In one of Marvel’s boldest and most shameless attempts to completely take control of my bank account and various financial assets, the comic publishing… hmm, need to think of something bigger and more world-conquering than a behemoth… oh I know… the comic publishing cthulu has announced a series of hip-hop album inspired variant covers to be released throughout October.

There are 50 covers planned (fuck me really?) with tributes including Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, Eric B. & Rakim, Lauryn Hill and ODB. This follows the Run the Jewels variant covers from earlier in the year (Howard the Duck and Rocket Raccoon “walking around like they got a 36” chain”) which made me crap my pants with joy.

Here are some of my favourites:

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 by Phil Noto, paying homage to Tyler the Creator’s hilarious cover to Wolf.

Ant-Man #1 by Mark Brooks homaging L’Il Biggie Smalls’ Ready to Die.

Some X-Men (two-thirds of which had been ‘killed off’) reenacting a less jovial version of De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising.

Jenny Frison’s take on the audience-baiting Lauryn Hill and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill featuring Ms. Marvel, who as far as we’re aware is lovely to her fans and is allowed in the country.

Dr Strange #1 by Juan Doe is of course the spit of Dr Dre’s The Chronic. The work of both men can be enjoyed a lot more after a heroic amount of weed.

And finally, Howard the Duck. Who is very much the comic world’s ODB. Will probably come to a similar end too.

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