Marvel’s Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day is Bringing the Heat This July
Marvel Comics is heading back to the beach, and it’s doing it in style. This July, fans are getting another round of sun-soaked superhero fun with Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1, a follow-up to last year’s surprisingly successful revival of the classic ‘90s one-shot.
If you remember Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1, you already know the vibe. It leaned into playful storytelling, eye-catching art, and a whole lot of personality. This new issue looks like it’s doubling down on all of that with even more energy, humor, and, yeah, some impressive beach-ready heroes.
Marvel is pulling in a stacked lineup of artists this time around, including Pasqual Ferry, Valerio Schiti, Dan Panosian, Javier Garrón, and Carmen Carnero, all contributing pinups and stories that celebrate the Marvel Universe in a way you don’t usually see in the mainline books.
Here’s how Marvel is pitching it:
Get YOUR SUPER HERO BEACH BODS READY!
You asked for it, so you’ve got it – Marvel Swimsuit Special is back again! And this time, we’re holding nothing back!
In addition to stunning pinup art, Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 will include four fun, zany, half-naked stories from across the Marvel Universe:
No one skips the gym here! Hulk, She-Hulk, Doc Samson and new hero Powerlift break a sweat in a story by Cody Ziglar (Miles Morales: Spider-Man).
This is how you throw a party in Atlantis! Namor hosts the most epic beach party you’ve ever seen in a story by Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki).
No one brings the heat like the X-Men! See mutants—of all shapes and sizes—hit the beach in Rainbow Rowell’s story that proves how nothing looks better than self-confidence!
And the adrenaline really gets pumping in a beach slasher tale starring Spider-Man by Anthony Oliveria (Avengers Academy)!”
There’s also a fun bit of synergy happening here. The “Brand New Beach Day” title clearly riffs on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the upcoming Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios film hitting theaters this July.
On top of that, Marvel Comics is rolling out Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a five-issue limited series from Dan Slott that could evolve into something bigger.
The original Marvel Swimsuit Special ran from 1991 to 1995, parodying the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue with pinups of Marvel characters in beachwear. It sparked plenty of debate back in the day, but it also carved out a weirdly beloved corner of Marvel history.
Now it’s back, fully aware of what it is, and clearly having fun with it.
You can see covers from J. Scott Campbell and John Romita Jr., below. Marvel Swimsuit Special: Brand New Beach Day #1 looks like a summer comic that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s pretty much the point.
