As leader of the X-Men, Cyclops is also one of their most fashion-forward members, with one of his most prominent looks being his 1990s outfit. One cutting-edge cosplayer took his build of the character’s classic costume to Omega-level with a light-up visor, the perfect accessory for his slick take on Scott Summers’ suit.
Cosplayer Timothy Olmo (@supermancfl) produced a stunning Cyclops build, one that he has shown off in a number of posts on social media, and can be expected to exhibit at conventions this year. Olmo’s work is a perfect example of cosplay’s continued evolution into a highly precise art, in addition to being one of the most exciting displays of fandom.
This rendition of Cyclops is unquestionably top-tier, showing the time and dedication required to achieve the “leaped-off-the-page” quality that many cosplayers strive for.
The X-Men franchise thrives on its visual iconography, and despite perennial accusations that the character isn’t interesting, Cyclops has consistently been one of the franchise’s most visually engaging characters. More than just the excitement of how his optic blasts look on the page, Cyclops’ sense of fashion has always been important to X-Men. Cyclops has had many different uniforms throughout the years, but his ’90s style remains his most memorable. Cosplayer Timothy Olmo captures the confidence, and the precision, that were essential to the character’s appearance in the 1990s.
As Cyclops, Olmo matches the physique of the character’s 1990s portrayal in the comics, and on screen; more importantly, he captures Scott Summers’ swagger, his familiar poses, and even his facial expressions. It is the highest praise to say a cosplayer embodies their character, not just in spirit, but in actuality, and Timothy Olmo’s Cyclops comes as close as any example. With this cosplay, Olmo serves as a legitimate walking reminder of the franchise-defining quality of Cyclops’ ’90s look – something that a portion of X-fans may have lost appreciation for in the intervening decades.
Perhaps most notable about Olmo’s Cyclops build is the visor. Fitting firmly on the cosplayer’s face, the visor – essential to any portrayal of Scott Summers – looks incredibly realistic, and is lent an even more exciting quality by the fact that it lights up. It is an ideal centerpiece to an already attention-grabbing costume. Careful attention to detail, and adaptation of technology to elevate looks like this, are what has made the cosplay community a truly remarkable, inspiring space for creative in the past several years.
Cosplay quality continues to improve, and at every turn, cosplay artists continue to elevate their work to meet the challenge. This Cyclops cosplay speaks to the energy, effort, and dedication that cosplayers like Timothy Olmo exhibit. More than just impressive, however, cosplayers also serve a vital function in the fan community, by emphasizing the most exciting, most unique, and most memorable elements of franchises like X-Men, contributing in their own way to the legacy of things like Cyclops’ 1990s outfit.
Sources: @worldofgwendana; @sideprojektpodcast; @supermancfl