After the fall of Krakoa, Kate Pryde is trying to get as far away from all things X as she possibly can. She’s just a bartender now attempting to live a “normal” life, away from the action and her past. But, can she stay away from the world of the X-Men for long? Exceptional X-Men #1 kicks off a new team with a unique voice as Marvel’s X-Men rises “From the Ashes.”

Written by Eve L. Ewing, Exceptional X-Men #1 is an interesting debut that fills a niche that the other X-comics haven’t explored yet. With a first issue mainly focused on Kitty Pryde (she’s back to Kitty), we see the fallout of the fall of Krakoa and the exhaustion in one member of the X-Men. Through Kitty, we get an interesting voice and perspective. She admits the more cringe aspects of Krakoa and has clear mixed feelings about her role in the X-Men over the years. She’s focused on starting her life over, a job, attempting to date, dealing with a roommate, and the PTSD of her experiences.

In Ewing’s Exceptional X-Men #1, we get admission that Krakoa wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and that the mutant nation had lost its way. Kitty, and the issue, brings up the statement that mutants were humans’ new “gods,” a statement declared early on in the Krakoan-age and one I winced at. It showed the X-Men were no longer about equality but supremacy. Through Kitty, we see a move to go back to a more classic take on the X-Men and what they’re fighting for, the ability for mutants and humans to live side by side, be neighbors, be friends, be equals. It’s an interesting discussion when folded into other X-titles where the longing for Krakoa is still there and outright movements for separation.

But, of course Kitty can’t stay out of the action as she comes along a young mutant being discriminated against and threatened, forcing her to leap into action to get the young mutant out of harms way. It’s the small spark of what we all know is coming, a team featuring not just Kitty by Emma Frost. All of it is teased and more in this debut issue.

The art by Carmen Carnero is solid. The comic focuses more on the mundane, a job, life in an apartment, waiting in line for a concert, but that makes the action all the more interesting. Visually, the comic does a solid job of ramping up the action, as can happen in real life where things go from 0 to 60 quickly and unexpectedly. Carnero is joined by Nolan Woodard on color and Joe Sabino on lettering and everything pops in a good way with a look that uses its youthful energy balanced with a world weary viewpoint as well. The team nails each moment and the flow of one scene into the next is solid creating a great visual pacing that builds on the rollercoaster of emotions that is Ewing’s script.

Exceptional X-Men #1 is an interesting voice in the X line of comics and it should be intriguing to see how it builds from this issue. It has a clear viewpoint of events from Kitty and also a sense of torn duty many individuals feel in their lives. Though it may be fantastical, it still is grounded in a way that makes it easy to connect to. Out of all of the “From the Ashes” launches so far, Exceptional X-Men #1 has the most potential to shine.

Story: Eve L. Ewing Art: Carmen Carnero
Color: Nolan Woodard Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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