I can’t believe my girl has only had three solo books ever. And no ongoings! Yeah, sexism was (and is arguably still) a big problem when it comes to female characters getting solos at Marvel, but considering X23 is getting her sixth but has only been around since 2003 - and Marvel execs commissioned this year’s Scarlet Witch mini (and our new Rogue & Gambit!) - hopefully those same higher-ups start pushing for characters like Rogue and Storm to get some solo runs, too, since the X-Office is digging in their heels on the editor’s personal preferences. (I’d also kill for another Dazzler solo, but I’m not holding my breath until that office shakes up.) Meanwhile, DC has been killing it with their female solo book output lately. Like…
…a Rogue ongoing solo, with interior art from Joelle Jones, tons of beautiful variant covers highlighting her many (non-Savage Land) looks, Kelly Thompson given the opportunity to write an ongoing not surprise-cancelled to make room for a temporary status quo, and somebody like Jen Bartel or Jenny Frison drawing covers? I’d die. (I’m salivating picturing the variant takes on her Brotherhood days alone.)
One is only limited by their imagination and capabilities as a storyteller when it comes to most of these characters; comic writers have the kind of tools and (when editorial isn’t interfering) creative freedom that so many film and TV writers working with comparable IP would kill for. It’s laziness. Which is to say: anyone claiming her story “ended” is so unserious lmao. There’s infinite story not just untold but actively neglected, as you’ve illustrated with your wishlist alone. (It’s mostly detractors who want a reason to further shit on a character they already dislike. Nothing new, sadly. They were claiming the same long before she even gained control.)
“Teenage Terrorist”:
This has been number one on my wishlist for a Rogue book since forever (well, this and meaningful interaction with her mothers). I especially love that her original debut was meant to be that story where Mystique is already plotting Carol’s doom with the Brotherhood while Rogue sobs like the sad teenager she is up in her bedroom. I also love how Rogue was going against her mothers long before absorbing Carol - people forget that she was a big Dazzler fan before becoming her arch-nemesis. I think that’s so fascinating, especially because her turning on Dazzler seemed to be based on envy that Ali was a “closeted” mutant whose powers were useful instead of inherently destructive. I’d also kill for a team-up book between those two, any era. They were my favorite duo during the Outback era.
“Mutant Counselor or Villain Rehabilitation Advocate”:
Honestly, yes. Again - if editorial bias wasn’t at play, we’d have definitely seen something like that this era, and it’s a shame we haven’t. Bad taste of team name aside, she and Remy should have been the ones running the Marauders. (Not to mention Kurt! Like… a pirate book without Kurt! How!) Especially since Rogue’s selection process as a team leader has always been “most of the Brotherhood and other ex-villains I want to keep an eye on… oh, and also my besties Bobby and Sam” lmao. I’m especially sad I didn’t see her reunite with Pyro or Avalanche considering how long they kept the former dead. (I’m most annoyed about her separation from her mothers, but that dead horse is underground by now.)
Speaking of X23 - it’s bizarre that their similarities have never really been touched upon despite being so blatant. Both were teenage girls raised to be weapons against their will… who received wildly different receptions from the X-Men when they first joined. Was this due to the X-Men growing as people, writer inconsistency, or simple hypocrisy? (Especially since those early aughts writers grafted so much of their plan for Rogue onto that character when Marvel wouldn’t let them “reboot” Rogue to match her movie/Evo selves.) She’d have honestly been a great choice in the mentor role for the particular run Marjorie Liu was chosen to write if it weren’t for the fact that Liu doesn’t like her… so she was never gonna turn up (aside to be referenced as Remy’s evil ex lol). But I’d be interested to see Kelly Thompson write their interactions. We got smidges of it in MMX; hopefully before their guest turn in Captain Marvel ends. Gabby in particular strikes me as the type of character she’d have a blast mentoring.
Personalized villains:
I loved Blindspot (and thought she had serious sapphic energy with Rogue that was about as explicit as Marvel allowed for the early aughts), so I’d definitely be thrilled to see her again. It would be really interesting to see her interactions with Remy, too.
General interactions I’d love:
-Fun domestic setting shenanigans with Remy. More of Remy’s shady poker games with ex-villains! Forced close quarters between Rogue’s mothers and Remy! Date nights gone wrong! (Aka please bring back Mr. and Mrs. X as the ongoing it was meant to be before editorial cancelled it?)
-Kurt. I loved their easy patter in Thompson’s books. It reminded me of the great moments she had with him during Claremont, as well as during her second solo where they’re so lazy they’re calling each other on the phone while sitting across the same couch lol.
-Sunfire. I was heartbroken she barely spoke with Shiro when they were on Duggan’s team together.
-Bobby. They’re best friends. Let them hang out. Let them go on another hilarious road trip. (Maybe this time Bobby’s the one melting down over an ex and Rogue’s forced to keep him on the lowdown amongst the humans they encounter?)
-Ex-Brotherhood. I liked the tiny snippets we saw of her with Fred at the bar, but I’d like more. Why not Rogue inviting the ex-Brotherhood over to play mediating roles when her mothers visit for brunch with her and Remy?