Marvel’s next X title event, the Hellfire Gala, is coming this summer, and what’s a gala without fancy, chic attire? Today the publisher unveiled artist Russell Dauterman‘s twelve designs of the X-Men’s formalwear for the Hellfire Gala – including three different looks for a particular White Queen.
Debuted at EW, the designs highlight characters at the heart of the various X titles, from Kate Pryde to Cyclops and Jean Gray to Betsy Braddock. The design art will adorn the covers of the X titles shipping in June as variants. Here’s the full list of titles, as well as the, frankly, stunning design art for each title:
Offer 6/2
HELLIONS # 12 ANGEL CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
MARAUDERS # 21 EMMA FROST CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
X-FORCE # 20 EMMA FROST CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
For sale 6/9
EXCALIBUR # 21 ROGUE CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
X-MEN # 21 JEAN GRAY CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
For sale 6/16
NEW MUTANTS # 19 RACHEL SUMMERS CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
PLANET-SIZE X-MEN # 1 STORM CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
X-CORP # 2 MONET CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
For sale 6/23
SWORD # 6 CAPTAIN BRITAIN CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
WAY OF X # 3 EMMA FROST CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
WOLVERINE # 13 KATE PRYDE CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
For sale 30/6
X-FACTOR # 10 CYCLOPS CHARACTER DESIGN VARIANT COVER by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
If you want to catch your breath, you’re not alone.
I don’t know much about fashion (okay, I don’t know anything about fashion) except that I often find that a lot of it looks ridiculous, and I think it is here too, but in the absolute best way possible. Every look feels perfect to the person wearing it, and you can tell that a lot of thought has gone into Dauterman’s work on this. The EW article reveals some of that insight, including how Storm’s outfit looks like she’s ‘wearing it’ again and Kate’s (my personal favorite) looks like she’s going through it. It is smart, sharp and spectacular work.
Watch the full announcement of Marvel’s design variant covers below and see if all twelve of them arrive along with the Hellfire Gala itself in June.
New York, NY – March 16, 2021 – In June, the Hellfire Trading Company is inviting readers everywhere to the inaugural Hellfire Gala to announce the first team of Krakoan X-Men to the world and reveal the surprising plans mutant kid has in store for the Marvel Universe. The Hellfire Gala will unfold in tracks from your favorite running X-Men series, as well as PLANET-SIZE X-MEN, a special double one-shot. These twelve songs will all revolve around a single night that will go down in Marvel Comics history and while it’s too early to reveal the earth-shattering steps mutant kid is about to take, one thing is for sure: the X-Men have one. never looked better. . Some of Marvel’s best performers have delivered stunning high-fashion looks to ensure that the Marvel mutants are ready to show up and show off their biggest night with designs on the verge of envy of the fashion world .
The initiative in creating these entirely new interpretations of “mutant fashion” is acclaimed artist Russell Dauterman. Revealed earlier today by Weekly entertainmentthe superstar artist has taken his already masterful portrayal of the X-Men to the next level with twelve daring new designs for X-Men’s top A-listers, including Storm, Cyclops, Jean Gray and Emma Frost. These incredible pieces will adorn the covers of all twelve Hellfire Gala tie-in songs as must-have variant covers throughout the month of June.
“X-Men costumes are one of my favorite things. As a teenager I would draw that the most: scribbles of an X character in all their looks. So I’m absolutely thrilled – designing costumes for the mutants is top of the list, dream job stuff, ”Dauterman said. Weekly entertainment“The Hellfire Gala is unique and exciting for the X-Men, and this opportunity is really special to me – I’ve tried to reflect that in the character designs. As Emma Frost said, “The whole world is watching us now. We must be nothing short of fantastic. ”
Dauterman has real-world high-fashion concepts with character history and even mutant skills and has produced dramatic, unexpected looks unlike anything Marvel Comics has ever put on the page. Here’s what the master brain artist had to say about the sources of inspiration behind these standout looks:
“My general thought was that the Gala aesthetic should be high-fashion X-Men costumes (mutated clothing), not high-fashion human clothing. So I looked at a lot of fashion references, but tried to think, ‘What would the X costume version of this be?’ The looks refer to and are inspired by couture from Alexander McQueen, Iris van Herpen, Balmain, Moschino, Givenchy, Versace, Gaultier, Gucci and more. I also drew from the characters’ past costumes. When I started the project, I had a Zoom conversation with the X writers and editors – we talked about the general direction for the designs and they sent me a reference they collected. That was a super useful starting point on which I continued with my own research. “
Visit to hear more from Dauterman, including exciting insights into each individual piece Marvel.comCheck out all of his twelve designs now and stay tuned for more stunning Hellfire Gala cover reveals tomorrow!
What do you think of the X-Men’s new looks? Do you have a favorite Dauterman design? Let us know on Twitter with the hashtag #XMenHellfireGala!
Check all Comics News here:
