Two days after the release of Eve Wing and Carmen Carnero’s Exceptional X-Men #1, a surprising omega-level mutant was announced to join Kitty Pride as she tried to lead a new team of X-Men with Emma Frost. While these two occasionally go head-to-head, Iceman finally arrives to stop them and help train the new mutants Bronze, Axo, and Melee. Marvel has now confirmed Iceman’s appearance in the upcoming Exceptional X-Men #4 after the first issue teased the coming of Bobby Drake.
Marvel has released the official cover for Exceptional X-Men #4 with Iceman in front and center. But he will not be alone in this journey. While swirling his ice powers, he’s joined by the young mutants Bronze, Axo, and Melee. So far, details about the comic book’s fourth issue remain scarce, though it was revealed that its art was made by Carnero and Nolan Woodard. It’s set to release on December 25, with a cover date of February 2025.
By the looks of it, Iceman will make his much-awaited return in Exceptional X-Men after mostly being away following the relaunch of X-Men: From the Ashes. He will finally be reunited with his old mutant pals, Emma and Kitty, while possibly working as their mitigator as their occasional feud continues. Though the series still has a lot of questions to answer about his return, he is a welcome addition to this new mutant team.
The Return of Iceman in X-Men: From the Ashes
After the end of the Krakoan Age storyline, Marvel has relaunched the X-Men line of comic books X-Men: From the Ashes. However, since it started its publication in July, Iceman has been largely absent from the series. But that’s about to change as Iceman finally returns to Chicago at the end of Exceptional X-Men #1.
The ice-wielding mutant may finally meet his longtime friend, Kitty, in the city of Illinois. Kitty is now working at Lulu’s Tavern in Bridgeport and has teamed up with Emma to train the three new mutants: Bronze, Axo, and Melee.
After the events of the 2023 Hellfire Gala, where he was killed, he was ultimately brought to life by the Inhuman and ex-boyfriend Romeo in Steve Orlando, Vincenzo Carratu, and Jesus Saiz’s ongoing series Astonishing Iceman, which now has five issues. But despite losing his human form, he looks every inch human as he makes his way to Chicago.
As his story continues in Exceptional X-Men, Marvel may explain how he has regained full control of his abilities as he re-teams with Kitty and Emma. It may also reveal how he will find his footing and rediscover himself following the events of the Fall of X to mentor the young mutants.
With his omega-level status and a founding X-Men member, Iceman has much to teach Bronze, Axo, and Melee. Bronze has already built up an incredible rapport with Kitty. While Axo and Melee are still yet to make their debuts, Iceman and Emma may take their own students and individually mentor them as the series continues.
