Carbon Costume

Katherine “Kitty” Pryde, aka Shadowcat, is a member of the X-Men. Her powers include phasing and intangibility, which lets her simulate levitation. In the comics, she joins the Guardians of the Galaxy and actually takes over as Star Lord. In the Marauders series (not related to the Marauders in Harry Potter, but wouldn’t that be a cool crossover!), she’s currently known as Red Queen. The comics also highlight her Jewish heritage. And did you know…

Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba) makes up one fourth of the Fantastic Four, a group of superheroes who acquired their diverse abilities after exposure to cosmic rays. Sue’s power is invisibility. With the help of her brilliant husband Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic, her incorrigible brother Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and their temperamental friend Ben Grimm / The Thing, they defend the world from a slew of alien invaders and also th…

Misunderstood and bullied since childhood, blue-skinned shapeshifter Mystique (played onscreen by Jennifer Lawrence and Rebecca Romijn) truly understands anti-mutant oppression. Her early experiences of mistreatment shaped her stance in the fight for mutant equality — or even dominance, as her leader, Magneto, gravitates towards. Mystique is easily remembered for her onscreen appearances wearing only the strategically-placed blue scales she was…

Sebastian Shaw has been one of the X-Men’s biggest foes since his introduction to the franchise in January of 1980. He is a mutant capable of absorbing many different kinds of energy. But his status as a mutant hardly puts him on the same side as Wolverine, Charles Xavier, and the others. As a member of the Hellfire club he is determined to take over the world, even going to far as to fund the Sentinel program so that it will hunt down mutants th…

Human Torch, aka Johnny Storm, is a member of the Fantastic Four. Aboard Mr. Richards’ spacecraft, he became exposed to cosmic radiation, which gave him superpowers. He now has the ability to engulf his entire body in flames, absorb fire into his body, and control nearby fire. Did we mention he can fly too? He is the brother of Invisible Woman, aka Sue Storm. Compared to his compassionate older sister and sensible brother-in-law, Johnny can be im…

Vanessa Marianna – later Vanessa Marianna-Fisk – is the lover-turned-wife of Daredevil’s antagonist, Wilson Fisk. Played by Ayelet Zurer she is the epitome of class and grace. From her position as an art dealer to her selectively minimal tastes she is a perfect match for Fisk is nearly every way though she lacks his more bloodthirsty tendencies. Although Vanessa wears several different costumes they are all streamlined, minimalist, and well-fitte…

Karen Paige (played by Deborah Ann Woll in both Daredevil and The Punisher) is a secretary-turned-sleuth that works with Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson. After nearly being convicted of a murder she didn’t commit she goes to work with the two men and ends up embroiled in a whole new Battle for New York that lands her in the direct path of the most dangerous people in the city. Not least of which are Daredevil and The Punisher. Smart and determined,…

Red Skull (portrayed by Hugo Weaving in the MCU) was the first recipient of the serum that eventually turned Steve Rogers into Captain America. It – for better or worse – did not have the same effect on Johann Schmidt. Instead of great strength and agility he was reduced to a blood-red near-skeleton ever in search of power he cannot hope to control. Cosplaying as the Red Skull takes a bit of work because getting the skeleton-like look is not easy…

Nakia (played by the fantastic Lupita Nyong’o) is one of Wakanda’s best spies in Black Panther. She regularly leaves Wakanda to help others and to ensure that the country she loves remains safe. When Wakandan civil war breaks out she is quick to defend her king and the beliefs they share. And though she tells Okoye she is not a general, her strength and compassion clearly rally those around her! Nakia’s most memorable costume – the one she wears…

Colossus (played by Stefan Kapicic) is one of two or three mutants that join Deadpool in his movies. According to the movies, the others are busy (or avoiding Wade). If you ask Deadpool, though, the studio just couldn’t afford to license more from Fox. Ouch. Either way Colossus is a somewhat reluctant ally for the merc with a mouth and one Deadpool sorely needs. You don’t need the X-gene to copy Colossus’ look thankfully. To copy his metal-coated…