The era of black leather tactical gear is officially dead. With the release of the third teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday on January 6, 2026, Marvel Studios embraced the vibrant, flamboyant history of the X-Men. While 20th Century Fox spent two decades shying away from yellow spandex, Marvel President Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers are leaning into the ostentatious glory of the source material.
When 20th Century Fox launched the X-Men franchise in 2000, superhero cinema was an unproven, precarious gamble. At the time, studio executives feared that the bright, primary colors of the comic panels would look goofy or campy in a live-action setting. Influenced by the gritty, monochromatic success of The Matrix, the production famously pivoted to uniform black leather. This decision was even mocked in the film itself, with James Marsden’s Cyclops famously asking Wolverine, "What would you prefer? Yellow spandex?" The genre back then required a grounded, realistic aesthetic to be taken seriously by mainstream audiences who weren't yet accustomed to the fantastical nature of caped crusaders.
Today, the cultural landscape has shifted entirely. Superhero cinema has been well embraced and stands as the dominant force in global entertainment. Audiences no longer need the grounding of leather jackets to buy into the narrative; they crave the visual identity that defined these characters for decades. Marvel Studios understands that in 2026, a comic-accurate suit communicates authenticity rather than campiness.
The latest teaser for Doomsday excited the fan community, not just for the return of legacy actors but for the craftsmanship of their attire. With the reveal of Cyclops and Charles Xavier's new look, Marvel Studios unveiled its fifth comic-accurate X-Men suit within the MCU timeline.
X-Men Characters With Comic-Accurate Costumes in the MCU
Cyclops (James Marsden)
The crown jewel of the new Avengers: Doomsday teaser is undoubtedly James Marsden as Scott Summers. Standing amidst the ruins of the X-Mansion at the 0:47 mark of the teaser, Cyclops finally rocks the suit fans have demanded for 26 years. This costume is a direct adaptation of Jim Lee’s iconic 1991 design, featuring a deep navy blue bodysuit accented by bold yellow utility straps.
The suit includes the signature chest harness that forms a yellow X across his torso, leading into a series of functional pouches. Marvel opted for a sleek, modern texture that maintains the vibrant yellow-and-blue contrast without looking costumey. By removing the visor to unleash a desperate optic blast, Marsden showcases a Cyclops that feels ripped directly from the pages of the X-Men '97 era, effectively erasing the memory of the muted, armored suits of the early 2000s.
Professor X (Patrick Stewart)
Charles Xavier is unique in that he has now received two distinct comic-accurate looks within the MCU. He first appeared in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he utilized the green suit and massive yellow hoverchair from X-Men: The Animated Series. However, for the grim reality of Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel shifted his aesthetic to match Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s 2001 New X-Men run.
In the new teaser, Stewart's Xavier wears a dark, sleek jacket featuring a prominent red and black X-Men insignia on the chest. This look gives off a militant vibe, which perfectly matches the stakes of Doomsday. Seated at a chessboard opposite Magneto, Xavier looks every bit the revolutionary leader Morrison envisioned, giving the character a gritty, intellectual aesthetic that matches the film's somber tone.
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)
The modern era of comic-accurate mutants began with Hugh Jackman’s return in Deadpool & Wolverine. After nine films of avoiding the yellow, Jackman finally donned the classic canary-yellow and blue suit. The MCU version features blue shoulder pauldrons, gloves, and boots, with a textured material that suggests the suit is a protective piece of combat gear.
The most significant detail was the inclusion of the pointed mask with white, animated eyes, a feat that many directors had previously claimed was impossible to translate to live-action. By showcasing Logan in his full glory, Marvel proved that even the most colorful comic designs can carry immense emotional weight, especially when the suit serves as a symbol of the character’s legacy and his failure to protect his world.
Gambit (Channing Tatum)
Perhaps the most surprising entry in the comic-accurate roster is Channing Tatum’s Gambit. Making his debut in the Void in Deadpool & Wolverine, Tatum wore a suit that was almost a 1:1 recreation of Jim Lee’s 1990 design. The ensemble features the signature magenta-colored armored chest plate, black leggings with silver-blue plating, and the iconic brown leather trench coat.
Marvel didn't stop at the clothes; it even gave Tatum the character’s distinctive headgear, which leaves his hair exposed at the top while framing his face in black fabric. Seeing Gambit charge playing cards with purple kinetic energy while wearing his flamboyant comic gear was an iconic moment many MCU fans could not stop raving about.
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds)
While he often identifies as a solo act, Wade Wilson’s origins as a trainee and his frequent team-ups make him a vital part of the X-Men's cinematic presence. In Deadpool & Wolverine, Reynolds' suit was upgraded to a bright, candy-apple red that matches his modern comic book appearances. The suit features a circular belt buckle, while the Deadpool mask itself has been redesigned with smaller, more accurate eye slits, enhancing the expressive range of the character's facial movements, which are key to the character's visual comedy.
The texture of the suit was also updated, favoring a slightly armored weave over the previous neoprene or faux-leather look, fitting seamlessly into the established visual aesthetic of the MCU while respecting the source material.
The attention to detail in Deadpool's suit, from the texture of the leather to the placement of his katanas, set the bar for the rest of the team. As the X-Men prepare to face Doctor Doom, the film is showing a lot of promise. Marvel Studios is striving to get everything right and win back the fans. There isn’t a better way to do that than giving everybody’s favourite mutants their authentic looks.
Geraldo Amartey is a writer at The Direct. He joined the team in 2025, bringing with him four years of experience covering entertainment news, pop culture, and fan-favorite franchises for sites like YEN, Briefly and Tuko.
