Marvel Rivals Just Handed the MCU Its Baby Yoda Moment

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 14, 2024 3 Views 8 Min Read
Marvel Rivals Just Handed the MCU Its Baby Yoda Moment



NetEase Games’ superhero shooter, Marvel Rivals, has become a smash hit since its release on December 6. In less than a week since its launch, Marvel Rivals has already released its first major update. There’s plenty to be excited about with several other enticing features, such as Twitch Drops, a seasonal battle pass, and a stacked competitive ladder.




Interestingly, since Marvel Rivals‘ starting roster was revealed, many eyes have been drawn to previously lesser-known characters such as Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark. The latter, first introduced in the third-person shooter’s Closed Beta Test, stood out for his adorable demeanor and impressive utility. If the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) were to capitalize on Marvel Rivals explosive success, Jeff the Land Shark could become its version of Grogu, also colloquially called “Baby Yoda.”

Marvel Rivals heroes and villains with logo

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Why Marvel Rivals Is More Than Just Another Hero Game

Marvel Rivals may be yet another hero shooter game added to the already crowded genre, but it has plenty of unique details that distinguish it.

The MCU and Marvel Rivals Share a Symbiotic Relationship

Jeff the Land Shark’s Addition to the MCU Seems All But Inevitable

It’s worth noting that Jeff the Land Shark appeared in video games prior to Marvel Rivals, with Marvel Snap being a significant point of interest. In Marvel Comics, the cuddly shark was created by MODOK and first seen in 2018’s West Coast Avengers Vol. 3. With strong ties to Gwenpool, who adopted him following the fight against the Masters of Evil West Coast, he’s played a part in the narrative of the following characters, though this list isn’t exhaustive:


  • America Chavez
  • Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
  • Deadpool (Wade Wilson)
  • Elsa Bloodstone
  • Fuse (Johnny Watts)
  • Gwenpool (Gwendolyn Poole)
  • Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
  • MODOK
  • Power Pack

Considering that MODOK has already appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, albeit as a reimagined version of the villain, there’s a potential path forward for Jeff. While it’s unclear if he could join the MCU in Phase 5, the success of Deadpool and Wolverine, combined with Gwenpool’s rising prominence, further strengthens the possibility of his debut. After all, even though he’s a newer character in the comics, he’s already managed to feature in several other stories, including stealing Captain America’s shield to use as a sled, swiping Miles Morales’ mask, and eating the Infinity Gauntlet.


Jeff the Land Shark’s Cuteness Factor Could Make Him The Baby Yoda of the MCU

Described by Kate Bishop as “a giant, drooly, playful baby” in Extreme Venomverse (2023) #5, part of Jeff’s appeal comes from his playful personality, lack of human speech, and troublesome nature. Similar to Din Grogu, who was created for 2019’s Star Wars series The Mandalorian, Jeff has the potential to steal the hearts of millions. In the six years since his creation, he’s already gotten his own comic run in 2021’s It’s Jeff!, become a key Strategist character in Marvel Rivals, and become a meta card in Marvel Snap Series Five. If Disney wanted to leverage Jeff the Land Shark fully, it might consider pushing him into the mainstream limelight.

“Similar to Din Grogu, Jeff has the potential to steal the hearts of millions.”

It seems all but assured that if Jeff were to make an appearance in the MCU as his typical adorable self, superhero shark plushies would start flying off the shelves. The popularity of Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame already hints at such success, but Jeff might be the critical, permanent cuteness factor the movies need. As Jeff continues to make waves in other Marvel IPs, hopefully, he’ll catch the attention of Marvel Studios.


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