Folks, I’ve a tough announcement to make—and it’s not a bit, or some wacky lead-up to a joke, for once. At the end of this month, I will be taking a hiatus from Snap.Fan writing, which means I won’t be on the Variant Forecast, or doing any other regular writing for a bit. Fear not! It may be indefinite for now, but it’s definitely not definite that I won’t come back. (Definitively.) Instead, I’m just going to be stepping away to focus on other pursuits.
But this new month has just started, so you’re not rid of me yet—and to celebrate a wonderful unbroken run on the Variant Forecast’s release, I’ll be giving away as many codes (PAX Code: DQldIdyQzz) as I can in this month’s Forecasts. So read on, Forecast Faithfuls, and be sure to catch how to enter the raffle for some goodies at the end.
Boom, forecast!
09/02
Season Artist Showcase: Dardo Studios’ Cyberpunk Variants!
Artist: Dardo Studio
Source: Season Pass/Super Premium Season Pass/Token Shop/Unknown
It’s a doozy as we kick off with something new: the entire season’s variants for new cards will adhere to a consistent alternate design! In the case of these Cyberpunk variants, it lends the season to a sense of cohesion and immersion as Second Dinner decides to plunge us not only into a robot-themed season but a specific futuristic world. I’m reminded of skin lines that share a thematic in games like League of Legends—and to that end, we’re going to be getting multiple variant treatments from different artists using these specific designs.
Are all of them equal? Not to my personal taste, not quite. But the hits are up front and center here, with characters like Viv, Vision, and Nimrod looking especially sleek in the season pass with that prominent black contrasting nicely with all the cybernetic glowing. Sparky’s got his own variant that’ll be the reward (and only exclusive reward, now!) for the Super Premium Pass, and we’re not quite sure where these variants for the releasing Series 4 cards in Awesome Andy, Omega Sentinel, and Moira X are landing.
Presumably they’re what were going to be Spotlight rarity, and now they’re labeled as unknown in the data mines; we’ll see where those land soon enough!
Season Shop Variant Artists: Rodgon and Mooncolony’s’ Chibi Cyberpunk Variants!
Artist: Rodgon/Mooncolony
Source: General Pool (Rare)
And, like I said, we’re going to be seeing several artists tackling these same Cyberpunk variants. So if they’re a big hit for you, boy are you in luck! These Rodgon/Mooncolony collaboration chibis, with their 3D-esque rendering, can feel a bit more uncanny compared to traditionally flat chibis, but Rodgon’s line work and expressions can be quite charming, and this bunch feels like they capitalize on that charm. Sparky and Viv feel especially likable to me (look at those adorable glowing yellow eyes!), though of these bunch, any chibi fans would be more than happy to scoop up any of them.
Mooncolony’s Conquest Reward Rhino!
Artist: Mooncolony
Source: Conquest Reward
Mooncolony also has a solo (well, as solo as a studio can be) effort in this Rhino, which adds some texture to everyone’s favorite walking, talking brick wall by defining some sort of thickened padding on his hide, or at least atop it. From experience, I’m always sympathetic to folks that try to tweak, adjust, or otherwise reinterpret the platonic ideal of Rhino’s original design of a large man in a grey mush of a rhinoceros costume—something about the whole outfit resists ‘modernization,’ in my opinion. But this captures that balance of goofy and imposing that Rhino needs to be, and I’ll be glad to scoop it for free in this season’s Conquest Rewards!
Two Mech Bundles!
Artist: Caroline Gariba & Rafael Zanchetin/Creative House Pocket
Source: Bundle
The cybernetic theme of the season means we’ll also be seeing no shortage of robotic versions of our favorite characters—and, while I rarely point it out, the names for both of these bundles really are on point. (Mech with A Mouth and Iron Curtain, respectively. Told you!) But for any Gundam aficionados, Pacific Rim die-hards, and Evangelion connoisseurs, these might be the flavor of variant you want most from a card! Deadpool and Red Guardian get heavily reinterpreted into giant combat-ready robots, and they’re still brandishing their iconic weapons. I’m especially a fan of the giant sword (with its giant handle) still on Mecha-Wade’s back. Check either of these out, bundle buyers!
Envar Studios’ Toonforce Legion and Madame Web
Artist: Envar Studio
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)/General Pool (Rare)
The popular Toonforce line can be traced all the way back to that iconic rubber hose-animation Deadpool from SNAP’s PC launch trailer, and while that original can be traced to Eduardo Mello and Luca Pinelli, subsequent duties have been taken over by Envar, who have done a fine job emulating their original emulation of old school cartoons. Some of the energy is lost in that leap to studio work—the compositions, colors, and so on are a bit less exciting than that original Deadpool. But there’s some fun to be had in Legion’s wacky expression and faces in his head—I’ve got a little less to say about Madame Web, who forgoes any recognizable hook into those cartoon tropes and is just… simplified into a vaguely animated style.
But sometimes, that’s what people want! I already said last week that any alternate style for a character who’s always seated is tricky, and a bigger departure like this one might just do the job for Move enjoyers.
PANDART STUDIO’s Ultimate Enchantress
Artist: PANDART STUDIO
Source: Token Shop
PANDART’s latest Ultimate variant is Enchantress, done in their customary style without any crazy additional frills. She’s pondering some sort of magic pool—echoing Narcissus, if you want to get classical—and, well, she looks solid! Fans of PANDART will certainly enjoy a return to the old norm after PANDART has really branched out into doing lots of different styles, and there’s something nostalgic about getting a traditional PANDART treatment for an OG character in SNAP’s modern day.
Tae Kwon Kim’s Ultimate Hela
Artist: Tae Kwon Kim
Source: Token Shop
Tae Kwon Kim’s also entering the Ultimate ring with this Hela, who’s got a delightfully maniacal look on her as she glows that blue-tinted spectral green of the realm of the dead. I really like the expression here, and those widened eyes glowing especially remind me of the eerie sockets of a skull, which is fitting. I also love the pose, one because it’s a classic, powerful one that makes her properly imposing, but also because it echoes Cate Blanchett’s iconic transformation into her battle regalia, running her hands over her head to become the God of Death in all her glory. It’s a great piece, and well worth the tokens for any fans!
09/03
Two More Mechs!
Artist: Eduardo Mello/Ryan Kinnaird, Creative House Pocket
Source: General Pool (Rare)/Bundle
Like I said! We’re getting more mecha. Eduardo Mello give us an affordable option for The Hood, who unfortunately doesn’t come with the robo-demons we see in his background. Still, not unlike the original Zombie variants we’ve seen, there’s something charming about the base art team consciously echoing not only the style but the pose of the original Hood art and transferring it into this new roboticized shell.
Creative House Pocket gives us a far more intricate mech version of Black Swan in a bundle, and for your Gold you’re getting a very dramatically lit, high-contrast composition that frames Black Swan herself in shadow in favor of letting those glowy ports and psionic energy take center stage. The brightness of the glow is solid, and certainly a tempting get for any intersection between Giant Mecha fans and Black Swan enjoyers.
09/04
Alex Konstad’s Debut Mech X-Men!
Artist: Alex Konstad
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
There’s a new artist on the block giving us yet more mecha, and for my money these are the most exciting of the bunch. Alex Konstad’s giving us a much more rounded take on the robotic look, and the result is an interesting interpretation that feels just as much like an exercise in understanding a character’s shape language as it is in depicting mechanical parts. Seeing Beast and Cyclops reduced to simpler forms in a sci-fi lens is really fun, and they manage to have so much personality without any expressions at all. I for one can’t wait to see more Konstad in SNAP!
Justin Fields’ War Machine Bundle
Artist: Justin Fields
Source: Bundle
Justin Fields is well-known for artistic feats of robotic mastery, and so it’s no surprise that we’ll be seeing some work from him during this season. This War Machine is right up that alley, with mechanized weaponry galore even really obscuring where the suit’s actual arms are. I love that sort of excess for a character like War Machine, and even if it makes the actual character feel a smidgen small, it’s the kind of thing that conveys personality and identity immediately.
When I think of a suit called War Machine, I want nothing but ordnance—oozing out of every pore, dangling over every shoulder-mounted gatling gun. Check the bundle out, if you’re interested!
09/05
He Tianyou’s Kahhori!
Artist: He Tianyou
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
In non-sci-fi news, we’re also going to be getting He Tianyou’s next piece, tackling relative Marvel lady newcomer Kahhori! Like with any newer character, there’s just not as much existing work to draw on, which makes it all the more exciting when distinct artists like Tianyou tackle them. Tianyou’s distinct stylized contrapposto really finds a lot of motion and energy in a stand pose, and seeing those iconic colors and regalia on Kahhori properly translated into a genuinely different style is a breath of fresh air. I love the wintry mood, I love the cool colors, and I love seeing SNAP really take to the forefront of giving new art to these characters that deserve the attention.
09/06
Lemon Art’s Infinity Ultron
Artist: Lemon Art
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Lemon Art’s reminding us we have a whole Infinity Ultron card, and it’s a fun, straightforward take on the What If…? arc villain, flexing that Kirby Krackle in one hand and his big weird double lance thing in another. For fans of Ultron that don’t so much love the little bit of Vision peeking out, this is also the most encased and enshadowed that portion of the character has been in these variants, leaving naught but those imposing evolved Ultron eyes glaring out.
Pulling from a show with such a specific style (and ‘on-model’ parameters) might make some of these variants a little less distinct from one another stylistically, but for folks who don’t quite have the right piece for their Infinity Ultron, this variant might the one to get you to pull the trigger.
09/07
IMAGICA GEEQ’s Debut Wasp
Artist: IMAGICA GEEQ
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Newcomer studio IMAGICA GEEQ has a fun name and some catching up to do, as far as anime studios are concerned in SNAP! We’re at a point where there’s no shortage of anime-style work in the game, and that means that IMAGICA GEEQ will need to set itself apart. But they’re on their way, with a charmingly impish Wasp that’s got a fun expression, fusing everyone’s favorite shrinking heroine with a light spirit/fairy aesthetic. It reminds me of a Pokemon NPC in modern era—distinct, with personality that you can read at a glance. It’s a fun debut!
09/08
Justin Fields’ Darkhawk!
Artist: Justin Fields
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Surprise, he’s back! We’re ending on a surprisingly restrained Darkhawk from Justin Fields, and I mean that quite positively. For an artist that’s made his Marvel SNAP splash in lavishly rendered sci-fi pieces for the likes of Arishem, Sentinel, and so on (with all the metallic sheen that that entails), I might like this sort of piece from him best, where he pulls back on the fancy textures and instead uses bright colors for a character like Darkhawk to really carry the piece.
The sheen on those metal plates aren’t so harsh, and that makes the lighting feel a lot easier on the eyes than normal, and that terrific purple outline makes the whole thing feel so much more graphic in nature. It’s in quiet contest for one of my favorite Darkhawk variants, and he’s got no slouches in his catalogue!
Wrapping Up
And that ends the Forecast and begins my bittersweet exit month—but we’re not there yet! And I’ve got goodies to give out! So comment below how you feel about SNAP as this season kicks off, and leave your Discord handle for a chance at a code! (PAX Code: AaeevlU9Lc) I’ll be trying to run as many giveaways through these weekly articles as possible, too, so read on for the rest of the month! It’ll be a big ongoing last hoorah. See you next week!