Colossus' Most Hardcore Redesign Exposed the Dark Future of His Powers

In Marvel Comics, the X-Men’s Colossus is a hulking metallic hero who uses his unique mutant powers to become an unstoppable tank on the battlefield, with his strength while in his metal form allowing him to trade blows with some of the most powerful players in Earth-616 continuity. In an alternate future where Marvel’s Civil War event never ended, Colossus gets a redesign that hints at a dark fate waiting for him and his iconic metal look.

Getting a handful of redesigns over the years ranging from his regal “Phoenix Five” suit to his Juggernaut-ized costume upgrade to his more recent bearded look, Colossus usually has to settle for subtle visual tweaks rather than big sweeping changes, ensuring that he never strays too far from his recognizable tank top design.

Yet in 2015’s Civil War comic, a tie-in series released alongside that year’s Secret Wars event (and not to be confused with 2006’s originalCivil War story), Colossus’ metal form is redesigned with heavy rust damage, showing that even his powers aren’t immune to degradation.

Colossus Has a Unique Character Design in a Dark Future Where His Metal Body Begins to Rust

Civil War (vol 2) - 2015 (Charles Soule and Leinil Francis Yu)

A reality in a constant state of conflict where the Civil War that pitted Iron Man’s pro-Super-Hero Registration Act forces against Captain America’s opposing team of heroes rages on, it’s shown here that after years of battle and prolonged use of his powers, Colossus’ organic steel skin can actually rust. Meeting with a Storm variant who needs help dealing with Iron Man, Colossus greets his comrade already in his metal form, wearing only camo pants and a hefty utility belt, with noticeable swaths of brown rust clearly visible on Colossus’ torso and on his left hand running up his arm.

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Either due to the constant stress put on his metal or the natural process of oxidization, Colossus rusting is a disturbing fate for a mutant who relies on his powers to protect not just himself but as the resident tank on the X-Men, the rest of his allies as well. Seen weathered and damaged before — especially in alternate realities like in Marvel Zombies or Age of Apocalypse continuity — the degree to which the rust is overtaking Colossus’ body in this story is alarming and likely poses a problem for this variant when it comes to his durability and overall strength.

Colossus’ Rusted Redesign Is Exclusive to Marvel’s Comic Book Continuity

A Rusted Colossus Makes Sense Given His Power Set

It remains to be seen if Colossus will be part of the X-Men’s much-anticipated MCU debut, but considering he’s been featured in a few Deadpool and X-Men films, Avengers: Secret Wars could easily introduce a rusted variant of the character whose comic origin is, coincidentally, already tied to a Secret Wars story. Regardless of whether this iteration of Colossus will be seen again on the page or the screen, it still ranks as one of the character’s most hardcore redesigns of all time and reminds fans what’s at stake for Colossus’ organic metal as the years continue to tick by.

Civil War (vol 2) is available from Marvel Comics.