It’s no secret we love X-Men, and we’ve been talking about all the current From the Ashes titles whenever we can. So of course today we HAD to talk about Exceptional X-Men.

Exceptional X-Men
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Artists: Carmen Carnero, Federica Mancin
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Carmen Carnero
Release date: September 2024 – September 2025

Exceptional X-Men launched alongside the other X-titles in the From the Ashes era (a.k.a. our post-Krakoa recovery arc) and I was instantly excited because this book had its own identity from page one. The series is written by Eve L. Ewing (yes, from the amazing Monica Rambeau: Photon) with art from Carmen Carnero for issues 1–10 (she worked on Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, some amazing issues of Captain Marvel, and a ton of stunning covers we always love pointing out). Issues 11–13 were drawn by Federica Mancin, whose Infinity Comics work already showed how technically sharp and expressive she is. (Those vertical comics are HARD, so respect.)

Now, it’s no secret we read all (and I mean ALL) the X-books. So getting a new series with Kate Pryde taking the lead again? Immediate hype. We know how things go when Kate is in charge. She literally ran the Xavier School at one point, and honestly? She ran that ship better than half the principals we’ve ever had in real life. Plus, her dynamic with Emma Frost? Iconic. I mean… the Red Queen and the White Queen back in Marauders? We ate well.

So in Exceptional X-Men, after the fall of Krakoa, Kate Pryde is trying to get as far away from anything X-related as possible. She’s just a regular bartender now. Definitely NOT accidentally-on-purpose stepping into leadership of a brand-new team of wayward young mutants. Definitely NOT catching Emma’s eye again. Nope. Not her.

Before reading this, it helps to remember: Kate was going through it during Fall of X. She snapped as Shadowkat and… let’s just say a lot of people did not make it out alive. So now, when these teenagers genuinely need her guidance, she doesn’t feel worthy of stepping up. It hits so much harder knowing where she’s been emotionally.

Now for the review. First of all, Emma + Kate = automatic magic. Their banter, their tension, the mutually begrudging affection… it always works. But honestly? Bronze, Axo, and Melee stole the book. They’re these fresh young mutants with that spark in their eyes (that “we haven’t lived through five genocides yet” optimism) and you can’t help but fall in love with them. Watching them grow, screw up, learn responsibility, and bond with Kate is genuinely wholesome… but also messy in the best teenage-mutant way.

Eve Ewing absolutely nailed the character voices. That’s not easy, especially with Emma and Kate, who carry DECADES of messy history, trauma, sass, and emotional damage. But she threads their humor and their heartbreak so naturally while still giving the new kids room to shine. And bringing in Sinister? Inspired. It really made this book feel like its own pillar in the X-line, not just an epilogue to Krakoa.

Carmen Carnero’s art is SO expressive, every smirk, every doubtful glance, every “Emma is judging you silently” moment is crystal clear. She has this way of putting the characters’ personalities into the tiniest facial movements. And then Federica Mancin comes in with penciling so detailed and textured it feels like the perfect handoff. They complement each other beautifully and keep the emotional momentum flowing to the final issue.

The first TPB dropped in May 2025, and the last one comes out December 23, just in time for Christmas, so if you need a holiday read… consider this your X-ceptionally good gift suggestion.