Kitty Pryde

Katherine Anne “Kitty” Pryde (also known as Shadowcat), is a fictional character superhero appearing in Marvel Comics, best known for her association with the X-Men.

She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 in January 1980. Kitty is a mutant with the power to phase through solid matter, affecting objects and people alike. Her powers also disrupt the electrical fields she passes through and let her simulate levitation. She first joined the X-Men when she was 13, after being recruited by Dr. Charles Xavier to join his team of young mutants. In later comics, she would abandon the name “Kitty”, and preferred to be called “Kate”.

In the comics, Kitty’s journey as a superhero has seen her grow from a young, inexperienced sidekick to a strong leader and strategist. She has been characterized as fiercely independent and with a strong moral compass. Her mentors have included other X-Men members such as Wolverine, with whom she developed a strong father-daughter relationship and bond. Kitty has been included in key storylines such as the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past, and Mutant Massacre. Although she is mainly associated with the X-Men, Kitty has also joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, Excalibur, the Marauders, and S.H.I.E.L.D. to name a few.

Kitty often lands in leadership roles. She served as a leader of the Excalibur team (alongside Nightcrawler and Captain Britain), headmistress of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, and at one point was known as Star-Lady when she joined the Guardians of the Galaxy in the ResurrXion storyline in 2015, returning to earth after being stranded in space with the gang.

One of Kitty’s most important storylines was explored in The Uncanny X-Men #141-142 as part of the Days of Future Past arc. An older Kitty transfers her consciousness into a younger version of herself to prevent a dystopian future and mass extermination of mutants. After these events, the miniseries Kitty Pryde and Wolverine (1984-1985) explores her coming-of-age storyline, maturing from a young superhero into a full-fledged woman and heroine, now adopting her new alias “Shadowcat”.

Kitty’s sexuality has been a topic for many years. Although she had only been portrayed in heterosexual relationships (mainly with Colossus and also fellow bi Star-Lord), in recent years, there has been a shift toward exploring her sexuality. In the 2020 Marauders storyline, Kitty is shown kissing a female character, confirming her bisexuality once and for all. Her co-creator, Chris Claremont revealed in the podcast “Xplain the X-Men” in 2016 that he always intended Kitty to be bi, but was not allowed to show it at the time of her release due to censorship from higher-ups. He has also stated that he had hinted at her bisexuality in other storylines, suggesting that her relationships with other characters such as Rachel Summers had deeper undertones.

Kitty Pryde remains one of the most beloved characters in the X-Men series. Her growth from a young, inexperienced mutant to a powerful and confident leader demonstrates her resilience, and dedication to her fellow mutants. As her character continues to be explored in the Marvel Universe, her exploration of her bisexuality adds a complex layer to her rich and nuanced persona.