The 10 Best X-Men Costumes in Marvel History, Ranked

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The X-Men have had countless roster changes over the years, countless revamps and reboots, and countless costumes changes. Whether the entire team shares a uniform design, or whether each member has their own unique look, the X-Men have had some of the best costumes in the entire Marvel Comics universe.

Each member of the X-Men has had at least a few costume changes over the years, and so many of them have become instant fan-favorites. From the likes of Wolverine and his countless wardrobe changes to characters like Nightcrawler and Colossus, who have mostly kept the same look since their inception, the X-Men’s costumes remain the high water mark for all other superhero designs.

The Sleek Design and Mobile Cerebro Unit Add to Xavier’s Boldest Costume

The Krakoa era was one of the most popular and acclaimed points in the X-Men’s modern history, and many of the mutant heroes of the Marvel Universe were given brand-new costumes and designs. Most notably among them was Professor Charles Xavier, a character who was typically seen wearing civilian attire.

Instead of his traditional suit or casual attire which he wore while in his wheelchair, the Krakoa era Xavier wore a sleek body suit and a large helmet with a signature “X” on the front. This design indicated a very different kind of Professor X, and the bold new look helped to further the idea of the bold new era for the X-Men.

The White Queen’s Fashion Is One of Her Most Compelling Character Aspects

Emma Frost, the one-time villain of the X-Men who became an integral part of the team in Grant Morrison’s iconic New X-Men run, has remained a fan-favorite hero for decades, and one of the most fun and exciting aspects of the character is her constant wardrobe changes. She is constantly featured in new costumes, and perhaps her best look comes from the pages of Astonishing X-Men.

Simple yet elegant, while also being utilitarian in nature, Emma’s Astonishing X-Men look is perhaps her most iconic. One of the favorite aspects of Emma Frost’s character to fans is her wide array of looks, and her sarcastic demeanor and attitude towards others. Her arrogance and constant zingers are aspects that endeared her to fans, and the years since her joining the team have revealed so much about the character underneath the hard exterior.

8

Gambit’s Classic Look Has Remained Almost Entirely Untouched for Decades

The Cajun Mutant Hero Has a Wonderful Sense of Style and a Flair for the Dramatic

Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, has been a fan-favorite member of the X-Men since he first appeared in 1990’s Uncanny X-Men #266. Since that first appearance, Gambit’s signature costume has remained almost exactly the same. With his brown trench coat over multi-colored armor and tube mask, Gambit’s look has always been one of the X-Men’s most unique designs.

Perfectly complementing the 1990s look for his love interest, Rogue, Gambit’s design remains as iconic as it was in his early days. Fans became even more engaged and enraptured with the character of Gambit and his design during his appearances in the 90s X-Men animated series. Gambit returned again in the Disney Plus X-Men ’97 series, where he had one of the most memorable moments in the entire series.

The Original X-Men’s Bold New Look Became His Most Iconic

Originally known simply as Angel, Warren Worthington III was one of the very first members of Charles Xavier’s team of X-Men. With the ability to fly and maneuver himself through the air at great speeds, Angel was one of the less versatile members of the team. That all changed when Angel was transformed into the deadly Archangel by the villainous Apocalypse.

Constantly grappling with his own inner demons, Warren’s physical transformation into Archangel became a signature part of his character development and arc. His outward appearance directly reflected his own interior mind, and his striking new look let fans and readers know that this was a bold new direction for the character.

6

Storm’s Very First Look Remains Her Best

The Weather Goddess Ororo Has Had Many Iconic Designs, But Nothing Beats Her First

Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, was one of the members who joined the X-Men team during the events of Giant-Size X-Men #1. Immediately becoming one of the most beloved members of the team, Storm’s best look came during Chris Claremont’s iconic run on the Uncanny X-Men book. The black and gold suit made Storm stand out from her teammates, and the intricate design was complex and compelling.

Though many fans think of Storm wearing her iconic white costume from the 1990s before they think of her black and gold suit, it’s hard to argue that her first appearance look isn’t her absolute best. Like Emma Frost, Storm has had countless costume changes over the years, but none quite compare to what came first.

Kurt Wagner’s Very First Look Remains His Most Iconic

One of the most lovable characters in all of Marvel Comics history, Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler, is a rare instance of a character whose very first costume design was so good that it has barely changed in the years since its inception. Black and red to complement his blue skin, Nightcrawler’s original uniform has yet to be topped.

Though it has been slightly altered over the years, Nightcrawler’s design has remained almost entirely the same since the character first appeared, which speaks to how iconic and well-designed it is. Superhero costumes are often replaced or redesigned, and Nightcrawler’s enduring look is a testament to its quality.

4

Magneto’s Red and Purple Suit Is the Villain’s Best Costume

The Iconic Suit Worn By Magneto Remains His Best

Though Max Eisenhardt, aka Magneto, has, in recent years, sided more often with the heroes of the Marvel Universe than the villains, his roots as the X-Men’s archnemesis remain at the forefront of fans’ minds. While his more recent white and gray costume complemented his change to the side of goodness, Magneto’s best look remains his iconic purple and red design.

Featured in his very first appearance, Magneto’s red and purple costume was a striking difference from the earliest X-Men team’s yellow and blue uniforms. The Master of Magnetism’s look has remained mostly the same since this first appearance, and the fact that a costume design that was first established in the 1960s has remained so popular is a testament to the skill and craft of artist Jack Kirby, the co-creator of Magneto.

3

Jean Grey’s Phoenix Design Is the Best In a Long History of Great Costumes

The First Time Jean Grey Became the Phoenix Gave Fans the Character’s Best Look

While Jean Grey has been an integral part of the X-Men and their stories since the very first issue, perhaps her most iconic story came in the form of the Dark Phoenix Saga, one of the most important tales in all of the X-Men’s history. Overtaken with the incredible power of the Phoenix Force, Jean became Phoenix, clad in a green and gold outfit to further show her character growth and change.

Though many fans argue that Jean Grey is better off without the Phoenix Force, it’s hard to argue that her time as the Phoenix didn’t give the character her best outfit to date. While her 1990s look and her classic Marvel Girl design were both worthy additions to her wardrobe, the Phoenix design remains the high watermark for Jean’s looks.

2

Wolverine’s Brown Suit Is Better Than the Blue and Yellow

Logan’s Best X-Men Outfit Isn’t His Most Well Known

Logan, aka Wolverine, is inarguably the most popular mutant in the entire Marvel Universe. Featured in endless comic runs, multiple successful animated series, and many acclaimed live-action films, Wolverine is one of the faces of the Marvel Universe as a whole. His most iconic costume might very well be his blue and yellow suit, featured in the 90s animated series and many of his comic book appearances, but his best is arguably his brown suit.

Wolverine has a ton of great, underrated costume designs, and the best among them is his brown suit. The earth tones give Wolverine a more distinct look from the other X-Men, and it gives him a more animalistic feeling. While many fans might believe that any of his yellow costume designs are preferable to this design, it’s hard to deny that the brown costume makes Wolverine more unique and more memorable. The brown Wolverine suit even appeared in the final few episodes of X-Men ’97 as a replacement for his yellow and blue outfit.

1

Cyclops’ 90s Look Is Flawless

The Leader of The X-Men’s Best Look Is Hard to Deny

Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, has had a ton of costumes over the years. Featuring different kinds of masks, visors, and body suits, Cyclops has had a myriad of unique looks. None come close, however, to the Jim Lee-designed Cyclops look featured in 1991’s X-Men #1. With bold colors, a brand-new type of cowl showcasing the hero’s hair, and utilitarian belt work, Scott’s 90s look is easily his best.

The costume remained the standard for the character for years, and it was the inspiration for his look in the 1990s animated series, as well as for many of his live-action appearances. Cyclops is often considered less interesting and engaging than other characters like Wolverine by casual fans and new readers, but the leader of the X-Men is one of the best characters that Marvel has to offer, and his classic ’90s look sees the character at his very best.

“}]] Over the course of the X-Men’s history, there have been some absolutely incredible costumes from some of the best characters in the Marvel Universe.  Read More