Marvel Rivals Surprises with Unexpected Nod to ‘No Kings’ Anti-Trump Protests

Marvel comics have a long history of engaging with political themes, and it’s intriguing to see that Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s hero shooter, appears to draw inspiration from the “No Kings” protests occurring across the U.S. in its latest map.

These protests, which have taken place three times, broadly oppose the actions of former President Donald Trump and his increasingly authoritarian policies. The most recent demonstration occurred on March 28, where citizens nationwide rallied against the administration’s military actions in Iran, the ongoing secrecy surrounding the Epstein Files, and the tragic deaths of American citizens like Alexi Pretti, Keith Porter, and Renée Good at the hands of ICE. This event saw over 8 million participants, marking it as the largest single-day protest in American history.

In a clever nod to these events, Marvel Rivals incorporates elements of the protests into its new Lower Manhattan map. The game uses a playful, in-universe approach, employing the movement’s imagery to draw parallels between the Spider-Man villain Kingpin and Trump.

At the 28-second mark of the map’s reveal trailer, players can spot a poster featuring Kingpin, his face obscured by an X and topped with a crown. The poster boldly states “No Kingpin,” making the connection to the real-life protests unmistakable. Discussions about this reference on the Marvel Rivals subreddit have been locked, with many comments removed by moderators.

While Kingpin isn’t a playable character in Marvel Rivals right now, he plays a significant role as a major antagonist in the game’s seventh season, which launched last month.