For better or worse, the Reality Fracture precon, Multiverse Reforged, is an unusually weird deck. Playing into the set’s reality-swapping themes, this precon is a Polymorph deck, albeit one with a weird top end. At the core of this, the deck’s face Commander, Jace, Multiverse Architect, does a lot of the heavy lifting, as you’d expect.
Sadly, while the flavor of Jace swapping one creature for another is on point, there is a glaring issue. According to MTG Artist Liiga Smilshkalne, this card’s art appears to be copying her work without her understanding.
Jace, Multiverse Architect Art Controversy
From the moment that Jace, Multiverse Architect was revealed, it didn’t take MTG players long to put two and two together. For those who have been playing since March of the Machine, this new Planeswalker’s art clearly evokes Beach the Multiverse. Initially, this seemed like a very purposeful nod to Jace’s plans and mental state, as a callback that’d been years in the making.
Now, however, Liiga Smilshkalne has spoken up on Bluesky to state that this isn’t a touching homage to her work. Due to similarities in the “stolons and the crown,” Smilshkalne felt that central elements of her work had been copied. While Smilshkalne didn’t outright call this purposeful plagiarism, there were concerns about the somewhat mangled meaning.
“Today I found out that Volkan Baga’s illustration for “Jace, Multiverse Architect” uses the central elements of my “Breach the Multiverse”. Had this been an homage, I would’ve been tickled pink. However, as seen in the same arbitrary shapes in the stolons and the crown, that’s not what it is.”
Liiga Smilshkalne – Via: Bluesky
Following Reality Fracture’s story, it’s clear that Jace, or rather The Theorist, wasn’t doing so hot. Rather than benevolently creating a perfect new multiverse, Jace had gone a bit megalomaniacal and full villain. Given that this splintered off from Elesh Norn and the Phyrexians, some kind of connection makes sense.
When it comes to Breach the Multiverse, however, that art is very purposefully Phyrexian-inspired. As Smilshkalne explained on Bluesky, the line running down the art’s center was specifically intended to evoke the Phyrexian symbol. Having this spliced onto Jace’s body, especially at an awkward angle, doesn’t really make sense for Jace and makes copying seem obvious.
Beyond this key detail, it’s easy to say that the almost identically aligned tendrils have been copied. This could all be handwaved away by Jace’s artist, Volken Baga, taking inspiration, but that is a bit iffy. As Smilshkalne notes, it certainly feels like she should have been consulted, or at least given a heads-up.
A Messy Multiverse
While allegations of artwork being copied are always taken seriously, many MTG players felt this situation was slightly different. Since the copying is so on the nose and feels like such a callback, players speculated this was done at Wizards’ behest. As Reddit users like Jokey665 point out, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the art direction instructed to very specifically use that symbolism.”
As much as this is a potentially valid point, currently, it’s completely unproven. So far, we haven’t heard from either Wizards or Volken Baga to provide more information. Until then, it’s impossible to say for sure why this happened, but it still doesn’t look great. Unless the art direction explicitly stated to copy Breach the Multiverse’s core elements, this new art seems to have taken it too far.
In theory, you’d like to think that an artist like Volken Baga, with many cards under his belt, can be trusted here. As past situations have taught us, however, even artists as prolific as Dan Frazier can copy elements from other cards. Because of this, we can only wait for more information and hope this situation is rectified.
Speaking of resolution, it appears that Smilshkalne is simply after “appropriate credit on the card” in these situations. Since this happened with The Hobbit and
The One Ring
The One Ring
Indestructible
When The One Ring enters, if you cast it, you gain protection from everything until your next turn.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life for each burden counter on The One Ring.
{T}: Put a burden counter on The One Ring, then draw a card for each burden counter on The One Ring.
, the same could happen here.
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