Avengers: Endgame and Its Characters in Ukiyo-e Style (Gallery)

As expected, Avengers: Endgame is crushing everything in its path. $1.35 billion in five days sends a strong message, and it's very possible that Avatar will be forced to surrender its throne. Meanwhile, fans and artists express their love and admiration for the saga through various means, from cosplay and pirate miniatures to hand-drawn art and Ukiyo-e. Yes, the classic Japanese style has arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to illustrator Takumi Toxin, and you can't miss it.

The floating world of Ukiyo-e

The artistic style known as Ukiyo-e exploded during the 17th century in Old Japan. The original term refers to images belonging to the "floating world", a concept that describes a certain hedonistic lifestyle that the lower classes managed to access thanks to economic growth, such as sumo wrestling, the company of geishas, and the Yūkaku districts (the equivalent of red-light districts). Warriors, historical scenes, myths and folklore, landscapes, local flora and fauna, beautiful women and erotic material were recurring themes in Ukiyo-e, with accessibility being one of its main advantages. In other words, Ukiyo-e didn't cost an arm and a leg, and it quickly became a decorative element.

The Ukiyo-e tribute to Avengers: Endgame

Despite the years and distances, Ukiyo-e has found a way to connect with modern pleasures, and one of them is Avengers: Endgame. The spectacular conclusion to Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe took the world by storm, broke several box office records in different regions, and will surely shatter many more in the coming days. Artist Takumi Toxin decided to capture the essence of Avengers: Endgame and pour it into Ukiyo-e, creating a series of eleven images that are not to be missed.

A closer look at names and patterns

Those with a more advanced command of Japanese will spot interesting details in the names assigned to the characters. Captain America's case could be interpreted as a literal translation, while Thanos's name combines the Infinity Stones and the six realms of samsara.

Another eye-catching aspect is the pattern in the clothing and its connection to each character. Captain America wears shippo, a circular pattern similar to his shield. For Thor we see a kumo or "cloud" pattern, and Iron Man follows the bishamon kikko pattern, which imitates electronic circuits.

Needless to say, Hulk is a clone of Blanka, and War Machine looks excellent. In case you were wondering, the "ninja with swords" is Hawkeye, following his alternative identity Ronin. If you want to see more of Takumi Toxin, you should definitely check out his Twitter, his official page, his Instagram profile, his Facebook account, and his DeviantArt profile.