A New Era Begins!
WELCOME to my first Variant Forecast written by the gentleman with EVERY VARIANT in the game!
As a longtime reader of Quiksilvur's articles, I'm honored and a little nervous to be taking the reins. QS set a high bar, giving us a weekly dose of heartfelt variant appreciation, perfectly mixing in-depth critique with that wonderful, personal touch. I can only hope to match his passion for the amazing artists.
While I'm a little sad to see the end of one era, let's celebrate a new one! Grab your favorite beverage, buckle in, and let’s descend into the eerie artistry haunting the game this week!
10/07
Season Artist Showcase: Ivan Fomin’s Zombie Variants!
Artist: Ivan Fomin
Source: Season Pass/Super Premium Season Pass/Token Shop/Unknown
Ivan Fomin kicks off the season with stunning Season Pass zombie variants. His unique style perfectly captures the look of the zombies from the comics, making this some of the best artwork we may see this season.
These variants demand attention on the board. The vivid colors and dynamic poses like Zombie Giant-Man roaring at the sky or Zombie Power Man taking a protective stance pops immensely against the background of the card.
If you are a fan of the Marvel Zombies comic run, this aesthetic is spot-on. It’s visceral, action-packed, and perfectly captures the "zombie apocalypse" vibe. You will not find a more fitting collection for the Halloween season.
Season Shop Variant Artist: Rian Gonzalez’s’ Chibi Zombie Variants!
Artist: Rian Gonzales
Source: Super Rare
From the mainline, aggressive "Marvel Zombies" style to the beloved, distinct "Rian Gonzales" take, which is known for her vibrant colors and unique chibi cartoon style that we have all come to love! This set of Super Rare variants takes the Undead Horde theme and drowns it in neon pinks, blues, and an uncanny cuteness that makes these zombified heroes arguably even creepier.
My favorite has to be the Zombie Scarlet Witch as the centerpiece is the inclusion of the surrounding voodoo doll-style chibis of other Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and Black Widow. The card art explodes with vibrant color that manages to make decay look almost magical. It’s going to look phenomenal with a Rainbow Krackle split.
Season Pass Variant Artist: Matt Dixon Zombie Variants!
Artist: Matt Dixon
Source: Season Pass
After the hyper-stylized morbidity of Ivan Fomin and the unsettling cuteness of Rian Gonzales, we get to the fun, vibrant horror of Matt Dixon. Dixon is a powerhouse of the digital art world, with a style that is often colorful, cheerful, and full of big, dynamic shapes. Traits that make his work perfect for the Hearthstone aesthetic, and now, for the Marvel Zombies theme. These two variants prove that even when painting the undead, Matt Dixon is still "just having a blast".
These two cards, especially the Zombie Howard the Duck, are fantastic examples of taking a dark theme and making it super captivating.
Webshop EXCLUSIVE Variant Artist: ADIA Nightforged Variant!
Artist: ADIA
Source: Webshop
Second Dinner is bending their rules by offering exclusive bonuses for players who purchase the Premium or Super Premium Pass through the Marvel Snap Webshop. This bonus includes a Collector Series 5 Snap Pack and the stunning Arnim Zola Knightforged Variant by ADIA. The design is incredible from the skulls emerging from Zola’s chest and the eerie green glow makes this one of the most striking Knightforged variants yet.
Who knows, there might be a way for you to win a Season Pass code, because that too will allow you to get this Zola Variant!
Don Aguillo’s Conquest Reward Bishop!
Artist: Don Aguillo
Source: Conquest Reward
This season’s Conquest reward is a stunning piece by Don Aguillo, an artist with amazing comic book covers. I love Bishop’s expression! Grimacing with effort and fury, perfectly framed by his iconic dreadlocks. The attention to the folds and lighting on his signature red scarf and yellow belt adds impressive realism and depth.
The explosive purple energy contrasting against the dark blues of his uniform makes this variant a natural for any type of splits. I can already picture this art with a Gold finish, giving the energy blasts a glowing purple pop on that Gold background. I can not wait!
Andrew K Currey Bundle!
Artist: Andrew K Currey
Source: Bundle
Andrew K. Currey makes his debut in Marvel Snap with a Ghost Rider variant that immediately raises the bar for painterly horror. It relies entirely on pencil work, shading, and texture to render the skull, the leather jacket, and the exposed ribs. The smoke from the head, the exposed skeleton and the small glowing heart in the center of the chest provides the only splash of color, drawing your eye to the core of Johnny Blaze's pain... The result is hauntingly realistic and beautifully detailed, capturing a raw, sketch-like intensity often lost in digital painting. GGs!
ADIA Gorgeous Fantasy Bundle
Artist: ADIA
Source: Bundle
The Moon Knight variant is pure action horror. Against a giant, ominous moon backdrop, Moon Knight is captured in a dynamic, forward-moving pose, ready to strike with his crescent blade. The bulky, almost skeletal shoulders and armored cowl give him a powerful, yet ancient look which is less modern mercenary and more spectral guardian.
This Khonshu is pure Egyptian fantasy metal. It conveys his larger-than-life power, and this delivers. The sharp, metallic bird-skull helmet, the swirling cloth that looks more like bone than fabric, and the massive, serrated swords give him a look of merciless divinity.
Both of these variants will look FLAWLESS in a neon white border!
Bullseye Promo Variant!
Artist: Creative House Pocket
Source: Promo
Creative House Pocket never misses when it comes to the stances of the characters. What do I mean by that? Take a look at this CHP’s Bullseye as he is caught mid-lunge, with two Ace of Spades playing cards. His signature projectiles flying through the air, creating a great sense of depth and speed. This is a very clean, punchy variant that showcases the character's ruthless precision.
Token Shop Variants!
Artists: Creative House Pocket, Sunghan Yune, Mike Mayhew
Source: Token Shop
This variant utilizes CHP's clean lines and high color saturation, giving Nico a sleek, dark magical girl look. Her signature dark hair with blue highlights is gorgeous, and her fierce expression matches the unpredictability of her spell-casting ability.
Sunghan Yune’s Venomoized The Beast is depicted midway through a horrifying transformation. The contrast between the vibrant blue fur and the inky black symbiote makes the piece visually phenomenal.
Mike Mayhew’s Knullified The Black Cat is giving us a fierce, confident pose, clad in a sleek black leather suit with bright red piping. The cosmic backdrop that is full of stars is the perfect stage for the Queen of Discard.
10/08
In-Hyuk Lee’s Magneto Bundle!
Artist: In-Hyuk Lee
Source: Bundle
This variant features Magneto in his sleek, mostly white outfit. A look often associated with his time leading a more morally complex group of mutants, and a stunning contrast to his traditional red and purple. The polished, metallic sheen on Magneto's helmet and armor segments is FLAWLESS. The dramatic lighting, with shadows enhancing his powerful physique and the hints of red magnetic energy swirling around him, creates a classic, commanding pose with his hands outstretched, calling on the forces of magnetism! In-Hyuk Lee is another artist that Does… Not.. Miss!
In-Hyuk Lee’s Magneto Bundle!
Artist: Andrew K Currey
Source: Super Rare Pool
Just when you thought Andrew K. Currey's contribution to the season was limited to Ghost Rider, he hits us with another chilling masterpiece!
His Dracula gives off serious Alucard: Symphony of the Night vibes. His pencil-style art feels fresh and distinct. The variant is steeped in a dark, gothic aesthetic, focusing on the heavy, ornate armor and voluminous cloak. I am really feeling this new SNAP artist.
10/09
Knightforged Take Over!
Artist: ADIA
Source: Super Rare Pool
I’m surprised this isn’t an album, at least not yet, but it’s definitely a Nightforged takeover by artist ADIA. These variants are easily my most anticipated of the week. As a big fan of the Nightforged variants, I’ve got to say, the detail in these is absolutely phenomenal! Let’s dive in.
Shadow King’s variant has the dark, amorphous shadow rising behind him in a fantastic detail that visually represents his psychic evil. The maniacal grin is truly the icing on the cake.
Nebula’s variant has the purple, bone-like armor with two ethereal, glowing blue daggers. The swirling blue flame around her head reinforces the magical, otherworldly feel of her new armor. I am really digging it!
Psylocke’s psychic power is represented by fierce pink-purple energy blades emerging from her hands, beautifully contrasted by her dark, leather-strapped armor. The wind-swept hair and determined expression make this a truly iconic piece for fans of the X-Men’s psychic ninja.
Red Guardian has transformed into a heavily armored, spike-shouldered warrior. The gold armor over the red body suit gives him a fierce, brutal presence. Unlike the Shadow King, his face is mostly visible, retaining that angry, focused expression but made more menacing by the glowing visor that hints at his power. Red neon border is a MUST for this one.
We wrap up the shop takeover with White Widow! Her white suit is layered with gold and black armor that retains her sleek, spy silhouette, but the whole piece is given a sharp, dark fantasy edge. The flowing white cloak contrasts with the toxic green magical mist, and the skull motif on her gauntlet gives her a dangerous, medieval assassin look. So Good!
CHP Golden Bundle
Artist: Creative House Pocket
Source: Bundle
While CHP often delivers a clean, quasi-anime style, this piece leans into the horror elements with an almost synthwave/pop-art color palette, the entire scene is bathed in a vivid magenta, pink, and vibrant purple, making the card feel like a frame from a retro horror movie poster.
The pose is pure savage aggression. The massive claws are outstretched, popping out of the card and glowing with the ambient light, dominating the foreground, while the werewolf's head is thrown back in a feral roar.
10/10
More Ivan Variants!
Artist: Michal Ivan
Source: Rare Pool
Ivan's Lockjaw is a massive, menacing bulldog. The lightning crackling over his head and the piercing blue glow in his eyes are a clever way to represent his teleportation ability. The deep purple and pink background contrasts perfectly with his dark fur goes well with the Neon Trails split.
The Sasquatch variant is pure imposing nature horror. clutching a tree trunk, with deep, expressive eyes and a thick, highly-textured coat of fur. Ivan excels at making the creature feel physically heavy and real. The dark, misty background and muted color palette enhance the mystery and dread of the wild.
10/12
Leo Chiola’s Super Rae Ant-Venom!
Artist: Leo Chiola
Source: Super Rare Pool
Chiola is known for his kinetic energy, and Anti-Venom is lunging, crouched low with razor-sharp tendrils flying off his back. This pose conveys both the brutal power and the agile, monstrous nature of the symbiote.
This variant leans heavily into the dark, imposing side of the character. The fierce grin, the sharp, exaggerated claws, and the overall powerful physique elevate this Anti-Venom to a different level!
10/13
Rare Venom Variant!
Artist: Gabriele Dell'Otto
Source: Rare Pool
We come down to the final variant of the week, Gabriele Dell'Otto’s Rare Venom low, crouched and ready to spring, with his massive, muscular form dominating the entire frame. The pose itself conveys immense energy, depth, colors, and movement. The classic, massive white spider logo, the piercing, blank white eyes, and the long, wet, red tongue curling out toward the viewer make this a truly horrifying vision and is the perfect conclusion to a week of amazing variants!
Wrapping Up
BANG BANG! That wraps up my first week of the Variant Forecast and all the incredible new cards and variants kicking off this Zombie Season! I hope you enjoyed the ride and that I kept the vibes alive, following in Quicksilvur’s footsteps.
Let me know what your favorite variant was from last season for a chance to win an Undead Horde Season Pass with the bonus Zola Knightforged Variant! (Winner to be announced on Friday 10/10)
Until next time, keep collecting those variants, and I’ll see you all next week. Peace!