A Marvel fan artist has accused the popular mobile and PC card game, Marvel Snap, of plagiarizing their artwork. The artist claims a piece of M'Baku fan art they created approximately seven years ago bears a striking resemblance to the character's card in the game.  This has sparked a debate among fans, demanding answers and potentially financial compensation for the artist.

With over 270 cards, Marvel Snap challenges players to strategically deploy their heroes and utilize zone effects to achieve victory. Each card features a Marvel superhero or villain, often with multiple art variations. However, the M'Baku card's resemblance to the fan art has raised concerns.

M'Baku, a complex character with a history as both villain and hero in the Black Panther universe, is at the center of the plagiarism debate. Artist Jason Kiantoro shared his 2018 M'Baku fan art alongside the pixel art version from the game.  Despite the stylistic difference, the similarities are undeniable. Kiantoro asserts he received no compensation for his work and criticizes the game for allegedly profiting from fan creations.

The comparison highlights similarities in M'Baku's pose, outfit, and facial expression. The character's charging stance, the position of his staff, and the outstretched hand are notably similar in both versions.  This incident has led fans to question the originality of other Marvel Snap cards, with some pointing to potential similarities between the Wiccan and Sentry cards and other artists' works.

The plagiarism accusations aren't the only controversy Marvel Snap has faced recently.  In early 2025, the game was temporarily unavailable in the United States due to a congressional order affecting its then-publisher, Nuverse, a subsidiary of TikTok's parent company, Bytedance. While the ban lasted less than two days, publishing duties have since transitioned to Skystone Games, and affected players received compensation.