The X-Men are getting stunning new costumes to launch their new team in style at the upcoming Hellfire Gala. Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch has transformed the mutant race, with heroes and villains alike gathering on the mutant island of Krakoa. Now, having survived the X of Swords event, the mutants are preparing to make their intentions known to humanity. Emma Frost has organized the Hellfire Gala, and the much-anticipated highlight will be the unveiling of the new X-Men team.
Marvel has promised the story of the Hellfire Gala will kick off with the biggest X-Men comic ever, a Planet-Size X-Men one-shot; it will then continue to unfold over twelve titles and twelve stories, with each giving a different perspective on the night's events. This is being teased as one of the biggest events in the history of the X-Men franchise, and excitement is building among readers.
Marvel has taken the opportunity to commission top-tier artist Russell Dauterman to produce some stunning new outfits for key X-Men to wear at the Hellfire Gala. They've allowed Entertainment Weekly a look at the designs, which will be shared as variant covers. So let's explore these stunning X-Men outfits.
Jean Grey
Jean Grey is one of the brightest stars of the mutant race and co-leader of the new X-Men team. Jean recently demonstrated her power by literally going head-to-head with Knull in the King in Black event. Jean has regressed to her old Marvel Girl costume in the current X-Men comics, but fortunately this glamorous Hellfire Gala costume allows her to demonstrate her fashion sense. Dauterman has been heavily influenced by many of Jean's classic costumes; note the dominant color green, evoking the Marvel Girl and Phoenix eras, while the backless dress is a nod to her clothing at the beginning of the classic Phoenix Saga. The headpiece is a nice homage to the Jim Lee era, and the costume she famously wore in X-Men: The Animated Series. All in all, this dress is one of the best Jean Grey designs in years, and it's to be hoped we see it again.
Cyclops
The X-Men's other co-leader, Cyclops is unfortunately rather less impressive. "Scott’s personality doesn’t lend itself toward over-the-top, so I went for a streamlined silhouette and a futuristic soldier vibe," Dauterman explained. "I wanted high-fashion looks that still felt true to the characters." His comment reflects the modern interpretation of Cyclops, influenced by X-Men: The Animated Series and James Marsden's portrayal in the first three X-Men films. The animated series and the movies forgot Cyclops is supposed to be a charismatic leader, someone with a sheer force of personality so notable that people found themselves caught up in his wake and following without even stopping to think about it.
Storm
Storm has gone through many designs over the years, with her wedding dress designed by Emmy Award winner Shawn Dudley (Guiding Light). Dauterman has gone for a beautiful design that feels like a homage to all the costumes Ororo has worn before, with the gold highlights emphasizing her majesty and giving her a truly regal air. Storm's cape has been rendered far more creatively than usual, looking more like a manifestation of her Omega level power than a clothing choice. Only an artist of Dauterman's caliber would be willing to create this look, and it's safe to assume it won't appear again—it would be a nightmare for other artists.
Rogue
The X-Men's own Southern Belle, Rogue wears a dark green costume that's reminiscent of her Brotherhood costume—a rather striking choice, given she's going to be mingling with some powerful and influential humans who may hold grudges against her as a former mutant terrorist. Dauterman deliberately incorporated lace as a homage to a dress Jim Lee drew her in for a date night in X-Men #4 back in 1991, ensuring this really does feel like something the established character would wear. The collar is reminiscent of the jacket she wore in the X-Men's Blue Team.
Captain Britain
Betsy Braddock may be best known as Psylocke, but in the modern X-Men books she's been restored to her old British body and transformed into the new Captain Britain. Dauterman has created a look that is evocative of all the costumes Betsy wore in her old body, with the hairstyle a wonderful callback to her first stint with the X-Men. According to Dauterman, Excalibur writer Tini Howard suggested he use Alexander McQueen as a reference when creating this outfit.
Kate Pryde
The Red Queen of the Hellfire Club, Kate Pryde is one of Krakoa's key movers and shakers—even if she isn't exactly known for her fashion sense, having basically been Marvel's worst dresser at the beginning of her X-Men career. Dauterman attempted to demonstrate Emma Frost's increasing influence on Kate; although the two clashed in the past, they've become close friends of late, working together to manage the Hellfire Trading Corporation. There's a touch of pirate to this design, which is fitting given Kate has been blazing a trail as captain of the Marauder, fashioning herself as a pirate.
Angel
Angel's is one of the more curious designs, less flashy and showy than some of the others because—as one of the leaders of X-Corp—he interacts with humans a lot of the time. The bare-chested look is one Warren Worthington III has been happy to take on before; he clearly has no sense of embarrassment about showing off his impressive physique. At the same time, though, there's a refreshing sense of liberty in the fact Angel is now happily displaying his wings; he used to strap them to his back under his shirt, so this conscious decision demonstrates this is indeed a new age for the mutant race.
Rachel Summers
Angel's costume may be forward-looking, but Rachel Grey's is a curious look that evokes memories of her past. Rachel was brought up in the dystopian Days of Future Past timeline, the daughter of Cyclops and Phoenix, and she's one of the most powerful psychics on Earth (although sadly the current X-Men books seem to have forgotten Rachel is another Omega). Rachel's costume is based on a sinister outfit she wore when she was forced to hunt her own kind as a Hound, and the muzzle makes it look even more S&M. Dauterman has gone for a liquid latex look, "meant to be organic and weird."
Monet St. Croix
And then we come to Monet St. Croix, another child of wealth and privilege who has something of a strange, confusing history behind her. The modern Monet possesses the ability to morph into a form based on her sister Penance, whom she may or may not be merged with, and the fascinator she's wearing calls out the Penance connection. Monet is bold and confident, and no doubt she'll enjoy strutting her stuff in this outfit.
Emma Frost
Finally, Dauterman designed not one but three different looks for Emma Frost, the White Queen of mutant fashion. "The whole world is watching us now," Emma told Kate Pryde in the pages of Excalibur, "we must be nothing less than fabulous." All show off Emma's physique—she paid good money for that—but it's interesting to note only one of them shows her in human form rather than diamond. That may be a plot point, because Emma can't use her telepathy while in diamond form; she's been known to manipulate human responses to mutants in the past. But with the Hellfire Gala the X-Men are stepping out boldly, letting the humans react as they choose.
Source: EW