Interviewing Jhony Caballero, Marvel Rivals Print Artist

Capturing the unique essence of a video game is no easy feat, but artist Jhony Caballero plays a winning combo. His eye-catching signature style is the perfect match for Marvel art based on the hugely popular Marvel Rivals video game.

Season 1 of Marvel Rivals pits fan-favorite Marvel super heroes like the Fantastic Four and Doctor Strange up against Doctor Doom, as well as a new — but also old — enemy, Dracula. Before you converge your Duelists, Strategists, and Vanguards into that entangled timestream, get to know the artist behind Sideshow’s Marvel Rivals: Eternal Night Falls Art Print. Fantastic!

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Jhony Caballero Interview with Sideshow

How would you describe your art style? Are there any specific works, genres, or other artists that influenced the style you developed?

I grew up watching a lot of anime, collecting Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and filling sticker albums with games from that era, so I could say my style is influenced by ’90s anime.

Artists who have inspired me, like everyone else, have been Akira Toriyama with Dragon Ball, but there have been other artists like Bengus, Akiman, and Shinkiro. More modern artists include Dave Rapoza, Artgerm, and Ken Taylor.

Before doing the Marvel Rivals: Eternal Night Falls Fine Art Print, we heard you’d already put in a ton of time in Marvel Rivals! Which character(s) do you main in Marvel Rivals — and why? Are these characters also your favorites in Marvel Comics and the MCU?

Aside from anime, I LOVE Marvel Comics. They’ve always been my favorite super hero publisher. Marvel Rivals holds a special place for me because thanks to them and Sideshow, I was able to create an official art print!

My favorite game characters are Storm, Moon Knight, and Loki. I hope they add Ghost Rider soon! He’s my favorite Marvel character!

There’s an incredible sense of movement in the Marvel Rivals art print. Besides the Night Falls storyline, are there specific scenes or images in the Marvel Rivals game that inspired this dynamic layout?

My inspirations were the maps of Central Park and Downtown, and the style of Capcom’s posters for their fighting games in the ’90s. I’ve always loved that style, and when I had the opportunity to combine those two things, the decision was a complete no-brainer.

The Marvel Rivals style itself is instantly recognizable. How did you blend those existing designs, as well as implement or incorporate elements of the game, into your own unique style?

I LOVE the art design in Marvel Rivals. I’ve always looked for new styles to match my style, and I think Marvel Rivals + my style is a winning combination. Haha.

Are there any specific details or hidden Easter eggs you want to point out in Marvel Rivals: Eternal Night Falls, perhaps something that only die-hard fans would notice?

I like to include various small details in my designs, and this poster is no exception. In it, you can find key locations from the season, key plot elements like the Chronovium, and you can even see H.E.R.B.I.E.!

Do you play any other video games? Is there one specific title that sparked your interest in gaming or any others that are important to you as a fan?

I’ve played video games since I was a kid. Games that have shaped my tastes have been Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, Resident Evil 2, Age of Mythology, Crash Team Racing, Halo, The King of Fighters, Pro Evolution Soccer, and many more. I know they’re somewhat retro, but so am I!

Speaking of video games — for properties that have 16-bit or pixelated graphics, how much does the game’s original medium impact your artwork?

I played a lot of arcade games when I was a kid because they were VERY popular in my country in the 2000s. So, as a kid, I used to draw those characters a lot. This led me to find the artists who made those games, and they were partly the ones who influenced my tastes and art style today.

Finally, you’ve previously made two other art prints for Sideshow, including The Matrix: Free Your Mind and The Uncanny X-Men, both with their own unique influences in games and anime aesthetics. Are you a fan of these properties outside of work? What are some of your biggest fandoms?

I usually prioritize working with properties/characters that I like because I know I’ll be able to create much better artwork than with something I have no connection to or simply don’t know about. So, all the art prints I’ve done so far with Sideshow are of things I like and have knowledge of, which is why I’ve been able to create some amazing designs!

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