X-Men 101: The Essential Rogue Stories

As one of the most iconic members of the X-Men, Rogue is recognized for her skunk-like hair and ability to absorb the powers of anyone through skin contact. While she originally made her debut as a villain, there's no denying that the Southern beauty is most beloved for her turn as a do-gooder. Whether she's dating teammate Gambit or canoodling with X-baddie Magneto, her love life is equally as fascinating for audiences.

The following list explores the twenty must-read Rogue stories from the comics. This entry is an ideal starting place for new readers to the genre or even long-time readers looking to catch-up on their favourite heroine.

Avengers Annual (Vol. 1) #10

When Mystique and her Brotherhood of Mutants set their sights on destroying the Avengers, Mystique's adoptive daughter Rogue strikes out on her own to kill Carol Danvers, the heroine formerly known as Ms. Marvel. Rogue's assault on Carol Danvers proves to be too much for the skunk-haired terrorist, thus accidentally absorbing the heroine's powers and memories permanently.

This annual serves as Rogue's debut appearance and establishes her as one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe.

A Rogue in the House

Dazzler (Vol. 1) #22-24, 28

After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Dazzler, Rogue develops a deep-rooted hatred for the mutant songstress. She makes it her mission to destroy Dazzler's life, coming after her family and bodyguards. Ultimately, Rogue is thoroughly trounced by Dazzler in an epic battle on an airstrip.

Scarlet in Glory

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #171-173

Driven to the brink of insanity due to the memories she's absorbed, Rogue seeks out the help of Professor Xavier to aid in silencing the voices in her head. Despite the protests of the X-Men, Rogue is inducted into the team of mutants on a probationary period.

On her first mission with the group, Rogue travels to Japan where she teams up with Wolverine after he is targeted by the villainous Silver Samurai and Viper. When Rogue sacrifices her wellbeing for Wolverine, she proves herself worthy of the X-Men's trust and begins her slow journey to redemption.

Welcome to Genosha

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #235-238

Upon learning of the mutant conflicts in Genosha, the X-Men head to the island nation to investigate. When Rogue and Wolverine are captured, their mutant abilities are negated and they are thrown into a cell. Without her powers to protect her, Rogue is physically assaulted by the guards and retreats into herself. In the recesses of her mind, Rogue encounters the psyche of Carol Danvers and she allows the former Avenger to take control of her body in order to break out of their cell. Carol successfully escapes and frees Wolverine, thus re-joining the X-Men and fleeing Genosha.

The Light That Failed

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #246-247

When the futuristic Sentinel Nimrod merges with the deadly Master Mold, the X-Men must find a way to defeat the apparently unbeatable robot. The group open the mystical portal known as the Siege Perilous, with Rogue using her super strength to punch Master Mold through the gateway. Before being pulled away by the Siege Perilous, Master Mold grabs hold of Rogue and takes her through the portal with him. 

Rogue Redux

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #269, 274-275

After being transported through the Siege Perilous, Rogue re-awakens in the X-Men's Australian headquarters several months later. She discovers that the X-Men have left and that their base is now overrun by the villains known as the Reavers. She flees, using the powers of a teleporter to take herself to the Savage Land.

In this tropical paradise, Rogue is attacked by the freed consciousness of Ms. Marvel. It is revealed that the Siege Perilous had separated the psyches of the two women, but the process left their bodies unstable. For one to survive, the other had to die. Unable to fully protect herself due to the apparent loss of her Ms. Marvel powers, Rogue is nearly killed in battle. Luckily, Magneto finds her and saves her from the enraged Ms. Marvel. He kills the Ms. Marvel duplicate, enabling Rogue to re-absorb her powers.

To show her gratitude, Rogue agrees to stay in the Savage Land with Magneto and enjoys a brief love affair with the silver-haired villain.

Mutant Genesis

X-Men (Vol. 2) #1-4

Following the dissolution of her relationship with Magneto, Rogue returns to the X-Men where she meets the enigmatic thief known as Gambit. After rebuffing Gambit's advances, Rogue finally gives in and begins dating the charming mutant.

Meanwhile, Rogue is on hand to battle her ex Magneto as he and his Acolytes invade the nation of Genosha.

Digging Deeper Between Hope and Sorrow

X-Men (Vol. 2) #24

After recovering from an injury sustained in battle, Rogue goes out with Gambit on a romantic date to New York City. She finds herself growing closer to him, so much so that she offers to tell him her real name.

The Last Goodbye

Rogue (Vol. 1) #1-4

During a visit to the bedside of her childhood sweetheart Cody, Rogue makes the shocking discovery that he has been kidnapped by Gambit's ex-wife Bella Donna and her Assassin's Guild. With Gambit's help, Rogue tracks down Bella Donna and defeats her in battle. Tragically, Cody dies before he can be returned to the hospital.

Into the Void

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #341-350

With the Shi'Ar in danger of extinction at the hands of the Phalanx, the X-Men are transported into space to aid in stopping the Phalanx. During this time, Rogue acts as a de facto leader for the team and successfully manages to prevent the Phalanx from taking over the Shi'Ar Empire.

On their way back from space, the X-Men are kidnapped and imprisoned by Erik the Red. With inhibitor collars blocking their powers, Rogue and Gambit consummate their relationship for the first time. The following day, Gambit is put on trial for his past crimes and Rogue finally learns of his involvement in a massacre of an entire group of mutants. Feeling betrayed and angry, Rogue abandons Gambit in the Antarctic where she leaves him for dead.

Power Play

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #359

Striking out on her own, Rogue searches for a cure to her mutant abilities. She successfully finds a man who has invented a machine that will strip her of her powers. Upon realizing that the machine could be used to forcefully take away the abilities of other mutants, Rogue makes the difficult decision to pass up her opportunity for a cure and destroys the machine instead.

The Return of Gambit

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #361, X-Men (Vol. 2) #81

Having returned to the X-Men, Rogue is consumed by guilt over leaving Gambit in the Antarctic. She leaves the team briefly to search for him, but in her absence the X-Men stumble across Gambit in Japan.  Reunited with her former lover, Rogue finds herself pushing for reconciliation despite Gambit's hesitations. Ultimately, the pair decide to take a break.

Going Rogue

Rogue (Vol. 3) #1-6

After a mission to her hometown, Rogue stays behind to visit her family home. She learns that her father has left and that her mother has disappeared. She also encounters evil spirits that are haunting a young girl who looks just like her. Rogue enlists the aid of Gambit and a stranger named Campbell St. Ange to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance and why this young girl looks like a dead-ringer for Rogue.

Forget-Me-Not

Rogue (Vol. 3) #7-12

When Rogue is attacked by the cyborg warrior known as Lady Deathstrike, she heads to Japan for answers. After teaming up with Sunfire, she and the Japanese hero are brutally assaulted and captured. They are ultimately locked up with one of Rogue's former associates -- Blindspot. The thing is, Rogue had no memory of ever having worked with Blindspot. As it turns out, Blindspot is a memory thief who restores Rogue's memories and she reveals their former association as part of Mystique's Brotherhood of Mutants.

As Blindspot and Rogue plot their escape, Sunfire begins to succumb to the injuries he sustained in the battle against Deathstrike. Blindspot forces Rogue to absorb Sunfire's powers so they can escape, which ultimately leads to Rogue taking on Sunfire's abilities permanently.

Bizarre Love Triangle

X-Men (Vol. 2) #171-174

With Rogue and Gambit's relationship on the skids, the pair begin to see Emma Frost for couples therapy. At this time, Mystique disguises herself as a student at the Xavier Institute and begins pursuing Gambit in an attempt to get the Cajun to cheat on Rogue. The plan backfires, leading to the discovery of Mystique's identity and she is subsequently taken in by the X-Men.

Supernovas

X-Men (Vol. 2) #188-199

After much discussion, Cyclops grants Rogue leadership status and allows her to create a field team of her own. She recruits Iceman, Cannonball and Cable, as well as Mystique and Sabretooth to aid her in a mission to stop the unstoppable Children of the Vault. 

Rogue is also kidnapped by the villainous scientist Pandemic to study her absorption abilities and subsequently injects her with a deadly virus known as Strain 88. Even though the X-Men manage to rescue Rogue, they are unable to cure her and Rogue's health takes a seemingly permanent turn for the worse.

Blinded by the Light

X-Men (Vol. 2) #200-204

When Mystique betrays the X-Men, she joins the Marauders in attacking the mutant heroes and leaves them to die after an explosion. However, she successfully extracts Rogue before this can happen and keeps her close in hopes of finding a cure for Strain 88. Meanwhile, Iceman and Cannonball work tirelessly to find their kidnapped leader.

Salvage

X-Men: Legacy (Vol. 1) #220-224

After the events of Messiah CompleX, Rogue was cured of her infection and of the memories she had absorbed throughout the years. In the aftermath, she left the X-Men and ventured to the Australian Outback where she's been attempting to gain control of her powers permanently. During this journey to self-discovery, Rogue finally learns to control her abilities and comes to terms with her past.

Utopia

X-Men: Legacy (Vol. 1) #226-233

With her newfound sense of confidence and control of self, Rogue returns once more to the X-Men only to discover that they have moved to an island off the coast of San Francisco. At this time, Cyclops bars Rogue from field duty after her botched leadership of the X-Men prior to Messiah CompleX. However, he assigns her as a guidance counsellor for the next generation of mutants and Rogue finds herself relishing in this new role.

Rogue also finds herself rekindling her romance with Magneto after he takes up residence with the X-Men.

Red Shadow

Uncanny Avengers (Vol. 1) #1-5

Following the civil war between the Avengers and the X-Men, Captain America organizes a squad of Avengers and X-Men to deal with the tensions surrounding human-mutant interactions. Rogue is recruited into this new team, where she finds herself instantly at odds with Scarlet Witch. The villainous Red Skull uses this to his advantage and pits the two mutants against one another. Amidst a rather nasty spat, Rogue falls through a hole created by Scarlet Witch and discovers Charles Xavier's mutilated body. She and Scarlet Witch set aside their differences upon realizing that the Red Skull has taken Xavier's brain. Together with the other Avengers, Rogue and Scarlet Witch battle the Red Skull, only to have him escape at the last second.

X-Men 101: The Essential Storm Stories

As one of the greatest X-Men of all-time, Storm is a barrier-breaking pioneer whose cultural importance has turned her into an icon. She was one of the first Black superheroines in comics and was the first woman to ever lead a major superhero team. Heralded for her keen sense of justice and desire to do good, Storm is a complex character who is an equal mix of untouchable goddess and down-to-earth big sister.

To celebrate this icon, here are twenty of her most memorable storylines. These narratives span the course of her illustrious comic book career and is a perfect starting place for newbies, as well as a pleasant stroll down memory lane for veteran readers.

Deadly Genesis

Giant-Size X-Men (Vol. 1) #1

When the X-Men are trapped on a mysterious island, Professor Xavier recruits seven new mutants to help rescue his students.

Storm would make her very first appearance in this groundbreaking one-off issue and this would mark the changing point in the X-Men's careers. From this point forward, they would forever be considered one of Marvel's most successful and critically-acclaimed properties.

Who Shall Stop the Juggernaut?

X-Men (Vol. 1) #102-103

While visiting Ireland, the X-Men are attacked by the insidious Black Tom and his associate Juggernaut. Trapped in the confines of the castle, Storm is crippled by her claustrophobia and must re-visit the painful memories of her past to overcome her fear.

The Hellfire Gambit

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #151-152

After the White Queen's humiliating defeat at the hands of the X-Men, the femme fatale hatches a plan to tear the X-Men apart from the inside out. She switches bodies with Storm and proceeds to wreak havoc with her newfound weather manipulating abilities. This would create a long-standing rivalry between the White Queen and Storm, which wouldn't be resolved until decades later.

Night Screams

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #159

When the legendary vampire known as Dracula ventures to New York City, he becomes determined to make Storm his bride. He intends to turn her, but her famed willpower proves to be a challenge perhaps even the greatest vampire of all-time cannot overcome.

The Brood Saga

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #162-167

Upon being kidnapped by a group of aliens hellbent on colonizing the universe, the X-Men are infected by the Brood's spawn and will be transformed into beings like their captors. Fearing the complete loss of her identity, Storm sacrifices herself in space. Before she can die, she is rescued and subsequently overcomes her infection just in time to save the day.

To Have and Have Not

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #169-173

After the X-Man Angel is abducted by the underground mutants known as the Morlocks, Storm leads a small group of X-Men to rescue their captured ally. To secure his release, she challenges the Morlocks' leader Callisto to a duel. Storm's brutal defeat over Callisto results in her becoming the Morlocks' new leader and begins a dramatic shift in her character.

As her uncertainty in her identity continues to slip, Storm becomes more unpredictable and aggressive. On a trip to Japan, she befriends the mercenary Yukio and adopts a shocking new punk look.

Lifedeath

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #185-186, #198

With new teammate Rogue feeling down regarding her place on the team, Storm attempts to cheer her up by voluntarily allowing Rogue to absorb her powers. The two mutants are then subsequently attacked by government officers who fire a weapon towards Rogue with the intention of stripping her of her powers. Storm jumps in front of the blast and is left powerless.

Storm is then taken in by the weapon's creator Forge, whose guilt over the event makes him especially protective of the now powerless mutant. While spending time together, the pair fall deeply in love. When she learns of Forge's part in the invention of the weapon, she angrily leaves him and embarks on a trip to Africa to rediscover her roots.

Duel

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #201

Having returned to the X-Men from Africa, Storm challenges Cyclops for leadership of the X-Men. In this epic battle, she uses her wits and resourcefulness to best the X-Man and wrench control of the team from him. This issue would forever answer the question to "Who would win in a fight -- Cyclops or Storm?" Interestingly, Storm didn't even need her powers to win.

The Fall of the Mutants

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #225-227

With her fellow X-Men locked in a battle against the Adversary, Storm returns to Forge in hopes that he'll be able to restore her lost abilities. When her powers are finally reawakened, Storm aids her teammates in stopping the Adversary and makes a deal with the goddess Roma to fake the X-Men's death to allow them to escape their continued persecution.

Gambit

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #265-267

After being transformed into a child and losing her memories, Storm encounters the thief known as Gambit. He takes the young mutant under his wing and the pair become partners in crime. This friendship would become one of the most meaningful ones for Storm and her trust in Gambit would eventually lead towards his induction into the X-Men.

Generation of Evil

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #325

When the villainous Marrow and her mutant terrorist group Gene Nation implant bombs on innocents, the X-Men step up to stop her. Since the only way to deactivate the bombs is to remove Marrow's heart, Storm does the unthinkable and rips out Marrow's heart to save the lives of those she has sworn to protect.

Storm

Storm (Vol. 1) #1-4

Grieving the death of Marrow, Storm retreats into herself and begins to question her actions. When she learns of a Morlock ceremony to honour the dead, she heads into the abandoned tunnels beneath New York City to perform the ritual and unknowingly opens a portal to another world. Storm must fight her way out of this strange land and find her way back home.

Invasion from Dimension X

X-Treme X-Men (Vol. 1) #11-19

During an invasion led by the conquerer Khan, Storm is gravely injured and is taken as a political prisoner. During her captivity, Khan intends for Storm to become his bride. To find her way back to her fellow X-Men, Storm must battle jealous concubines and Khan himself while still injured. By the end, she is left clinging to life and is only brought back with the help of her dear friend Jean Grey.

Schism

X-Treme X-Men (Vol. 1) #20-23

After a young mutant is accused of murder, Storm and her X-Men are appalled when they learn that Emma Frost has granted him immunity at Professor Xavier's school. When Storm confronts Emma about it, it re-ignites their longstanding rivalry and results in the formation of an uneasy alliance between the two mutant leaders.

I Dream of Africa

Uncanny X-Men Annual (Vol. 2) #1

When the superhero Black Panther proposes to Storm, she ventures back to Africa to work through the ghosts of her past before considering his offer. The ensuing adventure results in her taking on a group of terrorists and reconnecting with her long-lost maternal family.

Bride of the Panther

Black Panther (Vol. 3) #14-18

At the height of a Civil War between America's superheroes, Black Panther and Storm rekindle their childhood romance. The Wakandan King and part-time superhero is expected to marry, which leads him to asking Storm for her hand in marriage. After much careful consideration, Storm says yes and marries her one-time love in a lavish ceremony. 

Worlds Apart

X-Men: Worlds Apart (Vol. 1) #1-4

Now the Queen of Wakanda, Storm's duties are split between her kingdom and her role as an X-Man. Seeking to exploit this schism, Storm's long-time nemesis Shadow King takes possession of her teammates and forces Storm to face off against the X-Men alone.

Blank Generation

X-Men (Vol. 3) #30-33

With the X-Men divided up into two factions by Cyclops and Wolverine, Storm finds herself unable to trust both parties. Upon forming a team of her own, she faces an ancient race of mutants who have been revived by a mad scientist. Despite the protests of her fellow teammates, Storm decides to keep these events secret and further drives a wedge between herself and Cyclops.

Let It Bleed

Uncanny X-Force (Vol. 2) #1-6

After a devastating the war between the Avengers and the X-Men, Storm's marriage to Black Panther is annulled and she's left to pick up the pieces of her life. With a new look and a new purpose, Storm reclaims X-Force in an attempt to bring her friend Psylocke back from total darkness.

Return of the Goddess

Storm (Vol. 3) #1-3

Having been a member of several superhero teams over the years, Storm finally strikes out on her own as a mutant ambassador to spread her message of peace and unity. Along the way, she encounters ghosts from her past (hint: Callisto and Forge).

Top 20: Best Wonder Woman Stories, Part 2

From ancient witches to vengeful gorgons, Wonder Woman has battled some of the most unbelievable threats over the course of her illustrious career. This Amazing Amazon has proven her worth time and again in incredible stories that rival that of her contemporaries Superman and Batman. 

Picking up from part one, here is the second half of the top 20 greatest Wonder Woman stories.

10. Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia
 Written by: Greg Rucka
Illustrated by: J.G. Jones

In this modern Greek tragedy crafted by Greg Rucka, Wonder Woman is duty-bound to protect a young woman named Danielle Wellys. When she discovers that Danielle is responsible for the murder of a group of sex slavers, Wonder Woman must do battle against Batman as he attempts to bring Danielle to justice.

The Hiketeia is a brilliant example of the complexity of Wonder Woman's character. She is bound by ancient traditions that often conflict with modern laws and rights, which puts her at odds with some of her allies. Aside from that, The Hiketeia serves as a reminder that Batman is far from invincible and the Amazing Amazon is always ready to put him in his place (under her stylish red and white boots).

09. The Fist of Flame,
Wonder Woman v1 #201-202
Written by: Dennis O’Neil, Samuel R. Delany
Illustrated by: Dick Giordano

In this mod era adventure, Wonder Woman forges an unlikely alliance with Catwoman in order to procure an ancient artifact known as the Fist of Flame. After an initial cat fight (pardon the pun), the pair band together to defeat the forces of the villainous Lu Shan.

Of all of the mod era adventures, this one stands out as one of the most unique and ambitious. It blends globe-trotting 007-style intrigue with science fiction to create a memorable read for this time period. On top of that, it provides a rare team-up between two of DC Comics' most iconic heroines. I'll admit this choice is 100% biased since the story (as all were from this era) is quite problematic by today's standards.

08. Rise of the Olympian, 
Wonder Woman v3 #26-33
Written by: Gail Simone
Illustrated by: Aaron Lopresti

When an unstoppable menace known as Genocide threatens to destroy everything Wonder Woman holds dear, the Amazing Amazon is pushed to her limits and must go further than she's ever gone to bring down her foe.

In general Gail Simone's run on Wonder Woman was a satisfying read, but "Rise of the Olympian" managed to be an exceptional story from that era. Simone simultaneously created an incredibly terrifying villain and crafted an epic befitting of Wonder Woman's stature.

07. Gods of Gotham, 
Wonder Woman v2 #164-167
Written by: Phil Jimenez, J.M. DeMatteis
Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

After the Greek Gods of terror, discord, and fear take possession of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, Wonder Woman and Batman team up to stop this divine threat and rescue Harley Quinn.

By and large, Wonder Woman's supporting cast is often overlooked by the comic community. However, this four part adventure put them at the forefront and used Batman's cast to create an interesting comparison between the two "families." Beyond that, it proved that Wonder Woman's baddies are exponentially more dangerous than Batman's (just saying).

06. The Witch on the Island, 
Wonder Woman v2 #18-19 
Written and Illustrated by: George Perez

While touring Greece with her friends Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis, Wonder Woman is captured by the devious Circe and is marked for death by the witch.

As far as Wonder Woman villains go, Circe is arguably the most dangerous. In this introductory arc, her origin is detailed and she makes a rather big impact on the Amazing Amazon's life. From this point onwards, Circe would be treated as Wonder Woman's arch nemesis and would show up in nearly every succeeding major storyline.

05. The Medusa Saga, 
Wonder Woman v2 #196-213
Written by: Greg Rucka
Illustrated by: Drew Johnson

After penning a best-selling memoir, Wonder Woman comes under fire from the media for her beliefs and is targeted by the insidious Veronica Cale. To make matters worse, Circe resurrects the monstrous Medusa and pits her against the Amazing Amazon.

Often considered one of the best Wonder Woman writers, Greg Rucka outdid himself with this epic. This grouping of issues are an informal continued narrative held together by the presence of Veronica Cale, Circe, and Medusa. Rucka shows off his knowledge of the character rather well over the course of these issues and he rightly focuses on her status as an ambassador.

04. The Legend of Wonder Woman Volume 1: Origins,
Written and Illustrated by: Renae De Liz

As a mysterious darkness begins infecting Paradise Island, the young Amazon Princess Diana dedicates herself to finding its cause. This eventually leads her to America, where she takes up arms alongside the singer Etta Candy to fight the Axis during World War II.

The Legend of Wonder Woman is a colourful and whimsical retelling of Wonder Woman's origins that places an emphasis on the power of sisterhood. It is gorgeously illustrated and features some truly creative reimaginings of the Wonder Woman mythos.

03. The Witch & The Warrior,
Wonder Woman v2 #171, 174-176
Written and Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

After Wonder Woman's arch nemesis Circe turns every male citizen of New York City into animals and unleashes an army of female villains to hunt them down, Wonder Woman enlists the aid of every known heroine on Earth to stop the wicked witch.

Aside from this being hands-down the best Wonder Woman vs. Circe story around, Phil Jimenez uses this arc to re-introduce the Perez-era character Vanessa Kapatelis to readers as well as a new Cheetah. This narrative acts as a beautiful tribute to the George Perez run and proves to be an excellent example of just how dangerous Circe can be.

02. The Princess and the Power,
Wonder Woman v2 #1-7
Written by: George Perez, Greg Potter
Illustrated by: George Perez

In this origin story, Princess Diana of Themyscira competes in a contest that earns her the right to travel to "Man's World" to battle the evil forces of the God of War. This unassuming Princess subsequently becomes the superheroine known as Wonder Woman and she brilliantly takes down Ares before he can unleash World War III upon the world.

This arc would serve as the beginning of George Perez's legendary run on Wonder Woman. It re-introduced the character for a new generation of readers and helped to revitalize the franchise. The supporting cast at this time was incredible and the stories were woven with the intricate narratives from Greek mythology. 

01. A Day in the Life, 
Wonder Woman v2 #170
Written by: Phil Jimenez, Joe Kelly
Illustrated by: Phil Jimenez

As part of a new assignment, intrepid reporter Lois Lane follows Wonder Woman around for one day in an attempt to uncover the Amazing Amazon's dirty laundry. Even though she initially sets out to write a cynical expose, Lois quickly discovers that the truth about Wonder Woman is that she's flawlessly imperfect.

Perhaps it's my own bias for Phil Jimenez speaking, but this single issue stands as the greatest Wonder Woman story ever told. In the pages of this one comic, Jimenez and co-writer Joe Kelly sum up the character so brilliantly and poignantly that it is sure to move even the most cynical of readers. Wonder Woman is more than just a superhero and this story celebrates that by showing that she is Gloria Steinem, Diana Princess of Wales, Marie Curie, and Angelina Jolie all wrapped up in a star-spangled one-piece.