Warning: Spoilers ahead forExceptional X-Men#5!With theX-Menfractured and Charles Xavier imprisoned,Cyclopsand Rogue have formed their separate versions of the iconic superhero team, however, neither leader has been nearly as successful asKitty Pryde. While Rogue and Cyclops fight over Professor Xavier’s dream, Kitty creates her own group of heroes, proving she has what it takes to take Professor X’s place and lead the next generation of X-Men.
InExceptional X-Men#5 – written by Eve L. Ewing, with art by Carmen Carnero – Kitty comes face to face with her past actions when it’s revealed to her new X-Men trainees thatKitty Pryde killed people in the fallout of Krakoaand one of her new X-Men recruits, Melee, quits. When Melee comes back, Kitty tells Melee she wants her to have a choice, something Kitty felt like she didn’t truly have as a young X-Men.
In training young X-Men from her own faults,Kitty shows just how much she’s grown, and how she is different from Professor X.
While Rogue & Cyclops Fued over Xavier’s Dream, Kitty Pryde Makes Real Strides with the Newest X-Men
Exception X-Men#5 – Written By Eve L. Ewing; Art By Carmen Carnero; Color By Nolan Woodard; Lettering By Travis Lanham; Cover Art By Carmen Carnero & Nolan Woodard
While Cyclops and Rogue have been highlighted as leaders of the new era, the two have their separate ways of following Xavier’s dream which has causedmass tension between the formerly unified X-Menas both carry major faults.Rogue has brought children into battle similarly to how Xavier did, while Cyclops is refusing to train young mutants at all.Kitty, on the other hand, has been the perfect balance by training young Mutantswith the help of Emma Frost, and more importantly, giving them a real choice.
Unlike Charles Xavier, Kitty is honest with her mistakes and is learning from her past.
When she trains with Melee, Kitty gives the mutant kids the choice to become X-Men and join the fight, not the illusion of choice with the weight Xavier’s dream pushed upon them.Kitty has faults like Professor X, making a difficult decision on Krakoa that resulted in her killing 10 Orchis agents, but unlike Charles Xavier, Kitty is honest with her mistakes and is learning from her past.Cyclops and Rogue have been two contenders for the next X-Men leader, but Kitty Pryde is the true hidden gem who has shown to be the perfect leader for the next generation.
Kitty Pryde Has Grown Immensely From a Wide-Eyed New Recruit to a Seasoned X-Men Leader
Kitty Pryde Grows Into Her Own as Shadowkat, Becoming a Staple Leader of the X-Men
Kitty was introduced inX-Men#129 by Chris Claremont as a bright young teen with a strong sense of justice, but she’s grown immensely since her start as an X-Men, growing both skills and experience as a leader.She trained under X-Men like Stormas well as went through the journey of being kidnapped and trained by Ogun, who formerly trained Wolverine, which resulted inKitty gaining incredible skills and adopting the name Shadowkat. Kitty has also shown she knows how to make difficult choices, once sacrificing herself to prevent a world-ending collision by phasing a giant bullet hurling toward Earth.
After 44 Years, Kitty Pryde’s X-Men Arc Is Finally Complete
The first issue of Exceptional X-Men (2024) highlights just how far Kitty Pryde has come by having her take a young mutant under her wing.
Kitty has not only demonstrated immense selflessness, but she is the true successor of Charles Xavier asthere has been palpable evidence of Kitty Pryde taking Xavier’s place for yearsprior tothe start of the Krakoa era. InWolverine & the X-Men#1 by Jason Aaron, Kitty became the school’s headmistress after Wolverine reformed the X-Men and when Storm stepped down as leader of the X-Men, she had Kitty take her place. Even during the Krakoa Era, Kitty acted as a prominent figurehead as the Red Queen and sailed around the world helping mutants join the nation of Krakoa.
Charles Xavier Has a True Successor in Kitty Pryde, as She Proves the Superior Choice To Guide the Next Generation of X-Men
Kitty Rises Above Cyclops & Rogue as the X-Men’s Rightful Leader
While Cyclops and Rogue are both rushing to rebuild the X-Men, Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost seek to first help an inexperienced group of Mutants survive in a world that despises them, creating a team whose goals are very reminiscent of Xavier’s School.Kitty’s methods are far more productive and have created a positive impact on the next team of X-Men, whereas Cyclops and Rogue’s methods have caused the X-Men to turn on each other.Cyclops has been the X-Men’s main default leaderfor years but, in reality, Kitty Pryde is surprisingly building up to be the better choice.
Kitty Pryde has had one of the most compelling hero transformations out of all the X-Men and has grown into one of the team’s best leaders, even after the fall of Krakoa.
The X-Men have been in shambles after the fall of Krakoa and the current teams being formed from Rogue andCyclopsare running back into devastating fights and retreading the same problems Professor Xavier faced. Kitty, however, is consciously trying to avoid Xavier’s mistakes. Kitty Pryde has had one of the most compelling hero transformations out of all the X-Men and has grown into one of the team’s best leaders, even after the fall of Krakoa, highlighting howKitty Prydeis the real successor of Charles Xavier and the perfect leader for theX-Men.
Exceptional X-Men#5is available now from Marvel Comics!
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.
