Reviewing: The Hellfire Gala Variant Takeover pt. 1
The Hellfire Gala has arrived to Marvel Snap, coinciding with the third annual Hellfire Gala occurring earlier this year. In the comics, the event is known for heralding momentous shifts in the Krakoan Era— from terraforming Mars into the mutant planet Arakko to the revelation of secrets at the heart of the mutant nation.
(This year’s Hellfire Gala ushered in the grim finale to the Krakoan Era, Fall of X. Suffice to say, it was eventful.)
The Gala is also known for introducing fabulously extravagant high fashion to the mutant world, with all attendees decked out in striking superhuman attire. No shortage of variant covers are dropped each Gala, all depicting your favorite heroes, villains, and gray attendees in lavish finery. Alongside the launch of the Album system, Second Dinner has tapped into some of these back-issues variant covers for their recent Variant Takeover: let’s take a look!
Part 1: The Album Attendees
Russel Dauterman deserves special praise—and so, so much of it— for defining the look of the Hellfire Gala when it first landed in 2021. For the Hellfire Gala Album set, we have a choice set of 5 variants from him, all from the 2022 Hellfire Gala— Magik, Scarlet Witch, Gambit, She-Hulk, and Doctor Doom.
Original Variant Cover: New Mutants (2019) #27 (Variant)
Artist: Russel Dauterman
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Magik’s 2022 Hellfire Gala look is one of the most striking designs of the bunch, and when it came out last year I honestly remember being a bit puzzled— she has such an iconic base design, and it leaned away from that in such strange ways! But for that very reason, it (and many others) grew on me: the Darkchylde-chic bodysuit (along with the bold makeup over her mouth) conveys the characters darker side, and the horns and tail lean into her demonic royalty in a way we rarely see. This is high-fashion meets Marvel— and this look for the Queen of Limbo would crush a runway.
For a character so spoiled for great variants already (heck, her 2021 Gala look is already in the game), Dauterman’s design not only gives Illyana another win but gives her one that’s a striking departure from her ordinary look.
Original Cover: Moon Knight (2021) #12 (Variant)
Artist: Russel Dauterman
As the artist currently doing covers for Scarlet Witch’s ongoing, Dauterman clearly has a love for Wanda, and it shows here as he takes over colors for himself. The colors pop, and the hair flowing into a twinkling red is lovely. The adorned headdress alluding to her Roma heritage is another nice touch. Still, as a Hellfire Gala look, it’s far from a departure from any look the Scarlet Witch has rocked in the past— in fact, her current look in the comics is close to exactly this outfit! You could argue this is because Wanda’s outfits in the past have already skewed more intricate; still, among the ranks of other ostentatious costume reinterpretations going on at the Gala, Wanda fades a bit into the background. For 1200 gold, players might want something more drastically different. But if you’re looking for a strong comic artist’s take on the Scarlet Witch’s base look with small stylish accents, this variant pops like all of Dauterman’s art.
Original Cover: Gambit (2022) #2 (Variant)
Artist: Russel Dauterman
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Now, Gambit’s Gala look is the right kind of eye-catching departure. Remy’s roguish charm is amped up between the sly purple accent on his hood and everything-out topless look under his jacket. Gambit’s never been one for subtlety, and this look conveys that character perfectly, without veering into gaudy territory. Combined with Matthew Wilson’s well balanced colors on the purple lighting from his signature playing cards, this variant is a welcome stylish departure for a character whose variants are largely dominated by his iconic base look.
Original Cover: Hulk (2021) #8 (Variant)
Artist: Russel Dauterman
Colors: Matthew Wilson
She-Hulk’s Gala design is less ostentatious than some of her companions in this bunch, but she still rocks a fun look that breaks her away from spandex and pantsuits. While the outfit itself might not be the most groundbreaking, it is fun (check that fashionable SH logo on a chain!), and the piece itself gets points for nailing Jen’s personality and physicality. She-Hulk is #$@!ing yoked— and she’s flexing it checking her glasses, all in front of an appropriately smashed looking hole. A small note of appreciation? The almost solar glow backlighting the whole piece makes Jen’s green contrast brilliantly, making the Hulk skin-tone pop best so far out of all her variants. Matt Wilson is an unsung hero on many of these variants, and he shines here as colorist.
Original Cover: Fantastic Four (2018) #45 (Variant)
Artist: Russel Dauterman
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Doom’s Gala attire is Dauterman’s strengths at their best: a bold interpretive swing translating an iconic character into high fashion. Dauterman gives the ruler of Latveria an appropriately aristocratic look, elevated by gold pattern and an appropriately pompous fur. The biggest move might be the entirely new mask: Doom’s most iconic element is given a facelift here, trading in the traditionally brutal, Man-In-The-Iron-Mask look for an almost aquiline visage, complete with golden pinprick eyes and diamond-esque ridges. It ties the entire look together evoking a sinister bird of prey, and, like with Magik, gives Doom a variant that plays into a truly new look.
Overall? The centerpiece for all of these existing variant covers are certainly Dauterman’s designs— and of the Hellfire Gala suite, I think Dauterman best composes a piece that complements and spotlights those designs. Dauterman’s base skill as an accomplished comic artist shouldn’t be overlooked either. The composition surrounding each design does a lot to help each variant shine (something that isn’t always a given!) and Wilson’s own palette of colors (which we’ll see more of) complements them in a bright and appealing way.
But onto the rest!
There are some serious gems among the rest in the album, done by an array of artists (some of whom we’ll revisit in Part II!).
Original Cover: X-Men Red (2022) #4 (Variant)
Artist: Jen Bartel
First, we’ve got a returning artist in Jen Bartel! Another experienced artist in the comics world, Jen already has a couple of variants in the game under her belt (most players will recognize the Season Pass variant for Nebula, and some might also have her Rescue variant.) This is Jen’s design for Jean Grey’s 2022 Hellfire Gala outfit— one that, if I had to rank, is a bit less memorable than her 2023 and 2021 looks. Still, it’s a dress that taps into the Marvel Girl look and palette, which is always a fun throwback. Bartel’s softer colors sometimes veer a bit muddy for me, but here they really suit Jean’s bright core colors of red, green, and yellow. Jean has some stiff competition in her variants (in part because of just how many costumes she’s donned) so this variant might have a harder time standing out: still, it’s a welcome addition to a varied roster.
Original Cover: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest (2023) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Jen Bartel
Bartel handles the 2023 look for Carol Danvers as well— and this time, it’s definitely a superior design to the previous year’s Gala. The outfit riffs on the design language of Carol’s military Captain Marvel look without going over the top— I really like the way the decorated jacket contrasts the neckline underneath, and I think the seated composition adds a lot of gravity to the whole piece. I’m not the craziest about the backlight’s effect on the shadow of the piece (I think it darkens the colors a bit too much), but it was done with clear intent, placing Carol at an imposing angle. It’s my favorite of Jen’s two variants in the Hellfire Gala set, and it’s a wonderful reward to have on the album track.
Original Cover: X-Force (2019) #42 (Variant)
Artist: Carlos Gomez
Colors: Aburtov
We’ve also got Bishop in his 2023 Gala attire, drawn by Carlos Gomez and colored by Aburtov. I enjoy the concept of the look up-close— the outfit has more pieces than might initially present itself in the strong lighting Gomez has set up. The collar calls back a hallmark of Bishop’s traditional outfits, and pairing it with the suit jacket and belts outside makes him feel rough and tumble, like Bishop ought to. Much of this is obscured on first look, however, by just how dramatically lit Bishop’s energized hand is. The colors of the suit are warm already, and the result is a design that feels a bit busy for how simple it ought to be. On a card, it’s even harder to parse than it might have been as a cover. Still, as a variant, that sort of strong lighting can feel very dynamic, especially when many variants have very traditional lighting setups; folks might be won over on the strength of that composition alone.
Original Cover: X-Force (2019) #29 (Variant)
Artist: Miguel Mercado
Miguel Mercado is an artist I’ve loved for a while now, and he makes his exciting Snap debut with his cover for Forge’s 2022 outfit. We’ve got the recognizable throughline in the X-Men uniform colors and Forge’s trademark headband, but paired with both cybernetic and Krakoan technology— melding metal and nature in a deceptively elegant way. Composition-wise, this is one of my favorites of the bunch: the stark white backdrop, the lively pose, and the rhythm of the moving Krakoan tendril all work together very well to convey a tone of alien elegance: something contrary to Forge’s ordinary guff, but right in line with mutant culture post-Krakoa. Moreover, Mercado brings a lifelike style to the table that still captures a lot of life and dynamism— there are plenty of variants that are painted, but this one feels painterly. This is a shoo-in for Forge’s best variant, in my personal opinion, and it makes me very excited to see more Miguel Mercado in the future.
Original Cover: Knights of X (2022) #3 (Variant)
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Rogue’s a fan-favorite character when it comes to anything, and the Hellfire Gala 2022 look designed by Mahmud Asrar knows it. The outfit taps into the lace as an elegant but dangerous reminder of her deadly touch-powers, and the iconic skunk-stripe is tousled into a neat punk look and complemented by some lavish plumage. This is one where I love the design and original cover, but I feel like something subtle was lost in the translation to the card. The frame break effect on Rogue necessitates cutting some of the cover off the top, and I think the composition suffers slightly from it. Still, it’s a knockout design for a knockout character, and I suspect any Rogue fan will be interested in the look.
Original Cover: Moon Knight (2021) #25 (Variant)
Artist: Taurin Clarke
This is a really neat look for Moon Knight, courtesy of Taurin Clarke this year. I’ve already heard a couple of different reactions to the variant, ranging from adoration to outrage that there isn’t enough animation. (And to be fair, what exactly ought to move?) Still, I think the majority likely falls into the former: it’s a sleek and mysterious look that has elements of both Mr. Knight through the slacks and the traditional Moon Knight via the shawl. (There’s even something more tactical going on with those shoes, which might signal the more practical, brutal element to Moon Knight that Marc Spector can never shake.) The blank face is a slate and an enigma befitting the multifaceted hero, and it all comes together with stark lighting and a solid pose from Clarke. Count me in with the believers here!
Original Cover: Avengers (2018) #57 (Variant)
Artist: Carmen Carnero
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Carmen Carnero gives Cap a strangely sinister look in his 2022 Gala attire— the red pinstripes, draped coat, and reclined orb-pondering pose would be enough to make a fellow think someone were scheming, but Steve is also give a (very well-rendered) furrowed brow and smile, as if the First Avenger really is up to something nefarious. Which, of course, has been the case before. (Yadda yadda, Secret Empire, Hydra Cap, Stevil, yadda yadda.) But here, it feels a bit mismatched to Steve’s role as a well-meaning human liaison to mutant-kind like he’s served recently. Still— tone aside, the piece is one of the stronger compositions adapted to the Snap template, filling the space and generally being very well done! (Carmen Carnero is wonderful, and Matt Wilson continues to kill any colors he’s on). Intentional or not, the tone of the piece also helps further set this variant apart from other Cap variants. Combine that with the dress code (and, truly, it’s quite the look for Steve— this cannot be understated), and we’ve got a variant that will at least catch anyone’s eye for consideration.
Original Cover: Black Panther (2023) #2 (Variant)
Artist: Mateus Manhanini
We’re rounding out Part 1 here with the 2023 Hellfire Gala Variant for Black Panther, drawn and colored by Mateus Manhanini. Manhanini has a very lavish rendering style, characterized by bright lighting that gives every piece a strong glint here and there. T’Challa’s outfit itself is relatively tame— a suit and shirt color-linked by the telltale starry purple of the Ancestral Plane, accompanied by an additional African scarf to root the piece in T’Challa’s Wakandan culture. It’s well-done, if not safe— but the entire piece is elevated by Manhanini’s colors and lighting, with the background pattern of a drawn sun bathing everything in almost photoreal real sunlight. The result? An exceptionally charismatic piece that puts T’Challa in an un-clawed outfit we don’t see him in quite as often.
We’ll be returning to Mr. Manhanini very soon (spoilers, he’s right behind Dauterman in number of Hellfire Gala variants in-game) but, suffice to say, his style is likely to be a favorite for many folks who enjoy some gloss and realistic lighting in their art.
The Album-Shaped Elephant In The Room
Now, Albums launched alongside the Hellfire Gala takeover, and they did so to a divisive response. Many players felt cheated, expecting a system that would reward their existing collection and instead presented with one that (largely) encouraged more spending on specific variants.
I personally don’t feel as strongly about them as many do— I see albums as a fun little achievement bar, there to possibly push you over the edge on purchasing a variant you otherwise might have been on the fence about. But the reaction is understandable, especially considering the Super Rare-heavy selection for all the albums save for Staying Hipp.
At a thematically appropriate but expensive Super Rare-exclusive collection, I expect few will actively try to pursue completion of the Hellfire Gala album in particular, and it’s less likely that people will very easily acquire all Super Rare variants incidentally. (Hopefully, some folks will still be interested enough to swing for the great Bartel Captain Marvel, at least). In my opinion, the current album system best functions as an incidental progress marker rather than something players can pursue very actively— and filling the Hellfire Gala album with Super Rare variants means that for most, that progress marker will move very, very slowly.
Overall, I don’t believe the system doesn’t need a overhaul so much as it just needs volume. It’s a free reward for anyone already planning to collect, and the more albums there are, the more players can see variants they happen to own as part of a set, and the more they feel rewarded for any incidental collecting they’ve done on their own. With more on the way, there’s room for Second Dinner to also tweak contents, hopefully making them feel more achievable to the average player.
Stay Tuned...
But I hope some folks have their interest piqued this season purely on an aesthetic level— as I’ve already touched on, much of the draw for these variants is in the high-fashion departure from ordinary superhero fare (though I’m always of the opinion that superheroes and fashion are never too far from one another). The Hellfire Gala has breathed some much-needed variety into the roster of Snap variants and introduced some wonderful artists I hope to see more of. Stay tuned for Part 2, featuring more coverage of the rest of the Hellfire Gala variants, including current bundles, season pass rewards, and upcoming cards!
Plus: were there any snubs? What great Hellfire Gala variants are still on your wishlist for Marvel Snap? Let us know!
And until next time, enjoy the Gala.
