The following contains spoilers for Marauders #1, now on sale from Marvel Comics

The X-Men have always had a rather complicated relationship with outer space. Although their primary mission has been to protect the mutants of Earth from the many forces that threaten their survival, the team has spent more time in space than almost any other group of Marvel heroes, making many allies and enemies among the stars. The X-Men's intergalactic relations have become particularly prominent in the era of Krakoa, as the mutant nation has gone out of it's way to establish their kind as the dominant force in the Milky Way Galaxy by way of terraforming and colonizing other planets.

In Marauders #1 (by Steve Orlando, Eleonora Carlini, Matt Milla, and VC's Ariana Maher), Kitty Pryde and her newly-formed team of mutant pirates embark on a mission into space to rescue their own kind from the Shi'Ar Empire, who have previously been considered allies. While Kitty may not seem like the ideal candidate to lead this mission at first glance, her previous stint as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy make her uniquely qualified to lead the Marauders into the final frontier.

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Marauders Kate Pryde Kitty

In Marauders Annual #1 (by Orlando, Crees Lee, Rain Beredo, and VC's Cory Petit), Kitty discovered a Shi'Ar puzzle box that, despite being over two billion years old, appeared to have been inscribed in her own handwriting. The box contained a map leading to the current whereabouts of Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier's sister and one of the many former villains who have been granted amnesty by Krakoa. Despite Cassandra's instrumental role in a genocidal attack on Genosha that killed millions of mutants, Pryde reluctantly agreed to work with her to uncover the mysteries of the box. After being formerly inducted into the ranks of the Marauders, Cassandra revealed that the box's inscription described the plight of the Earth's first generation of mutants, who were allegedly being held captive by the Shi'Ar Empire. Although Kitty and the rest of the Marauders held reservations about Cassandra's revelation, the team agreed that the information was worth investigating and set a course for the Shi'Ar Galaxy.

Prior to the era of Krakoa, the original Marauders served as the enforcers of the villainous Mister Sinister. However, after the founding of the mutant island nation, the team was reorganized under Kitty's leadership and given a new mission. While much of the world agreed to recognize Krakoa's sovereignty and gave their mutant citizens the option to migrate, several nations refused to follow suit. To ensure that all the world's mutants have the right to relocate and live among their own, the Marauders infiltrate hostile nations and grant any mutants who wish to come with them access to their island.

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Although the Marauders' mission has taken them to every corner of the Earth, the jump to outer space is an ambitious one that could spell disaster if the team isn't careful. Thankfully, Kitty has a great deal of experience when it comes to intergalactic travel. During 2014's "The Trial of Jean Gray", Pryde developed a close friendship with the Guardians of the Galaxy after the team of intergalactic outlaws helped her team rescue the time-displaced Gray from the Shi-Ar. She also filled in her then-boyfriend Peter Quill's place of leadership on the team when he inherited his father's position as Emperor of the Spartax Empire.

During her time with the Guardians, Kitty learned much about intergalactic politics and society, proving herself to be a capable and competent leader. While her time with the Guardians eventually came to an end, the experience she gained could prove invaluable as her new team ventures into space and into their most dangerous adventure yet.