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 by Jay Justice
All-New Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Yaya Han
Amazing Spider-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Aaron Rivin
Astonishing Ant-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by SoloRoboto Industries
Avengers #0 Cosplay Variant by Michael Cox
Captain Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Judy Stephens
Daredevil #1 Cosplay Variant by Patrick ‘Rick’ Lane
Doctor Strange #1 Cosplay Variant by Allen Lee Hansard
Extraordinary X-Men #1 Cosplay Variant by Amanda Lynne Shafer
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Cosplay Variant by Contagious Costuming
Invincible Iron Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Dale Oliver
Ms. Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Soni Balestier
Nova #1 Cosplay Variant by Cap Santiago
Sam Wilson Captain America #1 Cosplay Variant by Eddie Newsome
Spider-Gwen #1 Cosplay Variant by Kathrine Zan
Spider-Woman #1 Cosplay Variant by Yashuntafun Cosplay
The Mighty Thor #1 Cosplay Variant by Sarah Jean Maefs
The Mighty Thor #2 Cosplay Variant by Kevin Spooner
Uncanny Avengers #1 Cosplay Variant by Miss Kit Quinn
Uncanny Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Kalel Sean
# 21 — CLASSIFIED
They aren’t paying these people are they? That seems like a terrible idea that would open a huge can of worms for Marvel. Such a bad idea.
Sarah Jean Maefs and Kevin Spooner look a lot alike in the pictures above.
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?
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.
Great idea.
Ms Marvel and Spider-Gwen FTW
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.
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.
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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