New Marvel vs Capcom Covers Celebrate Bengus’ Iconic Video Game Designs

New variant comic covers themed around Marvel vs. Capcom are celebrating Bengus‘ iconic video game designs. It’s been a big year for fans of the legendary Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, available now from Capcom, features some of the most popular games in the series, with the potential for new games in the future. Now, to excite fans for its release, Marvel is teaming up with Bengus to bring their iconic designs to various comic covers.

According to Marvel, December will see the release of 11 new variant covers that will feature the designs of various Marvel characters as they appeared in the original Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. The variants feature artwork by Bengus, who was the mind behind these characters’ designs in the classic games.

This artwork beautifully recreates what made these heroes’ translation to pixels so appealing to longtime fans, with bright colors and comic-accurate looks with just enough details tweaked to make them feel at home in the Capcom universe.

Bengus’ Iconic Designs Show Marvel’s Heroes at Their Best

What’s exciting about these variant covers is how much detail is packed into each design. Bengus understood the restrictions that would come with translating their artwork to arcade game pixelation, and put as much detail into each one as they could to make sure their vision was carried out. The result was an impressive array of designs that emphasized the colorful nature of comic book stories while making them feel like they belonged in the world of Street Fighter.

Each variant cover beautifully recreates Bengus’ vision with various ’90s looks that are sure to be nostalgic for gamers and comic book readers alike. Some of the most impressive include Wolverine’s appearance with the enlarged wings on his mask to make him stand out more, Rogue’s shortened haircut to gear her up for her next bout, and Spider-Man with his iconic thin spider logo. ​​​​​​​

Each variant will be released throughout December alongside their respective franchises, making for a perfect holiday gift for fans of the series.

Marvel Needed to Lean Into the Crossover Aspect More

While the designs by Bengus make for some pretty cool covers for upcoming Marvel releases, one can’t help but notice that there was a huge missed opportunity when creating these covers. The crossover element between Marvel’s heroes and Capcom’s roster is what makes the franchise not only beloved but fun as well. By leaving out the Capcom fighters who would interact with the Marvel Universe, these variants only feel half-complete. While it’s understandable that Marvel would want to make these covers focus on the designs Bengus made for these characters, including at least one new variant for an Avengers title featuring the whole line-up on both sides would have gone a long way.

Regardless, the upcoming collection of variant covers is still an exciting release for fans who grew up with the series. It’s a perfect capper to a huge year for the iconic game franchise as its future remains bright. Bengus‘ colorful artwork was a major reason why the games took off, and featuring these iconic images on the covers of related comics is a perfect way to showcase their timeless designs for any Marvel vs. Capcom fan, young and old.

Look for the Marvel vs. Capcom Bengus variant cover collection this December from Marvel Comics!

Source: Marvel