The X-Men’s Iceman has a long history of experimenting with his look, and his newest costume has subtle references reaching back to the beginning of his style journey to one of his most odd Iceman forms. In an interview with AIPT, Luciano Vecchio confirms that the starting point for Bobby’s new look was his original silhouette. This version of Iceman is a very weird look, as he really does take on a ‘snow’ form that erases his facial features, with the only ‘costume’ elements being his prominent boots.
The X-Men member’s turbulent love life and new outfit are both on display in his recent infinity comic miniseries, Marvel’s Voices: Iceman by Luciano Vecchio, VC’s Joe Sabino, and Sarah Brunstad. The new costume is comprised of a white catsuit embellished with icy blue streaks and X-Men logos, paired with matching boots and wristbands. Bobby is also sports facial hair, which adds a scruffy dusting of frost to his ice form.
After completing his four-issue mini on Iceman, writer and artist Luciano Vecchio sat down with AIPT for an interview. In it, Vecchio has the opportunity to address all the various influences and references that he infused in Bobby’s stylish new costume. Surprisingly, Vecchio credited Bobby’s original Iceman design as the foundation for his 2022 revamp. While a student at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Bobby’s first X-Men outfit visually makes him the odd man out. Since he hasn’t had much training yet, his original ice form is just a faceless snowman. Conceptually it’s pretty creepy, but it’s definitely undercut by pairing that look with just boots. Is it avant-garde? Sure, but is it fashion? Decidedly not.
I wanted to encapsulate iconic elements from across his history, and I admit I’m not a fan of making him spiky, so I focused on what else defines him visually: I started with the basic silhouette with boots to anchor to his first appearance. The full bodysuits of the young Iceman in All-New X-Men are some of my favorites he’s worn, so I wanted that costume format, but keeping it full white so the visual doesn’t change too much when being frosted up or not. The “X”s around the ankles come from the All-New X-Men costume too, but adapting it to the current typography and X-Brand lead to playing with the “X” and “I” shapes as blue highlights here and there, and combining them to create an Ice logo. And of course I’d give him the facial hair and icy scruff we were promised for so long as soon as I got the chance.
Thankfully Iceman is not a creepy little snow boy running around in nothing but boots anymore. Vecchio’s redesign feels fresh, true to where Bobby is in life, and perfectly plays with the current X-Brand logo to give Iceman a symbol of his own. Knowing that the weird dorky snowman-in-boots look was the key building block for Bobby’s best costume in years feels fitting. Iceman’s Queer story has returned the X-Men to their roots, and this new costume is a perfect symbol of that. Queer X-Men and LGBTQ+ readers can resonate with learning to synthesize the version of themselves they were before and after coming out of the closet. Iceman has grown, matured, and come out, and his new costume reflects that journey while combining it with elements from his roots.
Here’s hoping Iceman‘s incredible new redesign from Luciano Vecchio is here to stay. It may be inspired by one of his most bizarre costumes, but its refined and sure to be an instant classic among fans. Check out Vecchio’s Marvel’s Voices: Iceman miniseries to get the full-life update on the X-Men’s Bobby Drake and to see his new look in action.
Marvel’s Voices: Iceman Infinity Comic is available now on Marvel Unlimited.
