Marvel Cinematic Universe / MCU-Themed Comic Book Cover
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
The timing couldn't have been better. Marvel Comics latest crossover event series and Marvel Studios most recent blockbuster motion picture dropped within weeks of each other. While neither mirrors the story of the other, it's pretty clear that the current DAREDEVIL limited series, Devil's Reign, was fully intended ride the hype and excitement of MATT MURDOCK's return to the MCU in the your favorite new mega-blockbuster and mine, Spider-Man: No Way Home. Moreover, both the Spider-sequel and Devil's Reign are villain-heavy events, with notable Marvel villains DOCTOR OCTOPUS -- who was arguably the most prominently featured No Way Home villain -- and THE KINGPIN OF CRIME -- just returned to the MCU himself in the recent Hawkeye series on Disney Plus -- at the forefront.
Assuming that inter-relationship between Devil's Reign and No Way Home, cover artist Derrick Chew's insight couldn't have been more spot-on than with his contribution to "Villains' Reign", the Devil's Reign Variant Cover series from December 2020. Taking a cue from No Way Home when the MCU's Spider-Man has the tech from his Iron Spider suit assimilated by the Multiversally-relocated Doctor Octopus, Chew's Variant Cover feat. an "Iron Man / Doctor Octopus" mash-up captures the essence of that fantastic scene perfectly.
In a month of many other brilliant "Villains' Reign" mash-up variants, Chew's homage to Doctor Octopus is NO WAY HOME is more than an over-looked gem; it's a Must-Have for any fan of Spider-Man: No Way Home and for collectors of Marvel Comics covers that are visual tie-ins to scenes, characters and events from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.