[REVIEW] Exceptional X-Men #1

[apachefirecat]

Exceptional X-Men was one of those series where I bit the proverbial bullet and subbed the moment I heard it was coming out. With its leaders being my top two favorite X-Women of all time, Shadowcat and the White Queen, it HAD to be good! Unfortunately, even though I signed up MONTHS in advance, the subscription still failed to kick in until the third issue. The third was shaky, the fourth was a little better, but it did eventually hook me. Having just today been able to read the first two issues of this exceptional series (pun intended ;)), I can honestly say I would have been hooked from the start if the subscription had actually started for me at the beginning, as it should have!

The first issue is all about Kitty with a nod to a lot of her past and centers on her, as she did once before during a time I was unable to get my hands on comics, trying to live a normal life as a bartender. I STILL have not gotten to read those issues, so it was a double pleasure to finally be able to read a part of Kitty's attempts to do so. I'm also glad to see that the writers are actually representing her as a woman who is genuinely down on her "luck" with far little choices, couch surfing on an old friend's couch.

The artwork throughout is beautiful, and the emotions really feel genuine. I LOVE Trista's introduction here -- they really did GREAT with the new kids' intros between this and second issue -- and she is definitely my favorite. I adore how she immediately adores Kitty, and have to like her spunk. :) She's just trying to be a normal kid! And then her grandma -- SO SWEET and SUCH a breath of fresh air for how the family members to new mutants normally react! <3 Speaking of reactions, I know it had to be hard for Kitty to keep NOT getting involved, but then the moment she hears the shot go off, SHE shoots off like a gun straight to the rescue, proving that the old Kitty is NOT far away as she pretends or would like for her to be!

And then EMMA!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 LOVE the style and luxury with which she is shown to be reclining, and I FREAKING LOVE that she is a sweet eater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, yes, Yes, YES!!!!! Thank you, Marvel, for the nod to Banshee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I admit: There's a part of me that loves that she's grown pass him and is much stronger and more confident than she actually was in Generation X, but there is also still the hopeless romantic in me who would LOVE to see more of these two together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And maybe even for them to FINALLY give a romance a go?!?!?!?! I mean, for crying out loud, Moira freaking SKINNED Banshee -- he's GOT to be over her by now and realizing what an idiot he was every time he rebuffed Emma!!!!!!!!

I adore how Kitty fusses over the dog (no replacement for Lockheed but still!), Trista's present to her, and the fact that Kitty IMMEDIATELY dons the earrings but also doesn't want her "tough girl" reputation ruined! I also like the little personalization notes we see in Kitty's car, indicating again that she is NOT as far from the old Kitty Pryde (AND that she tells Trista her name is KITTY, NOT Kate!) as she wants to be despite everything, and that we see the car again in the next issue with Pryde having a "very normal" moment and getting a ticket. ;) Are you SURE you want that "normal" life, Kitty????

I would say come HOME already -- but as we know, sadly, the X-Men no longer really have a home.... :(