Ms. Marvel, the latest addition to the X-Men, slaughters her new superhero family with an epic vampire transformation in all-new cover art. Following her controversial death that shook the Marvel fanbase, Ms. Marvel’s resurrection as a mutant and new member of the X-Men has given her a huge new spotlight in the comics. However, new artwork featuring Kamala Khan as a vampire has unleashed chaotic slaughter on the team that completely turns her new world upside down.
This upcoming variant cover designed by artist Lee Garbett was revealed recently by Marvel for the upcoming X-Men #33. As part of a line of variant covers that will pay homage to classic Marvel vampire stories, this haunting artwork features Ms. Marvel holding a lifeless Jean Grey atop her fallen teammates while laughing with a fanged smile. It’s a gruesome display and a shocking betrayal following Ms. Marvel’s long-awaited introduction as a mutant/Inhuman hybrid.
This brilliant artwork is a tribute to 1982’s Uncanny X-Men Annual #6 by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, which followed the X-Men taking on Dracula in an epic story that saw the King of the Vampires descending on the X-Mansion.
Ms. Marvel’s Grotesque X-Men Slaughter Proves She’s One of the Strongest Mutants
One of the most interesting takeaways from this variant cover is how it ultimately showcases Ms. Marvel as one of the strongest mutants in the X-Men. While she’s certainly aided by vampiric strength, the X-Men have been able to take on vampires before. In fact, in Uncanny X-Men Annual #6, the team actually manages to overcome Dracula and impale him through the heart with a stake, putting an end to his tyranny…for the time being. Here, however, Ms. Marvel has clearly been able to overtake the X-Men pretty well on her own. Her ability to shapeshift at will allows her to overcome various threats, and adding a thirst for blood to that makes her a scary force that not even fan-favorite hero Wolverine could handle, based on the artwork.
Ms. Marvel’s Vampiric Variant Could Foreshadow a Major Betrayal
The most interesting thing about this new variant cover is what it means going forward for Marvel’s heroes. It’s been well-established now that the next big event on Marvel’s Earth-616 is Blood Hunt, which will feature a massive war between heroes and vampires. The creators behind this upcoming storyline have hinted that it will be the Marvel Universe’s next Civil War-level event. Plus, with the promise of a more R-rated version of the comic set for publication, there could be major character deaths in store as heroes fight each other, with some likely being turned into vampires. With this in mind, it’s entirely possible that this variant cover could be hinting at a huge betrayal by Ms. Marvel as she joins the vampires’ cause herself. Whether it’s of her own free will or the result of her being transformed by an affected hero, it would be a huge turning point in the story that could very well rival the massive bombshell of Spider-Man revealing his identity in Civil War.
Fans will be able to pick up this vampiric variant cover when X-Men #33 hits stands on April 3. Blood Hunt is shaping up to be one of the biggest events Marvel has had in years as it infects the Marvel Universe in these variant covers. However, Ms. Marvel‘s transformation sticks out the most because it not only showcases her horrific slaughter of the X-Men, but also a looming shadow of the darkness to come.
X-Men #33 will be available April 3 from Marvel Comics!
X-Men #33 (Ms. Marvel Variant) | |
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