Storm’s claustrophobia is one of the earliest elements introduced to her character, serving a litany of purposes and offering a rare sympathetic portrayal of an anxiety disorder in superhero comics. 1/5 #xmen @MutantElement

The disorder humanizes Storm by connecting to her traumatic past, asserting not just that she’s vulnerable (and thus relatable) but also that she has a history, a lineage, and a tragedy behind her, all of which help to remove her from the trope of the masculine gaze. 2/5

At the same time, from an action perspective, Claremont uses claustrophobia as Storm’s kryptonite, providing the writer with a compelling and human way to sideline his most overpowered character in order to add tension and vulnerability to action scenes. 3/5

Symbolically, Storm’s claustrophobia contributes to her metaphorical engagement with the conflict between nature and civilization. Story (and especially visuals) frequently emphasize her need to fly above the enclosed urban environments she’s living in. 4/5

There are some sexist tropes the claustrophobia runs the risk of serving – most notably the concept of feminine hysteria – but given Storm’s power, agency, and centrality in UXM, it instead becomes a more nuanced consideration of how even the best superheroes can struggle. 5/5