One of Marvel's Most Radical Redesigns Did a Founding X-Men So, So Dirty
Marvel's Ultimate Universe didn't always do justice to the X-Men, and Jean Grey's redesign in particular failed to live up to her original depiction. This fan-favorite hero received a total makeover after major deaths tore the X-Men apart, tossing her past costumes aside and replacing them with something different and - in many ways - worse. Jean Grey exemplified how far Earth-1610 was willing to stray from classic designs, but not necessarily in a good way.
Ultimate Comics X #2 by Jeph Loeb, Arthur Adams, Mark Roslan, Peter Steigerwald, Richard Starkings, and Albert Deschesne re-introduced Jean Grey to the Ultimate Universe following the Ultimatum event's devastating conclusion. However, she was a far cry from the Jean that readers have come to recognize, and Adams' cover art showcased her shocking new look.
Jean Grey underwent a complete overhaul in Earth-1610's continuity after the X-Men fell apart, trading her usual attire for a goth redesign. This change to Marvel Girl's look reflects the shift in her status quo that occurred at the time and shows how her potential was wasted.
Jean Grey's Ultimate Universe Redesign Marked a Major Change for the X-Men Icon
Jean Ditched Her Signature Red Hair to Become "Karen Grant"
One of the trademarks of Jean Grey's typical design in Marvel lore is her bright red hair, which any X-Men fans will recognize. However, in the Ultimate Universe, Jean faced an unprecedented transformation in the wake of a tragedy that left her without the X-Men by her side. She dyed her hair black, a stark change from the traditional red, and wore darker clothing that gave her an edgier appearance. The outfit itself wasn't terrible in a vacuum - although it was certainly a product of 2010s trends - but the problem arose from the design not being recognizable as Jean Grey.
Earth-1610's Ultimate Universe was destroyed in 2015's Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić, and it has since been replaced by a new Ultimate Universe that's categorized as Earth-6160.
Along with the alterations to her clothing and hair, Jean also changed her name. Rather than going by Jean Grey, she introduced herself as "Karen Grant" in order to keep her history as an X-Men member under wraps. The purpose of Jean's revamped look was to help her run away from her past, which culminated in her taking a mundane job at a shopping mall and dating a mall cop named Dave. "Karen" couldn't live her life fully, even lashing out at Dave when he shared a picture of her online. Jean's redesign correlated to her empty, miserable existence in the wake of Ultimatum, souring it inherently.
Why Did Jean Grey Change Her Name and Appearance in Marvel's Ultimate Universe?
Jean's Karen Grant Alias Had A Heartbreaking Backstory
It would take an immense catastrophe to force an X-Men hero as powerful as Jean Grey into hiding, and Ultimatum indeed fit the bill as it shook Earth-1610's continuity to its core. Written by Jeph Loeb with art by David Finch, this story served as the payoff for numerous threads that had been established throughout the 2000s' Ultimate line. After Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were presumed dead, Magneto unleashed his rage upon the entire world, causing thunderstorms and tsunamis by wielding Thor's Mjolnir. Unfortunately, many Marvel heroes didn't survive the events that followed this wave of disasters, including key X-Men.
After 37 Years, X-Men Officially Retcons an Iconic Piece of Lore With a Single Change
The former mutant nation of Genosha just underwent a massive overhaul that rewrites its status quo, changing a key element of X-Men lore.
One of the biggest controversies surrounding Ultimatum is that it killed off characters for the sake of shock value, and the X-Men were among the groups most impacted by this trend. Magneto killed Professor X and Wolverine in brutal ways, and Cyclops ended up avenging them by obliterating Magneto with his eye beams. That victory didn't last, though, as Cyclops was shot and killed during a speech he was giving about fostering peace between mutants and humans. These events understandably led to Jean separating herself from the X-Men and taking on a fake identity to ensure her safety, even if it meant abandoning her core characterization.
Jean Grey's "Karen Grant" Redesign in Earth-1610 Held Her Back
The Ultimate Universe Forced Jean to Hide Rather Than Letting Her Fight
It's reasonable for Jean Grey to have switched up her appearance in the aftermath of losing so many fellow X-Men, especially with the likes of Mystique and Sabretooth searching for her, but doing so caused her to lose the traits that are emblematic of her character. Jean is one of the most powerful Omega-level mutants in Marvel history, and trapping herself in a prison of normalcy only served to limit her immense potential. Thankfully, Jean Grey is still her usual daring self in Earth-616, and she's better off staying that way - no matter what hardships the X-Men endure.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
