New InHyuk Lee AAPI Variant Cover Collection!
In an article posted to their official website on Thursday, May 13th, 2021, Marvel Comics unveiled a collection of eight variant covers by InHyuk Lee, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage and featuring some of the biggest heroes in Marvel Comics!
ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER): AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72
I drew a total of 8 covers (8 heroes), the first of which is the Silk!
• https://t.co/dnbEzrfo75
• https://t.co/VF8S0v3xTJ#marvelvoices #asianheroes #marvel #inhyuklee #이인혁 pic.twitter.com/Nz7pDakF8S— InHyuk Lee (@inhyuklee) May 15, 2021
Some Serious AAPI Heroes
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Marvel Comics announced an all-new, all-different Marvel’s Voices one-shot, Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 by Gene Luen Yang, Marcus To, Christina Strain, Jason Loo, Greg Pak, Creees Lee, Lynne Yoshii, Maurene Goo, and Mashal Ahmed, highlighting some serious AAPI heroes.
MARVEL’S VOICES: IDENTITY #1 cover by Jim Cheung. Photo: Marvel Comics
The Identity one-shot will be written and drawn by new and established Asian creators, according to Marvel.
The heroes featured in Marvel’s Voices: Identity will also be featured on InHyuk Lee’s collection of AAPI covers, and they include Amadeus Cho, Armor, Jubilee, Ms. Marvel, Psylocke, Silk, Shang-Chi, and Jimmy Woo (who was first introduced in 1956, predating the Fantastic Four!).
AVENGERS #47 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER) by INHYUK LEE. Photo: Marvel Comics
According to the article on Marvel.com, these covers will blend a combination of the characters’ original looks, streetwear fashions, and traditional cultural elements in order to create some singular depictions of some of your favorite Marvel Comics heroes.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER) by INHYUK LEE. Photo: Marvel Comics
Lee is quoted as saying that he proposed the renditions of the classic characters in a modern, tech-wear style, and Marvel Comics ran with his idea. The artist told Marvel.com that:
I’m very proud to draw these eight ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVERS showing the iconic Asian heroes of the Marvel universe. Silk, Ms.Marvel, Psylocke, Shang-Chi… I love all these heroes so much and since I’m an illustrator and character designer, I proposed to renovate their outfits in a modern or tech-wear style, and Marvel liked my suggestion. When Emily Newcomen asked me about these covers, I had to accept despite my busy schedule because it was so meaningful. I’ve been working with Marvel for 10 years now and I’m happy to say we can always have fun working together.
Various AAPI Variants
In case you weren’t already aware, variant covers are special, more rare versions of a comic’s cover. These are not always available at your local comic shop (LCS), and some can be especially hard to find! For this reason, some shops upcharge for certain variant covers; however, this just adds an extra level of challenge for those who wish to secure a specific variant cover for their collection!
HELLIONS #14 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER) by INHYUK LEE. Photo: Marvel Comics
These variant covers will be available on eight different Marvel Comics issues that will be released in August 2021, with four covers available on August 4th (including variants for Avengers #47, Immortal Hulk #49, Hellions #14, and X-Men #2).
CAPTAIN MARVEL #11 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER) by INHYUK LEE. Photo: Marvel Comics
The next three AAPI covers will be released on August 11th (with variants arriving for Amazing Spider-Man #72, Captain Marvel #11, and Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1).
X-MEN #2 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE VARIANT COVER (AAPI COVER) by INHYUK LEE. Photo: Marvel Comics
And the final AAPI cover will be available at your LCS on August 25th, appearing on Wolverine #15.
Get to Your LCS for AAPI Covers!
Will you be heading to your LCS in August to pick up some of these amazing AAPI covers? Let us know what your plan is in the comment section, Marvel Blog True Believers!
