Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Exceptional X-Men #4
As the dust from Krakoa's collapse continues to settle in the modern era of X-Men comics, the long-term effects of Charles Xavier's once-vaunted leadership can be seen in the lives of his students. The harrowing effects of Xavier's actions alongside Orchis are still felt, especially on the older children. Among the X-Men's first students, Kate Pryde is Professor X's greatest tragedy.
Exceptional X-Men #4 – written by Eve L. Ewing, with art by Carmen Carnero – finally begins to unravel the lasting effects of how Kate Pryde was broken and reshaped following Orchis' invasion of Krakoa.
As Kate's new students slowly develop, alongside
Guidance from Emma Frost and Iceman
Kate herself still runs away from the echoes of those she killed under the moniker “Shadowkat.” Now that his trauma has come to light and his students know everything Kate is forced to reflect on how Xavier's lessons have shaped her. as she decides how she wants to teach her students in the future.
Charles Xavier transformed Kitty Pryde from teenage prodigy into lethal soldier
X-Men Exception #4 – Written by Eve L. Ewing; Art by Carmen Carnero; Color by Nolan Woodard; Lyrics by VC's Travis Lanham; Cover art by Carmen Carnero and Nolan Woodard
From childhood, Kate Pryde was recognized by Charles Xavier and Emma Frost as a talented prodigy. Like many of Xavier's other children, Kate was recruited at no more than thirteen years of age to be trained to become an X-Man. While Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters gave the young mutant a place to safely explore their powers, the X-Men were a militant group full of adults and experienced fighters. As with the
X-Men First Class
Kate, despite her age, he was expected to put his life on the line for Xavier's dream.
Now that Xavier's dream has come and gone, a new ideological war is brewing between Charles' children. A new fight to determine whether
Xavier was vindicated
in using others as pawns in their war. At this point, even Cyclops, his most devoted soldier, cannot deny it, although he still justifies it. Decades after her youthful introduction, in the ruins of Krakoa's collapse, Kate has become exactly what Xavier has become; a killer. Mere moments after the nation's end, Kate unleashed relentless violence against the Orchis agents surrounding her, naming her bloody rebirth in Shadowkat, Xavier's true prodigy.
Of all fan favorites X-characters in the franchise, Kate Pryde had one of the most tumultuous stories; not just in-universe, but in terms of how often the hero has been redefined and reinvented over the years, at least compared to some of his peers. Chris Claremont originally introduced “Kitty” Pryde as a “focal character” that readers could identify with as she acclimated to Marvel's world of mutants for the first time. Over time, his role in the franchise changed drastically – and the current X-era is once again offering a significantly altered view of his role.
Even at his most vengeful, Shadowkat has always been a tactical and efficient assassin.
Xavider didn't teach self-defense, he taught the art of war
No matter how the issue is looked at, there is one simple truth. Charles Xavier created soldiers. Soldiers who, in the end, proved to be expendable pawns to ensure their dream could last to see another day. When he was entrusted with the lives of children, he turned them into weapons. Yes, when Kate exploded the first time, she crossed a moral line, but not one that hadn't been crossed time and time again.
in the ranks of Xavier
. However, what can you expect from a person who, during their most important years of psychological development, was forced to fight against villains willing to kill?
Just like Kate Pryde, Charles Xavier's role in X-Men the franchise has taken on a radically new context – forcing every character in its orbit to audit their role in their lives.
After taking on the mantle of Shadowkat again, Kate became a much colder and more tactical character. She wasn't leaning on anger or revenge; death was just a necessary factor in a larger struggle of which she was a part. These are war lessons that were taught to children, who internalized these messages until adulthood. Now this
Kitty Pryde has surpassed Shadowkat
she can't escape the ghosts behind her. With your own students to lead, she is realizing the difference between teaching self-defense and the arts of war.
Just like Kate Pryde, Charles Xavier's role in X-Men The franchise has taken on a radically new context – forcing every character in its orbit to audit their role in their lives. This is, of course, the reason for making such significant changes to the X-Men's paradigm; cultivating new and unexpected character dynamics, Marvel's X-Office can find new tensions between familiar characters and new dramatic angles to tell classics X-Men stories. Kate Pryde and Charles Xavier's relationship is just one prominent example of this, among many.
Not all of Charles Xavier's students share Kitty's values, and that's what makes the X franchise so exciting right now
Charles Xavier's legacy is dividing his students
Kate is far from the first X-Man to call out Xavier's callous mishandling of children's lives. An immediate example was
during Cyclops' leadership
of the X-Men during X-Men: Schism event. Much like the Krakoa era, mutants found momentary peace among themselves, uniting in an artificial island utopia. Naturally, humanity wouldn't leave the mutants alone, leading the X-Men and their newest teenage recruits to face battle. Throughout the five-issue event, Cyclops and Wolverine consistently disagree over the X-Men's willingness to use children in combat.
When faced with likely death, Cyclops, like Xavier before him, rallied his inexperienced teenage soldiers to fight at his side.
On her first mission, fourteen-year-old mutant Temper unintentionally killed several men, admitting to Cyclops that she couldn't get the screaming out of her head. In return, Scott reassures her that she did a good thing. Just a few scenes later, Utopia is targeted by a Sentinel unlike any other. When faced with likely death, Cyclops, like Xavier before him, rallied his inexperienced teenage soldiers to fight at his side. Echoing the words of his own mentor,
Cyclops talked about his X-Men
as tools of war, while also reinforcing his pride in them “stepping up.”
Kitty Pryde isn't the only member of the X-Men who rejects Xavier's methods
A new generation of mutants means a chance for change
A civil war is on the horizon for the X-Men. Although Charles Xavier originally turned himself in to face the consequences of his legal and moral crimes, he will soon step out of bounds, triggering an all-out manhunt for X-Man. As Kate will now have to regain the trust of her innocent young students,
Rogue and Cyclops
they are about to come into conflict over the same ideological conflict. Like Kate, Rogue has been put in charge of a cast of young mutants, who she refuses to turn into child soldiers like Xavier and Magneto did to her.
A new generation marks a new opportunity to do things right. These children, many of whom have not been touched by the trauma of war and death, look at their teachers with wide eyes. Both
Kate and Rogue
understand their position in the lives of these teenagers. However, both heroes learned from the mistakes of their predecessors. Kate Pryde refuses to play more killerswhich is why she will have to prove to her students that she is nothing like the man who raised her. Kitty Pryde is creating a new future for herself X-Men, devoid of Xavier's callous misuse of other people's lives.
Exceptional X-Men #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.