"Sounds like a skill issue": Fans in stitches as Jeff the Land Shark creator tells Marvel Rivals players to "get better"

Jeff the Land Shark isn’t just a cute little menace—he’s a certified nightmare in Marvel Rivals. This predator can swallow entire teams and eject them off cliffs. If you’ve been on the receiving end of this, you might have already thrown your controller across the room.

But don’t expect sympathy—co-creator Kelly Thompson has a different take on your suffering. Thompson says that instead of fretting about this pint-sized creature, y’all should just fix your “skill issue.”

This means it’s high time to improve your gameplay if you are consistently losing to the land shark.

Users were in stitches over the situation, cracking up at Thompson's comments. And, of course, they couldn’t stop LOL-ing at Jeff the Land Shark, who somehow made everything even funnier just by existing.

Plus—no one was exactly winning at this game.

One user said:

"I mean they're not wrong hahaha it's not hard to beat Jeff."

One user said:

"I’m a** at the game so I don’t play it."

A user commented:

"lmao bro really said "get good"

A user quipped:

"Jeff has no cool downs on his swim ability. It makes him op."

A user posted:

"if ur gettin folded by jeff after all this time i think your just d******"

One user highlighted:

"I dont even play marvel rivals but this is so funny."

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Kelly Thompson has zero sympathy for your losses

As the gripes against Jeff's overpowering attributes grew, Kelly Thompson came into her creation’s defense.

In an interview with Polygon, she brushed off player complaints jokingly as a "skills issue," saying that people who lose to Jeff should just 'get better at the game.'

“I think they should get better at the game. Sounds like a skills issue to me, if my boy is beating your a**vevery night. I mean, listen, he has an incredibly powerful ult; just accept it, become zen about it. Everyone’s got upsides and downsides, right?”

It’s a brutal take, but she’s got a point.

Every character in Marvel Rivals has strengths and weaknesses. If Jeff keeps steamrolling you, maybe it’s time to rethink your strategy.

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The origins of Jeff: From MODOK experiment to gaming icon

Jeff wasn’t always a gaming terror. He first surfaced in West Coast Avengers #6 in 2018, the brainchild of Kelly Thompson and artist Daniele di Nicuolo.

Originally part of MODOK’s ill-advised shark army, Jeff was adopted by Gwenpool and quickly became a fan-favorite in Marvel Comics.

Since then, Jeff has clawed his way to stardom, winning hearts in his own digital comic series, It’s Jeff!, which even snagged the 2024 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication.

But his most chaotic leap came in December 2024, when he entered Marvel Rivals—and immediately started ruining friendships.

His attack radius is absurd, his execution speed is lightning-fast, and the counterplay… well, good luck with that.

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Jeff’s popularity vs. the struggle to balance Marvel Rivals

For all his domination, Jeff isn’t invincible.

During Marvel Rivals Season 0, his win rate was among the lowest in the game.

But as updates rolled in, balance tweaks ensured he remained a chaos machine without being completely unstoppable.

Of course, Jeff isn’t the only Marvel Rivals character to stir up controversy. Scarlet Witch and Hulk also pack abilities that flip the game on its head.

But Jeff’s unique mix of absurd cuteness and game-breaking chaos has made him particularly divisive.

In fact, his reign is just getting started. A Jeff The Land Shark limited series is hitting shelves in June 2025, and Thompson has teased Marvel Rivals crossovers—possibly even a Venom-inspired Jeff skin.

Thompson added:

“I’m not usually super into the Venom-ification of everything, because it can really overwhelm, but he has merged with Venom in the comics [in Venom War: It’s Jeff!] and he grew giant, punchy arms. So that would be fun to have in the game”

If you’re still getting dunked on by a two-foot-tall land shark, Thompson has just one word for you: skill issue.