Marvel’s Exceptional X-Men have a new member, and he could be just what they need to find their footing.

Exceptional X-Men #3 opens to find Emma Frost very nearly stealing away with Kate Pryde’s young students, only for things to take a violent turn when the latter is unwilling to see anyone fall under the White Queen’s thrall. Of course, Emma’s efforts aren’t overtly villainous, just a different variety of genuine leadership. That being said, Kate still isn’t willing to let Emma simply walk away with those in her care, leading the two X-Men veterans to begin working together to train this trio of young mutants. Unfortunately, even that isn’t enough to put the fiery rivalry between them on ice, although the sudden appearance of on Bobby Drake very well might be.

• Written by EVE L. EWING
• Art by CARMEN CARNERO
• Colors by NOLAN WOODARD
• Letters by VC’s TRAVIS LANHAM
• Design by JAY BOWEN
• Main cover art by CARMEN CARNERO & NOLAN WOODARD
• Variant covers by DAVID BLADEÓN & JESUS ABURTOV and MARK BAGLEY & RICHARD ISANOVE

Bobby Drake, better known as Iceman, is one of the most iconic members of Professor Charles Xavier’s original team of mutant heroes, with his first appearance coming all the way back in 1963’s X-Men #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. After Bobby’s cryokinetic abilities manifested at a young age, he became a prime pick for the Xavier Institute, as well as one of its earliest students. In the years since, Bobby has lived through some of the biggest stories of all time, even if a few of them likely should have been the end of him.

During Orchis’ assault on the mutant island nation of Krakoa, Iceman was struck with an experimental weapon that effectively rendered his physical form asunder. Afterward, Bobby was left as a mass of scattered molecules, only able to reconstitute himself in short bursts, and only in already freezing temperatures. Surprisingly, this didn’t stop Iceman from continuing his fight against mutantkind’s would be oppressors, with the hero instead taking the opportunity to carry out precision strikes all across the globe by utilizing his newfound state as more of a force of nature than anything resembling an ordinary person.

Kate Pryde and Emma Frost were among the mutants who made a new home for themselves in Chicago when Krakoa fell. Since then, Kate has become something of an unofficial mentor for a trio of budding young mutants who have latched onto her thanks to her general heroism and the difference her presence has made in all their personal lives. Although Kate is an easy enough figure to latch onto, Emma has also made her presence known in the lives of these young mutants, albeit with a less gentle touch.

Exceptional X-Men #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics

X-Men

Since their debut in 1963, Marvel’s X-Men have been more than just another superhero team. While the team really hit its stride as the All New, All Different X-Men in 1975, Marvel’s heroic mutants have always operated as super-outcasts, protecting a world that hates and fears them for their powers.

Key members of the X-Men include Professor X, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Wolverine, Iceman, Beast, Rogue, and Storm. Often framed as the world’s second strongest superheroes, after the Avengers, they are nonetheless one of Marvel’s most popular and important franchises.