There is a danger, in any ensemble work, that not every member of that cast will get equal treatment. Beloved classic characters or favored new creations may be pushed to center stage, leaving other characters undeveloped. Exceptional X-Men #1 might seem to be an example of this, being focused on Kitty Pryde rather than the team title it was promoted as. However, it is an amazing exploration of who Kitty Pryde is, as well as the rock upon which a team book should be built.
The story opens in Chicago, where Kitty Pryde is crashing on the couch of a childhood friend and rebuilding her life. More importantly, she is trying free herself of the baggage of being a superhero. The Fall of Krakoa weighed heavily on many, but Kitty’s life was completely upended by recent events. This has left her soul-searching, wondering who she really is outside of the X-Men.
However, Kitty has little time for navel-gazing and is soon thrust back into action. After being stood up by a date, she is on the scene as a new Mutant’s powers activate in public. This leaves Kitty and Bronze (as she will come to be known) running for their lives from a trigger-happy security team. It also leads Kitty to the conclusion that while she may not be one of the X-Men anymore, she is still incapable of living life on the sidelines.
Exceptional X-Men #1 reaffirms Kitty Pryde’s character
Kitty Pryde was introduced into the X-Men to be a point-of-view character for young readers. She fills a similar function in Exceptional X-Men #1. However, while Kitty may have matured, the script by Eve L. Ewing confirms that she is still the same Shadowcat with whom so many readers fell in love.
Many longtime X-Men fans disliked what was done with Kitty’s character during the Krakoa era. Her adoption of the more adult name “Kate,” coupled with her willingly working with the Hellfire Club was seen as a betrayal of her core. Exceptional X-Men #1 seems to affirm this attitude, with our lead eventually introducing herself as Kitty when asked for her name.
However, Exceptional X-Men #1 also affirms key elements of Kitty’s development from the Krakoa era, such as her bisexuality. This paints Kitty’s identity crisis as an honest evolution rather than a regression. It also confirms that the From the Ashes revamp will not be ignoring the past. Yet even with the focus on Kitty Pryde, the issue also introduces Bronze in a wonderful way.
The artwork of Carmen Carnero is similarly complex. Kitty is instantly recognizable, despite her efforts to appear ordinary. This contrasts nicely with Bronze, whose kawaii fashion sense lights up the scenes she is in. The action flows elegantly from panel to panel, with little moments that define the characters visually throughout.
Exceptional X-Men #1 was not everything it was advertised to be. However, it is a great character study of Kitty Pryde. It may be a slow boiler, but it is also a solid start to a promising new title.
Grade: 5/5
Exceptional X-Men #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
