Rogue, a mutant in the Marvel comics universe, is a character with mixed reviews. As a homo-superior being with super-human strength, including the ability to absorb and take away memories, powers, and the physical strength of anyone she touches, she is powerful but complicated.
With Rogue's powers, she can do damage to any adversary, but also to her friends. Because physical contact with any of her teammates is impossible, she considers her abilities to be a curse rather than a blessing. Readers of the comics know that she's struggled with accepting who she is, and that's often been to the detriment of her relationships and her confidence as a mutant. So, here are 5 Reasons Rogue is an underrated heroine and 5 more that explain why she's actually kind of useless.
10 SHE'S UNDERRATED: She Was A Formidable Villain
Born in Mississippi and adopted by Mystique (originally of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants), as a four-year-old runaway brandishing a gun, Rogue was introduced as a villain who is capable of doing major damage to anyone who crosses her path. One could argue that in order to effectively beat a villain, you have to walk in their shoes.
Sometimes in X-Men comics, the battles are about the mind and how to control it. As a former villain, Rogue could be used in a smarter way.
9 SHE'S USELESS: She's An Emotional Roller Coaster
Whether she is complaining about how much she hates her powers, or whether she's busy falling in love with Gambit, Rogue is an emotional roller coaster.
Being in love in the Marvel comics creates problems for those involved and it creates a weak-lin scenario for the entire team. X-Men readers remember how the psychic love triangle ended for Cyclops (Scott Summers), Jean Grey, and Emma Frost - it created a problem for everyone connected to them! Rogue sometimes feels a little bit too much.
8 SHE'S UNDERRATED: Destiny Underestimated Her
Destiny, a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, told Mystique not to include Rogue in their missions, as she believed Rogue was out of her league.
But when members of the Brotherhood are arrested and held in prison, it's Rogue who travels to San Francisco to attack Ms. Marvel by taking her powers - a feat which takes longer than expected and proves to be difficult. And while it was Mystique's idea, it's Rogue who does the legwork.
7 SHE'S USELESS: She Has Glaring Weak Points
After Mystique takes Rogue in as her own, she begins to pull her into the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants by having her help commit acts of terror with the rest of the crew. It is in this group that she meets Blindspot, a mutant who has the ability to erase the memories of others, meaning she's immune to Rogue's powers and can touch her.
The relationship ended on a sour note for Rogue (and Mystique) because, when Rogue decides to stop working with her, Blindspot removes the memory of herself from Rogue and Mystique. Cold!
6 SHE'S UNDERRATED: Rogue Can Be Ruthless
In Avengers Annual (1967) #10, Rogue kicks Captain America while he's down, mocking him as she kisses the power and energy out of him. There is a method to the transfer, though: Rogue has to time it perfectly, in order to ensure she doesn't get a repeat of what happened with Carol Danvers where she had to fight the essence of Danvers, otherwise known as Ms. Marvel, in her head.
Still, she is so savage at this moment, making light of kissing and mocking him to the fullest as she overwhelms him.
5 SHE'S USELESS: The Fight For Rogue
The story arc in Uncanny X-Men #269 sees Rogue battling with Carol Danvers (also known as Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel), but it's all in her head. When Rogue took Carol Danvers' powers away, she was left with some Carol in her and it screwed with her mind. And, after Rogue returns form a portal called Siege Perilous, she literally has two minds fighting against each other (and one of them is the mind of Ms. Marvel).
The battle gets so heated that ultimately, it's Magneto who removes the essence of Ms. Marvel from Rogue. The actual Ms. Marvel doesn't even know that this great battle is happening within Rogue at all.
4 SHE'S UNDERRATED: She Can Be Fearless
In Avengers Annual (1967) issue #10, Rogue goes in for the kill, so to speak, and attacks yet another member of the Avengers (Thor disguised as Dr. Donald Blake) in the alleyway beside the Avenger's Mansion.
Rogue, known to be a motormouth when she's in the middle of battle, fearlessly overtakes Thor, the god of thunder himself, in the attack. Having the guts to attack the Asgardian head on is one thing, but to do so while being physically outmatched is another thing worthy of praise.
3 SHE'S USELESS: Using Her Powers Leaves Her Vulnerable
In Uncanny X-Men issue #170, readers learn that the more Rogue uses her power, the more she's left with the essence, or residue, of the people she attacks in combat. She has a psychic connection to the mutants she fights. Carol Danvers (or Ms. Marvel) is there without being active in her mind, while Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) is cause for concern because he puts her mental state into disarray as a way to get back at Mystique.
And so Rogue goes to the people she terrorized, the X-Men, for help. This issue is a heavy problem to deal with because when someone is weak mentally, it's hard to be strong physically.
2 SHE'S UNDERRATED: She's Takes Calculated Risks
In Avenger's Annual (1967) issue #10, Mystique and Rogue (who are trying to break their Brotherhood of Evil Mutants friend's out of prison) devise a plan to drop Iron Man on the radiator of the prison to cause a huge commotion and power surge.
As they do this, the power is cut off and all the jailed criminals are able to escape. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants then looks on as the Avengers arrive. Not bad for someone who Destiny said should stay out of Brotherhood business.
1 SHE'S USELESS: She Runs From A Fight
In Avenger's Annual (1967) issue #10, as The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants fight The Avenger's, what at first looks like a strong victory for the evil mutants quickly deteriorates. As the fight goes on, Rogue discovers that she's loosing the powers she stole from The Avengers, and the fight isn't going to turn in their favour.
What does she do? She and Mystique run for their lives, leaving The Brotherhood members (who they just broke free from jail) to fend for themselves. So, maybe Destiny was right and the evil beat is too much for her after all!