Somehow the Marvel Comics artist Russell Dauterman revealing his gorgeous behind-the-scenes designs for 11 iconic mutant outfits. Thankfully this year the rest of the Marvel community understood the assignment, and it is not just mutants who will be showing up and showing off their high-fashion looks.
Last year's inaugural the threat of Judgment Day looming over the mutants, but clearly they will be putting on a great show regardless of the Eternals judgment. Fashion, and sex appeal, has always been an intrinsic part of the X-Men franchise, but this year characters like Miles Morales, She-Hulk, Black Widow, and even Doctor Doom are truly stepping up their game, and making some fierce competition for the well-dressed mutants.
X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 - written by Gerry Duggan (X-Men, Marauders) with art by Kris Anka, C.F. Villa, Matteo Lolli, and Russell Dauterman - will be a "night of captivating drama, high stakes action, and exposed secrets," as the newest roster for the X-Men team is announced, including the winner of the reader fan vote. Russell Dauterman, the artist who designed many of the fan-favorite Gala looks from last year, returns this year to design 11 new looks for Krakoa's "Green Carpet," with Marvel sharing Dauterman's original design pages and final looks. These designs will not only feature throughout the pages of the Hellfire Gala event but will also be on various variant covers throughout the month of June. Marvel had this to say about the exciting 2nd annual Hellfire Gala and Dauterman's designs:
At last year’s Hellfire Gala, fans were mesmerized by jaw-dropping fashion moments from Emma Frost’s dazzling trio of Dauterman-designed pieces to Colossus’ unforgettable look by artist Lucas Werneck. This year will be no different – only this time around, mutants won’t be the only ones making fashion statements! The Hellfire Gala will be a night packed with repercussions for the entire Marvel Universe, and heroes from every corner will be in attendance.
Russell Dauterman himself goes on to say:
“I’m so thrilled to do all this design work!” Dauterman says. “My general thought with the Gala designs is that they should be high fashion super hero costumes — looks that reflect the characters’ personalities, and could work on a runway or a battlefield.”
It could not be any clearer that Dauterman's final designs live up to his desired goals. In particular, Dauterman revealed that his design for Wolverine was based on a "pop-punk vibe" and inspired by "Rina Sawayama, Dua Lipa, Avril Lavigne, mixed with Frank Quitely’s very cool New X-Men aesthetic." For Doctor Doom, Dauterman said, “Doom is pretty over-the-top generally, so I picked fashion elements to heighten that — going for a baroque, regal look.” Russell's outfit for She-Hulk design is a glorious lessen in contrasting looks, with Jen wearing a "Chanel-inspired logo symbol" and Dauterman emphasizing her muscles. There is not a single design, or detail, that does not feel intentional throughout the 11 outfits.
If Krakoa is not completely destroyed due to Judgment Day within the next few months, it is hard to imagine anyone being able to outdo Dauterman's outfit designs for the 2023 Hellfire Gala, because the designs for this year are just so stunning and impressive! It is awesome that characters outside of the X-Men are showing up to the Gala with gorgeous fashion looks, and it will be interesting to see if we find out who, in the comics, has made these characters' outfits (Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, is a renowned fashion designer!). Make sure to check out all of Russell Dauterman's 2022 Hellfire Gala outfit designs for the X-Men and beyond, and look for the beautiful looks scattered throughout the event in June.
Source: Marvel
