Antman

This past summer Marvel announced and released images of their hip hop inspired variant comic covers that have been debuting each week in October. Admittedly I wasn’t to enthused being that I haven’t been interested in Marvel comics in years. The initial Marvel Knights reboot stories featuring The Inhumans, Black Panther, Black Widow, Daredevil, etc. were fun and the mature themed Squadron Supreme written by dynamic author J. Michael Straczynski for Marvel line MAX was dope; nonetheless I grew tired of the same stories being told over and over again with a different twist by each new author. “Oh look, a new story arc with Marvel’s A-List key players (Spiderman, Wolverine, X-Men, etc.) fighting the same villains but with a twist.” How many times can Spiderman fight The Green Goblin or what’s gonna be different this time with the X-Men and Magneto? Yawn.

I recently have been re-bitten by the comic bug. Upon my trip to the comic shop, I have to admit a big grin came over my face when I saw Marvel’s Hip Hop covers sitting on the selves. Props to Marvel’s marketing team because some of these covers not only peeked my interest in the relaunch of certain series but they also made me reminisce on the albums the covers portray. Most of these new titles have been released, so if you can’t find them in your local comic shop, they’re available for purchase online. Check out some of my favorite covers below.

Uncanny Inhumans /Outkast's Aquemini
Uncanny Inhumans /Outkast’s Aquemini
Uncanny Avengers /Public Enemy's Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Uncanny Avengers /Public Enemy’s Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Squadron Supreme /Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang
Squadron Supreme /Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang
Spidey /Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV
Spidey /Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV
Spider-Man /Nas' Illmatic
Spider-Man /Nas’ Illmatic
Spider-Man 2099 /GOOD Music compilation & Kanye West's Cruel Summer
Spider-Man 2099 /GOOD Music compilation & Kanye West’s Cruel Summer
Nova /J. Cole's Born Sinner
Nova /J. Cole’s Born Sinner
Ms. Marvel /Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Ms. Marvel /Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Mighty Thor /Madvillain's Madvillainy
Mighty Thor /Madvillain’s Madvillainy
Extraordinary X-Men /De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising; Shawn Crystal
Extraordinary X-Men /De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising; Shawn Crystal
Drax /Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Drax /Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Spider-Man/Deadpool  /Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full
Spider-Man/Deadpool /Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full
Dr. Strange /Dr. Dre's The Chronic
Dr. Strange /Dr. Dre’s The Chronic
Contest of Champions /GZA's Liquid Swords
Contest of Champions /GZA’s Liquid Swords
Ant-Man /Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die
Ant-Man /Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die
Amazing Spider-Man /A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders
Amazing Spider-Man /A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders
All-New Wolverine /DMX's Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
All-New Wolverine /DMX’s Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
Howard the Duck /Ol Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers
Howard the Duck /Ol Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36 Chambers