Exclusive: Jamie McKelvie Gives The X-Men: Blue Team New Costumes

Yesterday, Marvel Comics revealed X-Men: Blue, one of two new flagship series launching for the X-Men as part of ResurrXion.

The series will be written by Cullen Bunn (Uncanny X-Men, Magneto) with interior artwork by Jorge Molina, and will bring the time-displaced original X-Men together again under the guidance of Magneto and with Jean Grey serving as the team’s field leader.

To mark the occasion, the original five X-Men have debuted a new set of costumes designed by Jamie McKelvie, the acclaimed Young Avengers and The Wicked + The Divine artist who famously designed Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel look and Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel costume. McKelvie offered some thoughts on his X-Men: Blue costume design process.

“When I was asked to do the designs for the X-Men, I wanted to reference past incarnations of the characters, while at the same time coming up with something new and cohesive for the team,” McKelvie says. “I wanted them to be individuals, but when you looked at them as a whole, they’re clearly a team. I took my main inspiration from modern Olympic and fitness wear outfits, which use a lot of bold shapes and colours. I also paid tribute to Frank Quitely’s New X-Men designs in the shapes of the boots and jackets.”

Each member of the X-Men: Blue team got individual flourishes from McKelvie. For team leader Jean Grey, it was about combining Jean’s signature color scheme with certain cyclical fashion trends.

“Jean’s costume references the colors of her original costume once the team had moved away from identical outfits,” McKelvie says. “The jacket is kind of an update of 90s X-Men styles because a lot of 90s fashion has found its way back into modern clothing trends.”

McKevie says color schemes were a big factor for other members of the X-Men: Blue team as well, as was paying homage to past costumes. “Cyclops’ colors stick closer to the original identical costumes, as he always has. There are echoes of various different previous costumes of his.” For Iceman, it was about, “Keeping the cool blue ice tones while updating to tie into the other costumes on the team.

With Angel, the characters form was also a major factor in the costume design. “The shape of the main white section emphasizes the broad shoulders of a character with wings. The colors are kept from a previous costume, but the shapes used on the costume are reminiscent of the classic Archangel costume.”

Lastly, the X-Men: Blue writer put in a special request for Beast. “The jacket was a request from Cullen, and his feet and hands are kept free so that he can jump about like he does. As the most agile of the team, he needs the least restrictive outfit. With the jacket off there’s a big bold X across his chest that ties into the design of the jacket.”

Look for X-Men: Blue #1 on store shelves in the spring of 2017.