As one of the most iconic members of the X-Men, Rogue is recognized for her skunk-like hair and ability to absorb the powers of anyone through skin contact. While she originally made her debut as a villain, there's no denying that the Southern beauty is most beloved for her turn as a do-gooder. Whether she's dating teammate Gambit or canoodling with X-baddie Magneto, her love life is equally as fascinating for audiences.
The following list explores the twenty must-read Rogue stories from the comics. This entry is an ideal starting place for new readers to the genre or even long-time readers looking to catch-up on their favourite heroine.
Avengers Annual (Vol. 1) #10
When Mystique and her Brotherhood of Mutants set their sights on destroying the Avengers, Mystique's adoptive daughter Rogue strikes out on her own to kill Carol Danvers, the heroine formerly known as Ms. Marvel. Rogue's assault on Carol Danvers proves to be too much for the skunk-haired terrorist, thus accidentally absorbing the heroine's powers and memories permanently.
This annual serves as Rogue's debut appearance and establishes her as one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe.
A Rogue in the House
Dazzler (Vol. 1) #22-24, 28
After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Dazzler, Rogue develops a deep-rooted hatred for the mutant songstress. She makes it her mission to destroy Dazzler's life, coming after her family and bodyguards. Ultimately, Rogue is thoroughly trounced by Dazzler in an epic battle on an airstrip.
Scarlet in Glory
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #171-173
Driven to the brink of insanity due to the memories she's absorbed, Rogue seeks out the help of Professor Xavier to aid in silencing the voices in her head. Despite the protests of the X-Men, Rogue is inducted into the team of mutants on a probationary period.
On her first mission with the group, Rogue travels to Japan where she teams up with Wolverine after he is targeted by the villainous Silver Samurai and Viper. When Rogue sacrifices her wellbeing for Wolverine, she proves herself worthy of the X-Men's trust and begins her slow journey to redemption.
Welcome to Genosha
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #235-238
Upon learning of the mutant conflicts in Genosha, the X-Men head to the island nation to investigate. When Rogue and Wolverine are captured, their mutant abilities are negated and they are thrown into a cell. Without her powers to protect her, Rogue is physically assaulted by the guards and retreats into herself. In the recesses of her mind, Rogue encounters the psyche of Carol Danvers and she allows the former Avenger to take control of her body in order to break out of their cell. Carol successfully escapes and frees Wolverine, thus re-joining the X-Men and fleeing Genosha.
The Light That Failed
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #246-247
When the futuristic Sentinel Nimrod merges with the deadly Master Mold, the X-Men must find a way to defeat the apparently unbeatable robot. The group open the mystical portal known as the Siege Perilous, with Rogue using her super strength to punch Master Mold through the gateway. Before being pulled away by the Siege Perilous, Master Mold grabs hold of Rogue and takes her through the portal with him.
Rogue Redux
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #269, 274-275
After being transported through the Siege Perilous, Rogue re-awakens in the X-Men's Australian headquarters several months later. She discovers that the X-Men have left and that their base is now overrun by the villains known as the Reavers. She flees, using the powers of a teleporter to take herself to the Savage Land.
In this tropical paradise, Rogue is attacked by the freed consciousness of Ms. Marvel. It is revealed that the Siege Perilous had separated the psyches of the two women, but the process left their bodies unstable. For one to survive, the other had to die. Unable to fully protect herself due to the apparent loss of her Ms. Marvel powers, Rogue is nearly killed in battle. Luckily, Magneto finds her and saves her from the enraged Ms. Marvel. He kills the Ms. Marvel duplicate, enabling Rogue to re-absorb her powers.
To show her gratitude, Rogue agrees to stay in the Savage Land with Magneto and enjoys a brief love affair with the silver-haired villain.
Mutant Genesis
X-Men (Vol. 2) #1-4
Following the dissolution of her relationship with Magneto, Rogue returns to the X-Men where she meets the enigmatic thief known as Gambit. After rebuffing Gambit's advances, Rogue finally gives in and begins dating the charming mutant.
Meanwhile, Rogue is on hand to battle her ex Magneto as he and his Acolytes invade the nation of Genosha.
Digging Deeper Between Hope and Sorrow
X-Men (Vol. 2) #24
After recovering from an injury sustained in battle, Rogue goes out with Gambit on a romantic date to New York City. She finds herself growing closer to him, so much so that she offers to tell him her real name.
The Last Goodbye
Rogue (Vol. 1) #1-4
During a visit to the bedside of her childhood sweetheart Cody, Rogue makes the shocking discovery that he has been kidnapped by Gambit's ex-wife Bella Donna and her Assassin's Guild. With Gambit's help, Rogue tracks down Bella Donna and defeats her in battle. Tragically, Cody dies before he can be returned to the hospital.
Into the Void
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #341-350
With the Shi'Ar in danger of extinction at the hands of the Phalanx, the X-Men are transported into space to aid in stopping the Phalanx. During this time, Rogue acts as a de facto leader for the team and successfully manages to prevent the Phalanx from taking over the Shi'Ar Empire.
On their way back from space, the X-Men are kidnapped and imprisoned by Erik the Red. With inhibitor collars blocking their powers, Rogue and Gambit consummate their relationship for the first time. The following day, Gambit is put on trial for his past crimes and Rogue finally learns of his involvement in a massacre of an entire group of mutants. Feeling betrayed and angry, Rogue abandons Gambit in the Antarctic where she leaves him for dead.
Power Play
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #359
Striking out on her own, Rogue searches for a cure to her mutant abilities. She successfully finds a man who has invented a machine that will strip her of her powers. Upon realizing that the machine could be used to forcefully take away the abilities of other mutants, Rogue makes the difficult decision to pass up her opportunity for a cure and destroys the machine instead.
The Return of Gambit
Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #361, X-Men (Vol. 2) #81
Having returned to the X-Men, Rogue is consumed by guilt over leaving Gambit in the Antarctic. She leaves the team briefly to search for him, but in her absence the X-Men stumble across Gambit in Japan. Reunited with her former lover, Rogue finds herself pushing for reconciliation despite Gambit's hesitations. Ultimately, the pair decide to take a break.
Going Rogue
Rogue (Vol. 3) #1-6
After a mission to her hometown, Rogue stays behind to visit her family home. She learns that her father has left and that her mother has disappeared. She also encounters evil spirits that are haunting a young girl who looks just like her. Rogue enlists the aid of Gambit and a stranger named Campbell St. Ange to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance and why this young girl looks like a dead-ringer for Rogue.
Forget-Me-Not
Rogue (Vol. 3) #7-12
When Rogue is attacked by the cyborg warrior known as Lady Deathstrike, she heads to Japan for answers. After teaming up with Sunfire, she and the Japanese hero are brutally assaulted and captured. They are ultimately locked up with one of Rogue's former associates -- Blindspot. The thing is, Rogue had no memory of ever having worked with Blindspot. As it turns out, Blindspot is a memory thief who restores Rogue's memories and she reveals their former association as part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Mutants.
As Blindspot and Rogue plot their escape, Sunfire begins to succumb to the injuries he sustained in the battle against Deathstrike. Blindspot forces Rogue to absorb Sunfire's powers so they can escape, which ultimately leads to Rogue taking on Sunfire's abilities permanently.
Bizarre Love Triangle
X-Men (Vol. 2) #171-174
With Rogue and Gambit's relationship on the skids, the pair begin to see Emma Frost for couples therapy. At this time, Mystique disguises herself as a student at the Xavier Institute and begins pursuing Gambit in an attempt to get the Cajun to cheat on Rogue. The plan backfires, leading to the discovery of Mystique's identity and she is subsequently taken in by the X-Men.
Supernovas
X-Men (Vol. 2) #188-199
After much discussion, Cyclops grants Rogue leadership status and allows her to create a field team of her own. She recruits Iceman, Cannonball and Cable, as well as Mystique and Sabretooth to aid her in a mission to stop the unstoppable Children of the Vault.
Rogue is also kidnapped by the villainous scientist Pandemic to study her absorption abilities and subsequently injects her with a deadly virus known as Strain 88. Even though the X-Men manage to rescue Rogue, they are unable to cure her and Rogue's health takes a seemingly permanent turn for the worse.
Blinded by the Light
X-Men (Vol. 2) #200-204
When Mystique betrays the X-Men, she joins the Marauders in attacking the mutant heroes and leaves them to die after an explosion. However, she successfully extracts Rogue before this can happen and keeps her close in hopes of finding a cure for Strain 88. Meanwhile, Iceman and Cannonball work tirelessly to find their kidnapped leader.
Salvage
X-Men: Legacy (Vol. 1) #220-224
After the events of Messiah CompleX, Rogue was cured of her infection and of the memories she had absorbed throughout the years. In the aftermath, she left the X-Men and ventured to the Australian Outback where she's been attempting to gain control of her powers permanently. During this journey to self-discovery, Rogue finally learns to control her abilities and comes to terms with her past.
Utopia
X-Men: Legacy (Vol. 1) #226-233
With her newfound sense of confidence and control of self, Rogue returns once more to the X-Men only to discover that they have moved to an island off the coast of San Francisco. At this time, Cyclops bars Rogue from field duty after her botched leadership of the X-Men prior to Messiah CompleX. However, he assigns her as a guidance counsellor for the next generation of mutants and Rogue finds herself relishing in this new role.
Rogue also finds herself rekindling her romance with Magneto after he takes up residence with the X-Men.
Red Shadow
Uncanny Avengers (Vol. 1) #1-5
Following the civil war between the Avengers and the X-Men, Captain America organizes a squad of Avengers and X-Men to deal with the tensions surrounding human-mutant interactions. Rogue is recruited into this new team, where she finds herself instantly at odds with Scarlet Witch. The villainous Red Skull uses this to his advantage and pits the two mutants against one another. Amidst a rather nasty spat, Rogue falls through a hole created by Scarlet Witch and discovers Charles Xavier's mutilated body. She and Scarlet Witch set aside their differences upon realizing that the Red Skull has taken Xavier's brain. Together with the other Avengers, Rogue and Scarlet Witch battle the Red Skull, only to have him escape at the last second.
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