years is watching Kitty Pryde grow up From the wide-eyed girl of her debut to one of the most capable and multifaceted heroines of Marvel.
Kitty’s generation of X-Men are all grown up
The mentor for the next generation
Nothing emphasizes Kitty’s growth more, however, than pairing her with her own wide-eyed junior. Trista is not an exact parallel to Kitty; Trista already knows she’s a mutant, for example, and seems to have a firm grip on her talent (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-Men to Trista’s wide-eyed neophyte. There is even a joke about Kitty being out of touch with the current younger generation, Emphasize 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 hard to tell exactly how many years it’s been in the universe since Kitty’s debut, there’s something heartwarming and bittersweet about seeing someone who was once the youngest member of the X- Men. Her teacher’s shoes. Now, with Trista as her protégé, that’s more clear than ever Kitty Pryde’s The story has come full circle – from student to mentor, with many more stories yet to come in this new one X-Men Team.
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