MARVEL COSMIC INVASION
As the Annihilation Wave sweeps across the galaxy, the Marvel Universe's heroes rise to face it in 'Marvel Cosmic Invasion,' a brawling side-scroller game by Dotemu and Tribute Games. Here, the team behind this galaxy-spanning adventure reveals the comics that inspired the story and the characters, from the epic ANNIHILATION event to iconic '80s and '90s tales like DARK PHOENIX SAGA and ONSLAUGHT.
A Universe of Inspiration
In Annihilation (2006) #1
The main inspiration for 'Marvel Cosmic Invasion!' We like to think of the game as a '90s blockbuster adaptation of ANNIHILATION: ours is more action-oriented and family friendly, while the original is more thoughtful and mature, but we’re indebted to its grand, sweeping storyline all the same.
In Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #1
The birth of the Guardians as modern audiences recognize them and a good place to get to know Phyla Vell!
In Avengers (1998) #1
The Kurt Busiek and George Perez run of AVENGERS showcases not only a wide-ranging look at the world of Marvel, but shows us characters in recognizable, accessible fashion. Everyone feels iconic and timeless in a way we wanted to recreate in 'Marvel Cosmic Invasion.'
In Captain America (1998) #1
Captain America is a trickier character to write in beat-em-up form. But Mark Waid’s version (whether drawn by Ron Garney or Chris Samnee) is a great example of how pull-off an action-forward hero in our version of the Marvel Universe.
In Uncanny X-Men (1963) #101
Of course, you can't have Phoenix without pulling from the DARK PHOENIX SAGA, but John Byrne and Chris Claremont's version of the characters still feels vital! A masterclass in presenting a big cast of characters with their own identity.
In X-Men (1991) #1
Our game is obviously pulling from the 90s interpretation of the characters, which was led by Jim Lee's work on X-Men (1991) #1 (complete with brown-clad Wolverine and shiny-silver-suited Storm!).
In Spider-Man Unlimited (1993) #1
I can't think of Spider-Man and Venom without thinking of Mark Bagley's Spider-work. Our versions of these characters are directly inspired by some of his panels!
In X-Men (1991) #53
Another big inspiration: the energy and drama of a big crossover event starring all heroes, along with the art which becomes a bit more anime-flavored, something we also share.
In Sensational She-Hulk (1989) #1
In order to give She-Hulk a personality that stood out, we took a lot of inspiration from the Dan Slott and John Byrne runs. Her ability to break the fourth wall adds a fun dimension to the character, in-game.
In Thor (1966) #337
Isn't Beta Ray Bill cool? We agree! Anyone curious about Korbinite's most noble warrior should take a look at his origins in the Walt Simonson THOR series! True mythmaking unfolding upon the page!
In Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1
An exciting stand alone tale of Bill's courage and desire to belong, perfect to introduce new fans to the adventures of Stormbreaker's wielder!
In Black Panther (2016) #1
We usually look to the '80s and '90s for inspiration on the characters, but this is the modern BLACK PANTHER run, and as such, we had to look to it as a resource for our version of the character but also as reference for the Wakanda level.