Fans of the X-Men's Rogue will have at least sixteen reasons to enjoy artist Russell Dauterman's latest cover for Excalibur #18. That's at least how many incarnations of the popular X-Woman appears on the variant cover, charting Rogue's evolution through comics.
Rogue first appeared in Avengers Annual #10 back in 1981. She was originally a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, lead by her adoptive mother Mystique. She would eventually join the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #171. With the ability to absorb the powers, memories, and very life force of anyone she touches, Rogue quickly became a compelling - and often tragic - member of the X-Men. During her stint with the Brotherhood, she absorbed the life force of Carol Danvers (then known as Ms. Marvel), gaining flight and super-strength, though the encounter left Carol in a prolonged coma. This initially resulted in tension between her and Wolverine, who was a friend of Danvers. Over time, however, Danvers recovered and Rogue developed into a reliable stable of the team. As Dauterman's cover shows, her character has gone through many changes over the ensuing years. She recently married her long-time love interest Gambit, and the pair has been front-and-center in Excalibur since the title's relaunch.
Dauterman took to Twitter to showcase his work on Excalibur #18. The cover includes virtually all of Rogue's costumes, with her 90's costume designed by Jim Lee front and center. Other costumes include her original costume, her purple space-faring duds, and her equally iconic, pulpy Savage Land costume in the far background.
Dauterman's cover does a great job illustrating just how much Rogue has changed over the years. In almost forty years, the character has been both hero and villain, belonging to both the X-Men, the Brotherhood, and for a time, even the Avengers. It's possible her time in Excalibur will find the character at a similar crossroads - she's already found herself at the center of Apocalypse's machinations at least once in the book. The title also spotlights her and Gambit's relationship, as the couple must adjust to both a new team and a new status quo on Krakoa. Perhaps Rogue herself will undergo yet another shift in her character's arc.
There could be other reasons to spotlight Rogue, however. With Disney's acquisition of Fox, fans have been eager to see mutants appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some form or another. Rogue has long been theorized to be one of the first mutants to make the jump to the MCU, given her villainous past and ties to Captain Marvel. While any appearance is likely several years out, it's possible Rogue is due for her own big-screen reboot.
Source: Russell Dauterman/Twitter