Jean Grey’s 7 Best Costumes, Ranked

Debuting in 1963 as one of the original five members of the X-Men, Jean Grey has a storied history in Marvel Comics. Originally the team’s damsel in distress, Jean became their most powerful member in a matter of years and is a force to be reckoned with. Never one to back down from what’s right, Jean has also been a hero with style. She has had plenty of unique looks throughout the years to help her stand out among the other X-Men. Usually paired with a blend of yellow and green, she’s made a splash with countless looks over the years

While her looks may not be as varied as Storm’s, Jean’s are just as impactful in her regard. And sometimes all it takes is a little makeover from the Phoenix Force to give her a brand new identity to call her own. Here Jean’s seven best costumes, ranked.

7) Marvel Girl

The first outfit Jean wore outside of the matching training suits was a simple green dress with yellow gloves and mask of the same color. This was the first time she donned the green and yellow and it mostly stuck from there. While the dress itself might not be the best thing for a hero to wear, it’s look is too iconic not to make a best of list. Simple yet effective, this original look is the base for what would become one of her best suits later one.

The suit was used mainly after the matching suits were ditched in favor of costumes that helped differ from each other a little bit more. After that, it disappeared until the tail end of the Dark Phoenix Saga and would return much later in the Krakoa era. What a place to start and her suits only get better from here.

6) New X-Men

What were you expecting, yellow spandex? As much as some people love and others hate the black leather costumes, they are truly iconic. For some these looks worked, but not so much for others. Out of the heroes it worked on, Jean the best, especially with that long leather coat.

This era also marked the end of Jean Grey for quite a few years as well. The Phoenix returned and eventually lead to her death for about ten years or so. But this is the world of Marvel, no one ever stays dead unless you’re Mar-Vell. Jean would return but this costume was long gone, unfortunately

5) X-Men: Red

The only costume on our list that doesn’t feature yellow or green, we have her X-Men: Red look. On paper this look shouldn’t work but it feels like a slight recolor of another classic we will be getting to shortly. As odd as it is, the blue and red just fit super well on Jean and it stands out in a good way from all of her other costumes.

So far outside of her classic suit this is her only comic suit in the video game Marvel Rivals and looks just as good there. This may not be everyone’s favorite look for her but it was a great one that really should have stuck around a lot longer.

4) Original X-Factor

An update as well as an homage to Marvel Girl, the X-Factor suit is iconic for all the right reasons. While this costume and the red and orange re-color will be debated over which was better, this one just feels more like Jean. The red one felt more like Dark Phoenix and felt like an oncoming storm. While this costume feels more like a welcome home to Jean once she returned from the dead.

As it stands it wasn’t one of her longest running suits but it should come back at some point. While she’s currently Phoenix again, if this was her “new” Marvel Girl costume I wouldn’t be upset in the slightest.

3) Jim Lee Redesign

The costume everyone who grew up with the original X-Men animated series thinks of is the Jim Lee redesign. Swapping the green with blue is a unique move and most definitely inspired X-Men: Red‘s look. It’s easily one of her most recognizable ones but the two before it take the cake just a bit more.

No wonder Logan had a framed picture he stared at in of this costume, it’s that good. I’m also amazed this one wasn’t her alternate look in Rivals but time will tell if it might still make an appearance. It can’t be denied that these were the suit of a generation for Jean Grey and yet we still have two more to go.

2) Dark Phoenix

Dark Phoenix is easily the first story X-Men fans think of when they think of the titular team. After Jean’s psyche broke leading to the biggest crashout of all time, Dark Phoenix just swapped the green for some red, showing the other side of the coin that is Phoenix. Anytime you see this costume you know everything is about to hit the fan. While this represents all the evil that one can do with all the power in the world, the same can be said oppositely in the next suit.

1) Phoenix

Without a doubt it had to be Phoenix in our top spot. Whether it’s her classic Phoenix design or the current, Phoenix will always be Jean’s best costume. What defines her as the most powerful member of the X-Men when she’s alive or on the team will always be signified by this suit. Add the gold sash along with the rest of the suit and it will be even better.

It marked the change Jean had long needed at this point and she became the fan favorite from here. Long live the Phoenix except for when she goes a bit crazy at times and even then, she’s doing it in truly the best costume she’s ever had.

What’s your favorite costume Jean’s worn? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comments.

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