Marvel Announces Breast Cancer Awareness Variant Covers for October

We see a ton of variant covers these days. Usually they simply feature art from another artist. There are times we see themes such as the "Avengers Art Appreciation" covers. Today, Marvel has announced a line of variants with a greater purpose. Whether you love variants or hate them, these variants are definitely worth checking out.

This October, they are hoping to raise awareness of the risk of breast cancer to both men and women.

Marvel Entertainment goes pink this October, launching a month-long campaign in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with all new covers on select October titles and educational material on Marvel.com. Throughout the month of October, the world’s most popular super heroes—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Wolverine and more—will be featured on all-new variant covers with special pink-colored costumes available exclusively at comic shops*. Additionally, all Marvel super hero comics in October will feature a special one-page advertorial educating readers about breast cancer, complimented by additional content on Marvel.com and through social media.

'Marvel is proud to partner with Susan G. Komen For the Cure to support their unparalleled efforts to raise awareness about the risk of breast cancer to both women and men,' said Dan Buckley, Publisher & President of the Print, Animation & Digital Divisions, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. 'We’re in a unique position to educate all our fans and increase awareness of the ways to fight—and reduce-- this risk of this disease by utilizing our comics and online presence.'

The following comic books, on-sale in October, will feature special Susan G. Komen variant covers:

· Avengers #31

· Captain America #18

· Captain Marvel #5

· Fantastic Four #611

· Invincible Iron Man #526

· Mighty Thor #21

· Uncanny X-Men #20

· Wolverine #315

'Komen is thrilled to partner with Marvel Entertainment in the fight against breast cancer this October,' said Dorothy Jones, VP, Marketing at Komen. 'This partnership will allow us to share critical information with this important audience, empowering them to take positive action for their breast health and for the women they love.'

Stay tuned to Marvel.com for more news on this initiative from Marvel Entertainment

To learn more about the fight against breast cancer and how you can support Komen, please visit Komen.org

*Retailers: please note that these special Susan G. Komen variant covers are only available to accounts in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.

I just lost my mom to breast cancer...so this is a nice gesture to me.

Nice that Marvel comics announces something nice instead of just another event

It's a nice little promotional thing for the comics. Just glad to see none of these are Greg Land drawn. That could have been awkward.

I've just never understood why the Breast Cancer Awareness organizations always insist on all their products being bright pink. I'm more taking about their merchandise they offer to help support them, grocery bags, kitchen tools, etc. I think they turn people off by only having pink products. As a man, I'd like to support them by buying some of their merchandise and products, but I don't want it to be all pink. Just keep it on the ribbon logo.

X-23 is Wolverine now?

Captain America is going to beat the shit out of cancer. It better watch it's back!

Oh cool an

Very awesome!

@creole: not the point..

I like the Wolvie one best, that X-23 looks really good.

@Greenflashlight said:

Nice that Marvel comics announces something nice instead of just another event

I agree I am glad that they are doing something for a cause

I think it's a really great initiative from Marvel and I support this 100%

I'm not really a fan of the pink variants for Captain America and The Mighty Thor but there's no denying that the Wolverine variant with X-23 is freaking gorgeous ;p

This is a nice thing Marvel's doing. Why they feel the need to have Thor casting pink lightning and wearing a pink cape and circle things is anyone's guess since Thor is supposed to be a manly viking god, but whatever it's still a wonderful thing they're doing.

@FoxxFireArt: it's just the color associated with breast cancer. Much like how blue is associated with prostate cancer.

If anybody remembers those lovely and powerful images Marvel released in correlation to another breast cancer-based charity where the likes of She Hulk, Storm and Spider-Woman felt for lumps and irregularities, I think they would have been better suited for the covers than these regular ones coloured pink.

Although, you'll always have those unimaginably immature boys poking fun at the fact that Storm is touching her breast. I doubt it though, it's a serious cause, and there is nothing of the sort funny about checking and being safe.

I will be buying all three, buddy of mine's mom has breast cancer. Anything thing that helps raise awareness and funds research for a cure gets my money. That Cap cover is actually pretty tight though.

Great looking covers wolverine/X-23 looks the best IMHO. Nice thing to do for the cause.

Never buy variant covers or any of those titles but this is a good cause so I might try to get a Wolverine or X-Men. Good stuff.

@rasx said:

I like the Wolvie one best, that X-23 looks really good.

X-23 looks good in pink.

Also, they should have went with Diamondback for Cap's cover. She already wears pink for God's sake! (Or used to).

Awareness campaigns are idiotic. Wearing a pink ribbon is about as useful as sharing a Kony video.

Susan G. Korman? Ugh, I guess they're running out of ideas on how to spend their money on anything but cancer research. That or they figure the one person on earth that isn't aware of breast cancer is. We probably would have cured it by now if so much money went to real charities that actually in it to cure cancer.

Great idea, that Wolverine cover is awesome.

@PsychoKnights: Awareness campaigns are certainly not idiotic. And the money used to buy those ribbons goes to cancer research, they may not cost much but every little helps. Can't even comprehend how you think that raising awareness and money for a cancer charity is 'idiotic'.

@creole said:

X-23 is Wolverine now?

probably just a guest star

@FoxxFireArt said:

It's a nice little promotional thing for the comics. Just glad to see none of these are Greg Land drawn. That could have been awkward.

This

@PsychoKnights said:

Awareness campaigns are idiotic. Wearing a pink ribbon is about as useful as sharing a Kony video.

It sure beats living in ignorance.

Pink is a good look on Thor and Cap. Cool covers.

I'm diggin that pink cape, Thor.

A relative of mine just got breast cancer so this makes me happy.

I'm going to flat out say it.

MORE COMICS SHOULD USE THE COLOR PINK.

It breaks the constant use of blues, reds and blacks that's all over the comic world. It's just a fun upbeat color that just sticks out!

I like the X-23 cover but why is it called Wolverine

They should have used the Leifeld cover where Cap has breast for this

@Greenflashlight said:

Nice that Marvel comics announces something nice instead of just another event

I was gonna say the same thing!

Love the pink.

Good on them, I hope they will be doing it for more then just those 8 comics listed though.

@Baddamdog said:

Great idea, that Wolverine cover is awesome.

@PsychoKnights: Awareness campaigns are certainly not idiotic. And the money used to buy those ribbons goes to cancer research, they may not cost much but every little helps. Can't even comprehend how you think that raising awareness and money for a cancer charity is 'idiotic'.

If people want to give money, let them give money. The ribbon does nothing. Marvel could just donate the money, but instead they use it as a marketing campaign.

Does anyone know who the artist is for the Wolverine cover? I can't make out the name...

@Cafeterialoca said:

I'm going to flat out say it.

MORE COMICS SHOULD USE THE COLOR PINK.

It breaks the constant use of blues, reds and blacks that's all over the comic world. It's just a fun upbeat color that just sticks out!

You should check out Cowboy Ninja Viking #2. Whole issue is black, white, and pink.

For the crap Susan G. Komen pulled on Planned Parenthood, like hell I'm going to buy it.

Also

GET BACK TO YOUR VACATION G-Man.

I don't want to open this up to flame war, but IMO, breast cancer is a horrible terrible disease, but Susan G. Komen is a bad non-profit. The whole taking a political stance against Planned Parenthood and reproductive rights thing was horrible. If you're a charity/non-profit, you should focus on your cause, and not take action in other political arenas without disclosing those views publicly first.

That's awesome.

Who drew the X-23 up there?

@fizzyo said:

@PsychoKnights said:

Awareness campaigns are idiotic. Wearing a pink ribbon is about as useful as sharing a Kony video.

It sure beats living in ignorance.

Are you aware that some people have brain cancer? Yes? It is amazing that you knew about that since, as of yet, there is no specially colored ribbon to bring awareness.

It's a gimmick to make people feel better about themselves. Perhaps it raises money too, and if so, I guess it is a good thing, but people seem to think they are doing something worthwhile by putting a ribbon on their car. It does nothing.

@Fantasgasmic said:

I don't want to open this up to flame war, but IMO, breast cancer is a horrible terrible disease, but Susan G. Komen is a bad non-profit. The whole taking a political stance against Planned Parenthood and reproductive rights thing was horrible. If you're a charity/non-profit, you should focus on your cause, and not take action in other political arenas without disclosing those views publicly first.

The leaders of the Susan G. Komen foundation have the right to free speech just like anybody else.

Also, nobody should have the "rights" to end an innocent human life.

I still haven't managed to get somebody to actually try and defend abortion. Of course if I were pro-abortion, I wouldn't want to try and defend my position either.

@blueninjapanther: I think its just sure have a female on at least one cover, what else are they are going to do since Marvel dose not have a series with a female lead.

I would actually like to pick that one up, but I will wait to see the mark up price at the shop.

@jcbart said:

If anybody remembers those lovely and powerful images Marvel released in correlation to another breast cancer-based charity where the likes of She Hulk, Storm and Spider-Woman felt for lumps and irregularities, I think they would have been better suited for the covers than these regular ones coloured pink.

Although, you'll always have those unimaginably immature boys poking fun at the fact that Storm is touching her breast. I doubt it though, it's a serious cause, and there is nothing of the sort funny about checking and being safe.

the previous campaign was better.

@Greenflashlight said:

Nice that Marvel comics announces something nice instead of just another event

i will have to try and pick them up ^_^

I am really proud of Marvel for doing this my aunt was a breast cancer survivor.

great that Marvel is supporting for a good cause!