Marvel may just have figured out the next Wolverine‘s perfect outfit years ahead of Hugh Jackman’s exit from the role. Jackman’s twenty-plus-year journey as Wolverine permanently shaped the public’s perception of the comic book anti-hero and transformed him into a global pop-culture icon. And yet, it took twenty-four years for the actor to finally don Logan’s iconic yellow-and-blue and tan-and-brown costumes, as well as other famous outfits like his white “Patch” tuxedo and his Age of Apocalypse outfit. Following Deadpool & Wolverine, there may be few opportunities for Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine to wear new costumes before the upcoming X-Men reboot arrives.

Despite the massive cultural footprint of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal, Fox’s X-Men movies and the MCU overlooked Wolverine’s extensive wardrobe. For the vast majority of his screen time, Jackman was restricted to black leather or civilian clothes. This left countless comic looks completely unadapted, such as Wolverine’s X-Force covert-ops gear, the original “whiskers” suit, and his Fang, Ultimate, Evolution, and Black & Gold costumes. Beyond the superhero attire, live-action media has also missed out on Wolverine’s distinct civilian outfits, like his cowboy hats, flannel jackets, and yukata and kimonos.

In the past decade alone, Marvel has introduced countless new Wolverine looks, from his adamantium armor to his Ultimate Universe “Winter Soldier” uniform.

Wolverine Unveils His New ’80s Inspired Outfit

Wolverine #24; Written By Saladin Ahmed; Art By Martin Cóccolo; Variant Cover By Alexander Lozano

Artist Alexander Lozano designs a line of variant covers for the X-Men’s next wave of comics. Lozano puts a retro spin on several major X-Men heroes, including Storm, Rogue, Colossus, and Wolverine. Each hero sports ’80s-style clothing and accessories, like Rogue’s rollerskates, Storm’s boombox, and Colossus’ old-school tank top. Wolverine sports an even more stylish look, with a Hawaiian shirt, aviator sunglasses, and a vintage sports bike, plus a Tom Selleck mustache, a longer and wilder version of his classic hairstyle, and a baggy leather jacket in his classic yellow-and-blue colors.

Although Wolverine is known for his casual outfits and his leather jackets, his ’80s outfit is quite different from his usual civilian attire. The yellow-and-blue jacket retains the colorful nature of Logan’s traditional costume, but the whole look is perfect for his more grounded stories. Wolverine’s new facial hair and longer hairstyle also help this look stand apart as more than a simple variation of his regular civilian look. While Alexander Lozano’s design is only a variant cover for Wolverine #24, it could easily become a distinct costume, similarly to Patch or Logan’s 1988 minimalistic stealth black suit.

The MCU’s Next Wolverine Needs To Have A Unique Style

Marvel’s Eventual Wolverine Reboot Needs More Than A Recast

Image Via Everett Collection

To successfully carve out a distinct identity separate from Hugh Jackman’s legendary twenty-four-year tenure, the MCU’s next live-action Wolverine needs to embrace a fresh approach to characterization and physical expression. Since Jackman defined the role with a tall, lean, and brooding Hollywood leading-man charm, Marvel’s next Wolverine actor should lean into a completely different animalistic energy, ideally with a shorter, stockier physique and an unpolished combat style. And instead of a fully independent journey and a romance with Jean Grey, the MCU’s next Wolverine should maintain familial dynamics with dozens of mutants, including Jubilee, Kitty Pryde, Armor, Domino, and Psylocke, just to name a few.

The new Wolverine’s visual identity could also embrace Logan’s comic book roots, with longer, more untamed hair, a longer beard, and a more varied wardrobe that moves seamlessly between superhero duties and street-level brawls. He could wear a sleek and vibrant uniform for X-Men missions, but his civilian clothes should reflect his long history. Being almost two centuries old, Wolverine naturally adapts fashion from multiple decades. It wouldn’t be out of character for Logan, specifically, to wear 1980s clothes and accessories in the present day, especially in the bombastic continuity of the MCU’s main continuity.

Which of Wolverine‘s civilian outfits is your favorite?

Wolverine #24 is available July 22 from Marvel Comics