Rogue’s Savage Land storyline has been one of the X-Men’s most contentious stories, thanks to her scantily clad costume and her questionable relationship with Magneto. Now, Marvel is bringing back a hero with an even more provocative look: Shanna the She-Devil. The retelling of Rogue in the Savage Land rekindled the debate over the hero’s most polarizing look, but standing next to Shanna the She-Devil, Rogue’s Savage Land costume looks tame.

In Rogue: The Savage Land #4, written by Tim Seeley, with art by Von Randal, Shanna the She-Devil, Ka-Zar’s wife and a hero within the Savage Land, returns to team up with Rogue and Magneto as they try to stop the villainous sorceress Zaladane.

Shanna O’Hara is a hero, an Olympic athlete, and a veterinarian. However, the most noticeable aspect of her character is that Shanna only wears a leopard-print bikini with minimal coverage. While her origin story provides some context, it’s debatable whether that alone justifies a design that pushes even further than Rogue’s most controversial look, making it fair to question whether Shanna is overdue for a redesign.

Over time, Shanna the She-Devil’s intricate design would be forgotten for the sake of fan service.

This Marvel Hero’s Costume Makes Rogue’s Savage Land Look Seem Tame

Rogue: The Savage Land #4; Written By Tim Seeley; Art By Von Randal; Color By Rachelle Rosenberg; Lettering By Joe Caramagna

Shanna’s attire may be scandalously minimal, but there is a reason for her look, as explained in Shanna the She-Devil #1 by Carole Seuling, Steve Gerber, and George Tuska. In the issue, Shanna had raised a zoo leopard named Julani, who was tragically shot by zoo security. To commemorate her beloved companion and help raise Julani’s cubs, Shanna fashioned the leopard's pelt into an outfit. While the loss of Julani provides context for her iconic look, some may find it tasteless to turn a mother leopard into a thin bikini.

In contrast to her current look, Shanna’s original design had much more going on, with the Queen of the Jungle sporting a sexy one-piece leopard print suit, a fang necklace and arm bands, and a green bandanna that resembles the one that Rogue also wears. Her old design balanced style and function while staying true to her jungle-themed character, and still maintains a level of sexiness. Moreover, Shanna’s leopard pelt is much less in bad taste when it covers a bit more of her. Over time, Shanna’s intricate design would be forgotten for the sake of fan service.

Is It Time for a Shanna the She-Devil Redesign?

Shanna’s Savage Land Look: Outdated or Iconic?

While Shanna’s clothing has only shrunk over the decades, some argue that her home in the warm and humid Savage Land justifies her minimal attire, as her husband, Ka-Zar, wears similarly revealing clothes. On the other hand, it has been noted through fan discourse that Shanna’s look is perceived as severely outdated and objectifying, as her attire reveals very little about her as a hero. In contrast, most heroes possess many more defining characteristics. Even though Rogue’s own Savage Land costume is widely argued, she still maintains her recognizable gloves, headband, and “X.”

There has always been a level of sex appeal to heroes regardless of gender. However, Shanna’s design could benefit from a much-needed redesign to set her apart from a jungle of loincloths and turn her into a more prominent hero. Shanna’s original costume successfully maintained her jungle theme and sexy look. It’s undeniable that Rogue’s Savage Land costume, and the original X-Men Savage Land story, as a whole, are widely disputed to this day. Still, when Rogue stands next to Shanna the She-Devil, her controversial costume seems entirely reasonable and almost modest by comparison.

Rogue: Savage Land #4 will be available on April 30, 2025, from Marvel Comics!