Warning: Contains spoilers for Exceptional X-Men #4!!
When it comes to the battlefield, no one trains harder than the X-Men. They rarely get a break from war, and the constant battle for survival unfortunately defines the lives of many mutants. To live, they must be strong, but one of Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde's newest recruits may hold the key to living life a little more fully - and the X-Men need a dose of that.
In previews of the next Exceptional X-Men #4 – written by Eve Ewing, with art by Carmen Carnero – new recruit Bronze reflects on all the people in her life who have always told her to be strong and encouraged her to value strength and resilience above all else, she begins to question why the advice is always the same.
Despite her X-Gene giving her ultra-durable metal skin, similar to Colossus, Trista still yearns for a different kind of life; IInstead of constant force, there should be room for "be kind. Be peaceful. Be adorable."
New mutant recruit Bronze knows there's room in life to be kind - and the X-Men need to hear that
Exceptional X-Men #4 – Written by Eve L. Ewing; Art by Carmen Carnero; Color by Nolan Woodard; Travis Lanhan lyrics
Although Bronze's introduction to the lives of the X-Men began with a familiar story in which her mutant abilities manifested and made her a target, she already stands out among her fellow recruits and the team as a whole. At a time when many veteran X-Men, including Trista's mentor Kitty Pryde, feel tired and trapped in an endless cycle after the failure of Krakoa, Bronze quickly becomes excited about the prospect of being part of a team with others. young mutants. She is instrumental in creating codenames for her fellow recruits, Melee and Axo, and her upbeat personality is already becoming a trademark.
Bronze's energy is exactly what the X-Men need. The atmosphere of the entire franchise took a dark and depressing turn after the fall of Krakoa, with even the most resilient mutants struggling to find a way out. They all need a reason to keep going, and the idea that there are still sweet, gentle things to enjoy in the world is exactly what they're missing. Although Bronze is preparing to train alongside some of the world's best mutant teachers, she has a firmer grasp of what is truly worth living, and the X-Men need that motivation.
The X-Men are trapped in a cycle they can't break – but Bronze can make a difference
Why the X-Men Fight
When Krakoa fell, mutants lost something irreplaceable. Peace is an impossible dream and joy is out of reach. Even Jubilee, one of the most optimistic X-Men, admitted that there is no more room for fun. They are all trapped in an endless cycle of struggle and pain, interrupted only by the occasional “victory” that never lasts. Yet despite everything they've endured, new mutants like Bronze enter the scene every day. Trista's spirit is not yet so burdened, and she has not lost sight of what she values. All around you, the focus is on strength, but strength alone is not worth living for.
All incarnations of the X-Men... have to move on, because mutants like Bronze deserve the chance to meet and enjoy a peaceful life.
The only way to free the X-Men from the sense of hopelessness that has gripped them is to try something different. Your usual approach to dealing with threats and a world that doesn't want them isn't working, at least not in any way other than breathing for another day. They continue to fight, but they need a reminder of why they fight. All incarnations of the X-Men, whether it's Cyclops' Alaskan team, Rogue's Louisiana X-Men, or Emma and Kitty's new recruits, have to move on, because Mutants like Bronze deserve the chance to meet and enjoy a peaceful life.
Bronze Offers Hope for the X-Men – What's Needed for the Franchise's Future
Marvel's mutants cannot succumb to despair
While Bronze's approach is outside of what the people in her life expect from her, it's a breath of fresh air within the franchise. Arguably, every mutant already knows the value of being strong. They have no choice but to learn this fact early. Even in her short life as a mutant, she's had to explore the parts of herself that others encourage, and her mutant abilities seem to embody that. There is nothing "stronger" than having ultra-resilient tanned skin as a protective shell, and she has all the strength she needs without giving up her softer, less hardened side.
By refusing to abandon the kindest parts of herself, new mutant Bronze has unlocked the secret of the future that all mutants and the X-Men deserve to have.
There is value in the sensitive parts of existence, and they are often denied to mutants. The X-Men don't need more battle strategies and training exercises. They need to take advantage of the pieces that are missing and lean on those who see the world in a way that they are too tired or hurt to notice. Trista's abilities may make her a mutant powerhouse, but there's still room for sweetness. By refusing to abandon the kindest parts of herself, new mutant Bronze has unlocked the secret to the future of all mutants and the world. X-Men deserves to have.
Exceptional X-Men #4 will be available on December 25, 2024 from Marvel Comics.