The idea of having supernatural abilities has always been an innate fascination to society since even before The Man of Steel popped up on the scene in the late 1930s. Thanks to Clark Kent and the reinvigoration of the modern superhero by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, today's medium of superhero epics and antics are at a fever pitch.
In this modern age of superhero tales and altruistic concepts, while we fall short of having actual, biological superhuman abilities, our collective imagination has led individuals to not only find ways to duplicate said powers through technology but push the envelope on costumes that sell the idea of a superhero/villain. These X-Men cosplays prove that.
11 Emma Frost by Amber Skies
Cosplayer Amber Skies is a veteran when it comes to the realm of cosplay. Gaining her dues as a for-hire professional Disney Princess in Arizona, Amber has a performance background in musical theater that stretches back to her childhood. Her take on Emma Frost is extremely impressive, the character is a powerful telepath who has been both a friend and foe to the X-Men.
Emma's secondary mutation allows her to transmute her skin into a nearly indestructible diamond form which manifested after the bombing of Genosha. Her initial appearance was as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club in Uncanny X-Men #129.
10 Apocalypse by Mick Ignis
An American screen and stage actor, Mick Ignis is known for his portrayals of unconventional and dark characters in horror and sci-fi genres. Ignis brings Apocalypse, the ancient and uber-powerful mutant, to life. Holding to his namesake, born in Ancient Egypt as En Sabah Nur, which translates to "The First One" Apocalypse was the first mutant on Earth to have his mutant gene manifest.
From telepathy, teleportation, and telekinesis to size alteration and energy projection, Apocalypse is the full supervillain package and more than enough of a challenge to the X-Men. The reason he's included on this list is that he has recently joined forces with the X-Men in Jonathan Hickman's run.
9 Rogue by Ryoko Demon
Ryoko Demon is a partnered Russian cosplay team engaging in creating handmade costumes, makeup, and wigs. The duo, Ryoko and Rei, have a friendship dating back all the to 2002, where their cosplay adventures began. Pictured above is Ryoko, who presents a stellar Rogue. The Mississippi runaway, Anna Marie, who would later take on the alias Rogue, has one of the most nuanced and complex character development histories in the X-Men.
With the ability to absorb other powers from people for a short amount of time, her absorption ability takes it a step further by absorbing the memories and personality attributes of the individual she's touching. To soft-reboot her character, in Avengers Annual #10 she absorbed Carol Danvers', better known as Captain Marvel, power in which it elevated Rogue's character to the higher echelons of powerhouses.
8 Psylocke by Amanda Lynne
Los Angeles entertainer Amanda Lynne has been in the theatre scene since she was 12 years old. Originally from San Diego, Amanda brings her cosplays to life with her talented acting background, with such accolades as being Miss April for Women of Comic Book Cosplay in 2012 and various superhero short films and parodies backing that up.
Her character is Betsy Braddock, sister to Brian Braddock, better known as Captain Britain. Her lengthy history dates back to her 1976 introduction in Captain Britain #8. What started as a supporting character in the Captain Britain comics, her character was elevated once she made the jump over to the US publication branch of Marvel. Psylocke has vast telekinetic and telepathic powers, she can also focus her abilities into psychic-energy like weapons.
7 Beast by Sjbonnar
UK cosplayer, Sjbonnar, puts on a fantastic Beast that embodies the feral like tone not uncommon to Beast while maintaining his vast intellect. Being exposed to the world of cosplay back in 2005, Sjbonnar has had many journeys that have only expanded his talents into being a great cosplay.
OG X-Man, Hank McCoy is one of the longest-standing members of the X-Men team. Introduced in the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby era, Beast is the in-house genius to the X-Men with animal-like strength and agility. A later mutation would give him his blue fur and feline-like features.
6 Wolverine/Jean Grey by Elena Samko and Ilya Artemov
This entry is a kind of two-for-one considering its a portrayal presented by a cosplay duo, but that makes the verisimilitude of this all the better. Russian cosplayers Elena and Ilya bring their version of a take on the X-Men: The Last Stand depiction of Wolverine & Jean Grey.
The two X-Men have had a long and tumultuous relationship ever since Logan joined the X-Men in Giant-Sized X-Men #1. His introduction to the team has led Jean to have affections for both Scott Summers and Wolverine, resulting in a secret love life with Logan, due to her loyalties being toward Scott.
5 Cyclops by Brandon James
Costume designer and cosplayer Brandon James brings a strong and charismatic Scott Summers to life in his Cyclops cosplay.
His take on the classic Scott Summers is absolutely amazing and nostalgic, to say the least. Summers has an interesting character development arc from being a founding member and leader of the X-Men, to a dyed-in-the-wool villain who murdered his once mentor, Charles Xavier. Commonly mistaken, the eye beams of Cyclops are not laser-like, in and so far they don't generate heat, but are rather "energies" from another dimension being blown in any one particular direction. Like a massive punch, the eye beams deliver a concussive blow.
4 Storm by Alicia Marie
Alicia Marie's take on the Wakandan Queen, Ororo Munroe, better known as Storm, is simply breathtaking. Marie is a fitness and cosplay enthusiast who brings the two concepts together to bring lifelike superhero physiques to her supermodel cosplay. With the ability to manipulate the weather on a molecular level, Ororo Munroe's mutant power is suspected to forgo just Earth and extend to the vacuum of space. Her childhood interest with prince T'Challa came to its fruition with their romance fully budding when they took each other's hand in marriage in Black Panther #8.
3 Nightcrawler by Sota Draws
The teleporting mutant, Kurt Wagner was shunned from birth for his blue skin and demon-like features. Ironically, contrary to his looks, he is rather benevolent in his actions and is seen as the religious go-to person of the X-Men due to his close connection to his religion. Traveling through the Brimstone, an inter-dimensional space connected to all points on Earth, Kurt doesn't simply travel from one point to the next, but rather passes through the Brimstone and then to his location.
Cosplayer Soto captivates in her X-Men: Apocalypse depiction of the fuzzy elf with the aura of having just teleported surrounding the character.
2 Mystique by Juby Headshot
Cosplayer and Spain native, Juby Headshot, brings her classic Mystique look that elevates it to life-like qualities. The shape-shifting mutant, Raven Darkholme, is stated to be over a hundred years old due to her being able to eliminate the outward signs of aging.
Generally a foe of the X-Men, Mystique has assassinated several political figures involved in mutant affairs, including her son Graydon Creed, the leader of a mutant-hating group called the Friends of Humanity, as well as Senator Robert Kelly, the lynchpin who when assassinated, led to the events of the Days of Future Past storyline.
1 Iceman By Chris Villain
All-around entertainer and Cosplayer Chris Villain encompasses an amazing and 'chilling' Iceman.
Another Stan Lee/Jack Kirby X-Men creation, Robert Drake holds a staple as one of the first openly gay characters in comics. He has the ability to manipulate ice by freezing the water vapor surrounding him to create constructs and even turn his body into ice. Possessed by Emma Frost in Uncanny X-Men #314, he was elevated to being an Omega-level mutant with not just the ability to manipulate ice, but the hydrogen and oxygen molecules to decrease the temperature, and thus slow down molecules.