Marvel’s Ultimate Universe didn’t always do justice to theX-Men, andJean 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 theUltimatumevent’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 toMarvel Girl’s lookreflects 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 theUltimate 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Earth-1610’s Ultimate Universe was destroyed in 2015’sSecret Warsby Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić, and it has since been replaced by a new Ultimate Universe that’s categorized as Earth-6160.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” 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 ofUltimatum, souring it inherently.
Why Did Jean Grey Change Her Name and Appearance in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe?
It would take an immense catastrophe to force an X-Men hero as powerful as Jean Grey into hiding, andUltimatumindeed 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’Ultimateline. AfterScarlet Witch and Quicksilverwere presumed dead, Magneto unleashed his rage upon the entire world, causing thunderstorms and tsunamis by wieldingThor’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 surroundingUltimatumis 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 Xand Wolverine in brutal ways, and Cyclops ended up avenging them by obliterating Magneto with his eye beams. That victory didn’t last, though, asCyclops was shot and killedduring 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 ofMystiqueand Sabretooth searching for her, but doing so caused her to lose the traits that are emblematic of her character. Jean is one of the mostpowerful Omega-level mutantsin Marvel history, and trapping herself in a prison of normalcy only served to limit her immense potential. Thankfully,Jean Greyis still her usual daring self in Earth-616, and she’s better off staying that way - no matter what hardships theX-Menendure.
