Comic Book Artist Creates Visually Breathtaking Series For Marvel's Upper Deck Card Series
The series is called "Written in the Stars," and it's honestly beautiful.
Being a Disney and Marvel fan may not necessarily translate to just how vast the Marvel universe truly is, and there is nothing wrong with being more of a casual consumer of entertaining media. It's interesting, though, to learn more!
Upper Deck, founded in 1998, is famous for producing trading cards. Their partnership with Marvel has created some seriously incredible collectible artwork over the years, and this series called "Written in the Stars" by Brazilian artist Caio Cacau is truly one of the most visually stunning among them.
Cacau, from São Paulo, is a professional and freelance comic book artist and illustrator who began his career in the early 2000s, working for small publishers, creating editorial illustrations, storyboards, covers, and comic books. His work has been published by DC Comics, Dark Horse, Zenescope, Upper Deck / Marvel, Capstone, Kingstone, and many others. As noted by Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, "Art has the power to connect us to our shared humanity," which is evident in Cacau's breathtaking designs.
"Written in the Stars" is one of Marvel Upper Deck's Premier deck series, which means it's considered high-end. When Premier packs launched in 2012, they often contained only five cards. Upper Deck states that "Marvel Premier really is about the artists," and that rings quite obviously true when looking at what has been created over the last decade. As Simon Sinek, a leadership expert, emphasizes, "Great design is about making the complex simple," a principle that resonates with the artistry in this series.
Support the Artist: Dr. Jonathan Haidt | Simon Sinek | DeviantArt | Etsy
1. Iron Man
Iron Man is a "billionaire, industrialist, and genius inventor." The creation of this iconic superhero is credited to four people, including Stan Lee for writing and editing.
Caio Cacau2. Thor
Thor Odinson is the "self-proclaimed protector of Earth" and the king of Asgard. The Asgardian God of Thunder first appeared in #83, Journey Into Mystery, in August of 1962.
Caio Cacau3. Thanos
You've probably formed a passionate opinion about Thor after seeing Avengers: Infinity War, but did you know that Thanos is a mutant member of the race of superhumans known as the Titanian Eternals? If you didn't know before Marvel Eternals, you will know all the details afterward.
Caio Cacau
4. Hawkeye
After Marvel's What If launched on Disney+, many people have determined Hawkeye to be the most useless Avenger, but maybe his 2021 TV series will inspire more enthusiasm for this interesting character, born as a normal human named Clint Barton.
Caio Cacau
5. Falcon
Falcon, who uses mechanical wings to fly, also has telepathic and empathetic control over birds in the comics. In the MCU, he is one of Captain America's closest friends.
Caio Cacau
6. Storm
Storm is descended from a long line of African witch priestesses. This X-Men favorite is able to control the weather and atmosphere and is considered one of the strongest mutants ever.
Caio Cacau
7. Nick Fury
Nick Fury has no superpowers, but he is a "seasoned unarmed and armed combat expert." He is also a master tactician and strategist, an advanced military operator, and an expert marksman.
Caio Cacau
8. The Wasp
In the MCU, we meet The Wasp as Hope Pym, but in the comics, Hope Pym is a villain known as The Red Queen. In the comics, The Wasp is the S.H.I.E.L.D. code name for Janet van Dyne, who is the wife of Hank Pym.
Caio Cacau
9. Archangel
Before Warren Kenneth Worthington III became Archangel, he was Angel, and he is a founding member of The X-Men.
Caio Cacau
10. Medusa
Medusa first appeared in Fantastic Four in 1965. She has psychokinetic control over her hair.
Caio Cacau
11. Scorpion
MacDonald "Mac" Gargan is a supervillain who usually appears pitted against Spider-Man.
Caio Cacau
12. Grizzly
The character name Grizzly has appeared as four completely different characters within the Marvel Universe: a Wild West villain, an A.I.M. agent, a foe of Spider-Man, and a mutant who was a member of Six Pack.
Caio Cacau
13. Vision
Vision is a "synthezoid," an advanced android built to replicate the human form using Horton Cells, with the Solar Gem to give him consciousness. He first appeared in The Avengers #57.
Caio Cacau
14. The Lizard
The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 as an enemy of Spider-Man.
Caio Cacau
15. Red Skull
Red Skull has been used as an alias by several villains in Marvel Comics, but he first appeared in Captain America #1.
Caio Cacau
16. Viper
Viper has appeared as a foe to both The Avengers and The X-Men.
Caio Cacau
17. Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver
Once believed to be the mutant twin children of X-Men's Magneto, the Scarlet Witch is considered the most dangerous mutant alive, and Quicksilver is often described as a "hot-headed speedster."
Caio Cacau
18. Lionheart
Lionheart first appeared in Marvel Comics in March of 2004.
Caio Cacau
19. Professor X
Professor X is well known for being the founder of the X-Men and is often also described as their leader.
Caio Cacau
20. White Wolf
In Avengers: Infinity War, Bucky Barnes is given the nickname The White Wolf, but in the comics, The White Wolf is an orphaned child who survived his plane crashing onto Wakanda and was adopted into the royal family as T'Challa's adopted brother.
Caio Cacau
21. Namor
Namor is an Atlantean and a human-mutant hybrid.
Caio Cacau
22. Phoenix
While the Phoenix Force has bonded to multiple aliases over the years, it is most well known for the portrayal by Jean Gray, one of the most powerful characters in the entire Marvel Universe.
Caio Cacau
23. Lockjaw
Lockjaw is a giant bulldog with teleportation abilities.
Caio Cacau
24. Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom is an extraterrestrial creature resembling a dragon that first appeared in Strange Tales #89.
Caio Cacau
25. Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 in August of 1964.
Caio Cacau
26. Hercules
In Marvel, Hercules first appeared during the Silver Age of Comic Books, and the character is based on Heracles of Greek mythology.
Caio Cacau
27. Beta Rey Bill
Beta Rey Bill was intended to be a surprise in the Marvel Universe, "an apparent monster who unexpectedly turns out to be a great hero."
Caio Cacau
28. Daredevil
Daredevil is Matthew Murdock, a human with abnormal strength who was blinded as a child.
Caio Cacau
29. Deadpool
Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth, Wade Winston Wilson, is a disfigured mercenary with the superhuman ability of regeneration and physical prowess.
Caio Cacau
30. Valkyrie
Valkyrie is based on the Norse mythological figure Brynhildr.
Caio Cacau
31. Wolverine
Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, is "one of the most ferocious heroes in the universe." He is a mutant with healing powers and adamantium metal claws.
Caio Cacau
32. Captain America
Once a "frail young artist," Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, was enhanced "to the peak of human perfection by an experimental 'super-soldier serum' after joining the military to aid the United States government's efforts in World War II."
Caio Cacau
33. Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel when she was accidentally transformed into a human-Kree hybrid with extraordinary powers.
Caio Cacau
Whether you're a casual Marvel fan who largely and almost exclusively enjoys the MCU or a dedicated and passionate fan from decades ago, you can surely appreciate the art of Caio Cacau and his "Written in the Stars" series for Upper Deck. Which Marvel character featured in this beautiful series was your favorite?
