SNEAK PEEK: Featuring Sal Buscema and Bob McLeod…
Marvel in March 2026 will have two Hidden Gem variant covers, featuring classic art by Sal Buscema and Bob McLeod. They’ll be attached to Daredevil #1 and Moonstar #1, respectively.
Now, for those unclear on what Hidden Gems are, they’re a subset of variant covers that use vintage art to reach retro-minded collectors. Lately, they’ve been 1:50 incentive variants, which means a retailer has to purchase 50 copies of a regular issue to get the variant. The variant then can be sold at a premium.
So, they’re geared more toward the higher-end buyer, but they’re always worth a look.
Buscema’s cover is based on his Mighty Marvel Bicentennial Calendar art for the month of December 1976:
Marvel has been using the Bicentennial Calendar for variants for a little while now. They’re also doing a run of homage covers.
Meanwhile, here’s Bob McLeod’s Moonstar #1, which he illustrated in 1984:
For more info on Daredevil #1, click here. For more on Moonstar #1 — the character’s first-ever solo comic, a miniseries — click here.
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MORE
— PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY Facsimile Edition Coming to Prep You for JOHN BYRNE’s X-MEN: ELSEWHEN. Click here.
— 1968’s SILVER SURFER: Marvel to Publish First SEVEN Issues as FACSIMILE EDITIONS. Click here.
December 16, 2025
>> means a retailer has to purchase 50 copies…
>>
Hello, Mr. Retailer. Don’t do it on my account. No real interest here.
What I don’t get is why Marvel didn’t contract with Bob McLeod to do a new cover? Now that would be interesting.
March 5, 2026
Buck, Marvel didn’t even tell me they were using my old art on this new variant. I just discovered it on eBay by chance.
March 5, 2026
While you are here….. I must say, I loved your recent Flash Gordon cover. I thought you really captured the spirit of the strip/characters. Took awhile to ship but once it came in… NICE!