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Rogue is one of the most recognizable X-Men characters in pop culture today, thanks to her unique absorbing powers as a mutant. (Not to mention, the world's need to love a troubled southern belle with skunk hair.)

The first X-Men movie immortalized the dangers implicit in Rogue's power set in a dramatic scene where a teenage Anna Marie kisses a boy, only for her mutant powers to activate when their lips touch, leaving him incapacitated moments later. In Marvel Comics, Rogue's absorbing powers were the source of much anxiety for her for the first few decades of her career, because she constantly worried about accidentally hurting people she loved through physical contact. That said, Anna Marie also became one of the most formidable mutant fighters after she absorbed Carol Danvers' powers in her very first appearance back in 1981's Avengers Annual #10, and then later, Wonder Man's. Thankfully, however, those days of accidental siphoning are behind her. 

The writer of Uncanny X-Men, Gail Simone, confirmed on Bluesky that Rogue's current powers are "Simon's" (referring to Simon Williams' Wonder Man), but that "she has a tiny bit of Carol [Danvers] still in her." Just to give you a refresher, Rogue absorbed not only Wonder Man's powers, but his entire being in Uncanny Avengers #21 by Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña, since Simon is made up of entirely ionic energy. 

This was part of a larger conversation about a panel from Simone and David Marquez's Uncanny X-Men, where Gambit and Rogue are spooning in bed, unbothered. A fan asked whether Rogue's powers are activated "skin to skin," to which Simone responded, "She gained control of her siphoning years ago." 

Simone and Marquez's Uncanny X-Men trade paperbacks have been selling well, and fans have been loving how Simone has written Rogue and Gambit's relationship.  

To me, my X-Men fans. Want more about Marvel's mutants? You don't need Cerebro to find what you should read next... we made a list!

• The best X-Men comics
• Every Omega-Level X-Men mutant ranked by power
• Why the Krakoan Age of X-Men was ended by Marvel
• How to watch the X-Men movies in order