Celebrating Four Years of Variants - Part III: Promising Artists

In celebration of Snap's anniversary, Ambedo has scoured the entire catalog of variants to bring you a four-part retrospective. Check back next Saturday for a final, brand-new themed installment! Today is all about talented creators who are vastly underutilized (with far too few variants currently in the game) – or promising artists who recently joined Snap's roster! (And a little extra at the end!)

Missed the first two installments? Click here for Part 1 and Part 2.

Welcome to this third installment of my four-part retrospective! I am of the opinion that we need to see more from the following artists, all of whom have no more than four variants to their names. As with the previous installments, we'll see if my preferences align with those of the community. 

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. Abomination

Art by Greg Staples [ RR: 0.005 | variants | official website ]
Medium: traditional acrylic paint, watercolor, and ink
Part of the Grimace Gallery bundle released in August 2024
Rarity: 2nd | Popularity: 1st* out of 10 variants

This one is a gamble. Greg Staples' first two variants, Abomination and The Thing, are deliciously painted portraits of the two powerhouses. Two more portraits followed: Hulk (is that a toupee?) and his cousin She-Hulk – though these two are decidedly less remarkable. In any case, the game desperately needs more of these tight, close-up portraits to counterbalance the endless hordes of mid-air full-body shots.

Does the community also want more from Staples?

Absolutely. This variant secured the #1 spot, and its bundle partner, The Thing, climbs onto the card podium's second step, just like Hulk from Staples' second two-portrait package. The only outlier is Staples' weaker She-Hulk variant; though she misses the podium, her performance is still highly respectable, landing at #5 out of 20.

Who is the Abomination?

Before becoming the Abomination, Emil Blonsky was a KGB spy who successfully infiltrated an American Air Force base where Dr. Bruce Banner was conducting gamma experiments. Blonsky deliberately exposed himself to a massive, concentrated dose of gamma radiation. Because he absorbed an even higher dosage than Banner ever had, he was permanently mutated into the monster shown above.

* Pandart Studio's variant ranks 2nd and Viktor Farro's (season pass) 3rd.

II. Bishop

Art by David Gómez Zurita (DaveGozu) [ RR: 0.004 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
X-Men '97 Twitch reward variant released in May 2024
Rarity: 7th | Popularity: 7th out of 13 variants

It’s not a promising artist per se, but… only 3 of the 13 variants from DaveGozu's retro series have actually been released! Most variants that strike a nostalgic chord in this game are the cartoon-style pieces or the Pixel variants by G-Angle (and Tribute Games, yes). But DaveGozu's variants – which are inspired by his own classic Marvel digital trading cards – are so much cooler!

Does the community also want more from DaveGozu?

Just like cartoonish or pixelated variants, you can't expect the art from this series to compete directly with the premier alternate art in their respective variant pools. Instead, they serve a different purpose, catering primarily to dedicated collectors and nostalgic fans.

Who is Bishop?

Bishop is a mutant born in an alternate future timeline of the 21st century (Earth-1191). While hunting a time-traveling mutant terrorist, he accidentally crossed through a portal and became permanently stranded in the "past" of Earth-616, where he joined the X-Men. His mutant ability centers on Energy Absorption; he absorbs ambient energy directed at him and channels that stored force right back out as devastating concussive blasts. Because his powers do not naturally generate energy from nothing, Bishop is a master marksman who carries high-tech, heavy plasma firearms.

III. Ghost Rider

Art by Andrew K. Currey [ RR: 0.006 | variants | official website ]
Medium: traditional graphite/pencil on paper, gold leaf gilding, and digital coloring
Part of the Chains of Fate bundle released in October 2025
Rarity: 8th | Popularity: 1st* out of 20 variants

Ghost Rider is spectacularly cool, original – and subversive, with its reimagining of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Currey's other variant, Dracula, also showcases the artist's creativity, but something about it feels slightly off. Is it his generous, sculpted mane? His somewhat friendly face? In any case, I'd still like to see more from the guy!

Does the community also want more from Currey?

Considering that both his variants currently hold 1st place, it would appear so!

* Jason Kang's Ultimate variant ranks 2nd and Aaron Bartling's 3rd.

IV. Lady Loki

Art by Megan Lara [ variants | official website ]
Medium: digital drawing and digital painting
Rare variant released in April 2025
Rarity: 17th | Popularity: 8th out of 20 variants

I discussed Art Nouveau-inspired variants in the first installment of this retrospective, so I'll keep it short: this piece is a savvy modernization of a classical style – spacious and elegant.

Does the community also want more from Lara?

Hard to say. 8th out of 20 is a decent performance, but a single variant just can't reflect the community's overall sentiment. We could look to the popularity of the Art Nouveau variants to get a better idea of whether this artist is likely to return with new material. Unfortunately for Lara, Wild Blue’s variants are performing poorly, aside from the top-tier Hood featured in the first installment. 

Lore

During the events of Ragnarok, the entire Asgardian pantheon died. Loki’s disembodied spirit took advantage of Thor’s cosmic resurrection of his people on Earth by hijacking a reincarnated host body originally meant for the warrior Sif, emerging as Lady Loki. Operating in this stolen form, she manipulated the Avengers and New Asgard for a long time! Her adoptive brother Thor eventually freed Sif from the body of an elderly woman where she had been trapped, forcing Loki back into his classic appearance.

V. Malekith

Art by Akram Bham [ RR: 0.008 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Part of the Twilight Prince bundle released in July 2025
Rarity: 4th | Popularity: 1st* out of 7 variants

Akram's style is so unique! I love how he layers and aligns elements to create remarkably rich images. Anchored against the background is a brooding mass of ghostly beasts that serves as an aura for the central silhouette. Finally, strands of mysterious characters are added on top of the entire piece for an extra dose of mysticism – which is definitely appropriate for a character known as the most powerful magic user of his realm. 

Does the community also want more from Bham?

Sometimes, even the smallest of samples can convey a convincing sentiment – and that is precisely the case here. Not only does his Malekith rank 1st out of 7, but his Aero and Colleen Wing are also top-tier variants, ranking high out of 12 and 11 options respectively. While considerably weaker – it features fewer details, an overly limited color palette, and an awkward stance – his fourth variant, Hawkeye Kate Bishop, grazes the podium with a 4th place out of 13. Second Dinner should take the hint and commission the artist again. It's been a year since anything from Bham has been released!

Who is Malekith?

Malekith is a shape-shifting Dark Elf from Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Realms. Distinct from his peers due to a striking half-black, half-white face – the left half being a magical scar – he was sold into slavery by his own mother to fuel the endless wars of his realm. He eventually escaped, studied the dark arts, and murdered his mother to ensure peace would never return. Viewing war not as a means to an end, but as a joyous pastime, Malekith possesses standard superhuman physical attributes alongside master-level sorcery – allowing him to manipulate mystic energy, teleport through shadows, and cast massive illusions.

* Francesco Tomaselli ranks 2nd and Andrea Guardino's 3rd.

VI. Mirage

Art by Peter Nguyen [ RR: 0.006 | variants | ArtStation profile ]
Medium: traditional ink, graphite, and digital coloring
Super Rare variant released in August 2025
Rarity: 5th | Popularity: 1st* out of 13 variants

Valkyrie variants like this one by Peter Nguyen – and Peach Momoko’s iconic take – are undoubtedly the character's best variants. Blending Native American heritage with Norse mythology is a visually arresting combination. Here, the heavily exaggerated braid creates a sweeping curve that flawlessly complements the bold, red circle in the background. An elegant, almost sensual portrait of a lethal heroine.

Does the community also want more from Nguyen?

Nguyen's performance is a bit of a mixed bag. At the time of writing, his best performer ranks 1st ex aequo with Justyna Dura's variant – a result I can't quite wrap my head around. (Dura placing ahead of Momoko, Riccardi, and Wolf? No way.) Unfortunately, that peak is overshadowed by his Nightcrawler landing in 8th place (out of 17) and his Gambit sitting at 6th (out of 20). Admittedly, competition is fierce in both of those cards' variant pools. So let's give a man a chance with more commissions!

Who is Mirage?

Dani Moonstar is a Cheyenne mutant hero from Colorado who was taken in by Professor Charles Xavier following the disappearance of her parents and the murder of her grandfather. She went on to co-found the New Mutants alongside Cannonball, Sunspot, and Wolfsbane. Her diverse powers include the ability to reach into the minds of others to project 3D psionic holograms of their greatest fears or desires, focus her psychic energy into concussive arrows, and communicate telepathically with animals. Additionally, her status as an official Asgardian Valkyrie grants her mystical abilities and explains the iconic winged helm seen in certain depictions.

* Peach Momoko's (repurposed cover art) variant ranks 2nd and… Yo Shimizu 3rd. This podium is the weirdest.

VII. Starbrand

Art by George Kambadais [ RR: .004 | variants | Instagram ]
Medium: digital ink and digital painting
Rare variant released in June 2026
Rarity: 6th | Popularity: 6th out of 6 variants

Holy Moly! This is a strong contender for variant of the year right here! Kambadais' only other released piece is Firehair. It isn’t quite as impressive as this one, but that’s partly due to how the original illustration was cropped to fit the card frame (full art here). A third variant is currently pending release, and… it doesn't look good at all. So let's just call this gamble number two!

Does the community also want more from Kambadais?

Much to my dismay, it doesn't. Starbrand's and Firehair's alternate art pieces are all variations on the same tired theme; there isn't much originality to find there. Kambadais strays from those paths, and it seems like he's paying for it. Draping a macho icon like Starbrand in pink is obviously risky, while Firehair is, as stated above, a victim of her framing. Datamined content reveals the existence of a third commission and, to add to my disappointment, it looks a lot weaker than the released ones. It does not bode well for Kambadais' future with Snap.

Who is Starbrand?

That's not even his name! That character is actually a prehistoric caveman named Vnn, and he is the second Earthly creature to bear the Star Brand. (The first was a Tyrannosaurus rex, from whose fossilized corpse Vnn inherited the glyph.) The Star Brand itself is an infinite energy source created by the ancient cosmic Builders to serve as a planetary defense system. It draws its power directly from the Superflow – an abstract, conceptual realm separating different realities across the multiverse, where thoughts and physics boil down into raw informational data.

VIII. Toxin

Art by Jim Murray [ RR: 0.006 | variants | fan page ]
Medium: traditional acrylic paint, gouache, ink, and digital painting
Webshop milestone variant released in November 2025
Rarity: 2nd | Popularity: 1st* out of 7 variants

Most symbiotes are fun, visually thrilling creatures because they're inherently chaotic and grotesque; I see them as metaphors for the worst lying inside us. Beyond that, they also represent our fundamental human duality to an almost comedic degree. This is exactly what this variant encapsulates, definitively capturing the symbiotes' essence.

Does the community also want more from Murray?

Toxin ranks first, and his only other variant, Scorn, ranks 3rd out of 11 in one of the most competitive variant pools in the game. The community loves Murray's work so far, and Second Dinner should be taking notes!

Lore

While this depiction doesn't resemble the original symbiote that bonded with officer Pat Mulligan, it is nevertheless entirely accurate. It captures Toxin's second era, where it bonded with the symbiotes' favorite host, Eddie Brock. The poor guy had already hosted both Venom and Anti-Venom by this point… and his troubles were far from over! After Toxin, Brock went on to host Carnage, Sleeper, Silence, Mania, and the Extrembiote before eventually ascending to become the King in Black himself. Tough luck!

* Pandart Studio's variant ranks 2nd and Iban Coello's (repurposed cover art) 3rd.

IX. Venom

Art by ITO [ variants | Instagram ]
Medium: traditional oil paint, acrylics, watercolors and ink
Repurposed as a bundle variant released in July 2026
Rarity: 4th | Popularity: 3rd out of 27 variants

Another Symbiote! Much like fellow Snap illustrators David Mack and Tony Moy, ITO specializes in watercolor-driven pieces that offer a starkly different stylistic signature in the game. His first commission for Snap – he has already a handful of Marvel cover art under his belt – is an absolute masterpiece. Save for the lashing tongue, the art completely strips away the character's typical visual tropes, highlighting its sheer singularity. This piece has a dream-like aura that manages not to clash with Venom's menacing nature, which is quite a feat! Finally, the textured night sky behind the silhouette ties the whole piece together.

Does the community also want more from ITO?

When a variant gatekept by a real-money bundle reaches the third rank for its card, it's already a great omen. When that variant shares the podium with heavyweights such as In-Hyuk Lee and Derrick Chew in a variant pool as fiercely competitive as Venom's, it is safe to say the community shares my enthusiasm for this artist!

X. Viper

Art by Martina Mura [ variants | ArtStation profile ]
Medium: traditional ink and digital coloring
Part of the Toxic Temptations bundle released in June 2025
Rarity: 7th | Popularity: 2nd* out of 12 variants

The strength of this artwork lies in how seamlessly it incorporates the curves of coiling Serpentes atop a Hydra insignia mosaic. Here's a tightly-packed, unusually casual and almost kid-friendly depiction of the terrorist organization's fearless leader.

Does the community also want more from Mura?

Her situation is similar to ITO's: a real-money bundle variant ranking 2nd out of 12 is definitely a strong indicator! The fact that this specific piece shares Creative House Pockets' stylistic DNA, and that the latter is quite popular within Snap's community, adds considerable weight to that indicator.

Who is Viper?

Ophelia Sarkissian is a ruthless terrorist who, as a distraught and wandering teenager, made a literal pact with the Elder God Chthon imprisoned inside Mount Wundagore. The god's dark magic significantly slowed her aging process, allowing her to retain her youth and vitality into the modern day. She climbed through the ranks of the underworld to become a fearsome mercenary, eventually taking command of Hydra – hence her "Madame Hydra" moniker. As one of the world's foremost experts on chemical warfare and poisons, she has built up a near-total biological immunity to virtually all known toxins.

* ADIA's Fantasy variant ranks 1st and In-Hyuk Lee's (repurposed cover art) 3rd.

While we are on the subject of artists the community wants to see more work from…

Some cards definitely need more variants added to their pool. They're being neglected while others are clearly spoiled. Have you ever noticed?

To identify both groups, I calculated the total days passed since each card's release date and divided it by the number of variants released for them so far. Cards with the lowest frequency rates deserve more variants, while the ones with the highest rates already have plenty – maybe even too many?

The average number of variants for a card released at least a year ago is ten. This twelve-month age milestone is required to be considered in the following rankings.

Data as of September 14, 2026
Thanks to Josh from SnapComplete for his help with the release dates!

Highlighted in blue are the cards I'm somewhat surprised to see featured in their respective rankings. 

First is Swarm. Discard decks have been a staple since launch, and Swarm in particular enjoyed a surge in popularity following Bullseye's release that should have inspired a few more variants. Furthermore, Swarm's existing variants are nothing to write home about; he definitely needs some love!

On the "spoiled" side, three ladies give me pause. The developers' obsession with Ghost-Spider is nothing short of mesmerizing – or am I missing something? Then we have Storm, a third-tier Series 2 card that rarely sees play past a player's rookie chapter. Finally, there's Scarlet Witch, a Magik-counter outclassed by Merlin, Nico Minoru, and Legion. While Ghost-Spider is certainly the most popular of the three, her utility is mostly restricted to Move decks or Redwing shenanigans. And let's not forget Magneto. Is he truly that beloved of a character? Why spoil him?

I can understand neglecting The First Ghost Rider or Mad Thinker – cards that just never found a home. Laufey is also being slept on, which may explain his lack of released variants. (There is a great Leo Chiola piece that has been patiently waiting for months, though!). But Fantasticar clearly deserves at least one alternate art piece for two reasons: the base card art is very weak, and "End of Turn" is a deck archetype that's clearly here to stay now thanks to Invisible Woman First Steps.

On the right side, once again, it is mostly the female characters in the top 10 that confuse me. 

My question for X-23 is the same as the one I asked about Ghost Spider: what's the deal here? While it might be tempting to point the finger at the libido of male players, let us remember that the two heroines in question are portrayed as 15- and 14-year-old teenagers when they first appear in the Marvel Universe. Given this fact, they are far from the most sexualized female characters in the game. Furthermore, if sex were truly the driving force behind variant releases, these top 10 lists would consist entirely of women. Yet, 16 out of the 34 characters are men. 

Naturally, these results must be compared against the breakdown of all variants. After assigning a gender to every character with an unmistakable identity, the data revealed that out of 555 cards, 28% feature female characters (compared to 36% of total variants) and 52% feature male characters (compared to 57% of total variants). The remaining 20% consist of objects or characters without (a clear) gender. Ultimately, this difference in representation rates is statistically negligible.

Finally, Ms. Marvel's impressive variant pool is even more of a mystery for a card with such little play, and Annihilation and Pixie are in a similar situation. 

Why not give Proxima Midnight more love? Ever since her release, she has been a staple in Discard decks for obvious reasons; players likely use her more than any other card in the bottom 10. Another archetype staple is Ajax. While he may not match Proxima's popularity, many Affliction decks still revolve around him. Then we have Baron Zemo, who started as a Season Pass card before benefiting from March 2025's massive – and final – Series Drop. Yeah, it’s been a while. Series pack giveaways have pretty much replaced those old scheduled events.

Is Bullseye really the most decked-out one+ year-old Series 5 card? Now that is the biggest surprise of all those rankings! But Scream is a close second! Luna Snow’s buff clearly helped her gain attention, playrate, and variants, yet I wouldn’t have thought she’d pivot from an outlier to being so heavily favored. The same goes for Hope Summers – a recently created character in Marvel's universe – and Copycat? Who would have thought such niche cards would find themselves listed here?

Conclusion

The first part of this installment certainly was the most personal one to curate. I let my passion for certain artists lead the way without any idea of how those illustrators were perceived by the community. It's a relief to realize that other players share my interest in Akram Bham, Peter Nguyen, Jim Murray, ITO, Martina Mura… These guys have much to offer to the game and should get another call from the developers, especially now that studios are becoming more prominent. I fear they're slowly taking over, a perception that feeds on the fact that catalog picks are few and far between now.

I hope you enjoyed this third installment, as well as the rankings that followed! Those delivered surprising results, didn't they? I believe I proved my point that some cards are definitely spoiled and others neglected in terms of the alternate art available for them. I can't explain why, however. It appears that play and win rates aren't linked to the size of a card's variant pool. Community sentiment for the characters themselves doesn't explain a card's treatment alone, either. The equation featuring these variables is a more complex one than one would think!

Special thanks to SnapComplete, our source for the data mined full art pieces.