Dan Frazier, one of many unique artists for Magic: The Gathering, has been wrapped up in a plagiarism scandal this month over a not too long ago launched picture of the One Ring from The Hobbit set. Followers on Reddit rapidly observed that Frazier’s picture significantly resembled a earlier One Ring illustration by Marta Nael from the Tales of Center-earth set. Now, Frazier and Magic: The Gathering’s mum or dad firm, Wizards of the Coast, have acknowledged that Nael’s artwork was used with out her permission or credit score for her work.
“I made a mistake, and I really feel terrible,” wrote Frazier in a press release on X. “I particularly really feel for Marta, whose work I like. In making an attempt to create an iconic model of The One Ring, whereas taking a look at references on-line, I ended up utilizing Marta’s Ring as a reference and painted over it to attempt to depict the merchandise the followers maintain pricey to their hearts. In doing so, I did not make it my very own. I am reaching out to Marta privately to apologize artist to artist.”
A message from Dan Frazier and Wizards of the Coast: pic.twitter.com/4VCM8avcay
— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) May 2, 2026
Wizards of the Coast’s message said that it has plans to pay Nael for her work and that each she and Frazier can be credited for the artwork within the digital variations. The firm’s assertion additionally famous that it did not catch the similarities between the 2 works earlier than including, “We nonetheless worth Dan and his contributions and are grateful for his place within the sport.”
Nael has but to remark concerning the incident on social media, however some followers have identified that Frazier’s agent, Mark Aronowitz, denied that his client had seen Nael’s One Ring illustration earlier than Frazier in the end admitted he had used it.
To be blunt given this put up from his agent it appears a bit laborious to take Dan’s story at face worth. Dan is claiming he referenced Marta’s artwork as a duplicate after which his agent says they “by no means noticed this model”
Except I am lacking one thing these seem to be almost contradictory accounts? pic.twitter.com/ruoJpKKRAu— Veritox (@Veritox223) May 3, 2026
Many of the reactions to the assertion by Frazier and Wizards of the Coast seem to have been damaging, with some calling out the corporate for persevering with to make use of the plagiarized picture.
How do you “mistakenly” copy another person’s work 1:1?
This was an intentional act and your resolution is to… maintain utilizing the stolen work?— coof cops (yacht rock arc) (@realcoofy) May 4, 2026
It’s fascinating to observe them clarify away of their “apology” plagiarism as if it had been spilled milk or tripping. pic.twitter.com/AphB2hXoR8
— RebelJediCollectibles (@RJCollectibles) May 3, 2026
Stuffed with company flab and exhibits that you just simply care concerning the publicity and being lazy over really accommodating the gamers with new artwork.
I might respect a bullet level checklist over this shit. A large firm making an attempt to return off as a single individual has all the time been manipulative.— Tits (@KnockThem) May 3, 2026
It actually was intentional. What Dan stated was the definition of intentional. He was being lazy and obtained caught.
— bd (@bdactual) May 3, 2026
Facet-by-side from MTGRockshttps://t.co/EkCBnf4LGj pic.twitter.com/NkDU5X9UT4
— Gravis (@BiblioPhilip) May 3, 2026
In different MTG information, Wizards of the Coast not too long ago shared a glimpse of Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming Actuality Fracture set. A handful of playing cards from The Hobbit set had been additionally previewed forward of MagicCon Las Vegas.