The Forecast farewell tour continues! It’s another light week, but it’s for the best because it’s also patch day, which means I’ll be right in the trenches with you all checking out those datamines. Heck, it’s probably going on right now, so I have to hustle on out of here right after! But don’t forget—giveaways for my goodbye month are still going on, so I’ve got more codes to throw out while you’re still here.
Here, catch! Pax Bundle: zHyf25tqKj
And see us out to the end of the article for how you can get into a raffle for another code. I’m going bananas with it, guys. Boom, forecast!
09/16
Alex Maleev’s Takeover and Album!
Artist: Alex Maleev
Source: General Pool (Rare/Super Rare)/Album Reward
We’re kicking off with a really exciting takeover—Alex Maleev, veteran comics artist, has taken on a whole takeover’s worth of commissions for SNAP, which is always something that tickles me. Maleev’s painted style is one of those looks that just elevates these characters; there’s a life to them that goes beyond just action (though Maleev captures that level of scale and grandeur in plenty of these as well). The best of them feel like we’re capturing scenes impossibly close to the action: my favorites just might be Magneto and Daredevil, but really you can’t go wrong with any of them! Special shout should also go to the atypical coloring for Silver Surfer, using that classic purple tint to reflect a terrestrial night sky. The accompanying album is a mixture of existing variants from Maleev and all of the new ones, and collectors will be rewarded with an appropriately majestic Khonshu in the bright haze of an Egyptian sky. It’s a great way to start the week!
Jim Hammond: Human Torch’s Debut Cyberpunk Variants
Artist: Dardo Studio, Rodgon/Mooncolony
Source: Launch Bundle/General Pool (Rare)
Of course, Jim Hammond’s launch means that we’re getting plenty of his Cyberpunk attire this SNAP season! Of course, opinions on these variants will be dependent on not just the art itself, but the design being used—I’ve mentioned before that those designs aren’t quite my favorite, but for many people they land in that same space as the Grand Arena variants, which are fun little ‘skins’ custom-made for SNAP that feature your favorites in new duds.
Jim Hammond in general (for my money) has always felt like all of his modern designs were a bit overdesigned, and so ironically it’s not too out of place to see all these extra bits thrown on. (Besides, he’s an android, which gives him more of a free pass for those random extra tech lines.) It’s not my favorite costume on him, but I do think that the Dardo variant especially makes this look about as sick as it’s going to get, if you’re a fan. If you’re leaning more cute? Check out yet another Rodgon/Mooncolony collab, for the low price of 700 Gold.
Andrea Guardino’s Agamotto Bundle
Artist: Andrea Guardino
Source: Bundle
Guardino is back, tackling yet another mythical mystical lyrical individual in Agamotto for this bundle! At this point, Guardino’s style feels especially tied to the gravitas that those initial Asgardian variants brought, and the way he’s since tackled other gods and magical entities, I think that there’s a real synergy between those heavy lines, pushed angles, and general extra oomph he brings to a character that warrants deference. Agamotto’s no different, and I love seeing those antlers behind him and his glowing red hands conjuring a spell breaking out of the frame—elements that really help add to the energy/dynamism of the piece even within a relatively standard and stationary action pose. If you’re in the market for an Agamotto variant, this bundle might be calling to you!
09/17
Cover Alert: Immortal X-Men (2022) #9 Peach Momoko Variant!
Artist: Peach Momoko
Source: Bundle
Second Dinner’s art director will never beat the X-Office Stan Account allegations—nor do I really want them to! This Peach Momoko back-issue variant from Immortal X-Men is just the latest in covers taken from recent-era X-Men, and it’s a great one. It’s a charming angle, with a lot of personality (more than we normally see from Psylocke just posing all cool-like). It’s worth mentioning that (as of now) the SNAP version of the cover weirdly up-sizes her right leg and displaces her right shoulder; It’s likely that’s a layering thing, and not an intentional one (though they have intentionally shifted cover elements around in layers to capture more of the composition, especially for older ones). There’s a patch today that just might have fixed that already, but it’s worth noting: probably the only knock I could find in a terrific piece from Peach!
09/18
Justin Fields’ Omega Red!
Artist: Justin Fields
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Getting more Justin Fields in the general Shop selection has been a recent development that I’m a big fan of, and this Omega Red is a great explanation why. It’s got that hi-def sheen that Fields is good at, especially regarding all those mechanical, armored bits, but Fields also finds that point of real menace that Omega Red ought to exude at all times. Those tendrils feel appropriately dangerous, and his signature glowing red eyes do precisely the work they’re supposed to, tying up an aura of intimidation real effectively. I’m a big fan of possibly being able to get some Fields variants for Gold!
Vincenzo Riccardi’s Attuma Bundle!
Artist: Vincenzo Riccardi
Source: Bundle
Vincenzo Riccardi tackles the more grounded, film-inspired Attuma in his latest burst of color, letting everyone’s favorite hammerhead-wearing warlord spring off the page in a positively kaleidoscopic reverie, as Riccardi is so good at doing. Interestingly, it’s actually more grounded-looking than the MCU look we got in Wakanda Forever, courtesy of a natural skin-tone on Attuma rather than that Atlantean blue tone, which does the interesting work of further bringing Attuma into realism. But there’s plenty of blue everywhere else, and this is a backdrop that’s especially suited to Riccardi’s style, with all the swirling water and sea life making for one of his most striking pieces overall to date. Well-suited to a bundle incentive, methinks!
Rodgon & Mooncolony’s Chibi Cyberpunk Danger & Super Adaptoid
Artist: Rodgon/Mooncolony
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Lining up with their release on the same day, we’ll be getting Danger and Super Adaptoid’s Rodgon/Mooncolony chibis in the general store for 700 Gold! Perhaps it’s because there’s a clunkiness to the original designs for both these characters, but these Cyberpunk designs actually work decently for them—I definitely don’t mind the departure as much, and Danger especially benefits from the subtler design modifications made to, uh, Cyberpunkify her. For the money, I do still prefer Super Adaptoid in that garish “I’m everyone’s powers” green, but I can appreciate them keeping those funky eyes as shades. Check these out, if you’re looking to trick out your new Series 4 haul.
09/19
Michal Ivan’s Silver Samurai!
Artist: Michal Ivan
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Michal Ivan’s back with another stylized, grit-teeth supervillain, this time giving Silver Samurai the dramatic treatment, looking back at viewer with sword extended, like the samurai menace he is. I really like the classic comic-action pose of a character looking back—it’s good contrapposto, and it’s just an imposing way to stand. Michal Ivan’s knack for that sort of energy while maintaining the little details that bring the piece to life beyond a stylized image.
I really like the little tangible elements to the costume, like the texture on all that metal and the design of the armor overall; it provides a great counterbalance to the more overtly cartoon-esque expression. Since his SNAP debut, I’ve actually seen some of Ivan’s terrific work on Magic: The Gathering cards, where he’s done considerably more realism-adjacent work, so it’s a bonus knowing he’s adapting his work to specification/commission so well. Great piece!
09/20
Akram’s Aero!
Artist: Akram
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
We’ll wrap up the Forecast on this sweet Aero variant by Akram, bringing that signature traditional Japanese art style to another popular character. The painted texture is, frankly, really refreshing for a character whose variants usually seem to attract that smoother, glossy style; it also puts Aero in an outfit that departs from that skintight ‘tech-line’ style, which is also a nice change of pace. Of course, anyone really interested in Akram’s work didn’t need any convincing, and an iconic look like theirs is just something that’s always going to be welcome in SNAP—any opportunity to get some more tangible textures into our digital game. And in the general shop, for Gold, to boot!
Wrapping Up
Well, that’s the week! It’s a light news week for SNAP over here, but that’s only half of the story. So go on! Check out our patch coverage happening either very soon.
Season Pass Giveaway
If you’re interested at all in another shot at a code, let me know down below your wishlist for the rest of the year: what characters, cards, variants, or modes do you want to see? What are you hoping for, in your heart of hearts? Tell me in the comments, and then also tell me your Discord username so I can hit you up if you win. And until next time, see you in the datamines!