Marvel Comics need to stop queerbaiting the X-Men's Kitty Pryde. Created by the legendary Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Kitty Pryde has become one of the most popular X-Men. That's partly because she had the good fortune to be introduced as a teenage character just when many of the X-Men's most committed fans were teenagers; she became their viewpoint character, and in many cases their crush. Her popularity is indicated by just how many writers have desperately attempted to turn Kitty into the perfect character for their run. She's a computer hacker, a ninja, a SHIELD agent, a barmaid, a pirate... the list is staggering.
She is also, unfortunately, well known for her poor relationship choices. Kitty's first love was Colossus, aka Piotr Rasputin, and it was a singularly bad idea - not least because of the age difference between the two characters. Her first actual lover appears to have been Excalibur's Pete Wisdom, which is actually pretty strange, because he was basically writer Warren Ellis' self-insert in the X-Men comics. And at one point Kitty flew with the Guardians of the Galaxy, getting engaged to Peter Quill. When asked about her apparent obsession with guys named "Peter," Kitty admitted it was because she had a stuffed toy with that name when she was a child. Even alternate-universe versions of Kitty seem to have the same interest in Peters, with the Ultimate Kitty Pryde dating her universe's Spider-Man.
In among the string of Peters, however, there's a curious fact; Marvel writers have consistently hinted Kitty Pryde is queer. This started in the Chris Claremont era, and he began to subtly connect Kitty with Illyana Rasputin, the young mutant called Magik. Back then, the Comics Code Authority frowned on any portrayal of homosexuality, bisexuality, or anything else that would be seen as LGBTQ+. As a result, Claremont had to keep it subtle; but the two were still close enough that Kitty could draw Magik's Soulsword, a mystical bond suggesting incredible intimacy. Later, Claremont began to develop a closer relationship between Kitty Pryde and her fellow X-(Wo)man Rachel Grey, and he considered Rachel the love of Kitty's life. Again, though, he had to avoid making it overt. Frustratingly, Marvel continued with that approach even as the Comics Code Authority's influence waned.
And that, unfortunately, is how things have stayed since. Marvel has regularly teased Kitty Pryde may well be bisexual, but they've never developed it. Claremont has attempted to push the issue every time he's returned to the X-Men line; Kitty almost shared a kiss with the lesbian Karma in the Mekanix miniseries in 2003, and in 2010's X-Women one-shot he had Rachel and Kitty embrace in a manner that seemed more intimate than just friends. But - whether due to his own reluctance or editorial fiat - he's never gone any further. Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch has seen Kitty step up as Kate Pryde, leader of the Marauders; even in this modern era, though, Marvel seem to refuse to go beyond queerbaiting. Kate joined Iceman at a gay bar, but that's about it.
This week's Excalibur #10 is one of the worst examples of queerbaiting so far. Featuring a surprise cameo by the Marauders, and dialogue subtly implying Kate and Rachel are an item. The story is revealed to be an illusory reality created by the fragmented mind of Jamie Braddock, so it isn't canon at all -- there, Kate Pryde has actually been singled out from her mutant family and killed. It's true Marauders #10 implied the X-Men may be looking at creative ways of bringing her back, but it's too soon to say whether or not they will succeed. And so, for now at least, that is the end of Kate Pryde's story; she is essentially Marvel's most prominent example of queerbaiting.
Death is a revolving door in superhero comics. Whether the X-Men succeed in resurrecting Kate Pryde or not, she's guaranteed to come back sooner or later. And when she does, it's time for Marvel to make up their minds and stop teasing readers. The X-Men comics are supposed to stand for tolerance, equality and diversity, and this kind of queerbaiting should really be consigned to the history books.