It’s hard to be an X-Man, as we were reminded in Exceptional X-Men #4. The bombshell that fell on this “team,” if you can call it that, is that Kitty Pryde has killed a lot of people. It’s not something she’s proud of, but it’s a surprise to the teen heroes not yet ready for the hard truths of being a superhero team. It’s a heavy weight hanging over Exceptional X-Men #5 as the team potentially breaks up for good.
Exceptional X-Men #5 opens on Kitty Pryde during the Krakoa era. She’s killed ten Orchis agents and seems to have admitted this is her life now. From there, she goes to Japan, easily beats up ninjas, and seems to like it. There’s a party for Kitty, who likes fighting and maybe even killing, which is a hard pill to swallow.
Cut to the present, and Melee wants off the team pronto. It’s where we left off the last issue, with most of the team still in shock and needing time to think. Much of the issue focuses on Melee, her home life, and her inability to control her emotions. If there ever was a character who could use Kitty’s experience, it’s Melee.
Melee takes on a familiar pose.
Credit: Marvel
Writer Eve Ewing continues to draw out the unique perspective our teen characters are going through, as well as the weight on Kitty and Emma Frost. The X-Men were child soldiers and this series doesn’t want us to forget it. There’s a kind of hope in these conflicts and anxiety as Kitty and Emma know there can be a better way. You can train a new team of X-Men better, and that’s exciting.
Unfortunately, the opening Kitty Pryde flashback takes up a 7-page chunk, which probably could have been reduced to three pages. It may be setting up something for the future, but it throws off the flow of the story. It takes the focus off the team and the ensemble, taking the wind out of the forward progression of the story. The fact that the rest of the issue lacks action and Axo and Bronze makes the issue feel thin. Even Iceman is briefly in the issue.
Exceptional X-Men #5 explores the emotional and moral challenges faced by its characters and offers thoughtful commentary on the X-Men’s legacy. However, its uneven pacing, sparse action, and absence of key team dynamics prevent it from being a standout issue. Fans invested in character-driven storytelling may find value here, but others might find it lacking momentum and excitement.
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