Clea Strange and Elektra are two of Marvel’s fiercest heroes, and they are at their most brutal in a series of stunning variant covers by Peach Momoko. Momoko is known for memorable, jaw-dropping covers, and her variants for May’s Devil’s Reign Omega and June’s Strange #3, show Elektra and Clea at their fiercest. Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 arrives in stores and digital May 25th, with Strange #3 debuting a week later, on June 1st.
Both Clea and Elektra have been (unfortunately) defined by their love interests—Doctor Strange and Daredevil, respectively. The last year has upended these notions, however, as both of them have taken over the roles once held by their lovers; Elektra became Daredevil while Matt Murdock was in prison and Clea is the new Sorcerer Supreme, a role she took after Doctor Strange’s death. Clea and Elektra’s new identities have not come without growing pains—Elektra has struggled to work within Matt Murdock’s code and Clea is trying to balance being the Sorcerer Supreme of two dimensions. Yet the two have risen to the occasion, and two new Peach Momoko variant covers, for Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 and Strange #3, celebrate Clea and Elektra’s fierce natures.
The variant cover for Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 was unveiled on Peach Momoko’s Twitter. Offered with no commentary, the cover shows Elektra, dressed as Daredevil, crying tears of blood; she has just impaled someone with her sais, her Daredevil mask at the sai’s end. The cover drew praise from fans, garnering over 2,000 likes and 400 retweets. Later, the League of Comic Geeks premiered Momoko’s variant for Strange #3. The cover shows Clea, as Earth’s new Sorcerer Supreme, bathed in magical energy, with tiny planets circling her. Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 is written by Chip Zdarsky, Rodney Barnes and Jim Zub, illustrated by Rafael De Latorre, Guillermo Sanna and Luciano Vecchio, colored by Javier Tartaglia, Carlos Lopez, Federico Blee, Dijjo Lima and lettered by Joe Sabino and Clatyon Cowles. Strange #3 is written by Jed MacKay, illustrated by Marcelo Ferreira, inked by Don Ho and Roberto Poggi, colored by Javier Tartagalia and lettered by Cory Petit.
Over the last 18 turbulent months, Clea and Elektra’s positions in the Marvel Universe have been redefined. As stated earlier, both stood in the shadow of their lovers—Clea in particular. When Daredevil and Doctor Strange were taken off the board, Elektra and Clea filled in, and both have put their own spins on the roles they have assumed. Elektra’s struggles to work within Matt Murdock’s rigid code have made for some of the most compelling Daredevil stories of the past decade and Clea has proven herself a far more proactive Sorcerer Supreme than Doctor Strange; in Strange #1, she faced down Doctor Doom himself. Doom’s magical knowledge rivals Strange’s, but Clea held the line, and sent the monarch packing. Momoko’s variant covers perfectly capture the fierce vibe that has come to define Clea and Elektra recently.
Currently, Matt Murdock and Elektra are teaming up to end the Hand once and for all, and Clea is challenging Death herself for the life of her former husband. Peach Momoko’s variant covers for Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 and Strange #3 catch some of Marvel’s fiercest warriors at their most intense.
Devil’s Reign: Omega #1 releases from Marvel Comics on May 25th, and Strange #3 releases June 1st
Source 1: Peach Momoko
Source 2: League of Comic Geeks