In the rich tapestry of X-Men lore, Kitty Pryde has long been a beloved character with a complex and nuanced journey. Co-created by Chris Claremont, Kitty’s story has often hinted at queer undertones, a theme Claremont intended to explore further in his vision for her future.
In the trilogy of miniseries titled X-Men: The End, Claremont had the opportunity to craft his ideal conclusion for Kitty’s character, now known as Kate. In this narrative, Kate Pryde ascends to the presidency, becoming the first mutant President of the United States. Claremont envisioned Kate’s true love to be her longtime friend, Rachel Summers, and while he couldn’t explicitly make this canonical, he intended it to be implied in the story.
Speaking on his vision for Kate Pryde and her relationship with Rachel Summers, Claremont emphasized the significance of Kate’s presidency and her sapphic romance. He envisioned Kate being accompanied by Rachel throughout her presidency, with subtle hints suggesting their romantic connection, such as the presence of a redhead among their children.
Despite this story existing in an alternate reality, Claremont viewed Kate and Rachel’s romance as essential to their characters’ futures. He expressed regret that he couldn’t fully realize this aspect of their relationship during his tenure as the X-Men writer but emphasized its importance to him.
While Claremont’s vision for Kate and Rachel’s romance remained largely subtextual during his time with the X-Men, recent developments in Marvel comics have hinted at the possibility of exploring their relationship more overtly. Kate’s first kiss with another woman and Rachel’s relationship with Betsy Braddock signal a shift towards more explicit representation of queer characters in X-Men stories.
FAQ
Was Kitty Pryde explicitly portrayed as queer in the X-Men comics?
While Kitty Pryde’s queerness was often hinted at in the X-Men comics, especially in stories written by Chris Claremont, it was primarily subtextual. However, recent developments in Marvel comics have hinted at the possibility of exploring her queer identity more overtly.
Who is Rachel Summers, and what is her relationship with Kitty Pryde?
Rachel Summers, also known as Phoenix or Prestige, is a mutant with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities. She is the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from an alternate future timeline. In Chris Claremont’s vision, Rachel is portrayed as Kitty Pryde’s longtime friend and romantic interest.
What is X-Men: The End, and how does it fit into Kitty Pryde’s story?
X-Men: The End is a trilogy of miniseries written by Chris Claremont that serves as a conclusion to the X-Men saga. In this narrative, Kitty Pryde, now known as Kate, becomes the first mutant President of the United States. Claremont’s vision for Kitty’s character in this series includes her romantic relationship with Rachel Summers.
Are there plans to explore Kitty Pryde and Rachel Summers’ relationship further in future X-Men stories?
While nothing has been confirmed, recent developments in Marvel comics, such as Kitty’s first kiss with another woman and Rachel’s relationship with Betsy Braddock, suggest a potential for further exploration of their romance. Fans remain hopeful that Chris Claremont’s vision for their relationship will be realized in future narratives.