Fraction details Kitty Pryde's return

Matt Fraction has revealed details of Kitty Pryde's imminent return to the X-Men.

Marvel announced last week that Pryde would reappear in the pages of Uncanny X-Men #522, written by Fraction.

The writer has revealed that Pryde's return will come at the hands of long-time antagonist and current X-Men ally Magneto.

"I knew very early on that Magneto was coming back and would become part of the dynamic of the X-Men," Fraction told CBR. "I knew what he was up to and what his personality would be.

"I also knew how that would complicate and and challenge personal relationships and, ultimately, he would have to demonstrably make good.

"The X-Men may not have reacted by thinking, 'He's here. Let's punch him!' but they still don't trust him. So I wanted to build that [trust] by having him give a gift to the X-Men, who are now his people, in the form of Kitty."

Pryde's last appearance was in Joss Whedon's Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1 in 2008, when she sacrificed herself to save the Earth.

"I called Joss Whedon and ran it by him," Fraction said. "I enjoyed and respected the job he and John [Cassaday] did on Astonishing X-Men, so his approval meant a lot to me. I felt like I was asking if it was okay if I dated his daughter."

Uncanny X-Men #522 - illustrated by Whilce Portacio (Spawn) - is released in March.