Retailer hustl. has announced a special collaboration featuring Brooklyn hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G. on an official Marvel 3 limited edition variant cover to celebrate the release of “Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #3.”
In an enthusiastic tweet, hustl. shared, “Where Brooklyn at? Get your copy of our Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #3 variant cover featuring @thenotoriousbig NOW!!!” The link provided directs fans to the hustl. website, where the comic is available in a limited run of 3,000 copies, along with an additional 1,000 spotlight virgin variant copies.
Elliot Osagie, chief strategy officer of The Notorious B.I.G. Estate and CEO of Benin City, expressed the synergy between comic book culture and Biggie’s storytelling. “The characters fit, the cultural intersection works, and fans love seeing the two worlds together. That’s why we came back with another cover.”
This marks the second time The Notorious B.I.G. has appeared on a Marvel Comics variant cover. His first appearance was on a limited-edition cover of “Deadpool” (2022) #1. Hustl.’s COO Keri Harris highlighted the significance of this collaboration, noting that both Biggie and hip-hop turned 50 this year.
“We at hustl. were absolutely thrilled to work with his team and Marvel to create this variant as our way of paying tribute to one of the greatest and influential hip-hop icons of all time,” Harris said.
In the current issue, Biggie is depicted as a peacemaker, intervening in a fight between Deadpool and Wolverine on the streets of Brooklyn. While Biggie is not part of the story or series, the special variant cover is a limited-edition collectible.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Biggie’s first release, “Juicy,” from his debut album, “Ready to Die.” The lyrical legend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, and this year, the Library of Congress added “Ready to Die” to the National Recording Registry.
