It’s time to celebrate Marvel Comics’ anniversary! There are various segments coming throughout the day, and a special variant Miles Morales cover. All the details are below. Rounding out the rest of the news are several items on Shang-Chi being around the Marvel fray. Then there is a bit of Fortnite news that coincides with characters appearing in the game recently.
MARVEL CELEBRATES ITS BIRTHDAY ON AUGUST 31!
Follow along on Marvel’s social channels by using #HappyBirthdayMarvel
New York, NY—August 26, 2020— Marvel turns another year older! This August 31, Marvel will celebrate its 81stbirthday with fans everywhere and a cavalcade of new comics, collectibles, apparel, games, videos, and more. To kick off the celebration, Marvel revealed a stunning original commemorative piece of art by legendary comic book artist Ron Lim and colorist Israel Silva, which comic book retailers will receive as a surprise variant for MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #18 on sale next week!
On August 31, 1939, MARVEL COMICS #1 opened the doors to the Marvel Universe for the first time ever, creating a tapestry of Super Heroes and stories that have gone on to shape pop culture for generations of fans around the world. Join your fellow True Believers online for special segments celebrating this momentous day on This Week in Marvel, Women of Marvel, Marvel’s Pull List, Marvel’s How to Draw LIVE, and Marvel’s Let’s Play, and tune in all week to hear from some of your favorite creators and editors celebrating 81 years of Marvel!
For those with a sweet tooth, tune in to Marvel’s social channels for Marvel’s top picks from our latest #MarvelMission, calling all True Believers to share their favorite Marvel-inspired birthday treat, from cake, cookies, pies – you name it! Follow along to see their creations using #HappyBirthdayMarvel.
Comic fans will also be able to celebrate the House of Ideas’ special day by enjoying a new tale about Marvel’s First Family in the just-released FANTASTIC FOUR: ANTITHESIS #1, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Neal Adams – marking the industry legend’s first-ever, full-length, high-stakes take on the Fantastic Four.
Starting on August 31, fans of Lim’s commemorative birthday art will also be able to order limited-edition shirts and apparel featuring the stunning artwork of Power Man, Nova, Bombshell, Spider-Man, Ironheart, Ms. Marvel, and Brawn! These will be available in the Marvel Design Vault on Amazon and on key retailers’ e-commerce sites. Celebrate and showcase your own Marvel birthday spirit, or get it for the Marvel fan in your life as the ultimate birthday gift. Marvel will also be launching and highlighting exciting products all week, including Eat the Universe kitchen items from Box Lunch, birthday card and cake decorating accessories, and brand-new, must-have fashions and graphic tees by Junk Food!
At the end of the week, you won’t want to miss the highly anticipated launch of Marvel’s Avengers, on sale September 4 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC! Marvel’s Avengers combines an original story with single-player and co-operative gameplay in the definitive Avengers gaming experience. What better way to celebrate Marvel’s birthday than assembling a team with your three favorite friends and defending the Earth from ever-escalating threats? To learn more about what exciting things are in store for your favorite team of heroes, tune in to the next Marvel’s Avengers War Table on September 1.
For more information about Marvel’s birthday celebration and festivities, visit Marvel.com.
ARTIST BENJAMIN SU MAKES HIS MARVEL DEBUT WITH A THRILLING SHANG-CHI #1 COVER!
New York, NY— August 26, 2020 — It’s a deadly family reunion for Marvel’s greatest fighter when the mysterious Five Weapons Society resurfaces next month in SHANG-CHI #1! This all new series, written by Gene Luen Yang and artists Dike Ruan and Philip Tan, will propel Shang-Chi into a brand-new era, boldly redefining his origin and mythos.
To celebrate Shang-Chi’s grand return, a host of all-star talents have showcased the hero in stunning variant covers, including artist Benjamin Su. The Pixar animator makes his Marvel Comics debut with a stunning cover depicting the Avenger assuming fighting stance as he bravely faces off against an army of new enemies. Stay tuned for more SHANG-CHI #1 variant cover reveals coming your way from artists such as Jen Bartel, Mico Suayan, and more. And don’t miss this action-packed new era of Shang-Chi when it kicks off next month!
MEET THE DEADLY WARRIORS OF THE FIVE WEAPONS SOCIETY ON DIKE RUAN’S SHANG-CHI #1 COVER!
New York, NY— August 27, 2020 — For centuries, the Five Weapons Society protected China from countless threats, but their incredible legacy has been shrouded in mystery—until now! Next month, the Marvel Universe will meet this deadly group of warriors in SHANG-CHI #1, written by Eisner Award-winner Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and drawn by superstar artist Philip Tan (Uncanny X-Men) and rising star Dike Ruan (Black Cat, Spider-Verse). This trio of amazing talent have created a dynamic new cast of characters that will boldly reshape the past and future of Marvel’s greatest fighter, Shang-Chi!
“We want to flesh him out by adding to his supporting cast,” Yang revealed to SYFY Wire in an exclusive interview. “We’ve met some of his siblings in the past, but in this particular miniseries we’re going to meet a full set of them. Each is going to bring out a different aspect of Shang-Chi’s personality.”
Dike Ruan will soon bring these new characters to life in the action-packed pages of SHANG-CHI, but you can get your first glimpse at the warriors in his spectacular variant cover for the debut issue! Emerging from the shadows is the vengeful Sister Hammer, the wise Brother Staff, the fiercely devoted Brother Sabre, and the young and sharp Sister Dagger. Together, they will impact Shang-Chi’s world like never before when a vicious battle for control of the Five Weapons Society erupts. Stay tuned to Marvel.com for more information on these exciting new players in the Marvel Universe, and find out if Shang-Chi will take his rightful place among them when SHANG-CHI #1 goes on sale next month!
JEN BARTEL’S SHANG-CHI #1 COVER SPOTLIGHTS SHANG-CHI’S DEADLY NEW ARCHENEMY!
New York, NY— August 28, 2020 — One of the most popular comic book cover artists today, Jen Bartel is the latest superstar creator to deliver an incredible cover for SHANG-CHI #1, commemorating the return of Marvel’s greatest fighter with a depiction of his newest foe, Sister Hammer! Brought to life in Bartel’s iconic vibrant style, Sister Hammer is ready to take down anyone who gets in the way of her long-awaited vengeance—including Shang-Chi!
Written by award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang and drawn by artists Dike Ruan and Philip Tan, Shang-Chi’s new era will expand his mythos like never before by introducing the Five Weapons Society. Founded by Shang-Chi’s corrupt father, Zheng Zu, these elite warriors have acted as secret protectors of China for centuries, but when Sister Hammer makes a vicious grab for power, the group is thrown into chaos and Shang-Chi is dragged back into a world he thought he left behind… Shang-Chi’s deep connection with the Five Weapons Society will forge a new destiny for the former Avenger, forever altering both his past and his future. To learn more about the distinct houses that make up the Five Weapons Society and to check out an exclusive lettered preview of the SHANG-CHI #1, visit marvel.com. And don’t miss the shocking debut of Sister Hammer when the latest adventure in the legend of Shang-Chi begins next month!
MARVEL HEROES TEAM UP WITH FORTNITE CHARACTERS ON COVERS THIS FALL
Top artists bring the worlds of Marvel Comics and Fortnite together in a new series of variant covers
New York, NY— August 27, 2020 — The worlds of Marvel and the Island collide in NEXUS WAR in Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 4! This new season will feature your favorite Marvel heroes crossing over with the amazing world of the Fortnite via character skins, weapons, comics – and a new series of stunning variant covers releasing this September and October!
Some of the industry’s top artists including Joe Quesada, Ed McGuinness, Sara Pichelli, Russell Dauterman, and more will showcase Fortnite favorites like Blaze and Carbide side by side with the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the X-Men! Check out the complete list of the Fortnite variant covers coming your way:
- AVENGERS #36 Fortnite Variant by Sara Pichelli
- FANTASTIC FOUR #24 Fortnite Variant by Giuseppe Camuncoli
- SAVAGE AVENGERS #12 Fortnite Variant by Adam Kubert
- MARAUDERS #13 Fortnite Variant by Russell Dauterman
- THOR #8 Fortnite Variant by Olivier Coipel
- VENOM #29 Fortnite Variant Aaron Kuder
- X-FORCE #13 Fortnite Variant Joshua Cassara
- AVENGERS #37 Fortnite Variant by Mark Brooks
- CAPTAIN AMERICA #24 Fortnite Variant by Ed McGuinness
- CAPTAIN MARVEL #22 Fortnite Variant by Iban Coello
- GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 Fortnite Variant by Javier Garron
- IRON MAN #2 Fortnite Variant by Marco Checchetto
- X-MEN #13 Fortnite Variant by Joe Quesada
Set in Marvel Comics continuity, the events of NEXUS WAR take place between the panels of THOR #4, which released this past March. To learn more, don’t miss a special 10-page Fortnite/Thor crossover story written by Donny Cates and drawn by Greg Land in FANTASTIC FOUR #24, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled in Marvel comics to catch hints of where these characters go – and return from – next!
