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The Best Kitty Pryde Comics, the Essential Reading Order

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At the beginning of the eighties, a 13-year-old girl named Kitty Pryde was introduced to the X-Men Universe. Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Katherine “Kate” Pryde is a mutant with phasing abilities that allow her to move through solid matter. Following the manifestation of her powers, she was approached by Emma Frost and Charles Xavier, respectively, to invite her to join their school.

Kitty chose to go with Xavier and became the youngest to join the X-Men, at first under the codename Sprite. She would also use the alias Ariel, but would become more associated with the name Shadowcat. She was at first portrayed as the “kid sister” for the other members of the group – and developed a strong friendship with Storm while living big and dangerous adventures

And with more than 40 years of history, Kitty Pryde has seen a lot, from the young kid recruited by Xavier to a founding member of the Excalibur team, adventurer in space with the Guardians of the Galaxy, as Captain Kate Pryde of the Marauders and more. She would grow up, be de-aged, become a young adult, and finally recently abandon her nickname in favor of “Kate”.

One of the most popular characters in Marvel Comics, Kate is today in the spotlight with this essential reading order, listing the best comics to read to understand her character, motivations, and transformations. Beware! We try to deliver a mix of best and essential order to retrace the history of the character, and it means sometimes that the story can be a mediocre or okay story with great characterization or simply offers information about the character’s evolution.

The Best Of Kitty Pryde Stories in Order

Following is a selection of the best and recommended stories with Kitty Pryde, also more associated with the codename Shadowcat. This is not a complete listing of Kitty Pryde’s appearances in Marvel Comics, as it would imply to list many comics where she will just be present a supporting/background character. For more X-Men adventures, as always, check out our Complete X-Men reading order!

Where to Start With Kitty? The Introduction of Kitty Pryde in the ’80s

Kitty Pryde made her first appearance in X-Men #129, released in October 1979. The young Kitty was then approached at the same time by both Emma Frost (who was also making her debut in X-Men), and the superhero group mutant X-Men. 13-year-old Kitty proved to be a smart and brave kid, helping Xavier’s team after their capture by The White Queen. She finds herself soon enough at the center of some of the few most iconic stories of the X-Men of this era with Days of Future Past and God Loves, Man Kills. She also fights a demon, becomes a ninja and met Lockheed, the alien dragon (in Uncanny X-Men #166) who becomes a longtime companion.

Following are the most important stories, but for more good old Kitty Pryde stories, simply go read the classic run of Chris Claremont!

For some light reading (also aimed at younger readers), you can also check Wolverine: First Class, a 2008-2009 series taking place when Kitty Pryde has just joined Xavier’s school for the gifted and following Logan and Kitty going on adventures.

Kitty Pryde stars in Excalibur in the ’90s

For some Classic Kitty Pryde adventures, go no further than her time in Excalibur, especially under the original creative team. This X-Men spin-off series created by Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer Alan Davis follows a team formed of British heroes and former members of the X-Men. The team was created to pursue Charles Xavier’s vision and legacy after the X-Men appeared to have died. Among the members of the original team are: Captain Britain Brian Braddock and his lover Meggan, Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), Phoenix (Rachel Summers), and, of course, Kitty Pryde (with Lockheed).

Though there were some changes in the creative team during those years, Kitty Pryde is present in pretty much the entirety of the run, with the title becoming close to a Kitty-starring series toward the end. For more information about the Excalibur publication, see our Marvel’s Excalibur Comics Reading Order.

  • Excalibur Omnibus vol. 1
    Collects Excalibur Special Edition #1, Excalibur #1-34, Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem #1, Quasar #11, Thor #427-429, Material From Marvel Comics Presents #31-38.
  • Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Excalibur #35-67, Excalibur: Weird War III #1, Excalibur: The Possession (1991) #1, Excalibur: Air Apparent #1, Excalibur: XX Crossing #1, Sensational She-Hulk #26; material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #75, 110.
  • Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 3
    Collects Excalibur (1988) #68-103 And Annual #1-2, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #4, X-Factor (1986) #106, X-Force (1991) #38, X-Man #12, Pryde And Wisdom #1-3, And Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #174 And Marvel Holiday Special 1996.
  • Excalibur Epic Collection: The Battle for Britain
    Collecting Excalibur (1988) #104-115, -1; Colossus (1997) #1; Kitty Pryde: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1997) #1-3; New Mutants: Truth or Death (1997) #1-3.
  • Excalibur Epic Collection: You Are Cordially Invited
    Collects Excalibur (1988) #116-125, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #19, X-Men: True Friends (1999) #1-3, Excalibur (2001) #1-4

Kitty Pryde, super genius college student and member of Astonishing X-Men in the noughties

Where was Kitty Pryde during Grant Morrison’s run on The X-Men, following the annihilation of the mutant nation of Genosha? She was living in Chicago, where she worked as a bartender and was going to university. She was trying to have a normal life, but that is no easy task when you are an X-Woman!

Following her time at the university, Kitty accepted a position as a teacher at the Xavier Institute and as a member of Cyclops’ team in Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men where she often acts as as the team’s conscience. This (now divisive) run also explores Kitty and Emma Frost’s tumultuous and complicated history and reunites her with Colossus. She’s also headlined her own miniseries written by Akira Yoshida where she travels to Japan to recover a kidnapped dragon.

Following the conclusion of Astonishing X-Men, Kitty Pryde made her comeback in Uncanny X-Men #522, collected in Uncanny X-Men Complete Collection by Matt Fraction Vol. 3.

Kitty Pryde Throughout the 2010s

The 2010s were a difficult time for the X-Men, a period where it is often difficult to recommend stories for our favorite mutants who also fought and split among each other and with the Avengers and more. During this time, Kitty Pryde took a position as headmistress at the Jean Grey School For Higher Learning in Wolverine & the X-Men, volunteered to take responsibility for the temporally relocated X-Men in All-New X-Men, started (and finished) a relationship with Peter Quill, took the name Star-Lord and had a stint with the Guardians of Galaxy. Those stories go from good to bad to a simple footnote, but Kitty lived some adventures. (This part is still sort of in construction, don’t hesitate to leave a comment to help!)

Following her time with the Guardians, Kitty is recruited to be the leader of a new team in X-Men: Gold.It’s a back to the basis approach, but beware as the title is known to offer a bad characterization for Kitty.

Kate, Captain of the Marauders and Red Queen of the Kraoka Era

Mutantkind has begun a new era on Krakoa, but some nations’ human authorities are preventing mutants from escaping to this new homeland. Which is where Captain Kate Pryde and her high-seas allies come in! Funded by Emma Frost and the Hellfire Trading Company, Kate and her crew sail the seven seas to liberate their fellow mutants – as the Marauders!

Following those first adventures on sea, Captain Kate Pryde has a new mission on the less-than-good Marauders By Steve Orlando, but she’s still the lead! She’s also present in Immortal X-Men (with issue #9 being focused on her).

X-Men Hickman

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