Cosplay is a thing. Variant covers are a thing. And now cosplay variant covers are most definitely a thing. Marvel will have 20 cover adorned by photos of cosplayers depicting the titular characters.

“Cosplayers are taking over,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “Each convention I go to, it seems like there are more and more fans dressing up like their favorite Marvel characters. These homemade, hand-crafted costumes are so elaborate, it looks like they leapt off the comic page. The Cosplay Variant initiative is our way of supporting a community that supports us.”

They are pretty spectacular.

While I’m not as familiar with cosplayers as with comics, I do recognize Marvel’s own Judy Stephens as Captain Marvel — it’s a costume she’s worn many times before and it’s very impressive. And of course Cosplay superstar Ya-Ya Han

Here’s the whole line-up except for the mystery #21.

A-Force_1_Cosplay_Variant

   A-Force #1 Cosplay Variant by Jay Justice

All-New_Inhumans_1_Cosplay_Variant

All-New Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Yaya Han

Amazing_Spider-Man_1_Cosplay_Variant

Amazing Spider-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Aaron Rivin

Astonishing_Ant-Man_1_Cosplay_Variant

Astonishing Ant-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by SoloRoboto Industries

Avengers_0_Cosplay_Variant

Avengers #0 Cosplay Variant by Michael Cox

Captain_Marvel_1_Cosplay_Variant

Captain Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Judy Stephens

Daredevil_1_Cosplay_Variant

     Daredevil #1 Cosplay Variant by Patrick ‘Rick’ Lane

Doctor_Strange_1_Cosplay_Variant

     Doctor Strange #1 Cosplay Variant by Allen Lee Hansard

Extraordinary_X-Men_1_Cosplay_Variant

     Extraordinary X-Men #1 Cosplay Variant by Amanda Lynne Shafer

Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_1_Cosplay_Variant

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Cosplay Variant by Contagious Costuming

Invincible_Iron_Man_1_Cosplay_Variant

Invincible Iron Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Dale Oliver

Ms._Marvel_1_Cosplay_Variant

Ms. Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Soni Balestier

Nova_1_Cosplay_Variant

Nova #1 Cosplay Variant by Cap Santiago

Sam Wilson Captain America #1 Cosplay Variant by Eddie Newsome

Spider-Gwen_1_Cosplay_Variant

Spider-Gwen #1 Cosplay Variant by Kathrine Zan

Spider-Woman_1_Cosplay_Variant

Spider-Woman #1 Cosplay Variant by Yashuntafun Cosplay

Mighty_Thor_1_Cosplay_Variant

The Mighty Thor #1 Cosplay Variant by Sarah Jean Maefs

Mighty_Thor_1_Cosplay_Variant

The Mighty Thor #2 Cosplay Variant by Kevin Spooner

Uncanny_Avengers_1_Cosplay_Variant

Uncanny Avengers #1 Cosplay Variant by Miss Kit Quinn

Uncanny_Inhumans_1_Cosplay_Variant

Uncanny Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Kalel Sean

# 21 — CLASSIFIED

9 COMMENTS

  1. Considering that the whole “Disney Princess” merchandise juggernaut began when a Disney exec saw girls in their homemade costumes and realized there was money to be made, how long before these people get slapped with C&Ds and Disney starts its own Marvel costume line?

  2. This reminds me of how much I used to love the old Sandman Mystery Theatre covers from the 90’s. Or that old Ray ad from back in the day that looked like a bad FOX pilot waiting to happen.

  3. I like that not every one of these is perfect, showing you don’t have to have a fortune or body builder body to have fun cosplaying. Cosplayers make cons a lot better with their presence and this feels like a nice celebration of that.

  4. Amazing that it took them this long to pursue this idea. On the other hand, I’ve seen better costumes. I wonder how they came to select these particular photos.

  5. A fun idea, though some of the costumes *do* look a bit on the droopy side. And as for a couple of the poses, would someone please get Doc Strange those two drinks he’s ordering.

    Now Captain Marvel on the other hand — she wears her uniform with the right attitude!

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