Marvel Reveals Run The Jewels Variant Covers

Howard The Duck and Deadpool Are Runnin’ Them Jewels Fast.

That’s because April’s “Howard The Duck #2” and “Deadpool #45” will run down with special variant covers honoring 2014’s biggest hip-hop duo, Run The Jewels. As Rolling Stone debuted today, both variant covers will feature the group’s iconic gun-and-fist logo.

While Marvel has paid tribute to rock and hip hop albums in the past, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso told Rolling Stone that this homage is different from the publisher’s previous efforts. “This is very much picking up on something that’s of the moment, and a logo that I think says a lot to a lot of different people,” he said.

Alonso, who hatched the idea, isn’t kidding. Run The Jewels have started a worldwide “tag the jewels” graffiti craze, with artists around the globe spray painting the group’s logo. Alonso mentioned how the movement has swept people around the world—from his son’s pee-wee football team to Bangladesh citizens, and wanted Marvel to be part of that action.  

Both members of Run The Jewels, Killer Mike and El-P, couldn’t be happier about the collaboration. Both artists identify as life-long comic book fans, with both citing The X-Men as one of their favorite titles.

“Comic books are a part of the creative world of a kid in an urban environment,” El-P told Rolling Stone. “You might not admit it on record, but you talk to almost every rapper — we all grew up with that shit. I guarantee you like 80 percent of any rappers that you meet probably went through a large comic book phase.”

You can check out a better look at the covers below. Howard The Duck #2 is by Mahmud Asrar, while Deadpool #45 is by Skottie Young.

We won’t be running fast enough to these comic book jewels when they hit shops in April.