Kitty's Costumes/Codenames

Why is it that poor Kitty can't hold on to a codename or costume?

Shadowcat is by far the best one she's had so far. When did writers stop using it for her? I can't remember the last time she was referred to as Shadowcat and even in the Marvel Avengers Alliance facebook game, she is known only as Kitty Pryde.

And to make matters worse, they stick her in the same boring X-Men training uniform which has come to serve as her iconic look. What a shame, especially since Stuart Immonen designed this lovely piece for her Ultimate counterpart. It may seem a bit childish for Kitty but then again, what does a training uniform say about her?

Yeah, I don't understand why she's not called Shadowcat anymore. That Ultimate costume looks quite groovy aside from lack of eyeholes.

That Ultimate costume is completely ludicrous. But yeah, Pryde has had a history of completely rubbish costumes. The best was probably the costume she wore when she first became Shadowcat. But even that dated quite badly. 

Certain 80s clobber was and still is cool, but alas Kitty's get-up is firmly in the 'was' only camp.

Originally posted by Anna Raven My only beef about that costume is the lack of any kind of eye holes. It makes her look like a blind character like Daredevil or something.

It's like Spiderman, certain sections of the mask are used as a substitute for eye holes.  I like it myself.

Well, when i comes to code names in the X-Men she's hardly the only female who rarely uses or is more known for her code name. Jean Grey, Rachel, Emma Frost, Danielle Moonstar and Hope for example.

I'd accept a serious down to Earth name for her if she didn't insist on calling herself "Kitty." That's such an odd antiquated nickname for Katherine.  Whenever I hear Kitty Pryde I think of kittens marching down the steets chanting & holding up banners for equality. That or something pervier. Her surname being a corruption of pride supports her standoffish personality. So no, her real name actually suggests that she's not a down to Earth girl but an affectated one who would use a codename.

Ultimate Kitty is now in a red hooded thing that really annoys me.  I think she's now Ultimate Crimson Cowl or Red Ghost or Bloody Mary or something.

Also, remember when Shadowcat became a bartender and had leather pants with holes cut out of the thigh but she was still inexplicably sixteen? 

I think EMP is referring to the fact that the creators picked the name of the back of Obama's election and to suggest to people that she would return mutantkind.

I don't think Cable would have named a kid after an Obama policy, no.

I think Kitty made a clear return to superheroing when she rejoined the X-Men and the Astonishing team. She didn't just return as a teacher, but as a member of the team, and as a superhero.

I do think she should have had a decent costume then, not just the training costume, and I still thinks she needs a good costume.

I liked the Immomen one shown above, and I liked the simplicity of her dark blue one:
     

I think it managed to be slightly catlike, without turning her into Catwoman...

An update of her dark blue/80's costume would work for me too, I reckon.

I just wish they'd stop sticking her in the standard yellow and blue, to be honest

Originally posted by Cable Originally posted by EvilMonkeyPope Hope's name is just weaksauce. It was picked to ride the coattails of the Obama campaign slogan & trick fans into thinking she'd reverse M-Day. I dont think Cable cared about Obama's campaign that much. He was in an alternate future for years at the time, one with an evil government of bugs no less. And I dont think he had any intention of tricking people into thinking she'd reverse M-Day. He really believed that. I mean there was an inspirational aspect likely but really naming her for his dead wife was the main basis for why he picked that name.

Haha Cable. Hope is basically an equivalent of a political campaign, isn't she... And I totally forgot that she was named after some broad Cable shacked up with in the future.

Originally posted by Blackcyclops Does she even have a costume anymore though? I mean once she left during Schism, she hasn't been in costume...has she?

Hmm. She's definitley worn it on covers and promo material but within an actual issue, you may be right. She has only been teaching or pregnant and such. Maybe she has a new costume after all!

Originally posted by EphemeristX Ultimate Kitty is now in a red hooded thing that really annoys me.  I think she's now Ultimate Crimson Cowl or Red Ghost or Bloody Mary or something. Also, remember when Shadowcat became a bartender and had leather pants with holes cut out of the thigh but she was still inexplicably sixteen?

IIRC she wasn't depicted as being sixteen in that story arc.  That was later.

Spidey's mask resembles eye holes because the artists manipulate the "eyes" to show emotion behind the mask, ie the eyes get wide when shocked, curve downward from the outside when sad, become narrow when upset or suspicious.

Ultimate Kitty's mask still shows her mouth, so they can use that to show emotion.

As for the bartender thing, Kitty was supposed to be 18.  You can still serve alcohol in Chicago while 18.  Just can't drink it.


Edited by Ciel - 14-Apr-2012 at 3:38am

I think my favorite use of the Shadowcat name was in Messiah war.  When kitty was wandering around looking for Destiny's diaries, she looks at the back of a dresser or something and sees "reach inside Cat Shadow X".  :D