Warning! Spoilers forX-Force#10 ahead!
Marvel Comics just revealed that one of its “new” mutant heroes is actuallyColossusunderneath his armor; while some fans were concerned about the reveal,now that the true identity of “Tank” is concerned, Marvel should stick with the redesign, and embrace the idea of this classicX-Menhero taking on a new identity in franchise lore.
X-Force#10, written by Geoffrey Thorne, with art by Marcus To, featured the big unmasking,confirming fan theories that Tank was Colossus, which had been percolating since the start of the series.
Yet while the issue seemingly sets up an arc in which Colossus will literally and figuratively reclaim his identity as a Marvel hero, there is some merit to the idea that, when the dust settles on this storyline, Piotr Rasputin might continue to appear as Tank moving forward.
Marvel Shouldn’t Throw Away Colossus’s New “Tank” Identity Too Quickly
X-Force#10, written by Geoffrey Thorne, with art by Marcus To; Color By Erick Arciniega; Lettering By Joe Caramagna
Astute Marvel Comics readers were quick to assume that the mysterious “Tank,” introduced at the start of thisX-Forcerun, would be a familiar face under his mask, with many fans even going so far as to call that it would be Colossus. That said, whileX-Forceteased out the reveal of Tank’s identity, his character design, in particular, drew praise from readers; the character’s sleek red suit of armor is a great look, and now that it has been established that Colossus is, in fact, under that armor, some fans are concerned the Tank armor will go away.
It would be to Marvel’s credit to recognize the popularity of the Tank character design, and pivot, if necessary, so that it can be used longer-term.
Not every redesign can stick for a character, especially one with such a distinct, iconic appearance, and in truth, often redesigns like this are not intended to. That said, it would be to Marvel’s credit to recognize the popularity of the Tank character design, and pivot, if necessary, so that it can be used longer-term. There is also something to be said forthe idea that continuing to operate as Tank would symbolize a kind of heroic rebirth forColossus, who has been used as a villainoften in the past several years ofX-Menstories, despite his fan-favorite status.
Marvel Shouldn’t Sacrifice Innovation For Easy Recognition, Tempting As It Is
The Pros/Cons Of “Rebranding” Colossus
From a business perspective, it is understandable why superheroes, following a redesign, inevitably revert to their earlier looks; once a character becomes recognizable to audiences beyond just loyal comic fans, as Colossus has, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify changing their signature design, or in this case, obscuring it under a suit of armor, even if the armor itself is a particularly cool, refreshing aesthetic in itself. This is why itwould be a bold creative decision, on the part of Marvel’sX-Office, to sacrifice Colosuss’s “brand recognition,” to tell a new kind of Colossus story.
It wouldn’t have to be permanent, but having Colossus operate as Tank for an extended period would make his role in theX-Menfranchise’s current era significantly distinct from his tenure inthe previous Krakoan Era, in which he was thrust into the role of antagonist, albeit against his will. It would also make the return of his classic look even more unforgettable of a comic book moment, when it finally did happen. TheX-Menfranchise has the potential todo something unique withColossusover the next several years, and it starts with embracing his time as “Tank.”
