Marvel Gear News

Since announcing the winners of their Marvel Avengers T-Shirt Design Contest in April, WeLoveFine.com have seen a surge in popularity of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes; the grand prize winner, “Assemble” by Antony Rozwadowski, became an all-time best seller on the site in just a few days!  With excitement leading up to the release of “Marvel’s The Avengers” which is in theaters now, their Marvel and particularly Avengers designs have continued to be hot items, and with the incredibly positive reception of the movie the interest is only getting greater!

Of course, there’s nothing die-hard fans love more than a great in-joke or a nod to one of their favorite characters’ lines or moments, which is why the artists at WeLoveFine got to work following the release to come up with some classic looks with a smidgen of movie inspiration. Check out these brand-new tees on the site, each of which retails for $25.

Meanwhile, WeLoveFine.com’s stylish and popular Marvel polo shirts category just got a little bit bigger, and includes the much-requested S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, plus another featuringthe Fantastic Four!

Have characters and/or quotables you’d like to see WeLoveFine incorporate into more awesome Marvel apparel? Leave WeLoveFine a comment and let them know! For more Marvel-inspired shirts, visit www.WeLoveFine.com!

Thor “Drop The Hammer” tee by Mighty Fine	Black Widow tee by Mighty Fine	“Hulk Smile” tee by Mighty Fine
“Old Fashioned Cap” tee by Mighty Fine	“Infinity Gauntlet” tee by Mighty Fine	“Loki Cats” tee by Mighty Fine

Courtesy of Romance Was Born

Tenaciously opening 2012 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia like the thunderous force of their comic inspirations, Romance Was Born transformed Pier 2 at the Sydney Theatre Company into a super hero playground, complete with a gigantic paper-pop up set straight from the pages of a beloved Marvel comic book. Guests Jenny Kee, Catherine Martin, Sophie Lowe and Susie Lau (Style Bubble) were treated to a SLAM! KAPOW! and BOOM! and models were altered into modern day super heroes with sass as their super power.

Inspired by the almighty spectral power of color, Romance Was Born is drawn to the pop appeal of Marvel Comics and their iconic super heroes. An interest also sparked in the process of CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Key) printing which is used to produce these classic characters from the Marvel world. The CMYK printing technique of halftoning and the pattern like dot work of applying color is responsible for that instantly recognizable comic book style.

Courtesy of Romance Was Born

“Working with Marvel has been a dream”, says one half of Romance Was Born, Anna Plunkett. “Having access to such incredible graphic archives has been so exciting. The Marvel group has been really supportive in helping us reach our creative vision. It’s been a terrific process seeing the collection come to life, and a real privilege to work with such an incredible respected and creative company!”

“Marvel is a brand steeped in tradition but is constantly innovating. The continued popularity, heritage and inspiration Marvel represents all over the world is a testament to the appeal of the brand to artists, creators, collaborators and fashion designers such as Romance Was Born. The collaboration is original, truly one-of-a-kind and speaks to the enduring appeal of the characters and stories of Marvel—with a dash of drama and high fashion allowing us to speak to fans of fashion and art in a unique way,” said Simon Philips, President, Marvel Entertainment International.

Mighty Fine and Marvel.com recently spoke with Dean Trippe, Judge’s Prize winner of Mighty Fine’s “Marvel The Avengers” T-Shirt Design Contest. Awarded by Marvel’s own Executive Editorial Director Ryan Penagos, aka Agent M, Trippe won $400 and his very own shirt design that you can buy at the WeLoveFine.com store.

Mighty Fine: Hi Dean! Tell our WeLoveFine.com community a little about yourself – where are you from, how long have you been a designer, etc.

Dean Trippe: I’m a writer and illustrator from North Georgia, specializing in comics and children’s books. I’ve been drawing and designing almost as far back as I can remember. Really, it seems to me like everyone was drawing back in kindergarten. Anyway, I kept at it. I’m probably best known for my super hero webcomic, Butterfly [iheartbutterfly.com], and as the co-founder and co-editor of the super hero redesign blog, Project: Rooftop [projectrooftop.com], and other internet shenanigans (Barack Obama Looking at Awesome Things, the Draw Batgirl Meme, etc.).

Mighty Fine: Is drawing something you’ve always been interested in? And are your awesome skills self-taught or did you study design?

Dean Trippe: Yeah, I’ve always loved drawing. I guess it became a big part of my life when my friend Cedric showed me how to draw the Ninja Turtles in third grade. That was the biggest game changer. I moved schools the next year and instantly became the Kid Who Draws. I later graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art (AKA comics). I’ve taken a lot of design-oriented classes, but to be honest, I have almost no understanding of the mechanical rules of composition, color theory, or design, despite the efforts of my professors. I don’t know why something looks right or not, they just do–or more often, don’t, and need to be fixed so they don’t look so weird.

Mighty Fine: As your style developed, who did you look to for influences and inspiration?

Dean Trippe: I think the thing I’m trying to achieve is a kind of unpretentious, visual sincerity? It might sound dumb, but I think that covers a multitude of my artistic limitations. A lot of my stylistic influences are visual, but not all of them. Paul Dini and Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series had the most profound impact on my storytelling and visual tendencies; Mike Wieringo (the best Spider-Man artist of all time, for my money) and Mike Mignola were my favorite contemporary comic book artists; Kurt Busiek, Alan Moore, and Grant Morrison wrote pretty much all of my favorite stories, which all deeply affected the way I understand the characters I attempt to depict visually. After college, I got into the decades-spanning brilliance of Jack Kirby and also Wayne Boring, who drew amazing Superman comics in the Silver Age, but often gets overshadowed by (the also incredible) Curt Swan. Wayne Boring has a special place in my heart, though. His lines were so clean and confident. I also think some basic late 80s, early 90s entertainment thinking affects my work. It’s not super obvious or anything, but years spent thinking about “Transformers,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “Back to the Future” will definitely have an effect on your creative process.

Mighty Fine Marvel’s “The Avengers” contest winner Dean Trippe’sentry

Mighty Fine: When you sat down to design for the Avengers contest, how did you come to the design you eventually ended up submitting?

Dean Trippe: I struggled with coming up with any kind of idea for weeks. I knew I wanted to use all the characters from the movie and something to do with the “Avengers Assemble” slogan. “Assembled” popped into my head, and I thought about doing some kind of Voltron-like assemblage of the main characters, and I settled on a playful kind of scene of the team climbing all over Hulk. The scene lent itself to simpler shapes and classic uniforms, so I went with those. I don’t think I’d drawn Thor in his original costume before, but man, I’m never not doing that again. It’s perfect.

Mighty Fine: Describe an element of “Avengers Assembled” that you are really pleased with how it turned out.

Dean Trippe: The smiles. Super heroes need to smile more. Cheer up, guys, you’re saving the world. I mean seriously, why wouldn’t Tony Stark custom weld a fixed smile into the Iron Man helmet? I almost always draw super heroes smiling and floating around clouds. I always think, “Maybe I should just draw a serious face this time,” but then, “Nah.” I guess it’s just my Silver Age fixation, but I liked it when most of the super heroes were pals and fought crime more frequently than each other. (That said, I’m a solid X in the AVX throwdown. Avengers rule, but MUTANT RIGHTS NOW.)

Mighty Fine: In your opinion, what design elements are best to keep in mind when you are working on a piece of art for a t-shirt, hoodie or other apparel?

Dean Trippe: Well, there are a lot of folks who have designed more shirts than I have, but I guess I always aim for simplicity, color choices that would work with other garments, and clear visual iconography. If you’re designing an item so folks will see it and share some sort of connective experience with it and its wearer, the design should be as clear and easy to understand as possible.

Mighty Fine: Are there any styles of art that you haven’t really worked in before that you would like to try your hand at in the future?

Dean Trippe: I’d really like to get back to traditional media more, especially painting, which I’ve neglected for years since going digital, but right now I can’t foresee ever having the time.

Mighty Fine: What are some of your other favorite pop culture characters to draw, either other Marvel characters or entirely other properties?

Dean Trippe: I really like drawing super heroes. I’ve spent so long working on it, and regular clothes and actors’ likenesses are harder and less exciting to draw. Doctor Who is good, but I most enjoy drawing my son’s favorite super heroes: Batman, Superman, Robin, and Miles Morales, the new Ultimate Spider-Man. Though we just finished the first season of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” so I expect Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are going to make the list pretty soon.

Marvel.com: Who is your favorite Avengers character and why?

Dean Trippe: It’s tough, because it’s a great team with an enormous past roster. I want to say Captain America, because he’s easily the best dude in the whole universe. But Black Panther’s like Batman but is also the king of the most advanced nation on Earth…and he doesn’t have his own movie yet? Put me down for Team Panther. Wolverine’s an Avenger, though, right? Still, T’Challa always wins. Then Cap, then Wolverine.

Marvel.com: Which Avengers character would you consider the most stylish and why?

Dean Trippe: That is a nightmare question. Dude, Jack Kirby designed most of these guys. They all look incredible. I guess I’d have to say Iron Man, since he can always update his look to the modern era without feeling too gimmicky when it happens. Upgrades are built into the character.

Marvel.com: What made you want to do this contest?

Dean Trippe: Somebody sent me a link. I’ve seen Mighty Fine contests before, but since they haven’t been super hero specific, I haven’t really thought I’d have much of a shot. People who want to help everyone they can and wear bright colors while doing it? It’s pretty much all I’m into.

To check out Dean’s t-shirt design and the other “Avengers Assemble” contest winners, visit the WeLoveFine.com store.

The results are in and it is with great pleasure that Mighty Fine announces the winners of the Marvel “Avengers” T-Shirt Design Contest! The five prize winners, as well as five terrific honorable mentions, have now been added to Mighty Fine’s online store as an outstanding new compliment to the already comprehensive Avengers category. The group is a real fashion resource for comics fans looking to spruce up their wardrobe just in time for the launch of the Avengers feature film on May 4th! All winning designs are available in both mens’ and womens’ t-shirts and retail for $25; select designs are also available as art prints, from $25 up.

Having kicked off in January with submissions, Mighty Fine’s Avengers contest has delivered a terrific cross-section of fan art — running the gamut from pop art to art nouveau, traditional comic tropes to cutting-edge modern designs — to compete in this opportunity not only to have one’s artwork receive recognition and notice, but to be made into official Marvel merchandise. Dozens of designs made the cut for the ratings period, and through the end of winter and intospring, thousands of fans from all over the world rated their favorite pieces in the competition. They are thrilled to announce the winners, including not only their grand prize winner but the judges’ prizes chosen by Ryan Penagos, Executive Editorial Director of Marvel.com and Laura Hudson, Editor In Chief of Comics Alliance, two runners-up and five honorable mentions – all of which are superb additions to their shop.

These shirts are now listed in Mighty Fine’s Marvel: Avengers category, which includes many classic, best-selling designs in their Minimalist, Pixel Art, Art Nouveau series and more! In addition, to celebrate the announcement of the winners, they are having Daily Deal sales on some of their existing Avengers favorites all weeklong – some designs will be up to 60% off! The entire category can be accessed here.

Without further ado, here are Mighty Fine’s Marvel “Avengers” Design Contest WINNERS!:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER ($1,208 cash prize pool award):

“Assemble” by Anthony Rozwadowski

“Avengers Assembled” by Dean Trippe. (Awarded by Ryan Penagos)

“Avengers Inked” by Jerry Bennett (Awarded by Laura Hudson)

“Avengers Nouveau” by Timothy Lim

“Avengers Revolution” by Dominick Cabalo

HONORABLE MENTIONS ($50 WeLoveFine.com gift certificate each):

“Assembly Required” by Russell Conway	“The 8-bit Avengers” by Drew Wise
“Avengers” by Phillip Giarusso	“The Mighty Fonts” by Brian Kesinger

“Little Avengers” by Mandolin Basinger

Sometimes life knocks us down. Sometimes life knocks our iPhones down…on the ground. But you, Marvel Fan, no longer need to worry about the intense anguish that follows moments after your iPhone crashes into the unforgiving pavement. You can now armor your iPhone 4 with the latest MarvelIconic Covers from Performance Designed Products’ Collector’s Edition Marvel Clip Cases for the iPhone 4.

VENOM – LETHAL PROTECTOR #1 (Feb. 1993). Cover art by Mark Bagley.

First of the six-issue comic book limited series, this marked the first time Eddie Brock received a series in which he was the main character and attempted to change Venom from an unambiguous villain to an anti-hero.

AMAZING FANTASY #15 (Aug. 1962). Cover art by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.
With issue #15 AMAZING ADULT FANTASY was retitled AMAZING FANTASY and slated for cancellation. This issue marks the first appearance of Spider-Man — a teenager, but not a sidekick, and would have everyman doubts, neuroses and money problems. Although the interior artwork was by Steve Ditko alone, Lee rejected Ditko’s cover art and commissioned Jack Kirby to pencil a cover that Ditko inked.

WOLVERINE #1 (Sept 1982). Cover art by Frank Miller
WOLVERINE was Wolverine’s first series as the title character. This issue also included the first appearance of both Lord Shingen and Yukio, who is unnamed in the issue, but later confirmed as the woman who saves him at the end of the issue.

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 (May 1968). Art by Gene Colan and Mike Esposito
The “Golden Avenger” made his solo debut with THE INVINCILE IRON MAN #1. Lee said that “of all the comic books we published at Marvel, we got more fan mail for Iron Man from women, from females, than any other title…”

THE INCREDIBLE HULK – THE EVE OF ANNIHILATION #116 (June 1969). Art by Herb Trimpe and Dan Adkins.
This issue is the first appearance of the Super-Humanoid and primarily revolves around the Leader’s attempt to trap the Hulk while he pushes forward with his attempt to spark World War III. 

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY – THE GRANDEUR AND THE GLORY #124 (Jan 1952). Art by Vince Colletta.
In this issue, Hercules returns to Earth after Thor rushes to Asia to investigate the Demon who has been amassing an army in the jungles of Asia. Also, Don Blake reveals his secret identity to Jane Foster after realizing that his constant disappearances have taken a toll on her psychological well-being.

Check out the designs below and head to the Marvel section at Performance Designed Products to get yours! Use the code “AgentM2012″ to get 20% off and free shipping with your order! Valid through June.

Avengers logo polo shirt from WeLoveFine

Some of Marvel Comics’ most iconic logos from its legendary arsenal of super heroes–The Avengers, X-Men, Captain America, Ultimate Spider-Man and more–have just joined the growing Polo Shirts category by fan-beloved geek apparel retailer Mighty Fine! The first half-dozen items from Marvel’s line-up are now available, retailing for $28 each.

Even when keeping it casual, sometimes it makes sense to dress it up a smidge. There are times when your favorite nerdy tee just doesn’t seem appropriate. Which is where Mighty Fine’s subtle yet awesome polos come in; they are the perfect wardrobe addition for those occasions when you need to be slightly buttoned-up but can still let your geek flag fly!  The first six Marvel designs range from the iconic stars and stripes of Captain America’s shield to the stark, crimson update of new webslinger Miles Morales’ Ultimate Spider-man logo. Have a favorite in the AVENGERS VS.X-MEN saga? Choose from each–or if you can’t decide, get ‘em both!

Mighty Fine’s polo shirts are 100% cotton with a soft, relaxed fit, and feature high-quality embroidery on each shirt’s logo. Many new designs will be added to this category in the coming weeks, so keep checking back at welovefine.com! 

Mighty Fine: Storm fashion art print

Always looking out for Marvel’s fans and fanatics, our friends at Mighty Fine have you covered with new Marvel art prints and t-shirts.

Contributing artists for the new designs and products include Heather Carlton, Megan Lara and Forrest Card. Regular contributer Heather Carlton brings back her steampunk versions of our favorite super heroes! Megan Lara’s Art Nouveau style brings a whole new look to our favorite heroines such as Rogue, Mystique and more. Lara’s artwork accentuates and exemplifies the strength and elegance of the women of Marvel. Blending together serious and villainous with the absurd and ridiculous is Mighty Fine staff artist Forrest Card!

Don’t forget to get your hands on some of the new Fashion Art designs as well! These spunky ’80s style riffs on Marvel’s super heroines will make you want to add the entire art collection to your home. Check out our gallery here on Marvel.com and visit Mighty Fine’s siteto order your favorites and more!

Fantastic Four Dog Tee by Fetch available at PetSmart

Marvel swings into the pet stores for the first time with a Super Hero inspired pet program that’ll power up any pooch. Through a new licensing agreement with Fetch…for cool pets!, a unique line of Marvel Super Hero inspired pet toys, apparel and accessories is available at PetSmart, the largest pet specialty retailer, right now.

The line debuted in March 2012 and features a wide array of Marvel-themed pet products for dogs including toys and apparel. Additionally, a wide assortment of aquatic products will follow shortly after and all will be available in PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as well as online at www.PetSmart.com.

PetSmart, Marvel and Fetch…for cool pets! will support the Marvel Super Hero pet program with an impactful marketing campaign.  Highlighting the campaign will be in-store signage, online promotions and a sweepstakes exclusively for PetSmart Facebook fans on www.facebook.com/petsmart.com.

Spider-Man Black Bandana by Fetch available at PetSmart

“Marvel Super Heroes are a family affair and therefore, should include the family pet,” said Jamie Kampel, Director of Licensing, Marvel Entertainment. “As we continue to look to expand the presence of the Marvel brand to new product and retail venues, the pet category is a natural extension. Fetch has developed a truly unique line, and having PetSmart on board as our premiere retail partner will enable us to make a huge statement for the Marvel brand in the pet category.”

Steven Shweky, President of Fetch…for cool pets! added, “Fetch is approaching licensing from a different direction. Instead of using brands that would typically only appeal to children, Fetch has licensed brands that resonate with the ‘pet parent.’ Marvel is the perfect brand to reflect our approach.”

What other cool pet gear do you want to see? Tweet us!

To protect your iPod touch from bumps and scratches, you need some strong protection. And what protection is stronger than your favorite Marvel super heroes? Performance Designed Products has unveiled their brand new MarvelKawaii line of iPod touch protective covers, perfect for protecting your 4th Gen iPod touch in style! 

These awesome covers, featuring super-stylized and super-cute renderings of fan favorites Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine, are compatible with all current 4th Generation iPod touch devices. Do you have an iPhone 4? Check out PDP’s iPhone Marvel clip cases! 

The Marvel Kawaii line cases are available now at PDP.com and in Apple stores for $29.99. Check out the awesome and adorable designs below!

Get yours today to stop evil-doers cold and be sure to check out PDP’s full line of Marvel products!

You can see the Avengers for the first time on the big screen on May 4, and this summer you can also dress as your favorite heroes with these excellent new costumes from Disguise!

Available in summer 2012 wherever costumes are sold, you can don Iron Man’s gauntlets, wield Captain America’s shield or Thor’s hammer, and even make mischeif as the Prince of Lies himself, Loki!

Scope out our full gallery of Avengers movie costumes for all ages below, and come back to Marvel.com next week for a peek at even mroe of Disguise’s lovely wares!

Iron Man Mark 7 Avengers Basic	Iron man Mark 7 Avengers Basic	Iron Man Mark 7 Avengers Classic Muscle
Iron man Mark 7 Avengers Muscle Light Up	Iron Man Mark 7 Avengers Classic Muscle Adult	Iron Man Mark 7 Deluxe Gloves Child
Iron Man Mark 7 Deluxe Gloves Adult	Captain America Avengers Basic	Captain America Avengers Basic
Captain America Avengers Classic Muscle	Captain America Avengers Muscle Light Up	Captain America Avengers Classic Muscle Adult
Captain America Deluxe Gloves Child	Captain America Deluxe Gloves Adult	Thor Avengers Basic
Thor Avengers Basic	Thor Avengers Classic Muscle	Thor Avengers Muscle Light Up
Thor Avengers Classic Muscle Adult	Hulk Avengers Basic	Hulk Avengers Basic
Hulk Avengers Classic Muscle	Hulk Avengers Muscle Light Up	Hulk Avengers Classic Muscle Adult
Black Widow Avengers Basic	Black Widow Avengers Deluxe Adult	Hawkeye Avengers Deluxe Adult
Nick Fury Avengers Deluxe Adult	Loki Avengers Deluxe Adult	Hulk Avengers Muscle Light Up (Detail)

Thor Avengers Muscle Light Up (Detail)

Captain America Avengers Muscle Light Up (Detail)

Iron Man Mark 7 Avengers Muscle Light Up (Detail)

Ever wanted to see your design on an official Marvel tee-shirt? Mighty Fine Tees is giving you the chance with their special Avengers Tee Design Contest, going on from now until February 12!

Mighty Fine’s Avengers Tee Design Contest

Marvel’s elite team of super heroes is hitting the silver screen, and to celebrate, Marvel presents the biggest Avengers design contest in the galaxy! The rules are simple: All designs must incorporate Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk, but beyond that it’s your call. Assemble your best and brightest  ideas and let’s see your super designs; you could win cash and prizes, and have your design turned into official Marvel merchandise! The top prize could reach up to $2,500 cash!

GUEST JUDGES: Ryan Penagos, executive editorial director of Marvel.com and Comics Alliance’s Laura Hudson!

Full run-down of prizes is available on the contest page, as well as complete rules, but here are three important rules to highlight up front:
-Submissions must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. PST on February 12, 2012.
-Up to five entries are allowed per artist. Contest is open to US residents only.
-Entries MUST incorporate ALL FOUR CHARACTERS–CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR, HULK, IRON MAN–but may also include Hawkeye or Black Widow. Avengers logo CANNOT be utilized in the design, nor can the likenesses of the actors who portray the characters in the films.

By Elizabeth Keenan

Mighty Fine: X-Men Werk

Mighty Fine T-shirts artist Heather Carlton is living the dream–turning her “fan art” into a career transforming the Marvel characters into everything from 8-bit characters to Kraftwerk. Born and raised in Southern California, Carlton began collecting X-Men cards at the age of eight, and her love of comic book art blossomed into a passion for animation with the X-Men cartoon in the 1990s. In art school, her love for illustration led her to a career in the apparel industry. Along the way, she says, the art of Marvel comics always pushed her to improve her own work. Below, Carlton tells Marvel.com about her designs, her favorite artists, and what glam rocker is secretly a retired super villain.

Marvel.com: Your work ranges from 8-bit designs to twists on old-school comic styles, like your Doctor Strange t-shirt. Which Marvel artists provide the most inspiration in your work?

Heather Carlton: As a kid I was first sucked into comics with Jim Lee’s X-MEN #1, then I found myself really liking Nightcrawler in Alan Davis’s work on the original EXCALIBUR series. I really like seeing different styles, so throughout the years it’s been fun to followMarvel as different artists have taken on the titles, like Mike Allred’s bold return to Jack Kirby’s classic look, and even Kia Asamiya’s super bishounen-styled X-men. Alan Davis is probably my all-time favorite, though.

Mighty Fine: 8-bit X-Men

Marvel.com: Who’s your favorite Marvel character to draw?

Heather Carlton: Magneto, for sure! But recently my sketchbook is nothing but Mister Sinister. He’s a challenge with his original cape design. And for years my sketchbook was nothing but mohawk-era Storm….

Marvel.com: What’s your favorite Marvel t-shirt design you’ve done for Mighty Fine?

Heather Carlton: Ooh, that’s kinda hard to say…I tried to do an Alan Davis-style Nightcrawler that simply said “Ladies?” But I think he was too devilishly handsome for the men’s department to handle! It’s hard to pick a favorite because every day I feel like I’m just drawing fan art. I love it all!

Marvel.com: Your 8-bit Marvel characters have been extremely popular. What’s your favorite old-school 8-bit video game? What’s your favorite Marvel video game?

Heather Carlton: As for actual 8-bit games, “The Legend of Zelda” is my favorite. For Marvel, the ones I played the most were 16-bit such as “X-Men 2: Clone Wars” on the Sega Genesis.

Mighty Fine: Beastin’

Marvel.com: Super heroes are known for their perfectly proportional physiques, but 8-bit characters? Not so much. Which Marvel character do you think looks coolest in 8-bit format?

Heather Carlton: I really like the way my Marvel villains piece turned out. But Iceman is always the coolest. Pun intended.

Marvel.com: Your X-Men/Kraftwerk mashup is brilliant. If you were to mash up other Marvel teams with bands, who would be the next team to become a band? What band would they be?

Heather Carlton: “Mister Sinister and the Nasty Boys” are so glam/goth rock! I seriously need to make a rock poster for them! 

Marvel.com: On the flip side, what real-life musician would be the most likely to have secret super powers? Do you think they’d use those powers for good, or would they become a super villain?

Heather Carlton: David Bowie is clearly a gracefully retired super villain. ’Nuff said.

Heather Carlton’s Marvel designs are available at welovefine.com.

By Elizabeth Keenan

Mighty Fine’s staff artist Forrest Card creates t-shirt designs that mix the serious and villainous with the absurd and ridiculous. His “M.O.D.O.K. in Disguise” series places the killer with the giant noggin in the heroic costumes of Thor and Spider-Man (among others) for stealthy infiltration, and his “Mag Neat-O” t-shirt knocks the sometimes villain, sometimes X-Man down a peg from his self-important perch.

We asked Card about his work with these and other iconic characters.   

Mighty Fine: Forrest Card

Marvel.com: How did you land a job as a designer of humorous Marvel t-shirts for Mighty Fine?

Forrest Card: I have loved Marvel comics since I was little, getting the latest issue of Spider-Man. I was drawing a lot of Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell for girls’ clothing at another company when I heard that Mighty Fine was hiring for men’s t-shirt design. And they had the Marvel license. I jumped at the chance to draw some of my favorite Marvel characters for a living.

Mighty Fine: Captain America Bass

Marvel.com: What’s your favorite t-shirt design you’ve done for Mighty Fine?

Forrest Card: I really love to work with M.O.D.O.K. He is such a great and weird character; one of Jack Kirby’s best. But my favorite design, I would have to say, is the Spider-Man Saul Bass-inspired piece.

Marvel.com: Which comic artists have inspired you the most? How do their influences show up in your style?

Forrest Card: My all-time favorite comic artists are Jack Kirby, Alex Toth and Wally Wood. I love the dynamics of Kirby, the simplicity of Alex Toth and the characters of Wally Wood.

One of my favorite current comic artists is Chris Samnee. His work on THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER was amazing. He was able to capture the spirit of fun adventure of the original Thor. 

Mighty Fine: Mag Neat-O

Marvel.com: Many of your t-shirt designs juxtapose the serious tone of comics with silly puns. How did you come up with “Mag Neat-O”? Do you think the Master of Magnetism would approve?

Forrest Card: I was thinking one day of old phrases that no one uses anymore, and “neat-o” came up. For some reason I had Magneto up on my screen and it all came together. I thought, “That’s so corny. It’s perfect.”

If Magneto had the right publicist this would be the perfect thing to change his public image. It would be just the right new angle to get the kids to join his side. “Come join us, we’re cool and hip, and we got no rules, man. Unlike stuffy old Xavier. And we’ve got cookies.”

Mighty Fine: Thodok the Mighty

Marvel.com: Your “Tho-dok” t-shirt combines the squat contours of M.O.D.O.K. with the hammered awesomeness of Thor. If you were to acquire the combined powers of a Marvel super hero and a Marvel villain, what would they be?

Forrest Card: I would love to teleport like Nightcrawler, especially when stuck in rush hour traffic. I am not sure about the villain. I guess the ability to shape-shift like Mystique would be pretty cool also.

Marvel.com: Who is your favorite Marvel character to draw? If you were to put that character on a t-shirt, what situation would you draw them in?

Forrest Card: I love the character of M.O.D.O.K. He is so much fun to draw. The great thing about him is you can put him into any number of serious situations and because he is so weird he looks ridiculously out of place. His comedy practically writes itself.

I love playing with opposites. Magneto is a character who takes himself so seriously. I would love to take Magneto and put him in “The Office” as Michael Scott’s replacement. Doing horribly in a menial job with paper clips stuck to his face, being all stressedout about getting out his TPS reports. Frustrated at his computer because his powers keep erasing the hard drive.

Mighty Fine: Magneto’s Awkward Photo

Marvel.com: The Marvel universe is filled with uncomfortable family units, which you capture in your “Awkward” family portrait of Magneto, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. If you were to do more “Awkward” groupings, who would you include in them?  

Forrest Card: I love the Fantastic Four as a family unit. I mean, they are already wearing matching outfits. They just need to pose together for the photo. I’d really like to see their Christmas card.

Forrest Card’s Marvel designs are available at welovefine.com.

Kids can celebrate the Holidays early as Marvel and P.S. from Aéropostale present an exclusive collection of Marvel Super Hero merchandise! Kids ages four to twelve years old will enjoy apparel featuring classic Marvel Super Heroes such as Spider-Man as well as next summer’s blockbusterfilm event “Marvel’s The Avengers” which features Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye.

The exclusive collection, which includes t-shirts, hoodies and accessories, is currently avaibale in P.S. from Aéropostale stores across the U.S. and online at www.ps4u.com. Additional apparel and accessories will continue rolling out in support of “Marvel’s The Avengers” in theaters on May 4, 2012.

Visit www.ps4u.com or head to your nearest store to surprise your favorite miniature Marvel fan with some stylish steez courtesy of Marvel and P.S. from Aéropostale!

Today, Marvel’s legendary super heroes are heading back to school and enrolling in the University of Southern California! Through an agreement with Silver Star Merchandising, the apparel manufacturer and distributor subsidiary for the Dallas Cowboys, Marvel has licensed its Super Heroesfor a co-branded apparel program dedicated to USC.

The collection combines one of the most recognizable athletic programs in the nation with some of the most popular Marvel Super Heroes of all-time including Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Wolverine. Featuring apparel and headwear for infants, kids, and adults, the collection will feature your favorite Super Heroes in USC’s school colors of Cardinal and Gold, along with its Trojan mascot and logos.

The product line will be available at mass and sporting good retailers, USC bookstores and online beginning in late September. Check out some of the hard-hitting designs below! 

Marvel and USC Collaboration- Spider-Man T-Shirt

Marvel and USC Collaboration- Marvel Heroes T-Shirt

Marvel and USC Collaboration- Hulk T-Shirt

Marvel keys

House keys will never be the same again, True Believers! Four of Marvel’s mightiest heroes have exploded into hardware stores, and are available now on five never-before-seen house keys thanks to Howard Keys.

On the “Spider-Man Wallcrawler” key, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is shown against classic comic panels on the front, and demonstrates how he earned the nickname “Wallcrawler” on the back. “Spider-Man Skyline” features Spidey high in the skyscrapers of New York City, swinging to his next adventure.

The Captain America key features Cap standing guard on the front, and leaping into action on the back. Thor’s key shows the Mighty Avenger prepared for battle, ready to defend Midgard and Asgard alike. The “Classic Wolverine” key shows Logan in his iconic blue and yellow costume, clawing his way out of the comic pages.

Ask for these keys at your local hardware store, or wherever house keys are cut. Retailers that don’t already have these keys can order them for you through The Hillman Group. The Hillman Group sells to the keycutting industry only, and is unable to sell to the public.

Add some excitement to your keyring!

Sometimes life knocks us down. Sometimes life knocks our iPhones down…on the ground. But you, Marvel Fan, no longer need to worry about the intense anguish that follows moments after your iPhone crashes into the unforgiving pavement. Because now you can give your iPhone super powers with Performance Designed Products’ Collector’s Edition Marvel Clip Cases for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4th Gen!

Choose your destiny with designs featuring Marvel’s most popular characters including the Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine,Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Magneto and Captain America. Whether you choose to give your iPhone or iPod Touch gamma radiation, Super Soldier serum, advanced armor technology or an adamantium skeleton, one thing is for sure: your gear will strike fear into evil doers’ hearts!

Check out the designs below and head to the Marvel section at Performance Designed Products to get yours! Use the code “comiccon2011″ to get 20% off and free shipping with your order! Valid until the end of August.

Marvel Hulk Brick iPhone 4	Marvel Wolverine Red Rage iPhone 4
Marvel Amazing Spider-Man iPhone 4	Marvel Captain America Newspaper iPhone 4
Marvel Iron Man Bling iPhone 4	Marvel Magneto Explosion iPhone 4
Marvel Silver Surfer iPhone 4	Marvel Captain America Shield iPhone 4

“Captain America: The First Avenger” hits theaters this Friday, July 22, bringing with it the smell of super powered patriotism and victory! We’re not exactly sure what all that smells like, but our friends at Mighty Fine have you covered when it comes to Captain America tees. Whether you’re a member of S.H.I.E.L.D., a Howling Commando or just a proud civilian, we’ve got the perfect Hydra-fighting gear for you! Suit up, Super Soldier-style!

Check out our gallery here on Marvel.com and then visit the Captain America page on Mighty Fine’s site to order your favorites!

Captain America Fractured Shield Men’s Tee by Mighty Fine	Captain America Fractured Shield Women’s Tee by Mighty Fine
8-Bit Avengers Tee by Mighty Fine	Cap Battles That Matter Tee by Mighty Fine
Cap Eagle Tee by Mighty Fine	Cap Poster Tee by Mighty Fine
Cap Is Da Bomb Tee by Mighty Fine	Captain America Bass Tee by Mighty Fine
Cap Fight For Freedom Tee by Mighty Fine	Cap M.O.D.O.K. Tee by Mighty Fine
Cap Never Give Up Tee by Mighty Fine	Captain America Costume Tee by Mighty Fine
Captain America Comic Tee by Mighty Fine	Classic Avengers Tee by Mighty Fine
Hydra Logo Tee by Mighty Fine	Stunt Captain Tee by Mighty Fine
Red Skull and Crossbones Tee by Mighty Fine	S.H.I.E.L.D. Eagle Tee by Mighty Fine
S.H.I.E.L.D. Needs You Tee by Mighty Fine	Simple Captain Tee by Mighty Fine
Cap Against Drugs Tee by Mighty Fine	Captain America Drips Tee by Mighty Fine

Lookfor more Mighty Fine updates here on Marvel.com in the coming months!

The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys Collaboration

Today, Marvel’s stars join the Lone Star State’s Dallas Cowboys in a team-up of epic proportions! Adversaries are sure to fumble as super heroes meet football players in a new collaboration that will have fans dancing in the end zone.

Marvel Entertainment, LLC and the Dallas Cowboys today announced a collaboration that joins renowned Super Heroes from the Marvel Universe with one of the premier franchises in NFL history. Fans will be able to purchase co-branded merchandise featuring Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and many other Super Heroes decked out in Cowboys’ team colors, logos and jerseys.

“We continue to expand our consumer products into new distribution channels through this exciting partnership with the NFL’s most popular franchise,” said Paul Gitter, President of Consumer Products for North America, Marvel Entertainment. “The co-branded program with the Dallas Cowboys, America’s Team, helps further establish Marvel’s presence within the sports industry.” Mike Jerchower, Marvel’s Director of Licensing added, “Captain America and the Marvel Super Heroes are excited to join the Cowboys on their quest for the Super Bowl.”

“We are excited to team up with Marvel Entertainment to create such a unique line of apparel for our fans,” said Jerry Jones Jr., Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Dallas Cowboys.  “We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to energize our fans, and what better way than to combine our brand with some of the all-time great Super Heroes that everyone has grown up with.”

Check out four of the new Marvel/Dallas Cowboys designs that will hit shelves this summer!

The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys Captain America T-Shirt	The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys Trifecta T-Shirt in Grey
The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys Super Fans T-Shirt in Navy	The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys Game Time T-Shirt in Black

The Marvel/Dallas Cowboys collection for infants, kids and adults will include t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, caps and onesies. The line will debut this summer at mass, mid-tier and sporting goods retailers as well as at the Cowboys Stadium and Cowboys fan shops.

Look for more updates on future Marvel-Dallas Cowboys products here on Marvel.com. 

X-Men t-shirt by Junk Food

Everyone loves a good serving of junk food, especially Marvel junk food! So check out some of Junk Food Clothing’s line of Marvel super hero tees that are both super sweet and savory.

Want to express your love for all things Marvel while giving off a cool vintage vibe and West Coast flavor? These tees are just your style. Featuring Marvel’s most popular heroes, including Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men and more, Junk Food’s Marvel super hero line makes you feel like a hero without having to wear tights. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Check out our gallery here on Marvel.com and then visit the super hero page on Junk Food Clothing’s site to order your favorites!