Summary
IconicX-Mencharacters includingStorm,Psylocke, Rogue, Jean Grey, and more are getting a sleek 50s-inspired redesign in an upcoming exclusive variant cover.Highly stylized mid-20th-century aesthetics dominate Mark Brooks' San Diego Comic Con Exclusive for the newly releasedX-Men#1, as the artist helps inaugurate the franchise’s new era with a throwback that pre-dates eventhe earliestX-Mencomics.
League of Comic Geeks offered a lookat Mark Brooks’ Unknown Comics Comic Con Exclusive variant cover forX-Men (2024)#1 – written by Jed MacKay, with art by Ryan Stegman – which features stunning redesigns of the heroes posed in front of a retro pink car, with Wolverine looking like a 50s greaser in the corner box.
Calling to mind pin-up models of the era, the ladies of the X-Men show off their nostalgic fashions with character-specific accents.Highlighting their retro logo and a fiery motif, the variant cover perfectly fits the throwback vibe of the era.
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Miles Morales shows off his ‘70s disco aesthetic, which shares some noticeable similarities to Nightwing’s debut look, in this disco-themed variant.
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X-Men#1 – Mark Brooks Variant Cover, Unknown Comics San Diego Comic Con Exclusive
The cover and their fashions, especially Wolverine’s, are also extremely reminiscent of the classicGrease (1978), which took place in the 1950s.
The hyper-stylized cover gives a peek at what could’ve been if these classic Marvel heroes existed in a bygone era.The gorgeous art highlights the era’s style with perhaps the most fashionable Marvel heroes; Storm is at the center of the cover, in leopard print with a lightning bolt on her skirt to highlight her nature-based powers. Jean Grey and Psylocke both have tattoos based on their powers and history, and Rogue wears her long gloves with a period-style dress. Kitty Pryde wears a military outfit, with her best accessory Lockheed in an old-school varsity jacket.
The exclusive cover follows the Disco Dazzler variant series, which took X-heroes like Storm, Magik, and Psylocke to the groovy 70s. Jean Grey was the first woman on the X-Men, andone of the first leading female superheroesat the time, when the team debuted in 1963. With Storm following in 1975 and the other heroes on the cover in the 80s, none of the heroes actually existed in the stylized era portrayed on the cover. The cover and their fashions, especially Wolverine’s, are also extremely reminiscent of the classicGrease (1978), which took place in that 1950s.
Brooks’ Cover Art Proves Marvel Needs A Version of “DC Bombshells”
X-Men#1 – Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Ryan Stegman; Color By Marte Gracia; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
With Brooks’ variant cover forX-Men#1, it’s proven that their sense of fashion would thrive in any era imaginable.
The costume designs capturing each mutant’s identity in their respective retro fashions show off how cool a 50s-based alternate universe comic book series for the X-Men would be, similar to the DC Comics Bombshells line. DC Bombshells started as a toy line and later spun off into two digital-first comic series, with1940s-style redesigns for DC’s heroines. With Bombshells being such a rapid success,the formula could easily be repeated with Brooks’ exclusive variant art as a blueprint for an X-Men series or storyline in the future.
The heroes of the X-Men have always been some of the most stylish heroes on comic book shelves, whether it be with their many costumes over the yearsor the recent Hellfire Galas. With Brooks’ variant cover forX-Men#1, it’s proven that their sense of fashion would thrive in any era imaginable. The fashion and stylistic choices put forth by Brooks would be a delight to see more of, especially withmore mighty Marvel mutantsjoining the lineup. With their rock ’n’ roll 50s reimagining, iconic characters likeStorm,Psylocke, and more shine in their own distinct ways.
X-MEN #1 (2024)
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
