Summary
- Rogue's appearance is iconic, making her instantly as recognizable as Spider-Man or the Hulk.
- Rogue's impact on the X-Men franchise and its mainstream popularity can't be understated.
- With evidence suggesting she deserves a spot among the greatest comic characters of all time, is Rogue the G.O.A.T.?
The X-Men's newest leader, Rogue, may be one of the most deceptively iconic characters of the superhero community. Many people would deem someone an icon based on their impact or longevity in their craft, but presentation can be just as vital to iconography as anything else. An iconic look can go a long way in elevating a character's significance.
On X, Gail Simone - head writer of Marvel's newly relaunched Uncanny X-Men series - posted that Rogue is "one of the best pure visual creations in Marvel history." She expounds that Rogue's appearance is as instantly recognizable as that of Spider-Man or the Incredible Hulk.
Simone makes a great point, and one that may have deeper implications for the character. For all intents and purposes, one could argue that having such an iconic appearance makes Rogue eligible to be in the conversation for the greatest superheroes of all time, just as Hulk and Spidey are.
Who is Rogue? Origins, Powers, & History
Created by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden
The first time that readers saw Rogue unveiled onto the page was Avengers Annual #10, where she makes an immediate impact by using her absorption powers to take out some of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, namely Thor and Captain America. Once her X-gene manifested in youth, accidentally putting a local boy in a coma after their first kiss, Mississippi's Anna Marie became a runaway, with her loner reputation earning her the nickname "Rogue" from locals. Eventually, the young girl met Mystique and Destiny, who adopted her and encouraged her to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
X-Men's Rogue: Mutant Powers & Ability-Stealing Explained
Rogue has been an X-Men stalwart for years; her mutant abilities are among Marvel's most complex, as her powers have been a curse as often as a gift.
Rogue was always a reluctant supervillain, but the stage for her turn as a hero comes about once she absorbs the powers, memories, and personality of Carol Danvers, the future Captain Marvel. Carol's mind eclipsing Rogue's in her head costs her a sense of sanity. The influence of not only Carol, but also Rom the Space Knight sets Rogue on a path toward heroism. She approaches Professor Charles Xavier for help with maintaining control. Once she earns their trust, she officially s the X-Men and officially turns from villain to hero.
Rogue's Appearance is Truly Iconic
Her Costume and Hair Make as Much of an Impact as Her Powers
One key aspect that makes a character iconic is having attributes (especially in of costume and overall look) that fans can immediately peg them and only them for having. Rogue's costume has had some variations over the years, but she's maintained the same look that's made her indistinguishable from any other Marvel character. In the same way that Hulk is instantly recognized by his green skin, as is Spider-Man by his unique attire, readers immediately know they are looking at Rogue once they spot a white streak of hair and some kind of green and white (sometimes yellow) bodysuit.
In the same way that Hulk is instantly recognized by his green skin, as is Spider-Man by his unique attire, readers immediately know they are looking at Rogue once they spot a white streak of hair and some kind of green and white (sometimes yellow) bodysuit.
The same can be said about Rogue's powers, which are just as applicable to her status as an icon. The most iconic characters can be easily recognized by their powers. Readers immediately associate having claws extending from knuckles as a trait of Wolverine, and the character will immediately come to mind with any image that echoes it. The same can be said for Spider-Man, as most readers will immediately think of him through his webbing hand gesture. By proxy, audiences think of Rogue whenever they see a character who can absorb someone's powers and/or psyche through skin-to-skin touch.
10 Best Rogue Costumes in X-Men History
The X-Men have had several costumes, but Rogue has had her own incredible wardrobe that helps her stand apart from her teammates in the best way.
Rogue's Impact on the X-Men Franchise Can't Be Understated
Her Popularity Adds to Her Icon Status
A true icon is nothing without the impact they have on their audience, and much of that impact is compacted by their status in the mainstream. A prominent mainstream presence can do wonders to growing a character's popularity and prominence in pop culture. Spider-Man was already popular through his comics, but that popularity skyrocketed following appearances in toys, cartoons and movies. The same can be said for Rogue, who gained her own newfound prominence once she appeared in the 1992 X-Men animated series, followed by a lead role in Fox's X-Men trilogy, as portrayed by Oscar winner Anna Paquin.
Rogue's more recent showing in X-Men '97 has endeared her to a whole new audience, propelling her popularity even further. Popularity comes with exposure, and once that connects with audiences, audiences use the characters as inspiration to express their love for them, continuing to further that exposure. Expression can come in the form of artwork and cosplay, and when an iconic character is truly recognizable, it becomes easy for fellow fans to pinpoint exactly who the icon is they are portraying. Rogue falls in this category, as seen in Gail Simone's original post where fans re-post their favorite Rogue cosplays.
It's not easy to replicate every character's image through cosplay, especially for cosplayers on a budget. However, some of the best characters have the most simplistic designs, and as such, a character who is truly iconic can be instantly recognized just by including some of the basics. A fan doesn't need to be a hulking mass of a man or even wear a muscle suit for a Hulk cosplay, but just ripped purple pants and green body paint. Anyone hoping to cosplay Rogue only needs hair (short or long) with a white streak and a green outfit.
Rogue Has Achieved G.O.A.T. Status
Could Rogue Be Among the Greatest Comic Characters of All Time?
This article has presented all the evidence as to why and how Rogue is just as iconic as Spider-Man, Hulk, and similarly iconic characters, validating Gail Simone's original point. However, understanding that such similarly iconic characters are revered as the greatest superheroes of all time and even the greatest comic characters of all time, one has to wonder if Rogue belongs in those same conversations. Her name is often overlooked in such G.O.A.T. conversations, but perhaps it's time for that to finally change.
For all intents and purposes, if her being the G.O.A.T. of superhero comic characters is too much of a hot take for some to handle, then at the very least, there's evidence suggesting Rogue deserves to be considered among the greatest comic characters of all time and, as such, should be mentioned in those conversations. Her popularity in the mainstream through movies, shows, spinoff media, and memorabilia means that fans are just as familiar with her as other icons of Marvel, while her appearance is just as instantly recognizable. As an icon of the X-Men franchise and superhero comics in general, Rogue is truly one of Marvel's best visual achievements.
Source: Gail Simone via X
