Mystique is one of the X-Men’s most devious characters, and a new cosplay of her House of M design perfectly highlights why this costume works so well. Mystique in House of M is perfectly representative of so much of her character, and reveals exactly what makes the chaotic mutant click.
In House of M, the Scarlet Witch, suffering a mental break, is pressured by her brother Quicksilver to use her powers to re-write reality so that mutants are the dominant power on Earth. In this new version of reality, Magneto rules over the United States and mutants are a majority species, discriminating against a human minority in much the same way that humans do to mutants in regular Earth-616 continuity. One of the most notable changes in this reality is to the character of Mystique. On Earth-616, Mystique is a blue-skinned mutant shapeshifter whose allegiances shift just as easily as her physical form, as she walks the line between murderous mutant terrorist, unwilling government agent, anti-hero and X-Man. In House of M, Mystique works for this reality’s version of S.H.I.E.L.D., re-imagined as an organization devoted to strengthening and preserving Magneto’s reign.
Now an amazing new cosplay of this version of Mystique by Darthkaoru has highlighted just how perfect an outfit her House of M design is. In an accented black and white bodysuit, Kaoru’s cosplay highlights both the practicality and ostentatiousness of the S.H.I.E.L.D. design. The bodysuit suggests black-ops work, while the gold buttons and epaulettes pay homage to Magneto’s own Spanish-royalty inspired House of M design, letting an observer know exactly who S.H.I.E.L.D. works for. This costume is perfectly representative of different aspects of Mystique’s personality. Mystique is both pragmatic and theatrical in equal measure. A skilled and subtle spy, but one who wears a literal belt of skulls in her regular design. Kaoru themselves embodies this perfectly: confident and composed, completely in control as they pose.
What Does Mystique Really Want?
Mystique’s role in House of M also suggests something fascinating about her character. In the mainline House of M series by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel, it’s suggested that the Scarlet Witch’s reality manipulation in fact granted many characters their deepest desires. Wolverine’s tie-in to House of M, Wolverine Vol 3 #33-35, by Daniel Way and Javier Saltares helps to shed some light on what Mystique’s desires are. In this story, Mystique impersonates Wolverine’s old enemy Nick Fury and attacks S.H.I.E.L.D to give Logan motivation to shake off the doldrums his life has become. Mystique’s greatest desire? Where she feels most confident? It’s when she’s engaging in deception and working against her masters.
This last point shows that that House of M wasn’t exactly perfect for Mystique. Like in House of M, Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz and R. B. Silva’s House of X/Powers of X have Mystique working to ensure the flourishing of mutantkind at least partially under Magneto’s orders. However, unlike in House of M, Mystique here has no loyalty to Magneto, and is instead working to ensure her wife, Destiny’s, resurrection. In fact, House of M is one of the very few times that Mystique is working under someone of her own free will. Her other famous stint in government, as part of Valerie Cooper’s Freedom Force, was also done under duress. Mystique functions best on her own terms, apart from any group, whether it be governmental or the X-Men. So, while Darthkarou’s cosplay may highlight just how good her House of M design is, Mystique herself can be glad that regular continuity continues to have her flourish as a rogue agent.
Source: Darthkarou