Born James Howlett, but going by Logan for most of his life, Marvel's Wolverine stands out in a crowd. Some readers recognize him for his healing factor, claws, and adamantium skeleton. Others remember him for his wild hair, tough demeanor, and his willingness to fling himself into the fire when lives are on the line. Complementing these memorable traits are his iconic costumes.
Wolverine's various costumes aptly reflect the missions he undertakes and the seasons of life he's walked. He's a no-nonsense sort of person who doesn't take any gruff from anyone and has more years of combat experience under his belt than any of his fellow X-Men. From Wolverine's first comic appearance to his latest adventures, his character and costume designs remain some of the best.
10 Feral: When Wolverine Gave Into His Animal Instincts
Wolverine was stripped of his adamantium skeleton and lost his healing factor after the events of "Fatal Attractions." Quitting the X-Men, he determined to go his own way. While attempting to get his affairs in order, Wolverine found himself in a deadly conflict with Deadpool, after which he regained his healing powers.
Wolverine returned to the X-Men and stopped Sabretooth; however, in doing so, he gave into his feral side. As time went on, he began acting more and more like a wild animal. He wore his torn yellow and blue costume, accompanied by a red or blue bandana tied around his face. His costume perfectly represented Wolverine's inner struggle.
9 Combat Suit: A Modern Suit Similar To Ultimate Wolverine
Wolverine's combat suit made its first appearance in 2003 in Uncanny X-Men #423, written by Chuck Austen with artwork by Ron Garney. This suit was used in conjunction with his New X-Men uniform. The yellow and blue was reminiscent of his earlier costumes, but this one felt more modern.
The sleek lines, lack of a mask or shoulder pads, and reinforced gloves made the combat suit the perfect outfit for Wolverine's tactical missions. While a simple change, this look became iconic among younger comic readers.
8 Fang Costume: A Replacement For His Burnt Costume
When facing the Imperial Guard, Wolverine's costume got completely burned off. In this state, he fought and defeated a member of the Imperial Guard, Fang, and stole his costume. Wolverine only wore the costume for a short time after returning to earth.
Wolverine's costume change was introduced in X-Men #107, written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Dave Cockrum, and was actually based on the DC character Timber Wolf. The collar, glove, and boot frills gave Wolverine an even more feral look, adding to his presence as a no-nonsense warrior.
7 Here Comes Tomorrow: The Apocalyptic Cowboy
New X-Men #151, written by Grant Morrison with artwork by Marc Silvestri, introduced a costume that would make Matthew McConaughey proud. In the apocalyptic future of Earth-15104, Wolverine wore a very familiar yellow suit with the blue tiger stripes.
There's one major change. Complementing his usual uniform, Logan sported a cowboy hat and jeans. The dressed down nature of the costume stood in stark contrast to the devastated backdrop, making this costume hard to forget. Readers only got a brief glimpse of it during the run, but it became an iconic look for Logan.
6 X-Uniform: An Attempt At Cohesion With His Team
After the events of "X-Tinction Agenda," Wolverine switched to a costume that was more uniform with his team, bearing the same color scheme and a similar setup to his comrades. The X-Uniform was introduced in Uncanny X-Men #275, written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Jim Lee, and it lasted through the Shadow King's defeat.
The X-Uniform proved Wolverine could work well with a team, even when he didn't want to, and it created an excellent aesthetic for the entire team. After the X-Men split up into the Gold and Blue Teams, Wolverine would return to his brown costume.
5 Tactical Black Uniform: A Short-Lived But Interesting Costume
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While hunting Typhoid Mary, Logan went with a more stealthy costume. Black with streaks of maroon, the costume deviated from his normal look. It also boasted a bandolier with many pouches along it. The costume gave a breath of fresh air to the character.
Wolverine only used it for a short time. After he faced Daredevil, he stopped wearing it. The costume was introduced in Marvel Comics Presents #150, written by Ann Nocenti with artwork by Steve Lightle, and while it didn't catch on, it's became one of Wolverine's coolest costumes.
4 X-Force: Drastic Changes Led To A Refreshing New Costume
After the events of the "Messiah Complex" arc, Cyclops ordered Wolverine to begin a new version of X-Force. As the leader of that group, Logan donned a new costume that was completely black and gray, a sleek change from his more common yellow and blue.
The most striking thing about Wolverine's X-Force costume was the mask. It featured two glowing red eye plates, giving Wolverine an even more intimidating presence. Logan continued to wear this costume during the second X-Force, but discarded it after the events of "Final Execution."
3 Skunk-Bear: An Earned Costume For Acts Of Bravery
After Sabretooth killed Silver Fox, Logan went to work for the Hudson's Bay Company, trading furs with the Blackfoot Indians. Uncegila attacked the tribe, and Logan chose to face the demon in combat, even though he knew it could mean his death. When Logan proved victorious, the tribe gave him a new costume along with the name Skunk-Bear, which meant Wolverine.
The Skunk-Bear costume made its first appearance in Marvel Comics Presents #97, written by Timothy Truman with artwork by Todd Foxx. Beautifully drawn, this earned costumed added another element to Wolverine's deep catalogue of impressive costumes.
2 Original Yellow and Blue: Don't Mess With A Classic
Wolverine made his official debut on July 2, 1974 in Incredible Hulk #180, written by Len Wein with art by Herb Trimpe. After escaping from Weapon X, Wolverine joined Department H, who created his first costume.
The yellow suit with blue tiger stripes, boots, and gauntlets included a yellow mask with whiskers. While it didn't resemble a wolverine, it certainly made a lasting impression. Logan wore this costume while fighting the Hulk in his first appearance and continued to sport it during his time with Department H and Alpha Flight.
1 Classic Brown and Gold: One Of Wolverine's Most Consistent Looks
When John Byrne began drawing for the X-Men series, he was asked to create a new costume for Wolverine. Debuting in X-Men #139, written by Chris Claremont with John's own artwork, the costume he designed became one of the most iconic and popular outfits Logan ever wore.
John Byrne's designed removed the shoulder pads and tiger stripes, switching the colors to brown and gold. It was wildly popular among readers through the 1980s and even until the early 1990s. Logan returned to this costume after recovering his memories and even wore a modernized version of it years later.