And like the Phoenix! Or maybe Spider-Man after Kraven buried him alive that one time— I rise!
I’ve been away for a short while, but that turned into a long while, folks. I’m back and ready to dive back into Snap’s wonderful world of variants.
And like the Artgerm takeover before, I thought I’d go ahead and get myself back in the Snap.Fan game by covering a momentous fan-favorite— Peach Momoko, who just recently had a Shop Takeover and an Album drop!
Peach Momoko is a terrifically different artist in the landscape of superhero comic book art, with a distinct watercolor style and (more strikingly) a knack for more abstract interpretations on characters in her work. It’s always refreshing to see someone lean more into the strange in their art, and Momoko brings an almost otherworldly ethereal elegance to almost any character she depicts. Like other artists I’ve mentioned, she’s long been a figure in comics— every single one of her variants in the game is an existing variant cover she’s done. And she’s even writing and illustrating an Ultimate X-Men book right now! But Snap has undoubtedly opened up her art to a massive new audience.
So let’s review some of the goodies that just released with the album, and I’ll see if I can convince any fencesitters out there!
Original Cover: Moon Knight (2021) #2 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Moon Knight is no stranger to great variants, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you maybe see another article delving into that sometime soon. (Wink.) But something about Momoko’s style works for the Fist of Khonshu— her ghostly, ephemeral art style heightens any piece, but it matches particularly with Spector’s stark costume. The flecks of red from the flowers are a pitch-perfect nod to the character’s violent side without breaking that wonderful aesthetic ambiance the piece has as a whole.
Verdict: Banger.
Original Cover: Inferno (2021) #3 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Frankly, Erik’s rarely looked this svelte. Momoko has rendered him here in a classy white, not unlike the above, and he’s got his face shadowed in the helmet! We’re looking up at him in a pretty classically powerful comic cover POV, and the floating metal debris is a great touch to convey power. I think the costume is the draw here: it’s just rendered well, with the black lines to draw the eye on an otherwise monochrome costume (and the shadowed visage to do the same). It’s less visually imaginative than some of Momoko’s other work, maybe— but c’mon. It’s Magneto.
Verdict: He was right.
Original Cover: Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor (2022) #5 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
I love this variant; it might be one of my favorites from Momoko. And I’ve seen a couple of folks on Reddit put off by the exact thing I enjoy about it: the face! I think the angle and shape both set Amora at an appropriately imposing angle and set her apart from many other conventionally similar poses. And it’s cute!
Verdict: I’ll fight Reddit. I’ll do it.
Original Cover: Miles Morales & Moon Girl (2022) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
I love this variant; it might be one of my favorites from Momoko. (Deja vu.)
Any time we get a close-up face portrait on a Snap card, it reminds me how easily we can get used to certain compositions repeatedly in card games and how much more artists can do if we branch out of “figure does an action pose.” Moon Girl’s relationship with Devil Dinosaur is being shown here in a fresh, novel way that even feels dangerous (and makes sense for anyone familiar with the body-switch antics the two get into early on). Moreover, it’s a full portrait that gives Lunella some personality and doesn’t need to lean so much on “this smart girl has a gadget!”
Verdict: Love the glasses; love the expression; love the variant.
Original Cover: Ghost Rider (2022) #4 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Sometimes, a Momoko piece seems born more of an abstract, cool pose or concept than anything more concrete. This is one of those pieces. Flaming skull in a dynamic, crouching pose? Dope. Rendering our favorite Spirit of Vengeance in trademark ethereal Momoko watercolors? Dope. Skull in the foreground that seems to be… part of the bike? With a horn? Or is it his hand reaching out? Dope but confusing.
Verdict: I’m not exactly sure what’s happening, but it’s still pretty cool.
Original Cover: Sabretooth (2022) #5 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
This is a more traditional composition, to the point that it veers in the other direction, where maybe we aren’t getting the most out of this being a Momoko. Sabretooth is appropriately gritty (look at that scowl!) and placed between some great bamboo shoots that help sell our favorite love-to-hate hunter, but rendered in this watercolor style, I can’t help but wonder what a slightly more abstract interpretation looks like a la Momoko’s other work. But who knows?
Verdict: Maybe not the most striking Momoko. But a great Sabretooth!
Original Cover: Blade (2023) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Every once in a while, I have to be the critic. This isn’t my favorite piece! Not from Momoko and not in general. I think the profile proportions are just a smidge off (I think it’s the brow and hair), and as a composition as a whole, I don’t think the piece grabs me like Momoko pieces usually do. It’s still a competently done piece, and it might scratch the itch for Blade fans out there! But I think of the album (and certainly of Momoko’s larger body of work in Snap), and there are many others I’d put over this one.
Verdict: I wish it were better!
Original Cover: The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
As a massive, enormous Spider-Man fan, I may be more critical or picky about art featuring the webhead. And, importantly, I think a lot is working for this piece: the pose is solid, with that familiar Spidey dynamism you need, and I think the more abstract eyes on the suit lend themselves well to Momoko’s style. But I think Momoko’s style (and the ethereal qualities that come with it) rob the piece of some of the kinetic energy that this particular composition wants— which does feel particularly consequential for Spidey.
Verdict: It’s well done, with much to appreciate, but missing some oomph.
Original Cover: Silver Surfer Rebirth (2022) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Now we’re getting into some of the Album variants that have already been in the game, and there are some real gems here. Momoko brings an almost primal, cat-like quality to a crouching Surfer viewed from above— I mistook him for a panther at first glance! But I adore how much energy is in that crouch and how the board works to guide the composition in such a clear way. The white energy emitting from the monochrome-black Surfer pushes that striking, evocative Momoko quality that works so well in her work. If I were to point out a piece that exhibits all of Momoko’s strengths, this would certainly be in the running.
Verdict: Cat confusion aside— incredible piece.
Original Cover: Death of Doctor Strange (2021) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
This cover was originally made with the Death of Doctor Strange in mind back in 2021 (he gets better). (And worse again? Stephen’s died a couple of times recently). But it’s the context worth considering; Strange here feels almost small, hunched over in his cloak, and the piece's tone feels quiet or contemplative, if not mournful. Rather than grand, psychedelic magical imagery, Strange’s cloak fades into a starry night, and flowing flower imagery (originally a bit ominous, given the occasion) gives the piece a classic ghostly Momoko vibe.
Verdict: If you’re looking for something quiet, understated, and a bit different for the good Doctor, this might be the one.
Original Cover: Excalibur (2019) #25 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
This might be the Momoko piece I most recognize immediately from Snap— I think it’s been in the game since launch. It’s one of the earliest examples of a terrific variant that changes the style and depiction of the character. And it holds up! Jubilee is in this terrific middle ground of accuracy and interpretation, with her iconic yellow coat taking on a fish-like quality and her fireworks following suit as neon bubbles. It’s one of my original examples of a great fit for a variant in Snap, and it remains so.
Verdict: OGs remember.
Original Cover: King in Black (2020) #1 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Now, Knull is one of those rare characters that’s new but also has a metric ton of existing art. The King in Black event (the culmination of the acclaimed Cates run on Venom) was non-stop metal image after metal image as the God of Symbiotes invaded. Because it was so large, there’s a truly massive amount of Knull variant covers from then to pull from. This isn’t even the only Momoko Knull in the game! But I think this is the stronger one: it’s a straightforward portrait of Knull, but it captures the imposing gravity of the character and even highlights the character’s root as just being metal as hell. (I mean, look at that eyeliner. Look at those nails.) The foregrounded claws are obscured/flattened by the logo text, but that’s a small knock on what is one of Knull’s stronger variants.
Verdict: Long live the King.
Original Cover: Eternals (2021) #7 (Variant)
Artist: Peach Momoko
Now, here’s a home-run composition straight from the Momoko playbook. (And as the album reward, to boot!) We’ve got an up-close portrait of Thanos, and he’s looming over that nebulous orb in the palm of his hand. It’s classic villain stuff, but, as I said before, any portrait helps buck that familiar “action pose on a card” composition, and Momoko elevates it with a lot of gravitas from touches like the massive hand breaking the frame, Thanos himself dramatically fading into space, and just good ol’ well-executed scowling villainy. It’s grand, it’s imposing, it’s Thanos.
Verdict: It is worth the Album reward designation; this is a genuine incentive for Momoko enjoyers.
What’s Next?
I'd appreciate it if you could let me know your verdict on the Peach Momoko variants in the Peaches For Me album. What is your favorite variant? Did you complete the album?