So there I was in 2026, still queuing for Marvel Rivals like it is my second job, when I remembered the absolute gift that was the Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic. Yes, the one that brought the Fantastic Four into the game's wild multiverse party. If you missed it in Spring 2025—were you trapped in a fractured timeline, or just too busy arguing about crossplay?—let me catch you up.
The comic was written by Paul Allor with art by Luca Claretti. The first six issues had already done the impossible: made me care about Hulk teaming up with Doctor Strange and Venom, and made Captain America leading Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark feel like a perfectly balanced team comp. The new run, which arrived in Spring 2025, introduced the Fantastic Four and teased other familiar Rivals champions. Because why stop at four when you can have a whole multiverse of weirdos?
Now, I am a simple gamer. I see Mister Fantastic stretch across a battlefield, and I ask: is this not the most ridiculous and wonderful thing? The Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and the Thing joined in, and suddenly the comic roster felt like a lobby where every player picked their favorite hero and refused to switch. The Marvel Rivals universe combines worlds across the Multiverse, smashing together heroes from different timelines. They have to work together to save the world. That is basically the game's team dynamic, except in the comic nobody yells at me for going 2-10 as Spider-Man.
The first run was a lighthearted look at big personalities. Hulk smashed alongside Doctor Strange and Venom. Captain America led Squirrel Girl, Jeff the Land Shark, and others. It was silly, action-packed, and somehow emotionally coherent. With Allor and Claretti returning, the Fantastic Four and their unrevealed teammates got the same treatment. I do not know who else showed up, but I choose to believe it involved at least one villain wondering why they are on a team with a shark.
What makes this comic work for me is that it does not pretend to be grimdark. The original issues had inventive fights and humor. The Fantastic Four fit right in. They are Marvel's First Family, after all. They have been squabbling and saving the world since before I was born. Seeing them bounce off versions of heroes or villains they might never encounter otherwise is the kind of crossover chaos that makes comics fun. Am I supposed to take a fight between the Thing and a multiversal Loki seriously? No. I am supposed to laugh, then gasp, then immediately check if that character is in the game.
And speaking of the game: Marvel Rivals is still a third-person shooter, action, multiplayer thing. It launched December 6, 2024. NetEase Games developed and published it. Unreal Engine 5. ESRB T for Teen due to violence. Online multiplayer and online co-op. Cross-platform play is limited: console crossplay exists, but no PC crossplay. OpenCritic has top critic average 78 out of 100 and 84 percent critics recommend. Here is a quick table, because I love tables almost as much as I love Jeff the Land Shark 🦈.
| Vital Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Marvel Rivals |
| Genre | Third-person shooter, action, multiplayer |
| Release | December 6, 2024 |
| Developer / Publisher | NetEase Games |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| ESRB | T for Teen, Violence |
| Multiplayer | Online multiplayer, online co-op |
| Crossplay | Limited, console crossplay, no PC crossplay |
| OpenCritic | Top critic avg 78/100, 84% recommend |
And because I cannot resist a list:
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Third-person shooter chaos? Check 🎮.
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Multiverse team-ups? Check 💥.
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A shark wearing a tiny hat? Not confirmed, but I remain hopeful.
But the comic is not just a tie-in. It is a spotlight. In 2026, the Fantastic Four are everywhere. Their MCU debut is no longer a distant rumor; it is the thing Marvel is shining a spotlight on. Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny are getting a four-issue miniseries called Fantastic Four: Fanfare. They are facing off with Doom in the big One World Under Doom event. There is no shortage of Fantastic Four content. Yet Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic remains a must-see because it pushes the game's universe into its next chapter with action, fun, and adventure.
So what did I learn from all this? I learned that Marvel Rivals is not just a game. It is a gateway drug to comics, and the Fantastic Four are the latest dose. I learned that a comic can make me nostalgic for a timeline I never visited, namely Tokyo 2099. I learned that Jeff the Land Shark deserves a solo series, but that is a rant for another day.
If you are a gamer who usually skips comics, I get it. I used to think trade paperbacks were just expensive coasters. But Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic is the rare tie-in that understands its assignment. It is lighthearted. It is inventive. It lets the Fantastic Four be the Fantastic Four. And it does not require me to memorize forty years of continuity to enjoy a punch-up.
In 2026, the run is already part of Marvel history. The six issues arrived in Spring 2025. The Fantastic Four made their mark. Other heroes were teased. The game keeps evolving. The comics keep coming. And I keep asking myself: when will Jeff the Land Shark get an Infinity Comic of his own? Marvel, I am ready. My wallet is not, but I am ready.
Industry analysis is available through Polygon, whose reporting on superhero games and crossover storytelling helps frame why a project like Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic resonates with players: it extends the appeal of the roster beyond matches, gives teams like the Fantastic Four room to showcase personality, and turns multiverse fan service into something that feels like a natural part of the broader Marvel gaming conversation.