HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What a massive start to the new year! From the tactical masterclass of the He Tianyou album to the cosmic elegance of Clea's Astral Projection, your collection is about to level up in a significant way. Whether you're hunting for that massive 5,000 Token reward or just looking for the perfect split for your new Fantomex, there is something for everyone this week.
Grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable spot, and let’s take a walk through this week's artistic masterclass!
The LAST week of 2025 starts NOW.
12/30
NEW Card, NEW Variant!
Artist: SUPJA
Source: Conditional Bundle
First up, we have this stunning SUPJA variant. This one is a standout for how it captures Fantomex's calm, lethal precision. The composition is fantastic! Those dual pistols crossed in the foreground create a massive sense of depth, almost like he’s aiming right through the screen at your opponent's cubes.
The color palette here is what really sells it. The crisp whites and deep purples of Fantomex's suit look incredibly sharp against that soft, painterly background. It’s got that high-fashion-meets-black-ops vibe that Fantomex is known for.
Perfect Split: For this piece, a Blue Neon Border would be absolute perfection. It would catch the highlights on his mask and the glow of his energy, framing the entire card in a way that feels futuristic and clean. If you manage to land an Ink Finish, the contrast between the white suit and the dark shadows would make this look like a classic noir masterpiece.
Album Artist Showcase: Lab Rats & Slash Acts
This album is a total vibe for anyone who loves the grittier, weaponized side of the Marvel Universe. We’re looking at a collection that balances raw power with some seriously sleek tactical gear. Yup, these are all Super Rares.
The Variant Breakdown
Aurora: Kicking things off with a literal flash. Her pose is pure energy, and that monochrome suit looks incredibly sharp against the city backdrop.
Chamber: This is easily one of the coolest variants in the set. The way his chest is literally erupting with psionic flame is terrifyingly beautiful. He looks like he’s about to melt your opponent's strategy and your phone screen at the same time.
Colleen Wing: She looks absolutely lethal here. The white suit gives off major "professional assassin" vibes.
Goliath: Talk about a heavy hitter. He’s taking up almost the entire frame, giving you that sense of massive scale we love to see on the board.
Hydra Stomper: This thing looks like a walking tank. The olive drab paint and the heavy artillery make it feel like it stepped right out of a 1940s war machine factory.
Maverick: Maverick's yellow and black armor is popping and loaded with gear. It’s tactical, it’s busy, and it works.
Red Hulk: As if Rulk wasn't scary enough, this variant makes him look like a mountain of pure rage. He’s red, he’s angry, and he’s definitely not someone you want to see angry!
Strange Supreme: This variant is pure magic. The dark, brooding purple tones and that sinister expression tell you exactly what kind of Sorcerer Supreme we’re dealing with.
Wade Wilson: Before the suit, there was the man. This variant captures Wade in his Merc with a Mouth prime, looking like he’s having way too much fun with a Gatling gun.
Weapon H: The gray skin, the spikes, and the sheer bulk make him look like a science experiment gone horribly, horribly right.
Weapon X: Poor Logan. This variant is visceral, showing him mid-escape with all the tech still attached. It’s gritty, it’s classic, and it’s a must-have for Wolverine fans. VCR...
Wild Child: To round it out, we have the feral energy of Wild Child. He looks absolutely unhinged, which is exactly the energy you want when you’re trying to claw your way up the ladder.
Awesome Rewards!
Collecting these isn’t just for show; the rewards are actually phenomenal this time around:
3/12 Reward: A Mystery Border to keep your favorite card looking fresh.
6/12 Reward: The "Everything's Fine" emoji. Let’s be real, we’ve all needed this emoji.
9/12 Reward: The exclusive He Tianyou Fantomex variant. The perspective on this is wild, with the weapon aimed right at the player. It’s sleek, dangerous, and high-tier art.
12/12 Reward: A massive injection of 5,000 Collector's Tokens. If you’re hunting for that next Big Bad, this is the boost you need.
Kid Omega: The Pink Psychic Hitman!
Artist: Creative House Pocket
Source: Bundle Omega Arsenal
Quentin Quire is back, and he's definitely the type of guy who would bring a neon pink psychic gun to a card fight. This variant from Creative House Pocket is an absolute vibe. It captures that classic Kid Omega "I'm better than you, and I know it" energy perfectly.
The first thing that grabs you is that glowing psychic construct. The way the pink energy pops against the dark, cityscape background is just gorgeous. It has this sleek, futuristic anime aesthetic that makes the whole card feel like a frame from a high-budget action sequence. I love the sharp lines on his yellow shorts and that smug look behind his glasses.
The composition here is fantastic. Kid Omeda is leaning into the frame, creating a sense of forward momentum that makes the card feel alive. If the animation includes some flickering neon lights in the background or a pulse of energy from the gun, this is going to be an instant favorite for X-Men fans.
The Perfect Split: To really lean into that flashy, psychic aesthetic, a Neon Pink Border is the only way to go. It would perfectly match his hair and the psychic gun, making the whole card feel cohesive. If you're feeling lucky with your splits, an Ink Finish with Pink Kirby Krackle would be the ultimate flex. It would turn the background into a gritty, manga-style scene while letting that psychic energy scream off the card.
12/31
Phoenix Force: The Eternal Fire
Artist: Sunghan Yune
Source: Bundle New Year, New Flame
This variant of The Phoenix Force is breathtaking. The use of light makes the cosmic bird look like it is actually radiating heat from the center of the card. The way the fiery wings frame the host in the center gives it a massive sense of scale.
Perfect Split: You have to go with a Gold Finish here. It turns the entire background into a shimmering inferno that complements the orange and red tones perfectly. Pair it with a Red Cosmic Border, and it will look like the card is literally burning a hole in your opponent's board.
01/01
Sister, Sister! Clea’s Astral Projection
Artist: Winking Studios
Source: Bundle Spirited Away
We are starting the year off with a bang with this incredible Astral Projection variant from Winking Studios. If you’ve ever felt mentally checked out of a conversation while your body stayed behind, this card is basically your spirit animal.
This piece immediately catches the eye because it’s doing double duty. You’ve got Clea in the background looking sharp and focused, while her astral form is literally leaping out of the frame. The sheer, ghostly blue of the projection has this beautiful transparency that makes it feel light and ethereal, especially compared to the deep, regal purples of her physical form.
The glowing white eyes on the projection add that perfect touch of "don't mess with the Sorceress Supreme" energy.
This variant might be one of the cleanest-looking we’ve seen in a while. The contrast between the dark, cosmic background and the bright, neon blue highlights makes the whole card feel three-dimensional before you even upgrade it to the 3D frame break.
Perfect Split: I am calling it right now: a Blue Border is the only way to go here. It would perfectly match the energy of the astral projection and make the entire card glow on your screen. If you’re feeling lucky and hit an Ink Finish, the contrast between the black and white art and a Purple Kirby Krackle would be an absolute chef’s kiss.
Fantomex: Double Trouble from PANDART!
Artist: PANDART STUDIO
Source: Super Rare Pool
Next up, we have Fantomex getting the PANDART treatment, and let’s be honest, the man has never looked more ready to ruin someone’s day. If you’re a fan of high-octane action and characters who probably spend more on trench coat dry cleaning than they do on ammo, this one is for you.
PANDART really nailed the sense of momentum here. Fantomex is mid-lunge, dual pistols out, and the perspective on that front handgun makes it feel like he’s about to shoot his way right out of your phone screen. The shattered glass effects flying around him add that perfect "action movie climax" vibe that fits his character so well.
What I really love about this piece is the lighting. The way the pink and purple hues from the background catch the edges of his white suit is fantastic. It gives the whole card a moody, synthwave atmosphere. It’s a great departure from his standard look, making him feel like a deadly shadow moving through a neon-lit city. Even his belt buckle, that classic X-Force logo pops just enough to remind everyone exactly which team of assassins he’s representing.
Perfect Split: You have two great options here. A Purple Border would be the logical choice to match those background, shattered pieces, and the lighting on his coat. However, if you really want to lean into the "clean" look of his suit, an Ink Finish with a White Kirby Krackle would make this look like a high-end comic book sketch come to life.
01/02
Gorgon: The Gaze of Stone
Artist: Jimbo Salgado
Source: Super Rare Pool
This Jimbo Salgado variant of Gorgon is pure intimidation. Gorgon is caught mid-motion, long hair flowing, with a sword that looks like it could cut through a location. The cosmic galaxy background behind him gives the card a sense of scale and power that fits a guy who once proved the existence of the One-Above-All at age 13. The red and white tones of his outfit pop beautifully against the deep blues of the void.
Perfect split: A Red Neon Border is the way to go here to highlight his mask and the trim on his robes. If you hit a Gold Finish, the cosmic background will turn into a glowing, high-tier masterpiece.
01/03
Kate Bishop: Archer of Style
Artist: Meghan Hetrick
Source: Rare Pool
Meghan Hetrick delivers a variant that feels incredibly light and artistic. The soft, watercolor-style background contrasts perfectly with the sharp, vibrant purple of Kate’s suit. She’s poised and ready to fire, captured in a moment of calm focus that really highlights the character's athletic grace. This Kate Bishop is a "Rare" variant, but the quality honestly feels Super Rare.
Perfect Split: This card screams for a Purple Cosmic Border. The way the suit is shaded with those neon pink and deep violet tones would look phenomenal with a cosmic glow. If you’re lucky enough to get a Rainbow Krackle, it would play off the colorful, painterly background in a way that’s just plain pretty.
01/05
Beast: Uncaged Aggression
Artist: PANDART STUDIO
Source: Super Rare Pool
Closing out this first week is a ferocious take on Hank McCoy. This Beast variant from PANDART STUDIO captures the character in his most primal state, ditching the lab coat and glasses for pure, blue-furred fury.
The pose here is everything. Beast is hunched low, ready to spring, with his claws extended and a snarl that says he’s done playing nice. The way the blue fur is rendered with such fine detail makes him look genuinely formidable. It’s an excellent piece for anyone who prefers the "X-Men hero" version of Beast over the "gentle scientist" or "calculated mastermind" looks.
Perfect Split: You have to go with a Blue Cosmic Border or a White Neon Border for this one. It highlights the cool tones of his fur and makes the white, glowing eyes look even more menacing. If you hit an Ink Finish, it would emphasize the muscle definition and the grit of the background, making it look like a classic 90s action panel.
THE WRAP-UP
I can not believe how fast 2025 came and went. I also can not believe the support and love from everyone as I took on the role of the new Variant Forecaster for SNAP.Fan!
Now that we are in a new year, I would like some additional feedback. Let me know in the comments below what NEW aspect you would like to see from the weekly Variant Forecast for 2026?
I will pick a winner and reach out at the start of the new season, giving them a Season Pass! Happy New Year and welcome to 2026!