The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 trailer, released on December 1, 2022, gave viewers their first look at the MCU’s Adam Warlock, with several changes made from Marvel Comics, especially to the character’s costume. Will Poulter was announced to be playing the famous hero in October 2021, finally paying off teases that have been dropped in various MCU projects, most prominently one of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s post-credits scenes, which featured a glimpse at Adam’s birth-pod. Many MCU fans have been waiting years for Adam Warlock to make his debut onscreen since he is such a key player in many huge Marvel Comics storylines.
In the comics, Adam Warlock is a supremely powerful being, created artificially to be the next evolutionary step of humanity. However, he breaks free from his creators to find his own purpose, coming across the High Evolutionary, who will also make an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and going toe-to-toe with villains as notorious as Thanos. To better fit the character in the wider world of the MCU, and make him a formidable character to portray alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios have made five notable changes to Adam Warlock’s costume design.
Adam Doesn’t Have His Glowing Eyes (But His Skin Is Golden)
While the glimpse shown of Adam Warlock in the GOTG Vol. 3 trailer is only short, the character’s eyes can be seen fully. In the comics, Adam Warlock is often shown with white, glowing eyes, similar to those of Captain Marvel when she is at full strength. There’s nothing to say that Adam’s eyes couldn’t glow when he uses his powers, but it’s a notable change that makes the character seem more human. However, his golden skin sets him apart, is comics-accurate, and calls back to Adam’s new MCU origin of being created by the Sovereign, a gold-skinned species with a vendetta against the Guardians.
The Gem On Adam’s Forehead Isn’t The Soul Stone
One of the key aspects of Adam Warlock’s character in the comics is that he is the guardian of the Soul Gem (the MCU’s Soul Stone), often donning this precious gem on his forehead, akin to Vision with the Mind Stone. In the GOTG Vol. 3 trailer, Will Poulter sports a gem on his forehead, but this is clearly not the Soul Stone, not least because Thanos destroyed the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Endgame. It’s unclear what abilities this gem will gift to the MCU’s Adam, but it will be interesting to see how the character functions without the Soul Stone, as it’s a huge part of his comic identity.
Adam Wears Armor, Not Spandex
Most superheroes in Marvel Comics are dressed in tight-fitting spandex that shows all of their muscles and allows them to move quickly or contort themselves into impossible poses. This obviously doesn’t transfer very well to screen, so this has thankfully been adapted in the case of Adam Warlock. A hugely powerful character such as Adam would look silly dressed in spandex in the MCU, so Marvel Studios have given the character armor that surely gifts him some special qualities. As well as this, the character’s famous cape is missing, but since only his top half is shown, it’s unclear whether his belt is still included in his MCU costume.
Adam’s Costume Is Gold & Brown (Not Yellow & Red)
This is a minor change from Adam Warlock’s comics costume to his new MCU suit of armor, but the colors and shape are notably different. Instead of the bright red and yellow costume that the character often dons in the comics, Poulter’s Adam is dressed in more of a dulled-down brown and gold suit, reminiscent of Daredevil’s new MCU costume from She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The darker color fits with his origins in the Sovereign, as their citizens wear black, but sets him apart enough to be seen as superior to the everyday Sovereign person, and allows him to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb.
The Trademark Skull Emblem Is Missing
For the majority of his time in the comics, Adam Warlock is shown to have an emblem holding his cape in place. This often resembles a skull, which emphasizes the brutality that the character sometimes displays. If not a skull around his neck, Adam often has a lightning bolt down his chest, both of which are missing from his MCU costume, and that’s probably for the best. Will Poulter’s costume as Adam in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a simple, diluted version of the character’s vibrant costume in the comics, something that will fit in better with the MCU and support the darker tones in the upcoming film.