Marvel Rivals: The Comic Book Origins of the Game’s Unlockable Skins

Marvel Rivals may have just launched, but it already boasts a deep roster of iconic Marvel heroes and villains (and a few oddball picks for good measure). The game also includes unlockable skins for every single character. Some of these skins are popular costumes from the MCU. Others are original designs created by NetEase. But many are skins directly inspired by the comic books themselves.

Let’s break down every comic-inspired skin in Marvel Rivals and see how they compare to the source material. Check out the slideshow gallery below or read on to learn more.

Black Panther: Bast’s Chosen

As seen in: Marvel Legacy #1 (2017)

This version of Black Panther isn’t T’Challa, but rather his distant ancestor Bashenga. Bashenga served as one of the prehistoric Avengers of 1,000,000 BC, alongside the likes of Odin and the original Phoenix.

Black Panther: Orisha Blood

As seen in: Avengers #53 (2022)

When forced to defend Avengers Mountain from a powered-up Doctor Doom, T’Challa donned a unique blood-red armor with special mystical properties.

Bruce Banner: Green Scar

As seen in: The Incredible Hulk #92 (2006)

This skin is inspired by the Planet Hulk storyline, where Hulk was dragged away from Earth and forced to fight as a gladiator on the distant world of Sakaar. His strength and rage quickly earned him the nickname “Green Scar.”

Bruce Banner: Mighty G-Bomb

As seen in: The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)

In Hulk’s earliest appearances, the character was depicted as having stone gray skin and blue pants. The more traditional green skin and purple pants came along a few months later, after Marvel realized that combination was easier for the printers to handle. Hulk still occasionally reverts to his original gray form in the comics.

Captain America: Captain Gladiator

As seen in: Planet Hulk #1 (2015)

2015’s Secret Wars crossover resulted in the creation of Battleworld, a patchwork planet composed of the fragments of many realities. In one of these fragments, Greenland, Steve Rogers is a gladiator fighting to survive in a realm overrun by Hulks.

Captain America: Captain A.I.M.erica

As seen in: Marvel Action – Avengers #10 (2020)

This costume pays tribute to an issue of Marvel Action: Avengers, where Cap and many of his allies are brainwashed into becoming servants of the science terrorists known as A.I.M.

Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme of the Galaxy

As seen in: Doctor Strange #5 (2020)

This skin is based on a storyline where Doctor Strange ventures into space to deal with the sinister Roxnor corporation and forges new magical armor and weapons to up his game.

Doctor Strange: God of Magic

As seen in: Doctor Strange #384 (2018)

When Loki usurps the Sorcerer Supreme mantle, Doctor Strange counters by tapping into the power of the World Tree itself and becoming a god of magic. But as always, invoking great magic incurs a great cost.

Doctor Strange: Master of Black Magic

As seen in: Strange Tales #115 (1963)

Like Hulk, Doctor Strange looked a little different in his earliest appearances. This particular skin is based on Strange’s original appearance, when his Cloak of Levitation was colored blue rather than its customary red.

Hawkeye: Freefall

As seen in: Hawkeye – Freefall #1 (2020)

While the game credits Hawkeye: Freefall as the inspiration behind this skin, it’s basically the same costume Clint Barton has worn in the comics consistently since its 2012 debut – a sleek, tactical black outfit with a vibrant purple arrow on the chest.

Hela: Goddess of Death

As seen in: The Mighty Thor #354 (1985)

This skin is based on Hela’s more classic comic book appearance, before her massive, spiky headdress became the norm.

Hela: Ultimate

As seen in: Ultimatum #2 (2008)

This skin is based on the version of Hela from the Ultimate Universe. This Hela is distinguished by her crimson-colored and much more revealing armor.

Iron Fist: Sword Master

As seen in: Sword Master #1 (2019)

Marvel Rivals’ Iron Fist isn’t the traditional Danny Rand, but rather Lin Lie, a more recent heir to the mantle. Previously, Lin masqueraded as Sword Master, and that’s the look from which this skin draws its inspiration.

Iron Man: Superior Iron Man

As seen in: Superior Iron Man #1 (2014)

Due to the events of the AXIS crossover, Tony Stark had his personality inverted and became a vain, self-centered distortion of his normal self. Tony built a new suit of armor to match his personality change, one marked by a uniform silver color and decked out with the latest Extremis technology.

Jeff: Incognito Dolphin

As seen in: It’s Jeff Infinity Comic #3

A four-legged land shark is bound to attract a lot of unwanted attention, so Jeff did the only logical thing and disguised himself as a… land dolphin? At least the comic book incarnation of this costume was a normal silver color and not the bright, frilly pink seen in the game.

Magik: Eldritch Armor

As seen in: New Mutants #65 (1988)

One of Magik’s abilities allows her to summon the mystical Soulsword, but on occasions when she’s especially powered-up, she also conjures an entire suit of silver Eldritch Armor.

Magneto: Master of Magnetism

As seen in: The X-Men #1 (1963)

While this suit retains the various embellishments seen on the standard Marvel Rivals Magneto skin, the color scheme invokes Magneto’s classic red and purple costume from the comics. That look dates back all the way to his very first appearance in 1963.

Magneto: Uncanny Blacksteel

As seen in: Magneto #1 (2014)

This skin draws its inspiration from Magneto’s 2014 solo series, where the Master of Magnetism was dealing with diminished powers and wearing a (relatively) more stealthy all-black costume.

Mantis: Knowhere Corp

As seen in: Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (2016)

Most of the Guardians received costume overhauls for Marvel’s 2015 relaunch of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic. That includes Mantis, who at the time was serving on a team called the Knowhere Corps.

Moon Knight: Mister Knight

As seen in: Secret Avengers #19 (2011)

Secret Avengers and the subsequent Moon Knight solo series cast Marc Spector as the protector of “those who travel by night.” When the situation calls for a dapper detective rather than an imposing vigilante, Marc dons a stark white business suit and mask and goes by the name “Mister Knight.”

Peni Parker: Ven#m

As seen in: Edge of Spider-Geddon #2 (2018)

Pretty much every universe that has a Spider-Man/Woman also has a Venom, and Peni Parker’s universe is no exception. Edge of Spider-Geddon #2 introduced Ven#m, a deadly mecha to rival Peni’s own Sp//dr suit.

Psylocke: Vengeance

As seen in: Uncanny X-Men #256 (1989)

The main Psylocke skin in Marvel Rivals is based on Peach Momoko’s Psylocke: Demon Days comic. For those that prefer the classic psychic ninja look established by artist Jim Lee, this skin is for you.

The Punisher: Punisher 2099

As seen in: Punisher 2099 #1 (1993)

This skin transforms Frank Castle into Jake Gallows, the man who takes up the Punisher mantle in the farflung, futuristic world of Marvel 2099.

The Punisher: Thunderbolts

As seen in: The Thunderbolts (2012) #1

When Red Hulk spearheads a new version of the Thunderbolts team, Frank Castle is one of the hardened killers he recruits. Like the rest of the team, Frank dons a modified red and black version of his traditional Punisher costume.

Rocket Raccoon: Rocky

As seen in: Rocket Raccoon #1 (1985)

This is another skin that hearkens back to a character’s earliest appearances. In this case, back when Rocket Raccoon wore a neon green costume and before he joined the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Spider-Man: Bag Man Beyond

As seen in: The Amazing Spider-Man #87 (2022)

It’s become something of a running joke for Peter Parker to be forced to resort to disguising his identity with a paper bag when his regular costume goes MIA. This skin takes its cues from the recent Spider-Man Beyond storyline, rather than the more iconic “Bombastic Bag-Man” that saw Peter combine a bag with a spare Fantastic Four costume.

Spider-Man: Chasm

As seen in: The Amazing Spider-Man #93 (2022)

This skin transforms Peter Parker into his clone, Ben Reilly. After failing once again to prove himself as a worthy Spider-Man replacement to Peter, Ben took to calling himself Chasm, reflecting the gaping void where his soul should be.

Squirrel Girl: Urban Hunter

As seen in: U.S. Avengers #1 (2017)

When Squirrel Girl joined the patriotically inspired U.S. Avengers team, she donned an appropriately red, white, and blue-colored variant of her traditional costume.

Star-Lord: Jovial Star

As seen in: The Legendary Star-Lord #1 (2014)

When Star-Lord branched out into his own solo series in 2014, he got a new look to match the occasion. This skin is marked by its long red trenchcoat and generally Wild West gunfighter aesthetic.

Storm: Mohawk Rock

As seen in: Uncanny X-Men #173 (1983)

Coinciding with a temporary loss of her powers, Storm donned a fresh new look, ditching the flowing black costume for a grungier punk rock look, complete with a mohawk.

Storm: Ivory Breeze

As seen in: X-Men #1 (1991)

This skin is loosely based on what is arguably Storm’s most iconic look – the all-white suit introduced in the best-selling X-Men #1 and further popularized by X-Men: The Animated Series.

Thor: Herald of Thunder

As seen in: Thor #1 (2020)

Thor received a big upgrade in his 2020 comic series, becoming the newest herald of Galactus and receiving a costume change in the process. The Thurisaz rune on his chest is meant to symbolize the World Tree.

Venom: Space Knight

As seen in: Venom – Space Knight #1 (2015)

This Venom skin transforms Eddie Brock into Flash Thompson, Peter Parker’s former high school bully. After joining the Guardians of the Galaxy and venturing into space, Flash becomes a Space Knight in the grand tradition of Rom.

Venom: Anti-Venom

As seen in: The Amazing Spider-Man #569 (2008)

Eddie Brock once auctioned off his symbiote after contracting terminal cancer. But in a bizarre twist of fate, exposure to Mister Negative’s powers causes the remnants of the symbiote to mutate and become Anti-Venom.

The Winter Soldier: Revolution

As seen in: Captain America – Sentinel of Liberty #6

Bucky Barnes took up a new mantle in Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, becoming Revolution. Naturally, that name change also brought with it a new costume, in this case marked by a stylish cape thrown across one shoulder.

Which of the many comic book inspired Marvel Rivals skins is your favorite? What do you want to see added to the game next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

For more on Marvel Rivals, check out IGN’s Marvel Rivals review and see the patch notes for the first post-launch update.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.