Warning: Spoilers for Exceptional X-Men #1!
The fan-favorite protagonist of theX-Menis back to using her original name. Kitty Pryde has had an incredible journey since first debuting in 1979’sUncanny X-Men#129, with much of that journey reflected through her ever-evolving name. Not just in going by different codenames from Sprite tothe most recent Shadowkat, but her adulthood is represented by her going from Kitty to Kate Pryde.
However, inExceptional X-Men#1 – written by Eve L. Ewing, with art by Carmen Carnero – it is revealed that Kate Pryde is ready to be Kitty again. In a moment where she saves a young mutant’s life,she hesitates to do so, but eventually tells the child to call her Kitty instead of Katherine.
Considering the context of the story and everything that she’s experienced post-Krakoa, this moment regarding her name is symbolic of something bigger for Kitty. Becoming Kitty again could allow her to both recapture her child-like wonder that’s been long dormant and recapture her love for being an X-Man.
In A Major Shake-Up, “Kitty” Pryde Returns, As The Fan-Favorite Hero Ditches “Kate”
Exceptional X-Men#1 – Written By Eve L. Ewing; Art By Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard, & Joe Sabino
With the character taking on a new role in the relaunchedX-Menfranchise, it is especially interesting that she has reverted to her classic “Kitty” nickname; in a way, this is representative of the “From the Ashes” relaunch as a whole.
The name “Kate” for Kitty dates as far back as X-Men’s “Days of Future Past” storyline, where the dark, dystopian timeline revealed that the hero adopted the name Kate in adulthood. In the official Earth-616 canon, Kitty Pryde didn’t start going by Kate until thestart of the Krakoa Era, where she was pushed to theforefront of X-Men storylinesas the leader of the Marauders. Becoming Kate, or alternatively, Captain Pryde, was meant to signify the newfound responsibilities that the former Kitty had taken up as an adult.
Upon being introduced into the X-Men, Kitty Pryde was a wide-eyed, ambitious, and optimistic protagonist eager to challenge the world and challenge herself while combating its oppression. The Krakoan version of the character was a radical departure from this; in her place is a Kate Pryde who becomes a deadly killer, sacrificing her morals in the name of survival – not unlike the Kate Pryde at the heart of the “Days of Future Past” timeline. The trauma she suffered from this war-torn mindset convinced her toleave the X-Men for goodonce the Krakoa Era concluded.
However, that did not equate to her ceasing to be a predominant mutant hero in the Marvel Universe – nor, asExceptional X-Menshows, a mentor to the next generation of mutants. So, with the character taking on a new role in the relaunchedX-Menfranchise,it is especially interesting that she has reverted to her classic “Kitty” nickname; in a way, this is representative of the “From the Ashes” relaunch as a whole, with the franchise forging a new paradigm while also re-establishing familiar touchstones for the series.
Kitty Pryde Changed X-Men Comics (And Pop Culture) Forever
Kitty Pryde is more important to the X-Men than fans may think - and the young mutant has had a massive impact on popular culture as well.
An Old Nickname For A New Era: Kitty’s “Exceptional” Role As A Leader Of The X-Men
Exceptional X-Men#1 – Available Now From Marvel Comics
While driving away, Kitty consoles young Trista Marshall about her powers, teaching her the value and the pride that should come with being a mutant…by time she drops the child off, she introduces herself as Kitty, hesitantly.
The lack of previously present optimism is omnipresent throughExceptional X-Men#1, chronicling Kitty Pryde’s transition as a normal member of society without adventuring. From the start, she’s very wrapped up in her work and, in her words,“kind of drifting along"as a bartender at Lulu’s Tavern. Gone is the sense of adventure that dominated her personality in her 80s and 90s adventures or a desire for anything more. Instead, she just goes through the motions and prioritizes her work.
Even with the prospect of a first date, she cancels it to prioritize her job. Although, in fairness to Kitty, she got her days mixed up and thought their original concert date was on her day off. Instead, she appears at the concert alone, but in the process finds a teenage mutant discovering her powers while being harassed by security guards. Another sign of Kitty not wanting to be involved in anything too exciting, her first instinct is to not get involved at all. That is, until a gun is pulled on the child.
That is when Kitty intervenes and rescues the child, using her own powers to phase away from the scene. While driving away, Kitty consoles young Trista Marshall about her powers,teaching her the value and the pride that should come with being a mutant. Trista visibly gains a sense of pride about her mutanthood and, in the young girl’s mind, finds a new friend in the process, even gifting Pryde a present later. Visibly, the notion touches Kate, who initially shows off her I.D. as Katherine Pryde, but by time she drops the child off, she introduces herself as Kitty, hesitantly.
Why Kate Hesitates to Call Herself Kitty, Explained
Kitty’s hesitation to call herself Kitty again could be seen as her hesitation to attempt to recapture that same optimism from her youth, that same love for the X-Men, who she left not long ago.
Kitty’s hesitation is what is most noticeable about this interaction inExceptional X-Men#1. Since Trista already knew her actual government name, Katherine Pryde, the older woman had no reason to hesitate about sharing her name, especially a nickname. Instead, the hesitation likely has more to do with what the “Kitty” nickname represents for the hero. “Kitty,” as a name, represents the sense of childlike wonder that she lost long ago, a childlike wonder that isn’t very different from that which Trista displays in their interaction.
That kind of childlike wonder represents more than just the level of optimism that Kitty carried as a child, but the love of the X-Men that she initially displayed. Kitty’s hesitation to call herself Kitty again could be seen as her hesitation to attempt to recapture that same optimism from her youth, that same love for the X-Men, who she left not long ago. However, by acknowledging that desire and leaning into it,this could be the first step that Kitty takes into finding her way back into the X-Men.
What The Return Of “Kitty” Pryde Means For The X-Franchise’s Latest Era
It is important to note that Marvel is not undoing her progression, but rather using yet another name change for the character to signal that she has entered a new phase of her life.
Kitty Pryde is officially back, and the return of the nickname has significant implications not just for the character, but for the fledgling “From the Ashes” era of theX-Menfranchise as a whole.Her Krakoan Era"Kate” persona was a conscious evolution of the character; likewise, her renewed embrace of “Kitty” is an overt creative decision intended to emphasize the way this new slate ofX-titles will routinely return to familiar, fan-favorite elements that the franchise moved away from over the past several years.
Kate Pryde’s Krakoan arc was one of themost impactfulX-Mencharacter trajectoriesfrom the era, so it is important to note that Marvel is not undoing her progression, but rather using yet another name change for the character to signal that she has entered a new phase of her life. If nothing else, fans who have long been used to calling her Kitty will be happy that the most recognizable version of the character’s name has returned, along with a renewed sense of heroic optimism for the character, asExceptionalX-Menbegins.
