It’s that time of week and that time of month again! I’ve got a forecast to give, and PAX codes to give away to boot—be on the lookout after the article for how to win a chance at the exclusive variant and cardback. So read on, ye Forecast Faithfuls, and be rewarded by the chance to get exclusive pixel JPEGs on everyone’s favorite Marvel comics collectible card game! Boom, forecast!
07/29
Paul Mafayon’s Debut Album
Artist: Paul Mafayon
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)/Album Reward
We’re kicking off with Paul Mafayon, who’s headlining an entire album after an early bird debut last week. Mafayon’s style feels like it lands a little on the side of generic for me personally, even discounting some of the controversy surrounding his work. (I won’t be getting into it here.) More than anything, I think that, while it’s an appealing level of stylization that might draw the eyes of folks who enjoy that middle ground of detailed but animated-looking, it also draws the eye towards hallmarks that have rapidly become more played out in the new age of generative AI art. And that isn’t an accusation! But things like the high level of contrast in the softer shadows or the general lack of precision in how some of the shapes of the stylized bodies are arranged are things people may be more sensitive to, and some tastes have shifted to boot. Of them, some of them are still certainly more eye-catching, though; Kid Omega and Esme have some energy to them, and Mafayon’s style carries that familiar kind of personality-driven composition that does help these pieces stand out. Moreover, it’s a full set: if you are more on board with Mafayon’s particular brand of stylized, you’ll be able to collect ‘em all to get Invisible Woman First Steps to boot!
Justin Fields’ Two-Part Doom Bundle!
Artist: Justin Fields
Source: Bundle
Justin Fields has a twofer bundle here with Dooms Once and Future, giving us Doom 2099’s glowing red-eyed mug and Doom Regular’s positively medieval stylings—and it's to great effect. Fields’ talent for ominous mechanical visages is at work up close on 2099’s variant and at a moderate distance for Doom. Those portrait variants always feel like a novel departure for SNAP card templating, even if Doom 2099 already has a similarly composed piece: Fields’ piece is set apart by just how close we are to 2099’s visage. Doom Regular is given a more imposing glimpse of his magical talents in a medium shot, and I think that composition of looking down at him as he glowers at us behind a metal mask adds a sense of visual menace, and I like the design on this mask a lot.
07/30
Sam Nielson’s Invisible Woman First Steps
Artist: Sam Nielson
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Sam Nielson is working to round out the squad here, and I think ending on Invisible Woman First Steps is saving the best for the last, far as I’m concerned. His work on all of the First Steps cards has been fine enough, but this Invisible Woman feels like it injects the character with a tad more energy than the others, and it’s charming to really see her exercising a bit more of a headstrong-looking personality than we normally see from Sue in the context of the Fantastic Four. I also feel like the Vanessa Kirby likeness here is less intrusive than some of the others (and certainly than most of the Pedro Pascal likenesses) and it helps prevent me from getting taken out of the piece and plopped straight into uncannier valleys. If you’re looking for variant art for Sue’s new card, you might start here.
Leo Chiola’s King Eitri and Lasher!
Artist: Leo Chiola
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Leo Chiola’s doing the work we need, bringing characters like King Eitri and Lasher some variant attention at long live last. As the Series 4 “extras” that were the among the first mode rewards, they've long been variant-less, and only recently has Second Dinner begun to rectify that. It's worth noting that Lasher has a decent amount of variant art in covers lying around, while Eitri will likely need direct commissions as his primary source. Either way? Leo Chiola injects some of those heavy inks and comic stylings to really bring both to life, and the result is something any variant-starved player should be delighted to have.
ADIA’s Fantasy Green Goblin Bundle
Artist: ADIA
Source: Bundle
What better character, really, to receive a Fantasy variant? ADIA’s sure picked up on the fact, and the idea that the Goblin's entire medieval cretin shtick could be translated as the real deal is fun. Like most of the Fantasy variants, ADIA doesn't quite reach for all it could, and at the end of the day Gobby doesn't look too different from his modern rags and rubber mask. But he's riding a dragon thing, and that's neat!
07/31
Akram’s Malekith Bundle!
Artist: Akram
Source: Bundle
Akram’s an artist who’s developed a very quick and strong fanbase, in no small part thanks to their unique style that blends a traditional Japanese aesthetic with harsh, inky linework to give it a modern edge. I think it’s a unique look that stands out even among all the anime art we’ve gotten in variants over the last few months, and a great reminder of how different these characters can look even within these styles. Giving Malekith the dark anime prince treatment is an inspired decision, and it manages to visually recontextualize that iconic half-shadowed face in a new way that feels cool. I suspect this bundle is going to be on several people’s short list!
Dan Hipp’s Silver Sable!
Artist: Dan Hipp
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Dan Hipp does it again, and all for 700 Gold! Sable’s back with a new variant, and as is tradition, she’s brandishing a big ol’ gun. Through the Hipp lens, it’s huge! And it’s the sort of visual flair that helps draw the eye and exaggerate the most iconic elements of a character that he excels at, even for characters like Sable who don’t necessarily have the most household name associations to connect with. But here she is: packing heat, with silver hair and a no-nonsense attitude. Can you really ask for more?
08/01
Peter Nguyen’s Mirage!
Artist: Peter Nguyen
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Peter Nguyen is another returning artist who I’m happy to see after his first debut in SNAP on that solid Gambit, and he’s bringing that similar level of lush detail and color to good ol’ Dani Moonstar here, decked out in her Valkyrie attire. I think the reflection off of the helmet is doing great work as a centerpoint for the piece, and that striking, graphic red moon in the background helps contrast the complex, glimmering light that’s everywhere else on the piece. Dani is a character that I think has always had a close connection to really striking, graphic depictions (owing to her origins in those incredible New Mutants comics) and Nguyen offers a great option for folks looking for the same in SNAP.
Viktor Farro’s Victoria Hand!
Artist: Viktor Farro
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Viktor Farro becoming a headlining SNAP mainstay is an absolute joy, and he continues to do great work with this Victoria Hand, which brings a level of “%@$! Yeah!” action to a character normally depicted as more reserved. It’s a lot of fun, and a great dimension to a character whose roots were always in SHIELD and then HAMMER’s more corrupt side, and who often had a much more to her than just office lady with a gun. As a result? A less by-the-book Hand that’s yelling and brandishing a 90’s-worthy alien laser gun feels like a fun interpretation, and one with a lot of personality. Common Farro W!
08/02
Cover Alert: Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings (2022) #1 Hellfire Gala Variant!
Artist: Chris Bachalo
Source: General Pool (Rare)
I love the trend of these back-issue covers that land in the game as Rares, because they’re often my favorite pieces in the game. While some folks might balk at the idea of being excited for any sort of variant for a beginner card like Namor, I think that Bachalo (whom I love) does such a wonderful job making a comfy chic fit appropriate for a King of Atlantis, and those scales work so well with that subtle black on the lapel. It’s fashion fit for the Hellfire Gala, and a variant fit for SNAP!
08/03
Rian Gonzales’ Kate Bishop!
Artist: Rian Gonzales
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Rian Gonzales is, reliable as ever, back with another really sweet variant for resident best Hawkeye Kate Bishop, and it guest stars everyone’s favorite Pizza Dog, Lucky. Kate’s a character I’m just never going to get tired of seeing variants for, and seeing her given a brighter, more chipper look by Gonzales fits the character just as much as rowdier, more serious, or more composed takes on the character—a great sign of a character with real depth to her. Gonzales’ colors work well to break up that harsh purple that Hawkeyes seem to love with some nice lighting, and the flowers falling in the background add to the visual variety just as much as Lucky munching on some pepperoni does, front and center. Great piece!
08/04
Cover Alert: Mockingbird (2016) #1
Artist: Joelle Jones/Rachelle Rosenberg
Source: General Pool (Rare)
We’re ending on another fun cover alert from Mockingbird’s 2016 solo series, which had a great series of covers by Joelle Jones and Rachelle Rosenberg, the first of which is the one above here! It’s not the first we’ve gotten in game, though, and it’s clear that someone on the team is a fan of Bobbi—possibly the same one who’s a fan of current X-Men work, based on the amount of covers we’ve gotten from both! I think there’s an authentic comic book energy to these that Jones and Rosenberg bring, perhaps in part because it’s an era of comics I was very familiar with, growing up. With bold inks and great colors, it’s a great cover, and if we keep the pace up Second Dinner might just make Mockingbird (2016) the first series to get every cover in the game. (It helps that it’s on the shorter side, but still!)
Wrapping Up
And as a reward for making it through this whole shebang, I want to hear from you guys what your favorite part of this month-long First Steps celebration has been. It might be variants! I tend to draw that audience. But you might also like the new mode, the new cards, anything—so leave a comment below and make sure to include your Discord username to be eligible for a chance at another PAX code! As for myself? I’ve got to say, this month’s been pretty fantastic.