Judging by the cover of Exceptional X-Men #3, Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost are throwing down big time. The last issue had Emma mind-controlling innocent teens while Kitty inadvertently mentored the young mutants. In Exceptional X-Men #3, a commitment is made, and a new team may be forming as the training must begin!
Exceptional X-Men #3 could be split in two, with the first half being a conflict between Kitty and Emma and the second being the training Kitty somewhat reluctantly agrees to give the teen mutants. If you like melodrama with your mutant adventures – and who doesn’t? – writer Eve L. Ewing delivers once again. The conflicts are genuine and well drawn out, while the new mutants have innocents that suit them. While Xavier throws mutants into the fire to fight, there’s a bit more care taken here, which is a natural fit for Kitty.
Before the training can begin, Ewing and Carmen Carenro do a good job drawing out the baggage between Kitty and Emma. White Queen is ever her extra self, while Kitty is more down to earth. One can see the juxtaposition between the two in their fight, leading to them banding together to train these young mutants.
Why does this make me feel Emma would do a good job blowing leaves?
Credit: Marvel
Emma is well-written here, as she’s posh, outspoken, and a bit too into herself. Ewing grounds her a tad with a nice running joke about the ridiculous “White Queen” name, while Kitty can only shrug and roll her eyes at her.
The new mutants continue to be an interesting blend of overly emotional and naive kids trying to find themselves. They’re teenagers, and honestly, we rarely see teenagers written so well in comics. They talk, think, and act like teenagers would, regardless of their powers. The super-powered side of things shines through well here as well, from a neat scene where they get their hero names, to their first team mission (if you can call it that).
However, a few plot turns feel a bit forced. The cliffhanger comes out of nowhere and is too convenient given the events, and the new “base” for these heroes falls into their lap. The plotting to page count feels obvious, with scene changes happening in a stiff sort of way. The pacing feels uneven.
Exceptional X-Men #3 delivers a satisfying mix of heartfelt character dynamics, genuine conflict, and compelling teenage mutant drama, all anchored by Eve L. Ewing’s sharp writing and Carmen Carenro’s expressive art. The nuanced relationship between Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost provides a strong emotional core, while the new mutants bring authenticity and energy to the story.
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