Warning! Spoilers for Marvel Voices: Pride #1 (2022) by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics just introduced a brand new mutant to the world of X-Men as Escapade quickly proves to be one of the best new characters in some time for the publisher. The trans mutant, who has the powers to instantly switch physical locations, attributes, powers, or possessions with anyone standing close to her, got an amazing debut story in this week's Marvel Voices: Pride #1. The character immediately stands out as unique, entertaining, and worth having her adventures continued in future stories.
Shela Sexton aka Escapade, is a brand new character to the Marvel Universe, making her debut in the story 'Permanent Sleepover?' in Marvel Voices: Pride #1 (2022) by Charlie Jane Anders, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Tamra Bonvillain, and Naseem Jamina. However, Escapade is no hero. While she picks her targets wisely, she works with her best friend and fellow trans mutant Morgan Red (who has a genetically engineered flying monkey) to pull off heists at labs, expos, and banks. However, the pair's new mission finds Escapade infiltrating a hellicarier turned party barge, as Shela wants to prevent a dark future the X-Men warned her about from occurring.
Escapade's story proves to be one of Marvel's most exciting introductions of a new character in years. After growing up as mutant and trans, Shela and Morgan formed a pack to be there for each other no matter what. But, as the X-Men try to recruit Escapade to Krakoa, seeing value in her translocative powers, she's shown a definitive future from Destiny where she's responsible for the death of her best friend after using his powers. Shela keeps the secret from Morgan as she tries to find the Onyx Needle, which can prevent the future from happening. Throughout the story, Shela worries ing her powers, knowing the more complex switch she makes, the more dangerous things become.
Escapade has plenty of personality from the get-go as she doesn't seek out being a hero. In her goggles, jumpsuit, and blazer, she openly calls out Emma Frost and the X-Men, who she previously ired, as elitists and questions their training methods. She's quippy, smart, resourceful, and deeply cares about Morgan. Hiding the secret vision she was shown of his death significantly burdens her. However, Escapade isn't afraid to be vulnerable, itting in a "supertrans group" that when things get scary, she shuts down. By the end of the issue, she tells Morgan the truth and the two agree to continue their "permanent sleepover" even if she ends up in Krakoa. It's heartwrenching but warm.
The debut story ends up being a great tale about family, trans identity, and the ethics of the X-Men. The bond between Escapade and Morgan is immediately touching as the two share (with their childhood being told through Charlie Brown-like vignettes throughout the issue) an important relationship, which makes Escapade's eventual decision to train with the X-Men on Krakoa even more weighty. Her story is begging to be further explored as the small glimpse of the trans mutant is one of the most digestible and welcome debuts in years for Marvel Comics. Escapade's fun adventures need to continue and hopefully, Marvel realizes that the new trans hero has the potential to be one of their most important and impactful characters in the X-Men universe and beyond. It would be a huge missed opportunity if we don't see her again - and soon.
