Home Publishers Marvel Everyone gets a sidekick in Marvel’s NEW CHAMPIONS-themed variant covers

Everyone gets a sidekick in Marvel’s NEW CHAMPIONS-themed variant covers

Inspired by the recently-introduced Spider-Boy, the new covers will feature the previously-unrevealed sidekicks of iconic Marvel heroes and villains.

Joe Grunenwald

07/15/2023 2:00 pm

Marvel’s latest themed variant cover line is actually kind of fun. Inspired by the introduction of Spider-Man’s sidekick, Spider-Boy, Marvel will release a series of variants featuring the previously-unseen sidekicks of some of Marvel’s most popular heroes. The covers are set to arrive in October.

Here’s how Marvel describes the New Champions Variant Covers line:

Spider-Boy, Spider-Man’s long-lost sidekick, has become a comic book phenomenon and will soon star in his very own ongoing series! But what if other Marvel heroes had heroic protégés you’ve never met before? Some of the industry’s most acclaimed artists will answer that very question with the NEW CHAMPIONS VARIANT COVERS!

Debuting this October on the covers of Marvel’s hottest titles, this new line of variant covers will introduce readers to the extraordinary young partners of heroes like Black Cat, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, and more. Like Spider-Boy, these new characters inspire a secret history of countless adventures where they’ve fought side-by-side with their super hero mentors! Featuring fresh, bold designs by all-star talent, these stunning new covers may just be a glimpse into the future of the Marvel Universe!

Marvel has had some success in the past at introducing new characters via variant covers. The variant cover to 2015’s Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 featured a new character created as a mash-up of Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth and Gwen Stacy. That character, Gwenpool, would develop a cult following and eventually star in her own ongoing series for 25 issues.

Check out a full list of the announced New Champions variant covers below, and look for all the new Marvel sidekicks in stores when the issues and covers drop in October.

On Sale 10/4