Cosplay Covers? Marvel Puts Cosplayers On Variant Cover Campaign

[Fanghawk]

Cosplay Covers? Marvel Puts Cosplayers On Variant Cover Campaign

Marvel Comics is showing appreciation for cosplayers by displaying their work on twenty variant covers.

We're probably all technically Marvel fans at this point, but <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-cosplay-closet/57405-Spider-Gwen-Superheroine-Cosplay-In-Your-Everyday-Wardrobe>few fans are quite as dedicated as cosplayers. These are the rare individuals <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comicsandcosplay/features/12721-Editorial-Why-Cosplay-Matters-A-Response-To-Pat-Broderick>who spend months agonizing over hand-made costumes, but never profit from them - they just display them to show appreciation at conventions. Now Marvel is acknowledging their efforts in a very cool way: Placing cosplayers directly on comics with variant covers.

"Cosplayers are taking over," Marvel SVP of Sales & Marketing David Gabriel said in a press release. "Each convention I go to, it seems like there are more and more fans dressing up like their favorite Marvel characters. These homemade, hand-crafted costumes are so elaborate, it looks like they leapt off the comic page. The Cosplay Variant initiative is our way of supporting a community that supports us."

The Cosplay Variant initiative kicks off in October, right as <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/141410-Marvel-Launching-45-Comic-Series-After-Secret-Wars>All-New, All-Different Marvel launches following Secret Wars. Whether cosplay variants are a one-off project or ongoing project isn't clear, but it's certainly capable of becoming a regular event. Adding a photograph to a cover takes very little effort on Marvel's part, and there are more than enough cosplayers out there would who love to support it.

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What do you think of Marvel's Cosplay Variant initiative? Any particular favorites? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

A-Force #1 Cosplay Variant by Jay Justice
All-New Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Yaya Han
Amazing Spider-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Aaron Rivin
Astonishing Ant-Man #1 Cosplay Variant by SoloRoboto Industries
Avengers #0 Cosplay Variant by Michael Cox
Captain Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Judy Stephens
Daredevil #1 Cosplay Variant by Patrick 'Rick' Lane
Doctor Strange #1 Cosplay Variant by Allen Lee Hansard
Extraordinary X-Men #1 Cosplay Variant by Amanda Lynne Shafer
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Cosplay Variant by Contagious Costuming
Invincible Iron Man #1 Cosplay Variant by Dale Oliver
Ms. Marvel #1 Cosplay Variant by Soni Balestier
Nova #1 Cosplay Variant by Cap Santiago
Sam Wilson Captain America #1 Cosplay Variant by Eddie Newsome
Spider-Gwen #1 Cosplay Variant by Kathrine Zan
Spider-Woman #1 Cosplay Variant by Yashuntafun Cosplay
The Mighty Thor #1 Cosplay Variant by Sarah Jean Maefs
The Mighty Thor #2 Cosplay Variant by Kevin Spooner
Uncanny Avengers #1 Cosplay Variant by Miss Kit Quinn
Uncanny Inhumans #1 Cosplay Variant by Kalel Sean

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[Hazy992]

Odd, there's no cover of a Deadpool cosplayer acting creepy at a convention...

 

[JustAnotherAardvark]

Spider Gwen, Spider Gwen,
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spider Gwen.

Is she strong?
Listen bud,
She's got radioactive blood.
Can she swing from a thread
Take a look overhead
Hey, there
There goes the Spider Gwen.

In the chill of night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
She arrives just in time.

Spider Gwen, Spider Gwen
Friendly neighborhood Spider Gwen
Wealth and fame
She's ignored
Action is her reward.

To her, life is a great big bang up
Wherever there's a hang up
You'll find the Spider Gwen.

Any particular favorites?

Guess.

 

[Objectable]

Man, I hope all those cosplayers actually get paid for something that uses their likeness.
Oh, and the Captain Marvel cosplayer is my favorite

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

...

Is it bad I laughed out loud at a couple?

I think Marvel need to take this a step further... they need to redesign some of the heroes to look like the cosplayers. The next avengers film needs that Thor and Captain America in for a start!

Did anyone else think of the Movie 'Super' when they saw these?

 

[Elfgore]

Holy shit! That Gamora is pretty damn impressive, looks just like the one in the movie! And the rest are pretty awesome and I'm sure some fans would love to be immortalized by being placed on a comic.

 

[The Enquirer]

Yea, this is pretty awesome of them to do this.

 

[Poetic Nova]

Yea, this is pretty awesome of them to do this.

If it is done with their permissions, I agree with this statement.

 

[ensouls]

It's a cool idea. Honestly some of these need a little photoshoop to 'fit' on a comic cover. The Dr Strange one for example could be so badass with just a little work.

 

[direkiller]

Yea, this is pretty awesome of them to do this.

If it is done with their permissions, I agree with this statement.

As there full names are given for every cover, im going with it was.

if it was without some would be first names or internet handles only. As I don't think Disney would use it's creepy stalker powers just to do a comic book cover promo

 

[Seraj33]

Yea, this is pretty awesome of them to do this.

If it is done with their permissions, I agree with this statement.

I don't think they would risk getting E X P L O S I V E L Y sued for these covers.

 

[theharvan]

They're all amazing as cosplays, but I think as covers they're kind of lack-luster, it's fortunate that they're only variants.
Some kind of side-by-side artwork meets cosplay photography designs would be cool, sort of integrate the original designs a bit.