Celebrating Four Years of Variants - Part I: Original Artwork

In celebration of Snap's anniversary, Ambedo has scoured the entire catalog of variants to bring you a four-part retrospective. Check back every Saturday of the month for a brand-new themed installment!

Let's kick off this retrospective with some of the best original alternate art pieces in the game! What constitutes the best is, of course, a matter of personal taste where art is concerned, so let's just say that the following 15 pieces perfectly bring together vision, talent, and memorability!

Before diving in, here's a few things you should know:

• Alphabetical Order: Pieces are listed alphabetically by character name.
• Artwork Quality: Full artwork is used throughout this installment. While some images are unedited, others display card outlines or minor structural edits. There is no way around it unfortunately!
• Rarity & Popularity (# of owners and % of owners having the variant as favorite): Sourced directly from SnapComplete, this data acts as a quantitative metric for the community's favorite variants. Keep in mind that a variant's scarcity is tied to its type and acquisition method (whether it was a free event reward, purchased with game currency, or bought with real money). The same goes for the age of the variant itself.
• Release Rate (RR): Represents the total number of an artist's available variants divided by the total number of days since their very first artwork was released. In this context, a higher RR serves as an additional metric for creator demand and community popularity. The average Release Rate is .020. (Art studios, artists without original material, or creators with only a single variant do not have an RR assigned for this retrospective.)

I. Ajax

Art by Viktor Farro [ RR: 0.069 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: liquid charcoal, acrylic paint and digital coloring
Part of the Revenge of Francis bundle released in January 2025
Rarity: 4th | Popularity: 1st* out of 5 variants

Textures, colors, kinetic energy… Farro is Snap's apex illustrator. His RR is excellent (ranking 6th overall), and he's been featured as the seasonal showcase artist twice since his debut. Keep his variants coming, Second Dinner!

Is the community fond of Farro's work?

Without a doubt. Nearly 60% of Farro’s 60 variants secure a spot on the podium. What’s even more impressive is the breakdown of those 35 top finishers: 16 take 1st place (46%), 13 take 2nd (37%), and only six land in 3rd (17%).

Who is Ajax?

Don't trust the MCU, which essentially combined him with the doctor he was actually working for as an enforcer. Ajax is a super-soldier, thanks to the experiments of Emrys Killebrew, a doctor at the Workshop, a facility for failed super-soldier experiments. Besides the expected speed, strength, and combat skills – and contrary to his archenemy Deadpool – Ajax doesn't feel pain.

* Jon Lam's mysteriously rare variant – only five members of SnapComplete's community own it – ranks 2nd and Mello's Venomized 3rd.

II. Black Panther

Art by Shawn Crystal, aka Inkpulp [ RR: 0.014 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional ink, graphite and digital coloring
Part of the Long Live the King bundle released in March 2024
Rarity: 5th | Popularity: 8th out of 25 variants

I believe that this Black Panther variant is the most original and stylistically dominant one in the character's variant pool. The composition here is what brings this piece to another level, along with a perfect blend of muted and saturated colors. It feels like a modern collage. 

I wish Inkpulp's RR would be higher. Let's hope that his latest Rocket Raccoon variant – which features a slightly toned-down style – isn't a sign of what's to come next. (Side note: the game has more than enough 'big gun' Raccoon variants!)

Is the community fond of Crystal's work?

The jury is still out. Crystal holds a modest 29% podium rate across his 14 variants, with only one capturing 1st place: his highly-rated Mojo. His variants for Miek, Negasonic, and Wolfsbane all land in 3rd, failing to capture the top slots. Meanwhile, his Black Panther variant sits at an unexpectedly low 8th place.

III. Cable

Art by Alex Horley [ RR: 0.027 | variants | Official website ]
Medium: acrylics and oils
Super Rare Wastelands variant released in October 2023
Rarity: 8th | Popularity: 9th out of 18 variants

Alessandro Orlandelli, better known as Alex Horley, is a classically trained Italian artist and stylistic heir to legendary painter Boris Vallejo, the pioneer of what could be termed heavy-metal fantasy realism. 

Within the Marvel Snap roster, Horley’s work is immediately distinctive, primarily because he remains one of the few contemporary artists utilizing a fully traditional painting process. The gritty textures of this Wastelands Cable variant, typical of his work, beautifully demonstrate his reverence for 1970s and 1980s pulp literature and metal music.

Is the community fond of Horley's work?

The community holds Horley's work in high regard. Roughly a third of his 38 variants land a podium finish, driven by appreciation for his Savage Land-style creations. His Shanna variant ranks 1st, Firehair and Starbrand take 2nd, and Ka-Zar, Kraven, Rogue, and White Tiger capture 3rd. Shanna isn't his only champ, either – an impressive 42% of his podium finishes are 1st-place victories : Devil Dinosaur, Khonshu, Skaar, and his Ultimate Adam Warlock variant.

IV. Havok

Art by Flaviano Armentaro [ RR: 0.032 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional ink and digital coloring
Super Rare variant released in August 2024
Rarity: 8th | Popularity: 1st* out of 10 variants

With so many great Armentaro variants released over the past few years, I had a hard time choosing just one. I could have opted for Juggernaut, Galactus, Legion… All high-impact pieces! 

Flaviano's 2026 releases, however, fail to capture his winning formula, with the exceptions of Omega Sentinel and an exquisite, stylistically distinct Cyberpunk Jim Hammond Human Torch. It just doesn't have the same punch that made his earlier work so iconic. Was it a deliberate choice? I would really like to know!

Is the community fond of Armentaro's work?

Without a shadow of a doubt! No less than 70% of Armentaro's variants land a podium finish, heavily dominated by top-tier placements: 50% rank 1st, 31% rank 2nd, and a mere 19% settle for 3rd. However, the community seems to agree that his recent offerings don't quite pack the same punch. Only about one in four of his top-ranking variants are from this year – and even then, they are mostly carrying cards with very limited competition like Awesome Andy, Bastion, Danger, and Moira X.

* ADIA's Fantasy variant ranks 2nd and Mateus Manhanini 3rd. 

V. The Infinaut

Art by Maria Wolf [ RR: 0.009 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional watercolor, ink, graphite, and digital coloring
Super Rare variant released in July 2024
Rarity: 5th | Popularity: 2nd* out of 11 variants

Maria Wolf is one of those few artists in the game who works with Marvel as well as Snap, which I think is pretty cool. You can recognize her colorful, detailed work at first glance. Most of her maximalist work walks the thin line between dream and nightmare, which gives her a really unique edge. However, her release rate since making a first appearance in the summer of 2023 is abysmal…

Is the community fond of Maria's work?

Yes! An impressive 50% of Maria's variants make the podium – with an elite twist: absolutely no 3rd-place finishes. Her work completely skips the bottom step, with Echo, Giganto, and Warpath comfortably ranking 1st, while Onslaught and Infinaut hold down a strong 2nd place.

Who is the Infinaut?

The Infinaut is a macro-dimensional cosmic entity and spatial explorer whose entire purpose in life is to explore and learn. He has no ill intent, but because he is so gigantic his physical manifestation in a normal universe poses a planetary extinction threat. He is commonly associated with the Ultimates who managed to shrink him to human size with the help of Pym Particles to safely interact with him.

* Farro's variant ranks 1st and Armentaro's (season pass) 3rd.

VI. Cosmic Ghost Rider

Art by Creative House Pocket [ RR: 0.235 | variants | official website ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Part of the Cosmic Hellfire bundle released in November 2025
Rarity: 2nd | Popularity : 1st* out of 6 variants

CHP is the second most prolific studio in the game, trailing only Pandart. Out of about 150 mostly cheesy, anime-adjacent variants, one's bound to find a few gold nuggets like the Ancient One, Bruce Banner, Kitty Pryde, Merlin, and Werewolf by Night. Ultimately, I chose Cosmic Ghost Rider because it strays from the studio's output in the best of ways. With its unique bird's-eye view and malevolent aura, it's their most menacing and striking piece – though Bruce came a very close second!

Is the community fond of CHP's work?

A studio with a massive catalog of over 150 variants is bound to have a huge fan base. CHP’s podium rate is a stellar 59%, placing it just behind Farro. The distribution among those top slots is highly competitive: 42% rank 1st, 35% rank 2nd, and 24% round out the top three in 3rd. Clearly, casual and loose interpretations of characters are highly favored by the player base – even if that realization is a bit disappointing.

Who is the Cosmic Ghost Rider?

In the alternate reality of Earth-TRN666, Frank Castle (The Punisher) dies during Thanos's final assault on Earth. Desperate to punish the Mad Titan, Frank makes a deal in Hell with Mephisto to return as the Ghost Rider. However, by the time he returns, Earth is completely dead and Thanos is gone. After roaming the empty planet for centuries, a wounded Galactus arrives, and Frank bargains with him to become his new herald – transforming into the Cosmic Ghost Rider.

* Jim Valentino's repurposed 1991 cover art variant ranks 2nd and Mooncolony's Wanted 3rd.

VII. The Noir Series

Art by Patrick Piazzalunga [ variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional ink, graphite, and digital coloring
Super Rare variants available when the game launched in October 2022
Kingpin: Rarity : 4th | Popularity: 2nd* out of 8 variants
Professor X: Rarity: 13th | Popularity: 6th out of 14 variants
Punisher: Rarity: 11th | Popularity: 17th out of 14 variants
Sabretooth: Rarity: 13th | Popularity: 7th out of 15 variants

The work of Italian artists Patrick Piazzalunga and Gianluca Gugliotta,* this gorgeous series pays homage to Marvel’s Noir alternate universe (Earth-90214), which is itself inspired by the tropes of 1930s noir films.

Is the community fond of Noir variants?

Much to my dismay, not at all. The Noir series holds a disappointing 20% podium rate across the board. Doctor Octopus is the sole variant to capture the top spot for his card. Agent Coulson and Kingpin manage to perform well with a 2nd-place finish, while Howard the Duck rounds out the few successes in 3rd place.

Trivia

The illustrators took plenty of liberties here, directing their homage toward the Noir universe itself rather than individual characters. Only a few characters from the series – Kingpin, Black Cat, Sabretooth, Doctor Octopus, Cyclops, and Professor X, to be exact – actually appear in the comics, and even then, they don't look like their variants! Xavier is able-bodied in the Noir source material and thus needs no wheelchair, for instance. In fact, the Punisher variant is the lone faithful depiction!

* Ricardo Drumond's Ultimate variant ranks 1st and Joverine's Venomized 3rd.

** Luca Casalanguida contributed to the series with the unfortunately weaker, discordant White Queen.

VIII. Mysterio

Art by Justin Fields [ RR: 0.021 | variants | official website ]
Medium: digital sculpting, 3D modeling, and digital painting
Part of the Smoke and Mirrors bundle released in July 2025
Rarity: 3rd | Popularity: 1st* out of 10 variants

Fields is a Hollywood concept artist and illustrator, and it shows. The variants he designs feature a clear cinematic influence. In fact, they look like hyper-realistic, high-budget movie assets. His strength lies in his attention to detail – just look at the glare on the projectors shown above. Just like this Mysterio, most of his alternate art pieces feature metallic parts rendered with incredible precision. Here, the hand gestures combined with the circular motif in the background add an original dose of mysticism, elevating the ensemble. Digital art at its best!

Is the community fond of Fields' work?

Very much so! An elite 78% podium rate  – the second best performance in this installment – is nothing short of outstanding. Out of 18 total variants, Fields boasts eight 1st-place victories and six 2nd-place finishes. Even better, his record features a flawless twist: absolutely zero 3rd-place ranks to his name!

Who is Mysterio?

Quentin Beck is a highly skilled Hollywood special effects artist and stuntman whose career frustrations led to a path of crime. He has no superpowers; his mechanical genius and talent for visual illusions are what make him one of Spider-Man's most enduring villains.

* Jelena Djurdjevic's repurposed cover art variant ranks 2nd and Anand Ramcheron's (season pass) 3rd.

IX. Gorgon

Art by Jimbo Salgado [ RR: 0.017 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional ink, graphite, and digital coloring
Super Rare variant released in January 2026
Rarity: 1st | Popularity: 2nd | out of 2 variants

This piece feels like a rare case of accidental prowess as far as original Snap art goes. To put it bluntly, Salgado's other illustrations for the game are well below average. Standing out in the absolute best way, this Gorgon gives a better idea of what the artist can deliver. (He's actually pretty good!) This illustration pulls you in with its pure oneiric symbolism: is that a giant cosmic serpent coiling behind him? Is that a crumbling pillar in the bottom right? It's all a mystery.

Is the community fond of Salgado's work?

Not at all – the community actively rejects Salgado's work. His highest-rated design doesn't even crack the top ten, peaking at a dismal 11th place out of 17 variants for Human Torch. Beyond that lonely outlier, every other variant he has produced slumps straight to the bottom of the rankings.

Who is Gorgon? 

Tomi Shishido is a Japanese mutant prodigy who grew up to become a terrorist leader, serving in high-ranking roles for both The Hand and Hydra. Arguably one of the greatest swordsmen in the Marvel Universe, he also possesses a high-level healing factor, telepathy capabilities, and the usual superhuman physical stats. True to his mythological namesake, he can turn anyone who looks into his eyes to stone.

X. The Hood and the Nisanti Demon

Art by Wild Blue Studio [ RR: 0.034 | variants | official website ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Part of the Hierophant of Hell bundle released in June 2025
Rarity : 3rd | Popularity: 1st* out of 11 variants

Full disclosure: I am a sucker for Art Nouveau-inspired works in general. When it comes to Snap, they infuse such a healthy dose of elegance into decks. This diptych, like several other pieces in Wild Blue's Claws, Crowns and Curves album, seamlessly blends the aesthetic codes of Art Nouveau with those of modern comics. Highly refreshing and instantly recognizable, they are destined to be collector's items.

Is the community fond of Wild Blue's work?

Not particularly. Wild Blue struggles to dominate, with Hood serving as its single top-ranking variant. Dazzler and Omega Red both land in 2nd place – even though Omega Red is arguably the card's best alternate art overall. Meanwhile, Cosmo and Maximus round out the studio's meager successes in 3rd.

Lore

During a botched heist, petty thief Parker Robbins is ambushed by a Nisanti demon. Panicked, he shoots the creature in the head and steals its cloak and boots. Little did he know, the demon survived the attack and was merely a physical host engineered by Dormammu, ruler of the Dark Dimension – and it was all part of a much bigger plan!

* Dardo Studios' Dark Dimension variant ranks 2nd and Marko Djurdjević repurposed Dark Reign cover art variant 3rd.

XI. Misty Knight

Art by David Mack [ RR: 0.009 | variants | official website ]
Medium: traditional watercolor, ink, collage, and mixed media
Part of The Good, the Bad and the Misty bundle released in December 2024
Rarity: 1st | Popularity: 2nd* out of 8 variants

Despite having worked with Marvel, David Mack's variants for the game are all original works. Known for his genuine watercolor paintings, he designed alternate art pieces as gorgeous as they are iconic, especially his series incorporating typography. They're all portraits too, which is always refreshing. This Misty Knight variant is one of the pieces from my collection that gets the most reactions from my opponents!

Is the community fond of Mack's work?

Yes! A 50% podium rate is excellent, but Mack adds the elite twist too: absolutely no 3rd-place finishes. His work skips the bottom step entirely. Bullseye, Cloak – seriously? – Jessica Jones, and Phoenix Force all comfortably rank 1st for their cards, while Echo and Misty hold down 2nd place.

Who's Misty Knight?

Mercedes Knight is an NYPD detective turned private investigator. Along with her best friend Colleen Wing, she operates a private investigation and bail bonds agency called Nightwing Restorations. Following an act of bravery that saved many lives, Tony Stark gifted her a state-of-the-art bionic prosthetic arm, which grants her superhuman strength.

* Pandart Studio's variant ranks 1st and Paul Renaud's repurposed Captain variant 3rd.

XII. Odin

Art by Andrea Guardino [ RR: 0.025 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Super Premium Pass variant released in November 2024
Rarity: 7th | Popularity: 5th out of 12 variants

Odin may be an elder, but he's still a God! In Snap, no other variant makes him look as almighty as Guardino's. His massive, exaggerated build, set off by thick golden accoutrements and mystical crackling filaments, definitely plays a part in that! The ensemble brims with an otherworldly power befitting the character's position in Marvel's pantheon.

Is the community fond of Guardino's work?

He has a decent following, but he struggles to win the top spot. While Guardino boasts a respectable 35% podium rate, he suffers from a glaring flaw: absolutely zero 1st-place victories. His peak achievement is a lonely 2nd-place finish for Ares. The rest of his successful offerings act purely as gatekeepers, with Agamotto, Diamondback, Malekith, Starbrand, and Thaddeus T. Ross all settling for a 3rd place.

Lore

Odin isn't just any ordinary deity; he is one of the most feared beings in Marvel. The source of his power, the Odinforce, operates on a cosmic tier similar to Galactus's Power Cosmic or the Phoenix Force.

XIII. Proxima Midnight

Art by Seth Adams [ RR: 0.006 | variants | official website ]
Medium: traditional ink, graphite, and digital coloring
Spotlight variant released in July 2024
Rarity: 3rd | Popularity: 3rd* out of 5 variants

This is a majestic, chaotic depiction of Thanos's blue-haired henchwoman. Playing with a limited range of polarized tones forces the focus straight to Proxima. The busy, lightning-streaked backdrop acts as a perfect foil for her minimalist, angular silhouette which reminds me of whittled idols.

Is the community fond of Adams' work?

Adams boasts an excellent 60% podium rate, though his modest catalog of just five variants is a pretty small sample size to answer the question decisively. Nevertheless, his current track record is respectable: Cull Obsidian secures a strong 2nd-place finish, while Proxima Midnight and Supergiant land in 3rd.

* Envar Studio's variant ranks 1st and In-Hyuk Lee's 2nd.

XIV. Sebastian Shaw

Art by Vincenzo Riccardi [ RR: 0.063 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional ink, paper, and digital coloring
Super Rare variant released in November 2025
Rarity: 6th | Popularity: 1st out of 8 variants

Just like Thanos, Riccardi is inevitable. Second Dinner has been releasing his variants at a steady pace ever since his first appearance – which took the form of a full 12-piece album, by the way! His stylistic signature is immediately recognizable with its wide range of colors as well as what I call capillary lines: very fine, contrasting, and sinuous traits detailing the forms. Shaw is a perfect example of Riccardi's talent and vision. Not only is it a portrait instead of his usual three-quarter views and full-body pieces, but it also features excellent shadow and flame work.

Is the community really, really fond of Riccardi's work?

More like madly in love! Riccardi leaves everyone else in the dust with a surreal 83% podium rate. That means only eight of his 48 variants fail to make the cut. Even more jaw-dropping is how his wins lean heavily toward absolute dominance: 25 of his variants rank 1st (accounting for 63% of his podiums!), six rank 2nd, and nine secure a flat 3rd place.

Who's Sebastian Shaw?

Sebastian Shaw is a genius-level intellect, self-made billionaire, and the creator of Shaw Industries, a massive multinational defense conglomerate. His mutant power revolves around kinetic energy; his body absorbs any physical force directed at him – such as punches or explosions – and converts it into superhuman strength, speed, and durability. And beware: the harder you hit him, the stronger and larger he becomes.

* He Tianyou's variant ranks 2nd and Mark Brook's repurposed cover art variant 2nd.

XV. Spectrum

Art by Mateus Manhanini [ RR: 0.012 | variants | ArtStation profile ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Part of the Quantum Ongoings bundle released in March 2024
Rarity: 2nd | Popularity: 2nd* out of 15 variants

This stunning piece stands out as a major highlight in both Spectrum's catalog and Manhanini's Snap portfolio. It captures a powerful, menacing energy that every other variant – with the sole exception of Lucas Werneck’s repurposed cover art – fails to replicate. The masterful detailing on her hands and face is what truly makes this unique stand out. The approach here reminds me of the Proxima Midnight variant featured earlier, except that this time, a vibrant, abstract backdrop acts as the perfect foil for a black-and-white statuesque silhouette.

Is the community fond of Manhanini's work?

He has a respectable showing, but he lacks a deeper roster of winners. While Manhanini boasts a reasonable 42% podium rate, his catalog is heavily bottlenecked, featuring only one top-ranking variant in Blob. Beyond that lone peak, his placements are split between the remaining steps: his M'Baku variant mirrors Spectrum in 2nd place, while Shuri and Havok both settle for a flat 3rd place.

Who is Spectrum?

While working as a lieutenant in the New Orleans Harbor Patrol, Monica Rambeau was exposed to extra-dimensional energy when she tried to prevent a dictator from using a dangerous weapon. The blast altered her cellular structure, giving her the ability to transform her body into pure energy. In this form, she is completely intangible, can fly at the speed of light, and can absorb surrounding energy to fire devastating blasts or create hard-light constructs.

* Peach Momoko's repurposed Horror cover art variant ranks 1st and Sway's 3rd.

Conclusion

Throughout this installment, I made a point to compare my appreciation for the listed artists and studios with the community's sentiment. The results were telling, albeit somewhat incomplete. This is where a saturation index (SI) value comes in handy. Below is a summary table sorted by that very value.

Because the Podium Rate is a popularity metric and the Release Rate is a velocity metric, dividing the latter by the former tells you if an artist is being over- or under-utilized. (I multiplied the result by a thousand for more readable numbers.) That's the SI.

A high ratio means a considerable variant output with poor podium performance. The game is pushing their art faster than the community's demand or appreciation can keep up. Conversely, a low ratio usually means a slower releasing pace with great podium performance overall—though it can also occur if an artist releases variants at a rapid pace but maintains a near-perfect podium performance. In either case, it signifies high demand and appreciation. It is important, however, to consider how a small variant pool can skew an artist/studio index in their favor, as is the case here with Seth Adams.

And that wraps up the first installment of the retrospective! Be sure to check back next week when we dive back into the game's best variants—this time focusing solely on artwork repurposed straight from Marvel's iconic comic catalog!