Female Character ACTION FIGURE COMICS COVERS!

The Coolest Variant Cover Trend of Recent Years - Fantasy Action Figures

This is the first post I've made on this blog that doesn't have to do with real action figures or statues. Comic Book cover variants are a major trend in the hardcopy comic world. Back in the day, variants would be rare incentives for some super-special issue. But now it's actually rare when and issue doesn't have at least one variant. Different companies will have themes, like Lego covers or Women of Power. But my favorite by far has been the Action Figure covers. There are a few early examples of this kind of cover, but I believe the current trend was kicked off by the various Marvel Star Wars comics from Spring of 2015. There were tons of action figure variants across all the Star Wars titles at the time. Then later that Summer, Marvel's Secret Wars event used the same tactic and its momentum has only grown since then. There are usually a few Marvel Action Figure Variants each week now. And other publishers are picking up on the trend as well.  Let's check out a slew of these covers below!

I'm going to do my best to keep adding to this list as more issues are published. Let me know if I'm missing any!

*** Note: This post was originally posted in April of 2016 with 41 covers. This re-posting in October of 2018 with an additional 77 covers added. ***

I'm not keeping these in any real order, but I might as well start with the first of the modern batch.

The majority of these covers are drawn by John Tyler Christopher (I'll try to note the exceptions).

Princess Leia Organa on the cover of Princess Leia #1 (3/4/2015)
Princess Leia (Bespin Gown) on the cover of Star Wars #19 (5/25/2016)

Princess Leia (Hoth Outfit) on the cover of Star Wars #36 (9/13/2017)

Jyn Erso on the cover of Rogue One #1 (4/5/2017)

Tulon on the cover of Darth Vader #21 (6/8/2016)

Doctor Aphra on the cover of Darth Vader #25 (10/12/2016)

Wonderworld Comics Exclusives

Leia Organa (with Luke and Han) on the cover of Vader Down #1 (11/11/2015)

Jyn Erso on the cover of Rogue One #1 (4/5/2017)

Captain Marvel on the cover of Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #1 (6/10/2015)

Jane Foster Thor on the cover of Thors #1 (6/17/2015)

Emma Frost on the cover of X-Men #600 (11/4/2015)

Jean Grey on the cover of X-Men #600 (11/4/2015)

Jubilee on the cover of X-Men '92 #1 (3/30/2016)

Wolverine on the cover of All-New Wolverine #1 (11/11/2015)

Ms. Marvel on the cover of Ms. Marvel #1 (11/18/2015)

Squirrel Girl on the cover of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3 (12/16/2015)

Gwenpool on the cover of Gwenpool #1 (4/13/2016)

Mockingbird on the cover of Mockingbird #1 (3/9/2016)

Black Widow on the cover of Black Widow #1 (3/2/2016)

Hellcat on the cover of Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 (12/23/2015)
Warrior Woman on the cover of Squadron Supreme #9 (7/20/2016)

Spider-Gwen on the cover of Spider-Gwen #1 (10/14/2015)

Spider-Woman on the cover of Spider-Woman #1 (11/18/2015)

Jessica Jones on the cover of Jessica Jones #1 (10/5/2016)

Tara (and Howard) on the cover of Howard the Duck #1 (9/28/2016)

Nina the Conqueror on the cover of Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #1 (10/26/2016)

Mary Jane and Annie on the cover of Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 (11/9/2016)

Ironheart Riri Williams on the cover of Invincible Iron Man #1 (11/9/2016)

Scarlet Witch on the cover of Avengers #2.1 (12/21/2016)

Hulk (Jennifer Walters She-Hulk) on the cover of Hulk #1 (12/28/2016)

Iron Patriot (Toni Ho) on the cover of U.S.Avengers #1 (1/4/2017)

Wasp (Nadia Pym) on the cover of Unstoppable Wasp #1 (1/4/2017)

America Chavez on the cover of America #1 (3/1/2017)

Avenger X on the cover of Avengers #5.1 (3/29/2017)

Misty Knight on the cover of Black Panther and the Crew #1 (4/12/2017)

Jubilee on the cover of Generation X #1 (5/17/2017)

Gamora on the cover of All New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (5/3/2017)

Psylocke (Astonishing) on the cover of Astonishing X-Men #1 (7/19/2017)

Psylocke (Betsy Braddock) on the cover of Uncanny X-Men #1 (11/14/2018)

Domino on the cover of Domino #1 (4/11/2018)

Shuri on the cover of Shuri #1 (10/17/2018)

Rogue on the cover of What If? X-Men #1 (10/3/2018)

Magik (Sorcerer Supreme) on the cover of What If? Magik #1 (10/31/2018)

Moon Girl (and Devil Dino) on the cover of Moon girl & Devil Dinosaur #1 (6/22/2016)

Spider-Gwen (Aqua Gear) on the cover of Spider-Gwen #7 (4/13/2016)

Spider-Gwen (Samurai) on the cover of Spider-Gwen #8 (5/4/2016)

Silk (Deep-Space) on the cover of Silk #7 (4/20/2016)

Silk (The Worthy) on the cover of Silk #8 (5/11/2016)

Spider-Woman (Polar-Gear) on the cover of Spider-Woman #6 (4/27/2016)

Spider-Woman (Hulkbuster) on the cover of Spider-Woman #7 (5/18/2016)

Cindy-65 on the cover of Spider-Women Omega #1 (5/25/2016)

 Crystal (and Thane) on the cover of All-New Inhumans #1 (12/2/2015)

Medusa (and Inferno) on the cover of Ms. Marvel #2 (12/16/2015)

Naja (and Karnak) on the cover of Karnak #3 (4/20/2016)

Agent Daisy Johnson (aka Quake) on the cover of Quake: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (9/9/2015)

Agent "Peggy" carter on the cover of Agent Carter: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (9/16/2015)

Agent Jemma Simmons (and Agent Leo Fitz) on the cover of Fury: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (9/23/2015)

Agent Melinda May on the cover of The Cavalry: S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (9/30/2015)

Jessica Jones (and Daredevil, Power Man, and Iron Fist) on the cover of Defenders #1 (7/26/2017)

 Storm (Magneto vs Storm) on the cover of Civil War II: X-Men #1 (6/15/2016)

Captain Marvel (Iron Man vs Captain Marvel) on the cover of Civil War II: Choosing Sides #1 (6/22/2016)

Viv Vision (and Nova) on the cover of Champions #1 (10/5/2016)

Ms. Marvel (and Cyclops) on the cover of Champions #3 (12/7/2016)

Storm on the cover of Secret Empire #5 (6/28/2017)

Medusa on the cover of Secret Empire #6 (7/19/2017)

Black Widow on the cover of Secret Empire #7 (7/26/2017)

Darkstar on the cover of Champions #3 (12/27/2016)

Medusa vs Storm on the cover of Inhumans vs X-Men #1 (12/14/2016)

Maximum "Max" Ride on the cover of Max Ride: First Flight #1 (4/8/2015)

Capri on the cover of Figment #3 (11/11/2015)

Constance the Bride on the cover of The Haunted Mansion #1 (3/9/2016)

Now this one is interesting.  Seemingly unrelated to the batch of covers above, this cover came out roughly 2 years before this modern series. This was the main cover for Fearless Defenders #2 and was likely inspired by the toy world's frustration with the missing Dani Moonstar Marvel Legends figure which was supposed to hit the shelves in late 2012. It was never released, despite being advertised on the cardback for Mystique. This cover is by Mark Brooks who also played around with other non-comic themes for covers (like paper cut-out dolls). I consider this cover the true precursor to the modern action figure cover, but it's possible John Tyler Christopher never saw this image before.

Dani Moonstar on the cover of Fearless Defenders #2 (3/13/2015)

I'll finish this post up with a bunch of the recent imitators of the Marvel trailblazers. I don't mean that to be disparaging. I think this trend is awesome and I hope it continues for a long time. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

April O'Neil on the cover of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #52 (11/25/2015) Blindbox Comics Exc.

Doctor Zira (Indigo Lantern) on the cover of Planet of the Apes Green Lantern #5 (6/14/2017)

Pink Ranger on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #3 (5/11/2016)

Yellow Ranger on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 (7/20/2016)

Pink Ranger (Kimberly Hart) on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #19 (9/27/2017)

Yellow Ranger (Trini Kwan) on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #20 (10/18/2017)

Scorpina on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #9 (11/23/2016)

Rita Repulsa on the cover of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #10 (12/21/2016)

Baroness on the cover of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #216 (7/22/2015)

Scarlett on the cover of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #221 (12/9/2015)

Scarlett (and Optimus Prime) on the cover of Revolution #1 (9/21/2016)

Arcee ( and Snake Eyes) on the cover of Revolution #4 (11/2/2016)

Space Glider on the cover of Micronauts #3 (6/29/2015)

Orbital Defender on the cover of Micronauts #4 (7/27/2015)

  

Shazraella on the cover of Micronauts #7 (11/16/2016)

Lynn Minmei on the cover of Robotech #2 (8/30/2017)

Lisa Hayes on the cover of Robotech #5 (12/13/2017)

 Claudia Grant on the cover of Robotech #6 (1/17/2018)

Miriya on the cover of Robotech #13 (10/10/2018)

Azonia on the cover of Robotech #14 (11/14/2018)

Sarah Jane Smith on the cover of Doctor Who: 4th Doctor #3 (6/1/2016) 

Leela on the cover of Doctor Who: 4th Doctor #4 (7/13/2016) 

Starbuck on the cover of BSG vs BSG #5 (5/16/2018) 

Boomer on the cover of BSG vs BSG #4 (4/18/2018) 

Tank Girl on the cover of Tank Girl: Action Alley #1 (12/19/2018)

Ingenue on the cover of Actionverse: Stray #3 (11/8/2017)

Athena Voltaire on the cover of Athena Voltaire #1 (2/14/2018)

Molly on the cover of Spread #12 (1/13/2016)

Xena on the cover of Army of Darkness Xena: Forever and a Day #1 (10/5/2016)

Wonder Woman and Bionic Woman on the cover of Wonder Woman Bionic Woman #1 (12/7/2016)

Dana Scully on the cover of X-Files: Season 11 #1 (8/12/2015)

Asuka on the cover of WWE #5 (5/31/2017)

Naomi on the cover of WWE #11 (11/22/2017)

Mickie James on the cover of WWE #16 (4/18/2018)

Carmella on the cover of WWE #19 (7/18/2018)

The remaining covers on this post are from Action Lab Comics. Most of these variants have additional risque variants. Honestly, just imagine their tops photoshopped out. It takes all kinds.

Janey Belle on the cover of Zombie Tramp #21 (3/30/2016)

Xula on the cover of Zombie Tramp #22 (4/20/2016)

Eve on the cover of Zombie Tramp #23 (5/25/2016)

Vampblade on the cover of Vampblade #4 (4/13/2016)

Klustur Fukur on the cover of Danger Doll Squad: Galactic Gladiators #1 (4/4/2018)

Zombie Tramp on the cover of Danger Doll Squad: Galactic Gladiators #2 (5/30/2018)

Vampblade on the cover of Danger Doll Squad: Galactic Gladiators #3 (6/28/2018)

Dollface on the cover of Danger Doll Squad: Galactic Gladiators #4 (7/25/2018)

That all I could come up with for now. If you know of any others that I missed, let me know below.  I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for future Marvel ones at the very least. Thanks!

Cheers!