Rogue’s Top Comics Costumes Fans Didn’t See in the X-Men Movies

The X-Men movies have many things to recommend them, but any comics fan will tell you they didn’t show any of Rogue‘s best costumes. It may be hard for modern viewers to believe, but there was a time when studios believed a superhero film was a gamble – especially one based on a Marvel Comics character. Marvel’s biggest problem was that, unlike their rival DC, they lacked ties to any studio of their own. For decades, Marvel found themselves locked in a cycle of selling the rights to a studio, and then plans falling through. And then, in 1998, Blade released to popular and critical acclaim. Two years later, Fox released the first X-Men film.

Received wisdom was that a superhero film should be stripped down and made as realistic as possible. That was why Fox’s X-Men were clad not in blue-and-yellow spandex, but in black leather outfits that frankly made them look like something of a biker gang. It was a huge departure from the colorful costumes of the comics themselves, and anyone familiar with those – and how they added to the iconic, mythological aesthetic of superheroes – was understandably a little disappointed.

Twenty years later, it is clear the wisdom of Fox’s studio execs was mistaken. Marvel Studios has proved audiences will flock to see a good, well-made superhero movie – even if the characters are clad in brightly-colored outfits and stand out from the crowd. Marvel has now regained the film rights to the X-Men franchise, and it’s only a matter of time before classic X-Men like Rogue make their way into the MCU. So let’s take a look at some of the best costumes worn by Rogue over the years, that never made their way to the big screen under Fox – but could do with Marvel.

Rogue’s Brotherhood Era

It’s easy to forget Rogue made her debut not as a hero, but as a villain – a member of Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants who challenged the might of the Avengers. The Rogue of Avengers Annual #10 was very much unlike the sexy Southern Belle modern fans are familiar with. She was cruel, twisted and corrupt, wearing a green costume that was marked by angular lines. She wore her hair short, with a severe fringe. The design was intended to strip her of all trace of femininity, and her kiss – which allowed her to drain the powers and memories of her victims – was intended to be a mockery of romance. Nobody who picked up Avengers Annual #10 would ever have believed this character was destined to become one of the most celebrated X-Men. When she made her way to the X-Men from Uncanny X-Men #171 onwards, artists like Walt Simonson carefully lessened the sharp edges and stressed her youth in her features in order to make Rogue a little more sympathetic.

Fox, of course, took a very different approach with their version of Rogue – and as a result, this look was entirely inappropriate. In truth, it’s largely been forgotten in animated adaptations as well, even those which attempt to tell Rogue’s story in a little more comic-book-accurate a manner. That’s understandable, because the visual difference between this portrayal of Rogue and the character she would become is just a little too striking. If Marvel Studios do adapt this look for a Brotherhood-era Rogue, say for Captain Marvel 2, they’re likely to modify it significantly.

X-Men Blue Team

Rogue went through numerous costumes over the next few years, but it wasn’t until 1991’s X-Men#1 that she was really given another classic look by Jim Lee. This is her most famous design, a form-fitting green-and-yellow bodysuit with knee-high boots and a leather jacket; the design, combined with Lee’s artwork, truly transformed Rogue into the Southern Bombshell readers know and love.

This was the version of Rogue adapted for the classic X-Men: The Animated Series, and it’s generally considered her most iconic look. The aesthetic is completely different to that in Fox’s movies, which portrayed Rogue as a skittish teenager, and so sadly it was never adopted in their films. Marvel is sure to use some version of this iconic outfit in the MCU, well aware most X-Men fans are eager to see it brought to life on the big screen, though as fashion sensibilities have shifted, it may not be adopted as a permanent look (but perhaps as a gag outfit, a la Scarlet Witch’s comics costume in WandaVision.)

Rogue’s Shi’ar Costume

Rogue’s next costume change came as a result of an impromptu mission to Shi’ar space, with the X-Men kidnapped while in their civilian garb. They scrounged makeshift costumes from Shi’ar garments, and in truth they came up with some pretty cool outfits as a result. Rogue’s was a surprisingly welcome departure from her trademark greens, dominated by purple but with yellow highlights. Visually, it was tremendously effective, giving her a cool sci-fi edge. The costume was sadly short-lived, although Marvel did wind up making an action figure. Fox never came anywhere near this design, which would have been far too bright for their movies, but perhaps Marvel will make an adaptation as the MCU explores its more space-focused universe.

Original X-Men Legacy Costume

Rogue went through a spate of different costumes through the early 2000s, even abandoning green in favor of red for a time, but none really worked for her. Finally, Marvel returned the Southern Belle to green, with a new costume that was a homage to her Brotherhood era. The lines and angles were a lot less severe, though, and it was frequently complemented by a flowing hooded cloak. It was surprisingly effective, particularly because Rogue could drop the hood and ditch the cloak in order to throw down with some of Marvel’s most powerful villains and antiheroes. If Marvel ever do a Brotherhood-era Rogue, they’re more likely to adapt this look than the original one from Avengers Annual #10.

Second X-Men Legacy Costume

Rogue adopted another iconic look, a tight green outfit with white highlights, a flowing scarf, and a proud X logo at the center of her chest. She’d gained an unusual degree of control over her absorption powers during Mike Carey’s X-Men Legacy run, and consequently tended to show a little more flesh, with parts of her arms bare – and, typically, a lot of cleavage. There were some variations over the years – she added a belt with pouches and an X logo, as well as a skirt that worked surprisingly well – but the bare bones proved relatively iconic. It would be surprising to see Marvel ignore so popular a look, although they’re unlikely to sexualize it with the zipper cut so low (it’s notable that Hasbro recently released a Marvel Legends action figure of this design with the zip up.)

Rogue In The Uncanny Avengers

Rogue started out as an Avengers villain, but in Uncanny Avengers she finally became a member of the team. This saw Rogue adopt another costume that was a homage to the Brotherhood era, with a raised hood that stressed her grimmer, angrier persona – a result of Charles Xavier’s death. Although this was an effective outfit, it never quite connected with most readers because it concealed her distinctive flowing hair, and it didn’t help that Jason Aaron’s portrayal of the character was at odds with Carey’s X-Men Legacy run.

While fans love Rogue for a myriad of reasons, her costumes are more important than most, given that they’re closely bound to her often uncontrollable powers and the constant limits imposed on her as a result. However Marvel chooses to embrace its mutants in the MCU, comic fans will always have strong opinions about Rogue‘s costumes, and especially which of them most accurately capture a conflicted character with a rich inner life and strong bonds to her found family in the X-Men.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4936 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

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A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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