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For decades, the X-Men held the number one spot in comics and pop culture during the 1990s. However, their journey has been a mix of highs and lows since then – exceptional films were followed by less impressive ones, animated series fluctuated, and their comic sales went from fantastic to just good before returning to fantastic again. Despite these fluctuations, one constant remains: the X-Men have always been visually stunning. With costumes that rank among the best in comics, even their adversaries boast striking attire. Throughout their history, the X-Men have consistently provided comic enthusiasts with some of the most iconic costumes ever, without a doubt.

Magneto’s Purple & Red Costume

Over the years, Magneto has sported some truly awe-inspiring outfits, any of which could hold this top spot. Among these, the white suit from the Bendis era was exceptional, with the black version even surpassing it. The white and black Krakoa costume also ranks high, but the best of all time remains the original purple and red ensemble. This iconic costume is Magneto’s most recognized and embodies the grandeur that defines him perfectly.

The entirety of it exudes power. The billowing cape is stunning, flawlessly accentuating his regal demeanor. For a mutant like Magneto, shades of purple and red work best; purple signifying royalty, while red draws immediate attention. Nevertheless, the most striking aspect of Magneto’s attire is his helmet. Regardless of modifications to the cut and colors of his costume, Magneto typically maintains a similar design for the helmet. The face area, shaped like a T, obscures much of his face, yet reveals his opponents to his eyes and mouth, allowing them to witness his righteous fury. The stylized piece above the T serves as an impressive crest, drawing attention straight to it. It’s a clever design, much like the villain costumes created by Marvel legend Jack Kirby.

Havok’s Original Black & White

Alex Summers, also known as Havok, is the younger sibling of Cyclops. Frequently, Havok finds himself standing in Cyclops’ shadow due to his older brother consistently outperforming him. Their competitive dynamic often surfaces at inconvenient moments. However, one aspect where Havok outshines Cyclops is his initial costume design – it’s significantly cooler. Havok’s iconic black and white outfit, designed by the legendary artist Neal Adams, is nothing short of amazing, truly embodying the essence of the younger Summers brother.

The two-tone color scheme, black and white, provides an appropriate simplicity and starkness for the costume. The central white disc, comprised of concentric circles, resembles the energy blasts he emits and adds a great touch to the design. However, what truly stands out is his headpiece – it’s flamboyant and somewhat absurd, but that’s what makes it so cool! Over time, this extravagant headpiece has become synonymous with Havok’s identity, and many of his subsequent costumes have echoed the same design on the cowl, even if they aren’t as flashy. Out of all his costumes, his original one remains unsurpassed in brilliance.

Cyclops’s ’90s Costume

Throughout the years, Cyclops has consistently sported fantastic outfits. The exception to this rule is his initial costume, but even that design is quite impressive. However, among all Cyclops’ costumes, the one that has captivated fans the most is undeniably the one from the 1990s, which gained prominence through “X-Men: The Animated Series” and reappeared in “X-Men ’97”. This costume debuted in the first issue of X-Men from 1991, designed by Jim Lee, a renowned artist in the world of superhero comics. It seemed to be the ideal progression of Cyclops’ iconic outfits.

The costume was redesigned to feature Xavier Institute’s traditional blue and yellow colors once more, after a long period of wearing blues, reds, or whites. Blue is Cyclops’s preferred color and this costume emphasizes it prominently. The yellow accents – on the chest bandoliers, gloves, wrists, trunks, thigh bandolier, and boots – provide the perfect contrast to the blue, enhancing its impact. Lastly, the mask design, a favorite of Lee’s, showcases Cyclops’s impressive hair. It embodies the kind of attire a leader of Cyclops’s stature would wear. Even the ’90s trend of adding pouches to X-Men costumes, which is quite noticeable if you compare it with the costumes of that era, seems fitting for Cyclops, as he appears to be the type who would carry everything he might need in battle just in case.

Nightcrawler’s Original Costume

In contrast to other X-Men, Nightcrawler’s unique costumes are particularly noteworthy, but his first costume, designed by Dave Cockrum for Giant-Size X-Men #1, stands out the most. This costume was worn by Nightcrawler for approximately two decades, demonstrating Cockrum’s underappreciated talent as a costume designer; every X-Men outfit he created for Marvel became an instant success. The design encapsulates Nightcrawler perfectly – it’s both eerie and whimsical, with each detail harmoniously contributing to an iconic, enduring style.

The color combination of black, red, and white on this character harmoniously blends together. The distinctive red ‘V’ shape, starting at the shoulders, extending to the lower body, and repeating on the back, is striking, reminiscent of a circus costume that Nightcrawler initially wore. The way it flares at the shoulders adds a touch of elegance. The black bodysuit complements Nightcrawler’s blue skin perfectly and enhances the overall design. The white hands and feet, adorned with red loops at the forearms and calves, provide a striking contrast, adding the perfect amount of detail to the costume. Over the years, Nightcrawler’s costumes have often drawn inspiration from this design, but it is consistently his preferred choice due to its superiority.

Punk Rock Storm

As a devoted X-Men fan, I’ve always admired Storm’s unique costumes – each one showcasing her divine, earthly beauty perfectly. Picking a favorite Storm costume is like choosing the most beautiful cloud in a sky full of them. However, for fellow Storm enthusiasts, there’s one that stands out, soaring high above the rest: her edgy punk rock look, masterfully designed by the undervalued artist Paul Smith.

The exceptional quality of this costume lies in its unique contrast to the ones she’s worn previously. The leather vest and pants are timelessly stylish, while her top alternates between white and grey, providing a striking contrast against the black leather. Her collar and forearm bracer, adorned with studs, perfectly align with the ’80s punk rock theme of the costume. Notably, the gloves complement the overall simplicity of the ensemble, adding an extra edge to her appearance. Her iconic mohawk, familiar to fans from the first season of X-Men ’97, is undeniably captivating, instantly drawing attention and signaling that this isn’t the same Storm as before. This was the costume she donned when she defeated Cyclops in a powerless battle for X-Men leadership, symbolizing her newfound wildness and warning potential adversaries of the consequences of challenging her.

Juggernaut’s Original Costume

The name Juggernaut carries significant weight, both figuratively and literally, and its original costume perfectly embodies this notion. Cain Marko, who is Charles Xavier’s brutal stepbrother, was granted overpowering physical strength by the dark deity Cyttorak. This power stands in stark contrast to Xavier’s immense mental prowess, and Juggernaut’s original costume exudes ‘invincible, bulky beast.’

Initially, the color of this costume is red or burgundy, which gives it an appearance as if it was crafted from raw, weathered metal, and evokes the image of blood, fittingly reflecting Juggernaut’s menacing character. The lighter red accents on his abs provide a nice contrast. The bands positioned under the pecs, on his biceps, forearms, and knuckles highlight his colossal muscles, making each punch seem all the more formidable. His thick boots add to the impression that he is unstoppable once in motion. The helmet is the most striking aspect of the costume. It fully shields his head, with eye holes that intensify his intimidating expression, and the fact that it appears bolted onto the costume lends an air of indomitability. Juggernaut has donned black versions of this costume in the past, but his current red X emblem on the helmet symbolizes his allegiance to the team. However, nothing can surpass the original design’s impact.

Psylocke’s Ninja Costume

In recent times, discussing Psylocke among the X-Men can be quite perplexing due to her intricate backstory. Initially, Psylocke was Elizabeth Braddock, a British character, who ended up with the body of the Hand assassin, Kwannon, transforming her into a Japanese ninja. Later, Braddock was restored to her original form and took on the role of Captain Britain, while Kwannon reclaimed her identity as Psylocke. Prior to occupying Kwannon’s body, Braddock sported several attractive costumes that effectively utilized purple, but after gaining freedom from the Mandarin and the Hand, she adopted her most impressive outfit, which was Kwannon’s assassin attire.

This Jim Lee design costume exudes both elegance and intimidation. The primary aspect of the costume is a one-piece dark purple turtleneck swimsuit, bordering on black, featuring a striking red belt or sash reminiscent of martial arts. It’s accompanied by stylish thigh-high boots and gloves that extend up to the forearm, each adorned with bands that appear knotted, creating an allure of exposing more skin while still maintaining an imposing presence. Wearing this costume onto the battlefield suggests a formidable figure not to be trifled with.

Rogue’s 1990s Costume

It’s widely agreed that the costume designed by Jim Lee for Rogue, first appearing in X-Men #1 of 1991 and utilized in X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97, is the one most associated with her. This iconic ensemble from the 1990s, worn between 1991 and 1997, is nothing short of breathtaking and seems tailor-made for Rogue. However, it’s also worth noting that Rogue has many impressive costumes, and some might argue that her original green and white attire is the best.

Initially, this outfit fully envelops her character, which is crucial for a person who possesses lethal abilities due to excessive skin contact. Green is emblematic of Rogue, and this ensemble strikes the ideal balance. The yellow complements the green beautifully, with the gloves and boots, positioned centrally, drawing attention. The gloves’ flared wrist design adds an edgy touch, while the boots with flared-out knees give a sense of armor, enhancing her perceived danger. Her belt casually slung across her hips reflects her carefree disposition hidden beneath layers of caution. Lastly, the brown jacket is the pièce de résistance of the entire outfit. Although the bodysuit looks stylish on its own, it seems incomplete without the jacket. In this costume, Rogue leads her own X-Men team once more, which feels fitting.

Wolverine’s Brown and Tan Costume

In the movie “Deadpool & Wolverine”, Wolverine donned his iconic yellow and blue attire, delighting fans everywhere. This costume, which debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 and was later popularized by X-Men: The Animated Series, is widely recognized as Wolverine’s most famous ensemble. Yet, devotees of Wolverine argue that the brown and tan outfit is superior and leaves no room for debate – even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe chose to go with the blue and yellow in their films.

This costume was created by artist John Byrne, often referred to as the greatest X-Men artist ever, and it seems tailor-made for Wolverine. It’s subdued yet wild, with the brown and tan colors blending harmoniously. It imparts a sense of danger that the blue and yellow outfit lacks, and its boots are undeniably coolest. Wolverine’s adventures involve as much stealth as they do raw violence; someone engaged in such clandestine activities wouldn’t opt for the excessive brightness of the yellow suit. The blue and yellow costume is acceptable, but the brown and tan outfit is undoubtedly the iconic Wolverine look.

Jean Grey’s Original Phoenix Costume

Jean Grey demonstrated that green and yellow were her signature colors when she began wearing a miniskirt outfit as part of the original X-Men team. However, she underwent a significant transformation, retaining the green color but replacing yellow with gleaming gold, after she acquired the power of the Phoenix Force following a selfless act for the people she cared about and emerged as a deity. The original Phoenix costume remains unmatched in its brilliance, and while her 1990s blue and yellow suit was stylish, it suited her new all-powerful personality flawlessly.

Speaking of Dave Cockrum’s masterpieces, the iconic green bodysuit, characterized by its black chest area, golden phoenix emblem, and long golden gloves, is undeniably impressive. The thigh-high boots that culminate in a sharp point on each thigh and the golden sash, adorned with a tiny phoenix, truly add to its charm. There’s a certain allure to this costume – the vibrant colors and harmonious design elements make quite an impact. Some might argue for the red and black Dark Phoenix version, but there’s just something about the original green and gold ensemble that evokes a cosmic entity with the power of life and death. It’s a matter of personal preference, really, but the classic costume is hard to beat in terms of embodying a celestial being.

X-Men comics can be read at Marvel. X-Men ’97 is streaming on Disney+.

2025-02-09 04:11