The X-Men Annual #1 (Marvel, 1991)

Never has a shredded costume done so much for a character! But one look at this "Mutant Masterwork" by Jim Lee, and it's easy to see how Rogue rocketed from team player to A-list superhero thanks to her unforgettable Savage Land transformation. Designed by Lee at the very start of his superstar ascent (in The Uncanny X-Men #269, just his second issue as regular penciler), this powerful pin-up comes from the only annual he contributed to during his record-breaking run on the newly launched X-Men series.
Rogue's Savage Land look became so popular, it appeared in an episode of the Emmy-nominated X-Men '97, reigniting fan demand. That resurgence led to its inclusion as an alternate costume in the wildly popular Marvel Snap game, a Marvel Legends action figure from Hasbro, and a five-issue Rogue: The Savage Land limited series, packed with variant covers celebrating this fan-favorite design. But even before that, this very image was already a perennial favorite -- chosen as a variant cover for the Rogue-led Uncanny X-Men relaunch in 2024.
Obtained by a lucky collector at WonderCon 7 in 1994 directly from Lee's Homage Studios booth, the piece has remained in a single collection for over 30 years and stands as a fitting flashback to the unforgettable energy of '90s comic conventions.