Shadowcat

Shadowcat (Katherine "Kitty" Anne Pryde) is a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She used the code-names Sprite and Ariel in her early career, and is a member of the X-Men. She first appeared in X-Men #129 (1980). She is notable as one of the few recognizably Jewish characters in Marvel Comics.

History

Shadowcat is a mutant, with the ability to become intangible and walk through solid matter (an ability she calls "phasing"). Her powers first manifested when she was 13; shortly thereafter she was approached by both Professor Charles Xavier and the Hellfire Club's White Queen. Taking an instant dislike to the White Queen, she chose to go with Xavier. When Emma kidnapped Xavier and the X-Men, Kitty helped fight to free them. Proving herself in this battle, she joined the X-Men soon after.

Eventually Excalibur disbanded and Kitty ended her relationship with Wisdom. She returned to the X-Men, but left again after the apparent death of Colossus. Recently, she once again rejoined the X-Men at the urging of Cyclops and Emma Frost. On one of the new team's first missions, Kitty discovered Colossus alive and imprisoned in a research facility. The full repercussions of this discovery have yet to be seen.

Powers and Skills

Shadowcat possesses the ability to "phase" — pass through solid matter by passing her atoms through the spaces between the atoms of the object through which she is moving. Utilizing her phasing ability she can also walk on air. While phasing she is intangible and thus invulnerable to physical attacks; additionally, telepaths have a hard time reaching her mind in phased form. Her phasing powers also disrupt any electronic equipment she passes through.

Due to a battle injury, Kitty Pryde became unable to control her phasing abilities, and nearly faded out of existence. Although Reed Richards and Doctor Doom saved her life, for years she was only able to become solid through great effort; she has since overcome this disability.

Shadowcat is a genius in the field of applied technology such as computers. She is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant as she was trained extensively by her one time mentor, Wolverine, in the arts of ninjitsu, aikido, and karate. She has had training in gymnastics and is a professional dancer.

Television & Film

In the animated television movie Pryde of the X-Men, Kitty Pryde was voiced by Kath Soucie.

In the animated series X-Men: Evolution, she was voiced by Maggie Blue O'Hara.

In the movie X-Men, she was played by Sumela Kay. In the sequel, X2, she was played by Katie Stuart.