It’s Official: Marvel Rivals Is Expanding With an “Epic” New Series

Set in the same sprawling world of chaotic action as the Marvel Rivals video game, the publisher has confirmed a special one-shot comic book will bring the storyline onto the page, expanding the hero-on-hero battle straight from the game's roster.

Marvel has announced that the six-part Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic miniseries - by Paul Allor and Luca Claretti - is being reprinted as a one-shot physical book. Just as in the Marvel Rivals video game, the time rift has weakened the Web of Life and Destiny, leaving Tokyo 2099’s best to fix it.

Marvel Rivals #1 comic cover, featuring classic Marvel heroes like Spider-Man & Captain America.

However, Peni Parker and Spider-Man have wildly different approaches to solving the disaster, turning friends into rivals. Featuring the game’s most popular characters, including Jeff the Land Shark and the recent pop-favorite Luna Snow, hopefully, fans of the game and Infinity Comic series will be treated to a complete physical series at a future date.

The Infinity Comic Series Successfully Captures the Game's Charm

Marvel Rivals #1 - Written by Paul Allor; Art by Luca Claretti; Cover by Tokitokoro; Variant Covers by Federico Sabbatini & Adam Warren

Marvel Rivals #1 variant cover, featuring Jeff the Land shark and other obscure Marvel heroes.

The Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic series follows the basic story beats of the game. With the Web of Life and Destiny shattering into Tokyo 2099, several heroes begin pouring in from outside dimensions. Spider-Man and Venom are locked in a one-on-one, while Thor and Wolverine clash hammer to claw. The series heavily leans into the style and language of the game, sometimes referring to their in-game classes. Admittedly, the series is less about its plot and more about the sprawling action. Luca Claretti perfectly captures the sharp and robust features of the game’s style.

The action is intense as the series allows itself to let loose without worrying about narrative consequences.Marvel Rivals is a competitive PVP shooting game and that’s exactly what the Infinity Comic series feels like. That said, it’s the comics that have actually left me wishing there was more narrative interaction in the game. In the comics, the squads get moments of reprieve, allowing for cute conversations between characters who wouldn’t normally interact. In conversation, they playfully mix up their universes’ histories and blab over nothing, like a lobby of players messing around before a match. It makes the comics feel authentic.

Marvel Needs to Release a Full Printed Series

Multiversal Adventures Work Every Time

It’s no wonder why both the game, and now the comic series, have become such an instant success. Marvel stories set within the chaos of the Multiverse have consistently proven to be commercial hits. Into the Spider-Verse, the Loki television series, and Deadpool & Wolverine are just some of the on-screen successes that adventures from across the Multiverse sell well. Not to mention series like Secret Wars or the various Spider-Verse comic series that have also proven to be Marvel’s most popular work.

When Marvel releases some grand multiversal adventure, it’s frequently worth the hype.

When Marvel releases some grand multiversal adventure, it’s frequently worth the hype. Readers love seeing weird and wild alternatives to their favorite characters. The game itself has already seen thousands of hours worth of gameplay as Marvel fans of all mediums are coming together to clash it out. Hopefully, Marvel will invest in the ongoing hype around the game and green-light a complete Marvel Rivalsprinted series sometime in the near future.

Developing...

Marvel Rivals #1 & #2 are available digitally now, with the full six-issue series available in comic book stores everywhere this April.

Source: Marvel Comics