Marvel Snapis a relatively new card game based on the Marvel Comics universe and is playable on both mobile and PC. The game has gained popularity thanks to its quick-to-learn nature, and matches that last no longer than 3-5 minutes on average. During its launch,MarvelEntertainment released a music video for a song called “Hero” featuring Martin Garrix and JVKE.
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The song and video focused on famous pairings in the Marvel universe, and alongside that,Marvel Snapreceived variant art for cards whose featured characters were shown in the music video. From Black Panther to the Fantastic Four, “Hero” brought a number of Marvel characters to life in a dazzling new art style.
8Rogue
In the Hero music video, a fan-favorite pairing of X-Men mutants Rogue and Gambit is heavily featured throughout. It was asmart choice considering Rogue, thanks to the X-Men animated cartoon, became a childhood crush for a generation of superhero-loving kids and young adults.
Jander Gonzalez took a “less is more” approach with the art style for Rogue’s Hero variant art, going for blockier forms that put a focus on color and shape. Between her hair and outfit, it’s hard to find a classic X-Men member as dazzling and magnetic as Rogue, despite her power urging people to keep their distance for their own safety.
7Doctor Doom
Thanks to the masterminds who created Doctor Doom, that being Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Bob Bolling, it’s almost impossible to make the Fantastic Four foe not look cool. His design has withstood the test of time and his Hero variant art is just another example of it. It features Doctor Doom menacingly stepping forth in a commanding way befitting of his personality.
The art and coloring for this were done by the incredible Coran Kizer Stone, who managed to make this version of the man responsible for magic merging with technology just as haunting as he always is. The glowing power emanating from his hands provides a contrast that makes the entire thing pop.
6Sera
Sera’s Hero variant art is one of two cards by artist Alaine Baybayan that brought the aesthetic of 90s anime, and more specifically Sailor Moon to life in the world of Marvel Comics. Not only is Sera the love interest of Thor’s sister Angela, but she’s also an important showcase of much-needed representation of the trans community.
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The artshowcases Serain all of her angelic and feminine excellence as she is presented as both beautiful and powerful in the same instance. In addition to that, her card also happens to be pretty solid in its own right inMarvel Snapas it lowers the cost of every card in the player who casts Sera’s hand.
5Gambit
For years Marvel Comics fans have been begging for Gambit to get his proper live-action portrayal. Though it’s unclear when or if that’ll ever happen, in the meantime they at least have some incredible art by Jander Gonzalez of the card-throwing bad boy inMarvel Snap. What makes a lot of the Hero variant art pieces really stand out is the simplistic approach to shading in contrast to the dazzling bright displays of power that seem to glow.
Gambit is rather destructiveinMarvel Snapas upon his reveal the player who cast him discards a card and in return, a single one of an opponent’s cards in play gets destroyed at random. Ironic that Marvel fans can’t wait to see him in live-action, but dread the possibility of him popping up in the middle of aMarvel Snapmatch.
4Storm
Storm is as majestic as she is powerful. Though she carries herself in a dignified and graceful manner, she is not above causing destruction if it means protecting the innocent and those she cares about. Jander Gonzalez’s Hero variant art for the beloved X-Men member focuses on a vengeful and purposed Storm whose sole intention is making her presence known.
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As the music video for Hero would suggest, her appearance is meant to mirror the aesthetic of Black Panther’s Hero variant art. Though the card feels like the color saturation has been turned down significantly, it doesn’t take away from the impact and dramatic nature of the art itself.
3Angela
One can never go wrong with choosing anime as inspiration and that’s clear as day in the Hero variant art for Angela. Players will want to cast her at a location on turn two, as she grows in strength with each additional card played alongside her. Alaine Baybayan delivered through art and coloring something that feels straight out of an episode ofSailor Moon.
The art provides a feminine strength that embraces the ridiculous sets of armor women tend to have in fiction but also makes her look incredibly cool at the same time. Having an extremely oversized belt on her waist also manages to bring it all cohesively together.
2Fantastic Four
This may be considered cheating, including all four members ofthe Fantastic Four, but it’s rather fitting for Marvel’s first family. All four cards, that being Human Torch, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Mr. Fantastic had their Hero variant art done by Coran Kizer Stone. The art itself is very painterly and classic, giving off a retro aesthetic that’s befitting of the unit’s place in Marvel history.
Almost all of the other pairings featured in the Hero music video were romantic to some capacity, so it’s nice seeing that arguably the strongest bond in all of Marvel Comics was also on display inMarvel Snap.Now fans just have to wait for their introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
1Black Panther
Black Panther is one of the Marvel characters inMarvel Snapthat has been the beneficiary of some incredible variant card art. The card itself is also quite useful as players get afour-power hero for five energywhose power doubles upon its reveal. Black Panther is a staple in many decks centered aroundMarvel Snap’s On Reveal mechanic.
Jander Gonzalez is the creative who brought both art and color to life in this dazzling portrayal of the King of Wakanda. Black Panther is a character who is constantly in motion and uses constant pressure, speed, and stamina to overwhelm his enemies, a style that comes to life through this variant card art.
Marvel Snapis available on Android, iOS, and PC.
