Every Major Cyclops Costume in X-Men History, Ranked

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Cyclops is consistently ranked as one of the most visually striking members of the X-Men, and that’s high praise considering the team’s history of great costume design. Scott Summers has always stood out as a leader in terms of style. Even critics of the character often acknowledge the quality of his outfits. Many of these costumes have become iconic, reflecting different periods for both Cyclops and the X-Men. Over the years, he’s worn a lot of different looks, and almost all of them have been exceptionally well-designed.

Over the past 63 years, Cyclops has worn many costumes, but a few stand out as particularly important. These key outfits represent significant changes for both the hero himself and his team, and have played a big role in shaping his identity as a leader and a hero in X-Men history.

5) The Original X-Men Costume

The X-Men have a long and interesting past, and the team’s early days established its foundation. The original five members wore simple, matching costumes that heavily influenced Cyclops’s iconic appearance. The classic blue and yellow suits are instantly recognizable, and Cyclops’s design, in particular, became the standard for all his future outfits. He often returned to those colors – especially blue – and the skullcap mask from that original suit became a recurring feature. It’s a fantastic look that hinted at the character’s evolution.

4) The New X-Men Leathers

Grant Morrison’s New X-Men is considered a landmark series in X-Men history, largely due to its bold changes. One of the most noticeable was a complete overhaul of the team’s uniforms. Gone were the traditional colorful spandex suits, replaced with sleek black and yellow leather. The new look was particularly striking on Cyclops, whose costume – featuring a streamlined visor and a fitted undershirt – felt both practical for combat and perfectly suited to his character. Many fans consider this design one of his best.

3) Astonishing X-Men Costume

Following New X-Men, Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) marked a fresh start for the team, bringing back more traditional superhero designs. Cyclops’ costume from this era is widely considered one of his best. It features his classic blue and yellow color scheme and a full skull-cap mask, updating his second costume with a modern feel. He wore this costume until the ‘Utopia’ storyline, when it underwent some changes – the lines on the suit shifted and changed color, eventually converging on his right shoulder – but it remained a variation of the original. This is the costume he debuted as the leader of the mutant race, and it’s a truly iconic look.

2) Cyclops’s Second Costume

Cyclops’s second costume was a significant improvement over his first. He maintained the dark blue color scheme but reduced the amount of yellow, keeping it only on his trunks, gloves, and his signature pirate boots. He also continued to wear the full head-covering mask. Introduced in X-Men #39 in 1967, he wore this costume for nearly two decades, not updating it until X-Factor #1 in 1985 – making it his longest-worn design. Though not necessarily the most well-known, this costume was incredibly influential, shaping all of his subsequent looks.

1) ’90s Jim Lee Costume

Cyclops has worn a lot of great outfits, but the one most people picture when they think of the X-Men’s leader is the design by Jim Lee, which first appeared in X-Men (Vol. 2) #1. This costume is iconic because Cyclops wore it during the peak of the X-Men’s popularity, and it was also featured in X-Men: The Animated Series. Millions of fans recognize it as the Cyclops look. Interestingly, while fans often criticize similar designs from the ’90s – things like extra straps and pouches – they seem to love it on Cyclops. The excitement when it showed up in the trailer for Avengers: Doomsday proves just how much this costume means to fans.

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2026-01-18 21:15