I might have a serious problem on my hands. The other day, my daughter drew a family picture, and I noticed that while the rest of the family was smiling straight ahead, I was looking away and holding something in my hand. I asked my daughter, “What was I doing in the picture,” and she replied, “Playing Marvel Snap!”
Yes, I’m completely addicted to Second Dinner’s game, Marvel SNAP. I’ve played almost since it was first released and have amassed a ridiculous amount of cards. Marvel SNAP is a PVP card game in which each player tries to win at least two of three locations on the playing field. One of the most fun aspects for players is to collect the many variant cards released based on their favorite Marvel superheroes or villains. It can be a slow, but rewarding, process and even after I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the game, I think I’ve barely scratched the surface of the variants offered by Second Dinner.
Thankfully, this month sees the release of The Art of Marvel SNAP, an enormous volume of beautiful art commissioned for the game, from Dark Horse Comics. The book is divided into three sections: Heroes, Villains, and Locations. Though exhaustive, not every player will find their favorite character represented, but at over two hundred pages, there is plenty to enjoy here. The book is also surprisingly up to date, covering every Season Pass right up to March 2025’s 1,000,000 B.C. Avengers set. I was constantly surprised as I moved from character to character at how many variants I haven’t seen over my years of playing the game. The book positions the main card all players receive at the center, surrounded by its variants. It was really interesting to see all of the contrasting art styles on one two-page spread. And I enjoyed seeing the art presented at a large scale and almost popping off the page.
Accompanying each entry is a short blurb written by Paul Davies, explaining the process of how each piece of artwork was commissioned and designed. I liked the added behind-the-scenes insight into my favorite mobile game. Truthfully, I would have wanted even more of a deep dive into the design process of each card and how variant themes are chosen. Why athletic variants? Why variants that center on eating food? Regardless, I was astounded by the quality of the presentation of the art. I have noticed little details in art that I’ve stared at a million times. This was especially true for the locations section, where each location is given a full-page spread, allowing me to take in the full work. Small inclusions, such as a set of Black Panther costumes in the painting of Shuri’s Lab to the multitude of arcane items included in the Sanctum Sanctorum, made it clear to me that these works needed to be seen in this larger format. I definitely walked away from this book with a much greater appreciation for the artists and their work.
The Art of Marvel SNAP is a fun and informative companion piece for anyone who has logged hours and hours with this fun PVP card game. The artwork is expertly organized, and I was surprised at how much new material I had to discover within its pages. This is the definitive way to enjoy the hard work and creativity of the artists of Marvel SNAP. A perfect, fun coffee table book for you or the Marvel SNAP fan in your life. After my time with the book, I’ve made a list of several variants I want to add to my collection.
Creative Team: Paul Davies (text), Second Dinner Studios Inc. (artists)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Click here to purchase.
