As a fan of Marvel Champions: The Card Game, I was eager to dig into The Rise of the Red Skull, the first true campaign box expansion for the game. It introduces five villains, two new heroes, and a campaign structure that adds continuity to your play sessions. After several runs through the campaign, I can confidently say it’s a worthy addition to the base game—though like the core set, it comes with a bit of complexity that won’t be for everyone.
That said, the highlights make the experience worthwhile, especially for players looking to deepen their Marvel Champions collection.
What’s in the Box?
The Rise of the Red Skull includes:
- Five new villains: Crossbones, Absorbing Man, Taskmaster, Arnim Zola, and Red Skull
- Two playable heroes: Hawkeye and Spider-Woman
- A short but satisfying campaign structure
- New modular encounter sets and side schemes
The box essentially doubles the amount of villain content available to you and gives a more structured way to play through it all.
Campaign Mode: A Light Narrative, But It Works
The campaign mode introduces some minor persistence elements—damage and conditions can carry over, and you occasionally get upgrades or penalties based on previous performance. It’s not a heavy narrative like you might find in Arkham Horror, but it does help give the encounters a stronger sense of progression.
Each villain has their own unique twist, and the scenario design across the board is solid. Even without the campaign structure, the five villains here expand your replayability significantly.
Absorbing Man – The Standout Villain
Out of the five included villains, Absorbing Man is easily my favorite. His gimmick—absorbing different environmental traits and gaining abilities based on them—feels dynamic without being overwhelming. He presents a real challenge but also avoids some of the slog that can creep into more complicated villain mechanics. Every time I’ve played against him, it’s felt like a fast-paced, well-balanced fight with just enough tension.
He’s also got one of the more thematic designs in the box. It actually feels like you’re fighting a villain who’s adapting and changing on the fly. That kind of mechanical cohesion with the character concept is something Marvel Champions does well when it hits the mark—and it hits it here.
Spider-Woman – Versatile and Fun
The new hero decks are a mixed bag. Hawkeye has his fans (and his uses), but Spider-Woman is the real standout. Her ability to include two aspects in her deck opens up tons of flexibility, and her “buff herself with every aspect card played” ability makes for interesting sequencing decisions each turn. She can swing between support, aggression, and control depending on how you build around her.
For solo and duo play, Spider-Woman brings a toolkit that feels adaptive and fun, and her card pool encourages experimentation and deck creativity.
The Complexity Curve
Like the base game, The Rise of the Red Skull assumes you’re comfortable juggling layered card effects, timing windows, and interlocking mechanics. It’s not the most complex game out there, but it’s certainly not a light, breezy experience. If you’re new to Marvel Champions, I wouldn’t recommend jumping in with this box until you’re comfortable with the core mechanics.
That said, if you are already familiar with the base game, this expansion adds just enough variety and difficulty to feel fresh without being punishing.
Final Thoughts
The Rise of the Red Skull doesn’t reinvent Marvel Champions, but it absolutely strengthens it. The campaign structure is a welcome addition, even if light, and the new content gives veteran players more variety without upending the game’s core identity.
Spider-Woman’s deckbuilding twist is a hit, Absorbing Man offers a standout villain scenario, and the overall campaign arc gives the game a reason to hit the table over and over again.
If you already enjoy Marvel Champions and want more meaningful content, The Rise of the Red Skull is a great step forward. Just be prepared for the complexity that comes with a growing pool of cards and increasingly intricate villain mechanics.
A strong expansion—not essential, but definitely worthwhile.