If Kingdom Hearts 4 Has a Marvel World, a Rivals Star…

News is still scarce on the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4, but that will hopefully change within the next year or so. After being announced on April 10, 2022, Kingdom Hearts 4 went radio silent for the next several years. Developer statements did occasionally hint at things to come, but the game remains an enigma. This particular entry in Square Enix and Disney’s joint action-RPG series will be the first major entry in the new Lost Master Arc, so fans won't have a good grasp of what Kingdom Hearts looks like going forward until they see KH4.

At the very least, Kingdom Hearts 4’s teaser trailer gave fans a lot to mull over. The biggest news is Sora waking up in the unreality of Quadratum after disappearing in KH3’s ending. He’s met by the surprise return of Strelitzia from Kingdom Hearts Union Cross, and the less surprising appearance of some hooded figures and what looks like a new kind of Heartless. Fans have been discussing all of this, but some shots teasing a potential Star Wars world in KH4 have sparked even greater scrutiny. If Star Wars is a possible crossover, then Marvel Comics should be too, and that opens the door to countless exciting possibilities.

Marvel Rivals Could Be a Huge Boon For Kingdom Hearts 4

Kingdom Hearts 4 is still on the way, and if it ends up including wider Disney franchises, it might want to look to Marvel Rivals for inspiration.

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By Cameron Swan

One Marvel Hero Is Ideal For A Kingdom Hearts 4 Cameo

Marvel has a lot to offer Kingdom Hearts, to the point where it's not realistic to assume the entire Lost Master Arc will be able to cover it all. Focused groups of heroes and villains, like the MCU Avengers and some of their signature foes, will probably be the limit of what a KH4 Marvel world deals with, but that doesn't mean Kingdom Hearts can't fit more familiar faces elsewhere. Summons, keyblades, and even the occasional inter-world traveler can all take advantage of the many comic properties now under Disney’s umbrella, and one of those mechanics is the perfect way to realize an especially out-there character.

Kingdom Hearts 4 Would Make For Another Bullet On Jeff’s Resume

Jeff the Land Shark, also known as Jeffrey, was formally introduced to the Marvel universe in West Coast Avengers (Vol. 3) #7, right at the beginning of 2019. Although he’s a gag character who normally participates in Gwenpool and Deadpool’s shenanigans, Jeff’s popularity slowly rose over the following years, resulting in a stream of Jeff-focused comics that culminated in Jeff becoming playable in Marvel Rivals. That's a great honor for a supporting Marvel character that isn't typically portrayed with superpowers, and Jeff’s proliferation through different mediums could continue if he makes it into Kingdom Hearts 4.

How Jeff Can Fit Into Kingdom Hearts 4

The Land Shark Is Prime Kingdom Hearts Summon Material

By aesthetics alone, Jeff would be a perfect fit for Kingdom Hearts. Jeff would look appropriate whether he was rendered in the more colorful and cartoon-y style of past Kingdom Hearts games, or in the more realistic look that Kingdom Hearts 4 is going for. There's nothing stopping Jeff from showing up in his usual comic relief role, but he can do more than that. Playing off of Jeff’s Marvel Rivals portrayal, the land shark can put his watery healing powers and land-swimming movement to use as a Kingdom Hearts summon.

How summons will work in Kingdom Hearts 4 hasn't been detailed yet, but based on past games, Jeff could show up with either a string of guided water attacks like Kingdom Hearts 3’s Ariel, or take on a more support-oriented role. Jeff could swim around near Sora, jumping out to spit healing bubbles and water magic onto the battlefield. His summon could culminate in him using his Marvel Rivals ultimate ability “It’s Jeff!” On Sora, nearby enemies, or both at once for a beatdown in his stomach. If Kingdom Hearts 4 does end up with a Marvel world, then Jeff can cap it off in an authentically KH way.

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