Over the past few years, Marvel Comics have been really pushing the whole variant cover thing, offering up popular alternate options like artist Skottie Young’s adorable “Lil’ Marvel” covers, as well as retro action figure packaging style covers from artist John Tyler Christopher. (Last year, the first issue of Marvel’s Star Wars #1 had something like 100 different variant covers, for example.) But perhaps the most sought after of Marvel’s recent variant covers are their cosplay variant series, which gives back to the fans who have basically been doing free promotion for their characters at conventions all over the country. Now the publisher has revealed several images that will make up their next wave of cosplay variant covers, which are all due to hit comic book shops in September.
The new series of covers feature fans dressed up as some iconic Marvel characters like Galactus and the Punisher, but mostly show how much fans love some of Marvel’s lesser known characters just as much. There are costumes here for characters like Squirrel Girl, Silk, Hellcat, and Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man. And maybe I’m wrong, but I actually think the Mockingbird costume is much better than what the character wears on the Agents of SHIELD television series.
“The response to our first set of Cosplay Variants was so incredible, we simply had to do a second wave,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor-in-Chief, in a press release. “And, of course, we were able to find a great crop of cosplayers with some truly fantastic costumes. We’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on an ever-growing community that continues to show love for us and our characters.”
Around 15 different series will get these cosplay variant covers, starting in September and running throughout the rest of the fall. You can check out 13 of the covers in our gallery below.
Which of these cosplay variants is your favorite, and which character do you think should get the cosplay cover treatment next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Image: Marvel Comics
