Superhero Origins: Kitty Pryde of the X-Men

Sprite. Ariel. Shadowcat. Kitty Pryde. Whatever you call her, she's an indispensable part of the X-Men. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origin of Kitty Pryde of the X-Men. As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen primarily to follow the storyline which unfolded in 1980's Uncanny X-Men #129-131 and which was expanded upon in 2000's X-Men Declassified #1. Kitty Pryde has assumed a few different alter egos over the years, but Shadowcat is the one that she is most often known by. Still, it's her birth name that resonates most with readers, and it was as Kitty Pryde that the world met her in Uncanny X-Men #129-131. When that issue began, the X-Men were returning from a mission on Muir Island. Upon their return, they were thrilled to discover that Professor X, who had been away, had returned home. Professor X soon lets the team know that two new mutants have been located and must be contacted. Unbeknownst to the professor, members of the mysterious Hellfire Club, led by the powerful mutant White Queen, are also keen to intercept these newly identified mutants. Professor X went with Colossus, Storm and Wolverine to Chicago in order to meet one of these subjects of his interest: a thirteen-year-old girl named Katherine Pryde. Kitty, as she is commonly called, came home from a dance class to find her parents talking to Emma Frost, a.k.a. White Queen, about future school options. Kitty had been suffering from a severe headache, which got worse when she realized this discussion with Emma Frost was related to her parents' plans to divorce. Alone in her room, she lied down on her bed – and opened her eyes to find herself suddenly in her living room. Later, Professor X and his X-Men arrived, in disguise, to also talk with Kitty and her parents about an opening at their school. Storm, Colossus and Wolverine accompanied Kitty to a local malt shop, where Storm revealed that Kitty was in the company of the X-Men. When they were suddenly attacked, Kitty was hurled against a wall – and somehow passed right through it to the alley outside. She realized that she has somehow developed the ability to phase, or pass through solid matter. The X-Men were defeated and captured by the White Queen, but Kitty used her newfound power to try to rescue them. Storm managed to give Kitty a phone number to call, which enabled Kitty to contact the other X-Men. Working with them, Kitty helped rescue the captured X-Men, proving her mettle in the thick of battle – not bad for a raw recruit. Back home, Kitty's parents were initially angry that their daughter had mysteriously disappeared, but Jean Grey used her mind control powers to defuse their anger. By the end of the issue, it was clear that Kitty would soon be joining Professor X's private school and embarking on a career as a member of the X-Men. Although Kitty grew and developed over the years, her origin story has remained basically unchanged. One exception is a development shown in 2000's X-Men Declassified #1. In this issue, Wolverine viewed a hologram which seemed to indicate that Kitty is a Neo, a member of a sub-species of mutants. However, there is considerable doubt as to the validity of this hologram, and therefore, to Kitty's possible links to the Neo race. Kitty Pryde has made her presence felt outside the world of comics through her appearances in various X-Men TV series and films. She's a character with which many people can identify, and her phasing power makes her an awesome character to watch in battle. Are you a fan of Kitty Pryde? For more comic book origins, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.