It‘s going to be an eventful week for SNAP, methinks, with the Brave New World season ending and Sanctum Showdown finally launching, offering a whole new mode with new rewards to chase. Of course, by my estimate, eventfulness makes the constancy of something like the Variant Forecast that much more important— but to keep y’all on your toes and to keep the special train rolling, we thought it’d be a great time to bring a friend of the site on again for the second big Guest Forecast! SuperTechGod, variant connoisseur, is back, and he’ll be tag-teaming with me to break down the variants coming out this week— let’s get to it!
02/25
Spotlights!
Artists (in order): He Tianyou, Envar Studio, Leinil Yu
Source: Spotlight Cache
As always, the spotlight’s on the Spotlight first thing’s first this week, giving us He Tianyou’s final week as the big spotlight artist of the week. (Don’t worry, Tianyou enjoyers— he’ll be back sooner than later.) But for now we’re getting a final card from him in Diamondback, translating another classic Captain America character into Tianyou’s sleek, stylized world. Diamondback in particular looks pretty great in this series, with Tianyou really pushing the standing pose and making the pink costume and hair pop against the dark background. I suspect it’s the favorite in this Cache for many variant-interested folks, though Leinil Yu’s Nimrod cover pulled from X-Men (2019) #20 might catch your eye: it’s a great and rare portrait-type cover for the mutant-hunting machine, and it exposes more battle damaged metal machinery than you normally might see in those menacing whites, pinks, and soft curves. Finally, Envar Studio’s Phoenix Force is along for the ride, which is also a perfectly serviceable flaming bird, wreathed in total fire here with some solid hot whites in its center.
STG:
The highlight of this week’s release is undoubtedly Diamondback, the newest card. The artwork, masterfully crafted by this talented artist, beautifully envisions Diamondback’s appearance. The dynamic flow of her hair evokes a signature He Tianyou aesthetic, while the smoky background adds an extra layer of depth. An outstanding variant overall.
Creative House Pocket has delivered a stunning rendition of Phoenix Force. The flames and wings are beautifully executed, adding to its striking presence. While many Phoenix Force variants share similar aesthetics, this one stands out with its unique appeal—particularly with the setting beyond Earth's atmosphere. The depiction of Earth and the galaxy in the background adds a breathtaking cosmic touch, making the Galaxy split on this card a perfect fit.
With the final variant spotlights, we have Nimrod—an absolutely stunning design. The intense expression, dynamic fire effects, and glowing eyes bring this artwork to life. The artist has done a phenomenal job envisioning this version of Nimrod, capturing its essence with remarkable detail.
Lemon Art Takeover!
Artist: Lemon Art
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)/Album Reward
There’s a Lemon Art takeover this week, spotlighting the SNAP Fashion Magazine series with a whole album’s worth of new variants. Less represented characters in the variant side of things like Jessica Jones, Copycat, and Star-Lord get to join some of the fun, which is one of the nice advantages of series commissions like this. My personal favorites might be Copycat or Speed, who are both voguing in fun new outfits with real and are drawn particularly strongly out of the bunch. Some of these are less out there (Star-Lord’s designer was clearly channeling none other than Star-Lord) but they’re all a high fashion fun time for anyone who’s hungry for more in the same vein as the Hellfire Gala.
STG:
This might just be my favorite set of variants this week—the Lemon Fashion Album. As a fashion enthusiast, I love how these variants embody a sleek, high-fashion aesthetic reminiscent of a Vogue magazine spread. The collection features stunning renditions of Copycat, Hope Summers, Jessica Jones, Marvel Boy, Bird, Sage, Speed, Star-Lord, and, of course, Elsa Bloodstone, all showcasing unique and stylish outfits. Unlike the more extravagant Hellfire Gala variants, these designs lean into a modern, fashion-forward appeal. I can’t wait to see how these variants look when split and animated. My only minor gripe is the uniform pricing is all set at 1200 Gold, where a mix of 700 and 1200 Gold might have been preferable. However, for dedicated fashion fans, this album is undoubtedly a must-have.
All of these releases come together in this Fashion Album, which features Elsa Bloodstone as the final reward for collecting all eight. Like SuperTechGod said, if you’re a fan of this sort of thing, it’ll be Super Rares all the way down— but I suspect it won’t be too hard an ask for really dedicated buyers.
USAgent Bundle
Artist: Envar Studio
Source: Bundle
Envar Studio’s got a propaganda poster-esque look for U.S. Agent, which is a unique space that both doesn’t fit Steve Rogers but is perfect for John Walker— a bit of compositional character work that is pretty fun. U.S. Agent is solidly rendered, falling to realism without relying on the airbrush look and instead opting for those great layered flat colors on both Walker and the flag behind him. Leaning into the tactical-gear tactility really brings the character into the grittier, greyer, less glamorous space that sets U.S. Agent apart from Captain America— ironically drawing on the notes of realism taken directly from the MCU Captain America design to accomplish it. Overall? Definitely a career high for Envar Studio so far, whose in-game work is so often less notable, even with the volume they’ve amassed so far.
STG:
The U.S. Agent bundle, Red, White, and Fight, features a phenomenal variant crafted by Envar Studio. This striking design exudes patriotism, with U.S. Agent standing proudly before a waving flag, arms crossed—evoking strong Captain America vibes. If the bundle is indeed priced at $50 USD as datamined, it includes not just the variant but also an avatar, a cosmic red border that complements it perfectly, 4,000 Collector’s Tokens, 2,000 Credits, and Boosters. For any U.S. Agent fan, this bundle offers great value. Plus, with Diamondback releasing this week, this card pairs exceptionally well with her.
Wild Blue Agent 13
Artist: Wild Blue
Source: General Pool (Rare)
The Captain America valence keeps getting more representation in Agent 13, who gets a fun graphic take on the character that leans on her stark white outfit on a dark backdrop to really pop. Wild Blue’s got variants done in lots of different styles, and this more 2D design is one of the most successful, calling back those classic Bond poses and really making the most out of a character design that really is just a white spy jumpsuit.
STG:
Next up, we have the Wild Blue Agent 13 variant, available for 700 Gold. This variant features a fantastic art style—cartoonish with a distinct GoldenEye-inspired aesthetic. The flowing hair and overall design give it a dynamic and stylish look. I truly appreciate this variant’s unique charm, and for anyone considering it, this is easily going to be one of the best Agent 13 variants available.
Time Displaced Sanctum Sanctorum Variants!
Artists (in order): SUPJA/Mooncolony, Nicoletta Baldari, Viktor Farro
Source: Sanctum Showdown Shop
These variants have been falling… for 30 minutes! Or something to that effect. We’ve had these variants ‘released’ for a week now, but thanks to the Sanctum Showdown delay these have followed suit. So I’m making good on my promise from last week to cover these! There’s three genuinely tempting rewards to consider pushing for in the shop. SUPJA and Mooncolony team up for a really solid Wong that draws on the MCU design (like many of these do) in a way that still feels graphic and fun. Baldari flexes a more detailed style than her normal SNAP fare, but combines it with her ordinary simplified 2D style via incredible kaleidoscopic colors that achieve a genuine brightness that’s really lovely. And Farro feels like he’s extra channeling someone like Alex Ross’ evergreen skill and design, giving us a classic Baron Mordo that’s just oozing malice on top of whatever gleaming black magic he’s performing here. My favorite might have to go to Farro’s Mordo, with Baldari’s Strange close behind just because of how dazzling it is on top of how different she’s taken this piece. SUPJA/Mooncolony’s collaborated Wong is third from there; however, all three are standouts in their respective variant catalogues, and many folks will be confronted with the reality that maybe… just maybe, a variant might be worth more than a Series 4 card.
Be aware, y’all: Second Dinner has confirmed that these variants will come back eventually… though it’s not clear to them or us exactly how. So temper your FOMO for exactly that: if you simply must have one of these, don’t hesitate to shell out, but if you’re purely motivated by the completion, don’t break your back over it too bad.
STG:
I’m excited to see all the variants and other cool items to come out of the new game mode Sanctum Showdown!
02/26
Rian Gonzales’ Chibi Diamondback
Artist: Rian Gonzales
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
As seems tradition, the new card gets a second variant from none other than Rian Gonzales! And Diamondback, like many of the other season’s characters, is more than happy to accept the quick starter to a variant catalogue, with precious few covers to her name in the comics. It’s not a chibi this time, with Diamondback appearing in full proportion here, but it’s fun and no less cute to see her lean into her whole shtick (which is only nominally a snake connection and mostly about throwing diamonds). The composition is fun and Diamondback’s cute, so basically it’s business as usual for Gonzlaes, brought to life by trademark terrific watercolors.
STG:
Next, we have Rian Gonzales' stunning Diamondback variant—a true standout. As a big fan of this variant, I have no doubt it will be highly sought after, priced at 1,200 Gold. Rian Gonzales’ signature cartoon style brings Diamondback to life beautifully, with vibrant colors and dynamic animation featuring levitating stars and diamonds. This variant not only captures the character’s essence but also sets a high bar, making it one of the best Diamondback variants this week and possibly beyond.
Cutesy Pets From Mooncolony
Artist: Mooncolony
Source: Bundle
Mooncolony has two unbearably cute variants for Goose and Lockjaw, and by that I do mean literally— there’s a fair amount of folks who might find these too saccharine for their tastes, with a glossy rendered sheen put over both animals pushing the cuteness to 11. It’s like Puss in Boots’ iconic scene in Shrek 2— weaponized adorableness that bleeds into irony, intentional or not. My favorite of the two is Goose, who is cute with her little Flerken tentacle coming out of her kitten mouth. Lockjaw might skew a little uncanny for my tastes, but I bet lots of folks who love chibis might enjoy this adjacent, Western take on the abundantly adorable.
STG:
The Cosmic Cuties variants are easily my most anticipated releases this week, featuring Lockjaw and Goose in all their adorable glory. True to the artist's signature style, these variants are irresistibly cute. Lockjaw, with his big blue eyes giving off serious Blue-Eyes White Dragon vibes, looks absolutely endearing. I can’t wait to split this variant and experiment with different colors and animations to enhance it even further.
Then there’s Goose, playfully sticking out its tongue and wagging its tail. How could anyone stay mad about not playing big cards in a lane when looking at this delightful variant? These are must-haves for any fan of cosmic companions!
02/27
Nao Fuji’s Debut Doctor Strange Bundle
Artist: Nao Fuji
Source: Bundle
Nao Fuji is a new face to SNAP, and we’re getting a fun debut as Doctor Strange seems to be pet sitting— for several Flerkens running around alongside Bats the Ghost Dog. It’s a cute compositional idea that is fun to counterbalance with a very straightforward, dramatic anime take on Doctor Strange, and the colors feel bold and aligned with Strange’s gold and red color scheme. While that at this point a SNAP artist needs to do a smidgen more than operate in the anime style to set themselves apart, it’s competently made, and I’ll always appreciate a concept-driven composition, and this one featuring some cuddly partners for Strange certainly earns it a point or two.
STG:
Here we have the Nao Fuji variant in a gold bundle, which is awesome. This is one amazing looking Doctor Strange. I love the art style of this artist along with the avatar. Of course, you get 4500 credits. But the main thing here is a variant, and that Doctor Strange variant, to me, is the second best of all the Doctor Strange variants. The background, the cape and the Doctor in his normal stance… This is a very interesting Doctor Strange, and I cannot wait to see what it looks like animated and fully bordered up.
PANDART High Evolutionary
Artist: PANDART STUDIO
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
PANDART’s in the strange spot of not being the most prolific game art studio in SNAP by a country mile, but they’re still around. And High Evolutionary looks pretty menacing here, with that classic dramatic imposing pose invoking some sort of abduction going on. It’s a classic PANDART, with lots of power and rendering behind it, and it’s certainly on the strong side of the PANDART catalogue. Do we necessarily see High Evolutionary often in his own deck? Maybe not, which might factor into your decision. But who’s to say?
STG:
Next, we have PANDART STUDIO’s High Evo variant—a design that truly exemplifies why PANDART never misses. This variant, priced at 1,200 Gold, is super rare and features some impressive animation. I love PANDART’s signature style, and as always, the stance of the character is spot on. What sets this variant apart is its slightly different approach: rather than a close-up action shot, we see High Evo with one hand raised, with the animation adding an extra dynamic touch. It's a unique take, but as always, PANDART’s work shines.
02/28
Dan Hipp Red Guardian
Artist: Dan Hipp
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Dan Hipp returns with an MCU-styled Red Guardian, just in time to be early for the Thunderbolts movie but late to the Thunderbolts season that was early for the Thunderbolts movie because the Thunderbolts movie got delayed. But who’s counting? Dan Hipp’s doing great work, managing to use the MCU connection to extract even more personality out of the character, which isn’t always how that connection works out! He’s boisterous and energetic with his arms up, and he’s also pretty big, which all makes sense coming from Russia’s own national super soldier. You’re going to see me rocking this, if you see me on the ladder!
STG:
Red Guardian, one of the standout cards in Marvel Snap, is getting a fantastic Dan Hipp variant this week, and it’s truly a sight to behold. I love the snow in the background, along with the snowflakes gently drifting around adding a lovely touch of movement. This is definitely going to be a visually stunning animated Red Guardian. I have no doubt it will be popular, especially among Dan Hipp fans. Bravo to the artist for this one!
03/01
ADIA’s Fantasy Viper
Artist: ADIA
Source: General Pool (Super Rare)
Following up Havok’s Fantasy variant entering the General Pool at Super Rare, Viper gets her own Fantasy ADIA variant in the General pool— perhaps signalling that Fantasy’s going to have broader representation across ‘rarities’ form here on out. It’s a good sign for any die-hards out there for Fantasy variants; folks that are just fans of Viper, however, might also enjoy what’s just a solid variant for a character who’s in need of one. It’s also one of the most overtly Fantasy-translated characters we’ve seen in the series, revamping Viper’s Hydra-green outfit into a roguish outfit that feels straight out of 90’s fantasy games. It’s the opposite from many Fantasy variants that are almost too subtle in their changes, though I’m sure you could squint and wonder if this translation is Viper enough; still, she’s got green hair, green clothes, and a gun. Maybe that’s enough!
STG:
The ADIA Viper variant, priced at 1200 Gold, is easily the best Viper variant available. As a big fan of fantasy-themed variants, this one absolutely delivers with stunning animation, especially the action with the weapon in hand. I can easily envision this variant looking incredible with either a cosmic green or regular green border. I'm excited to see how it looks fully animated and curious to see how others will pair it in their collections. In my opinion, this variant could have easily been part of a bundle.
03/02
Protégé Ironheart
Artist: Eduardo Mello/Studio Grafit
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Mello and Grafit have a series of Protégé variants coming up featuring legacy characters like Ironheart alongside their mentors and predecessors, and Riri gets to take center stage backed up by Tony. It’s got that gradient rendering that many of these studios pull out, but it’s nice to see Mello backed by any sort of different colorist, and it’s fun to have an overt compositional theme beyond ‘Studio Does Character.’ I like how up-front Ironheart is here, too, flying at the viewer, highlighting how armored she is, which is a bit of a departure from other Ironheart looks we’ve seen before. Check out those shoulder pads!
STG:
This Ironheart variant, priced at 700 Gold, is absolutely phenomenal. The previous variant featuring Tony Stark and Jeff Dekal was one of the best Ironheart designs for a long time, but this one takes it to the next level, with both characters suited up and ready for action. I’m a big fan of this variant—everything from the animation to the vibrant colors, and Tony Stark appearing in the background, adds so much depth. For me, this is a solid 10 out of 10.
Brett Bean Hulk
Artist: Brett Bean
Source: General Pool (Rare)
Finally, Brett Bean’s back with Banner (you know I had to), but this time with a proper Hulk variant, giving us the jolly green giant in a wonderfully whimsical rage. There’s an almost Ren & Stimpy energy here with the bulging veins and popping eyes, and that, in a universe where it’s such a given that Hulk is a monster and a hero and the strongest there is, there’s a real joy in an artist tapping into the inherent comedic value of somebody who gets so mad they turn into a giant green monster.
STG:
Wow, this Hulk variant is incredible! The art style by Brett Bean gives off a classic Samurai Jack-esque vibe, and it works perfectly for this design. I love the dynamic electricity surrounding the Hulk, whether he's in the process of Hulking out or fully enraged. The colors in the background are stunning, and overall, this variant is a fantastic addition to the collection. For a rare variant priced at 700 Gold, this is truly phenomenal. GGs!
Wrapping Up
And that’s that from both me and SuperTechGod this time around! Thanks again for joining me on this fun little Snap.Fan tradition— folks, give a digital round of applause below for the man himself, and let us know below if you want to see more collabs like this! And of course, let us know all the rest: what’d you like? What’re you looking forward to? What are you… un-looking forward to? Whatever it is, we wanna read. And until next week… ta-ta for now!
STG:
A huge thank you to the amazing team at Snap.Fan for bringing me on to share my thoughts on these variants. It’s always a pleasure and a great time to be a part of this. I truly enjoy these discussions. We’d love to hear your feedback—whether you’re on the same page as us or have a different take. Be sure to keep enjoying the fantastic variant content and all the other Snap-related content on Snap.Fan. Thanks again for reading, and until next time, keep collecting those variants!
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