WOMEN OF MARVEL: ROGUE
X-Man Rogue is a walking paradox. She is one of comics’ most romantic characters, yet her powers come with physical barriers that cut her off from others. We’ll look at how this complex dichotomy has spelled success—and trouble—in her redemptive journey from criminal to hero.
ROGUE: 101
First Appearance
In Avengers Annual (1967) #10
Professor Xavier’s psi-scan on a comatose Carol Danvers reveals the assailant who nearly claimed her life (after draining her Kree power). Now permanently blessed with flight, invulnerability, and Hulk-like strength, Rogue gives the Avengers a serious thrashing. The brash mutant also shows off her sassy streak—she plants a kiss on “poor li’l Cap” just to zap that Super-Soldier strength!
Joining the X-Men
In Uncanny X-Men (1981) #171
Tired of being wrung dry by her adoptive mother Mystique and now overwhelmed with power, Rogue turns to the X-Men for help. Professor Xavier agrees to provide training and relief, but Rogue’s bad girl reputation gives the other X-Men pause. Plus, there’s the issue of what Rogue did to Carol…
Starring Rogue
In X-Men Legacy (2008) #220
Start here and read through issue #275 for a starring turn that redefines Rogue. Over the course of 50-plus issues, Rogue: gains control of her touch (X-MEN LEGACY #224), rises in rank as an X-leader and teacher, juggles romance with Magneto and Gambit, confronts Carol Danvers about their messy past, and reaches the pinnacle of her strength.
Uncanny Avenger
In Uncanny Avengers (2015) #1
Although Rogue once rolled with the “Brotherhood of Mutants,” here she’s a leading Avenger on Captain America’s Unity Squad! Her prominent role on the first-ever Unity Squad in UNCANNY AVENGERS (2012) marked a major step forward in mutant-superhuman relations.
“This…is Crazy.”
In X-Men: Gold (2017) #30
After years (or a near 3 decades) of push and pull romance, Rogue and Gambit take the plunge of marriage. And… surprise! They hijack the cancelled wedding ceremony of Kitty Pryde and Colossus!
Love and Marriage
In Mr. and Mrs. X (2018) #1
In their extraordinary lives, Rogue and Gambit have faced nearly every challenge imaginable, but how will they fare against former flames making trouble? Or an entire galaxy in jeopardy?
Krakoan Age
In Excalibur (2019) #1
X-Men: Sword and Sorcery! After spending the better part of the year fighting alongside her husband, Rogue and Gambit join Betsy Braddock—AKA Captain Britain—in her fight across Otherworld to keep the Kingdom of Avalon at peace. That is, until Rogue joins the main X-Men squad in X-MEN (2021).