Rogue’s Leadership Test

In issue #103 of X-Men, Rogue fights Wolverine one-on-one to decide leadership of the X-Men in a story that harkens back to Claremont’s first run on UXM & to his cultivation of Rogue’s character arc – one of the longest and most satisfying face-turns in comics history. #XMen 1/7

The story is an obvious homage to Uncanny X-Men #201 from Claremont’s original run on UXM. That story saw a powerless Storm challenge Cyclops for leadership of the team and, despite surface improbability, win. It was a defining moment for Storm. 2/7

In that same original run, Claremont portrayed Rogue as a truly reluctant hero – a villain who joined the team but by no means a repentant villain. Rogue is there for the mental health benefits package of being an X-Man: the help of Charles Xavier. 3/7

It would take years for Rogue to truly develop her heroic tendencies in a densely layered character arc that unfolds so gradually, even Rogue fails to grasp just how virtuous & righteous she’s become. She finds herself slowly but surely, even to the point of martyrdom. 4/7

In X-Men #103, Tessa provides the best assessment of this remarkable evolution by telling Rogue that “here you are, among those who were once your bitter enemies, and you are welcome. You have made a place for yourself and proved your worth.” 5/7

Once known for being hot-headed, irresponsible and petulant, Rogue is unanimously acclaimed as a leader, with Wolverine (after losing to her superior intelligence in their duel) telling her to “take the job you’ve earned. You lead.” 6/7

Revolution will always have its critics and proponents, but Rogue’s arrival as leader of the team is a welcome moment in the series – a natural and compelling extension of the decade-long character arc that Claremont had built around a slow and painful journey of atonement. 7/7