Marvel Snap is currently facing serious allegations of art plagiarism, and both fans and critics alike are seeking explanations, along with potential reparations, for the matter. The spark for this controversy is the uncanny resemblance between a piece of fan art and the in-game depiction of the M’Baku card, igniting suspicions about the origins of other card designs as well. This isn’t the first time the game has encountered turbulence; it underwent a brief ban in the US earlier in 2025, which resulted in a shift in its publisher.
Recently, a devoted Marvel artist accused Marvel Snap of infringing on art they crafted years ago to feature on the platform’s card battler game found on mobile and PC. This particular card showcases M’Baku in a way too similar to the fan’s original work, prompting requests for an explanation and compensation. Artists and fans are rallying around this issue, especially as Marvel Snap boasts over 270 cards inspired by various superheroes and villains, each with differing artistic expressions.
Included in these characters is M’Baku, a figure known from the Black Panther universe. While M’Baku has often stood as a nemesis in the comics, the cinematic version portrays him as a hero. Artist Jason Kiantoro recalls creating a piece of fan art of M’Baku back in 2018, coinciding with the release of the first Black Panther film. The similarity between his image and the pixel-style card version, added to Marvel Snap in 2022, appears undeniable despite the medium shift. Kiantoro claims he hasn’t earned anything from his art and has now decided to publicly call out the game for using his work without consent.
Fans and critics are drawing comparisons between the two images, noting similar postures and costumes—M’Baku rushing forward, postured aggressively with a staff grasped firmly. This has thrown a spotlight on the originality of other cards in the game, with accusations that some, like those of Young Avengers’ Wiccan and Sentry, might also borrow heavily from other artists’ work.
Interestingly, the art theft allegations might not even be the most memorable saga in Marvel Snap’s 2025 history. Early in the year, the game experienced a brief ban in the US linked to a larger crackdown that also affected TikTok, with whom its previous publisher, Nuverse, shared ties through parent company Bytedance. Although the inaccessibility lasted less than two days, it prompted a publisher switch to Skystone Games. Additionally, Marvel Snap has since issued compensatory rewards to players affected during the interruption.
