The Marvel Variants

never the main covers

Nov 30, 2022

Actually that’s not true, I FINALLY did the main covers for SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY, which maybe I’ll go into in a future newsletter if people want that??

But today I wanted to show off some of my favourite Marvel variants that I’ve had a chance to illustrate over the years! I know I, uh, came down hard on variants in my last newsletter, but they’re really fun to make! I’ve already told the story of my first Marvel job, a Deadpool Original Sins variant, so you can check that out if you’re interested. But here’re some others that stood out to me over the yearrrrrrs (I’m old)

As you can imagine, most of them were gag covers because I’ve been known to elicit a chuckle now and then. Also, when I did most of these I wasn’t so DARK AND GRITTY RRRR

One of my favourites was a super simple one. Marvel was putting Groot into classic covers, so the gag seemed obvious to me:

I still like the li’l Rocket on his way to put his friend out!!

The next one was for a DEADPOOL THE DUCK series that followed my HOWARD THE DUCK run. I didn’t write the book, but it felt nice to do a variant for it, like an unofficial blessing or something? I don’t know. It was a fun mini! I wanted to help! ALL I WANT TO DO IS HELP

This next one was a sweet one to do! Half gag, half genuine. SECRET WARS was a big event book where the universe was going to be destroyed by that rapscallion Jonatahan Hickman, so I decided to make it a party cover. It was a lot of fun getting to draw all these characters at this moment in time. Some would say it’s a “love letter to Marvel comics”!!!! I wouldn’t though.

Following this, Marvel put out a gag anthology called SECRET WARS TOO and I got to do THAT cover as well. That Professor X is still the most Dan Clowes drawing I’ve ever done.

As is often the case with my stupid gags (especially in SEX CRIMINALS), most get covered up or cropped out, so for the first time ever, here’s the full piece!

That Stephen Strnage is pure Zoolander.

Here are a couple of my favourite gag covers. I sat for a LONG time trying to figure out what to do for SILVER SURFER when it was just sitting there the whole time. The GWENPOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL cover is obviously a Die Hard reference so I could spark the “Die Hard is a Christmas movie” debate again

This STAR-LORD variant is both one I’m proud of and embarrassed by. Whenever I get the chance and time I like to illustrate covers traditionally, either inking them or painting with oils. This is one where I figured I’d do an oil painting, but it fucking sucked and I gave up, waited for it to dry, and then tweaked the hell out of it digitally.

So I’m happy with the final! The faux lens flares make it feel like stars, I better defined bits with linework, plus this was one of the logos I designed so it was nice to be able to incorporate it myself. But sheesh, that original (sorry to whoever bought it).

These bad boys below were ALL digital. Marvel let me do a variant for my final issue of SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, the one that I wrote and illustrated, and it took me a while to settle on something that reflected the story: people just getting a part of Spidey, never the whole. I think it works! I could have probably eased up on the lighting effects ha ha

And my DEVIL’S REIGN variant! Super happy with how this turned out. A fun note: the photo used of the rooftops was taken by Mr. Matt Fraction, so he’s basically a Daredevil artist now!!

That issue is still available for sale! Treat yourself before the holidays! You deserve it!

WAIT WAS THIS WHOLE NEWSLETTER JUST A RUSE TO SELL YOUR VARIANT

No…

In other news, STILLWATER #16 is out today! This is the big one! The issue that explains THE STILLNESS! As always, Ramon and Mike knock it out of the park, but MVP goes to Ramon for his amazing cover. The guy? He’s good.