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Magic
Magic comic 1e cover
Publication information
Publisher BOOM! Studios
Publication period April, 2021 - April, 2023
Number of issues 25
Character(s) Jace Beleren, Vraska, Kaya, Ral Zarek, Niv-Mizzet, Jaya Ballard, Tezzeret, Marit Lage, Chandra Nalaar, Garruk, Niko Aris
Creative team
Writer(s) Jed MacKay
Illustrator(s) Ig Guara
Colorist(s) Arianna Consonni
Preceded By
N/A
Followed By
N/A

Magic was an ongoing monthly series of Magic: the Gathering comics published by BOOM! Studios between 2021 and 2023.[1][2]

Description[ | ]

Magic's creative team includes writer Jed MacKay (Black Cat), artist Ig Guara (Ghost-Spider), colorist Arianna Consonni and letterer Ed Dukeshire.

The series opens in the realm of Ravnica, whose planet-sized city is rocked by assassination attempts against three Guildmasters, Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya. The trio will be forced to put aside their differences and travel to the plane of Zendikar to hunt the assassins. Boom is teasing a climactic showdown with a major Magic: The Gathering character.

The events in the BOOM! comics are officially confirmed to be non-canon. They are based on familiar characters and locations but don't follow the TCG story continuity.[3] In the comic storyline, the Guildpact as a magical agreement does not exist; instead, it is a collection of guildmasters with Niv-Mizzet serving as their chair.[4]

Magic #1 released on April 7, 2021. The issue featured cover art by Matteo Scalera (Black Science), with variant covers by Guara, InHyuk Lee (Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man), and Junggeun Yoon (Seven Secrets). The first issue also featured a series of Hidden Planeswalker variant covers by artists Miguel Mercado (Mighty Morphin), Taj Tenfold (Abbott), and Magdalena Pagowska (The Library of Esoterica), each spotlighting a different iconic Magic character. Additionally, Boom! offered a "Magic pack" collector bundle that includes the main cover, an exclusive variant by Mirka Andolfo (Mercy). one of the Hidden Planeswalker covers, and a blank sketch cover.

Storyline blurbs[ | ]

Arc 1[ | ]

The first five issues detail an investigation into mysterious synchronous attacks on multiple guilds.

Issue 1[ | ]

"Across the vast Multiverse, those gifted with a “spark” can tap into the raw power of Magic and travel across realms — they are Planeswalkers. When coordinated assassination attempts on Guildmasters Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya rock the city of Ravnica and leave Jace Beleren’s life hanging in the balance, a fuse is lit that threatens not just these three Guilds, but the entire plane of Ravnica. Now these three must covertly infiltrate the wild plane of Zendikar and form a tenuous alliance to uncover why the targets of the assassins have all been Planeswalkers. . . which will lead them straight to one of the most enigmatic characters in Magic history!"

Issue 2[ | ]

"With their homes rocked by an attack - and Jace Beleren’s life hanging in the balance - Planeswalkers Kaya, Ral, and Vraska must discover who is behind it all. But as they begin to suspect one of Ravnica’s most prominent Guilds is behind the attack, it becomes clear their enemy may be plotting something even more destructive…"[5]

Issue 3[ | ]

"When their investigation into the role of one of Ravnica’s biggest Guilds in the assassination attempts on their lives lead Planeswalkers Kaya, Ral, and Vraska deep into the Undercity, they will need to succeed in the impossible. Will they uncover the location of Duskmantle, the Dimir guildhall, and survive to tell the tale? Meanwhile, the assassin is amassing guild members to betray their own Guilds, even as their true motivations remain a mystery…"[6]

Issue 4[ | ]

"What secrets does the Guildmaster of Dimir keep? After discovering Duskmantle, the guildhall of the Dimir, Kaya, Vraska, and Ral will meet with the secretive Lazav, who may be the key to unraveling the mystery of the assassination attempts. Meanwhile, the plot against the trio is beginning to turn Ravnica itself against them…" [7]

Issue 5[ | ]

"Who will Ral, Kaya, and Vraska encounter on Dominaria? The answer will scatter the Planeswalkers across the multiverse as the race to find out who is behind the attacks on Ravnica continues! The answer may lie with one of the oldest living Planeswalkers…"[8]

Arc 2[ | ]

The next five issues focus on averting Ravnica's certain doom, culminating in the Battle of Amonkhet.

Issue 6[ | ]

"How does the ancient past hold the key to the future of the entire Multiverse? Ral, Vraska, and Kaya have finally tracked down the being that can help them unravel the true nature of the threat they face — Jaya Ballard, one of the oldest living, and most experienced, Planeswalkers in existence. And the key to understanding lies in Jaya’s origins during the Age of Ice in Dominaria… and a threat that was neutralized, but never truly eliminated."

Issue 7[ | ]

"Ravnica united! The Guilds have aligned just in time to find their sprawling city transformed into a battlefield! Their enemies are mutant horrors: citizens changed by their cultish devotion to an entity that threatens all life across the multiverse. Though our planeswalkers are now aided by guild warriors from Boros angels to Simic super soldiers, can Kaya, Vraska, and Ral Zarek reach Jace Beleren before the herald of [REDACTED] does?"

Issue 8[ | ]

"Tying directly into the events of Magic: Master of Metal #1, Tezzeret enters the fray and brings with him vital information to the cabal of Planeswalkers defending Ravnica regarding [REDACTED]! Only Tezzeret knows the truth about why Jace Beleren was attacked and why he is the key to saving the Multiverse from the utter destruction coming to Ravnica. But that secret and what it means may force Jace, Vraska, Kaya, and the allied Guilds of Ravnica to make an unthinkable choice… linked to the very crimes that Tezzeret seeks to be pardoned for in exchange for his help!"

Issue 9[ | ]

"Kaya, Vraska, Ral, and Jace assemble the most powerful Planeswalkers from across the multiverse for the final battle against a civilization-ending threat. But the terrible and ancient enemy they face is a force too powerful to face head-on… With [REDACTED] headed their way, the only way to save the multiverse is to make a dangerous alliance with death! Will their veritable array of powers hold off the teeming dead and lead the true threat into their trap?"

Issue 10[ | ]

"It’s open war on Amonkhet as the Planeswalkers battle an entire plane’s worth of ravenous undead. The plan is made and the stage is set, but against overwhelming odds and with Marit Lage’s arrival imminent, can they unite to stop her once and for all? And with stakes unlike anything the Multiverse has seen before, can our coterie of heroes be victorious without paying the ultimate price? The stunning conclusion to a story ten issues in the making arrives with fireworks and heartbreak!"

Arc 3[ | ]

The next five issues follow Chandra as she teams up with Garruk and Niko to find out why she can't planeswalk to Ravnica.

Issue 11[ | ]

"After paying the ultimate price to defeat the mad god, Marit Lage, Planeswalkers Ral Zarek, Kaya, and Vraska return to Ravnica… and the plane closes behind them! Now a new trio of Planeswalkers – the combustible Chandra Nalaar, the monster tracker Garruk Wildspeaker, and a debuting, mysterious Planeswalker – are locked out of Ravnica, and must find their way back! But even as they gain foes and friends in new corners of the Multiverse, things are worse there than anyone could imagine… as they uncover the plot of an old enemy to manipulate aether on a scale never seen before!"

Issue 12[ | ]

"A newly-debuted Planeswalker must reach Ravnica to seek Kaya the ghost assassin’s help with a vengeful specter, while Chandra seeks ancient machines that could breach the unseen barrier around Ravnica, and Garruk’s tireless pursuit of the sadistic and elusive Tibalt may be Chandra’s best lead. Meanwhile, our new trio of Planeswalkers join together as their goals align, speeding off to pick up the trail in Emeria, the shifting Sky Ruin in Zendikar! But should they succeed in reaching Ravnica, they’ll face the master dominating Tibalt and Davriel, perhaps the greatest mage the plane has ever known…"

Issue 13[ | ]

"In Zendikar, tomb-raiding and death-defying adventures await as our three heroes finally learn to work as a team—with Chandra Nalaar as the unexpected and reluctant leader. In the hazards surrounding the Sky-Ruin, Emeria, they encounter [REDACTED], pushing Garruk’s hatred to the limit and sending the three into a reckless pursuit in the dangerous ruins. With enemies ahead, can Niko continue to evade the deathly Specter that pursues them? And what messages from beyond the grave might echo among the floating hedrons?"

Issue 14[ | ]

"The planeswalkers journey to Locthwain to find the Cauldron of Eternity, and finally uncover the identity of the specter haunting Niko’s steps. Many knights have fallen in their quest for the Cauldron—in order to find it, our heroes must prove their worth by surviving a deadly test. But if they can succeed, they just might discover the identity of the specter… and the dangerous implications of that knowledge!"

Issue 15[ | ]

"The newly-revealed spectral planeswalker brings newfound ramifications for our trio, as well as knowledge of the extraplanar peril and political conflict unfolding in Ravnica. With a powerful planeswalker with grand ambitions revealed as the puppet master behind it all, what are Chandra, Niko, and Garruk going to do about it?"

Arc 4[ | ]

Davriel Cane defects from Tezzeret's service, and the arc concludes in a fatal showdown against Tezzeret.

Issue 16[ | ]

"In Ravnica, the Metal Mage reigns as a shadowy dictator, while Vraska, Ral Zarek, and Kaya are trapped in an impossible situation, unable to escape. But can Niko, Chandra, and Garruk find Davriel Cane, Tezzeret's elusive but potentially useful minion, and turn the tide on the side of freedom?"

Issue 17[ | ]

"Despite Ravnica seemingly unreachable, Niko Aris, the Fatescorn, arrives with the help of an ally. But Niko still has to find a way to Kaya, Vraska, and Ral, all while remaining hidden from a masterful enemy, one who will crush the entire multiverse if their terrible goals are realized."

Issue 18[ | ]

"Tezzeret knows he's been betrayed... and he's set his bloodhound, Tibalt, on the traitor's trail. Now Garruk, Chandra, and Niko are all that stand between Davriel Cane and a gruesome death at Tibalt's hands. But the appearance of a guest Planeswalker might just give our heroes exactly what they need to find their way back to Ravnica, and save Vraska, Kaya, and Ral!"

Issue 19[ | ]

"Chandra, Garruk, and Niko have finally made it to Ravnica, but Tezzeret was more than ready for them... If they want to succeed in freeing Ral, Kaya, and Vraska from their sadistic prisons...they'll have to face a challenge that no one could have predicted, and a final showdown with the Master of Metal himself! Magic fans won't want to miss the beginning of this epic two-part finale, and the start of a new mystery that will put the... fate of the entire multiverse at stake!"

Issue 20[ | ]

"The finale of the fourth arc of Magic reaches a fever pitch as the Battle of Ravnica rages on, not just between Niv-Mizzet and Tezzeret, but also the Planeswalkers and the Guildpact Guard! Between daring escapes, deadly ambushes, and a mad grab for godhood, it will take all of the power at the Planeswalkers' disposal to stop the worst from happening..."

War of Fate[ | ]

Issue 21[ | ]

"While our planeswalker heroes enjoy a time of relative peace and happiness that they (and readers!) have thirsted for, threats from their past refuse to rest… With a villain ready to pull at the seams of the Multiverse, will a wildcard planeswalker reentering the story help Jace, Vraska, Ral, Kaya, Niko, Chandra, Garruk, and Liliana, or is chaos in store? Get ready for an all new era of MAGIC, and a story that will change the fate of the Multiverse itself!"

Issue 22[ | ]

"Desperate questions make reluctant alliances! Garruk the Wildspeaker agrees to work with the woman who once cursed him – Liliana Vess! Together, they must find Isona Maive before she finds an even more dangerous ally than Marit Lage or Tezzeret! Meanwhile, with the man Vraska loves, Jace Beleren, unsure if he’s hearing a voice from beyond the grave, they call on Kaya. Kaya may be the only Planeswalker who can slay a ghost, but she also pulled Vraska out of Jace’s arms in what might have been their final moments together. And Kaya’s not any happier to see Vraska, who foreswore their friendship as thanks for Kaya saving her life. But if Niko’s right, someone is manipulating all their fates, there’s no time left for grudges."

Issue 23[ | ]

"Discover the secret history of the War of the Spark in our Multiverse, as revealed by the resurrected Jace Beleren! Meanwhile, on Amonkhet, Liliana, Garruk, and Chandra are trapped, watching helplessly while Ral is coerced into betrayal while the man he loves is in danger. Nahiri’s shocking alliances complicate things, and a mysterious partnership is revealed to be behind it all…"

Issue 24[ | ]

"As the grand finale to the saga unfolds, the aftermath of the events on Amonkhet leaves Liliana, Garruk, and Chandra vulnerable to Marit Lage's influence-making each a potential threat to the others! But what do Isona and Nicol Bolas' capabilities mean for Aminatou's plans for the multiverse? The answers await all the surviving Planeswalkers on Dominaria!"

Issue 25[ | ]

"In the epic conclusion to the longest continuous Magic: The Gathering comic series, Nicol Bolas, endowed with godlike powers, is ready to take back the Multiverse. At the edge of existence, our Planeswalkers are discordant, overpowered, and unprepared. Their only hope? Outnumbering the dragon… with more Planeswalkers packed onto the page than ever before! Simultaneously, the spectral voice haunting Jace is revealed, with a secret weapon that Jace must wield, if he can…"

Special issues[ | ]

Gallery[ | ]

References[ | ]

  1. Jesse Schedeen (January 21, 2021). "Magic: The Gathering Returns to Comics in April 2021". Ign.com.
  2. Jake Vyper (March 9, 2021). "Magic: The Gathering Ashcan Comic Will Be Sneak-Published This Week". Mtgrocks.com.
  3. Magic Comes Back to Comics (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (March 12, 2021).
  4. Interview with Jed MacKay. The Vorthos Cast (August 16, 2021).
  5. Matthew Aguilar (April 16, 2021). "Magic: Jace Fights For His Life and a New Alliance Forms in New Issue #2". Comicbook.com.
  6. Magic #3 Preview. Comicbookdispatch.com/ (June, 2021).
  7. Your First Look at Dimir Guildmaster Lazav’s Shocking Secrets in MAGIC #4. Boom-studios.com.
  8. AIPT (July 26, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE BOOM! Preview: Magic #5". Aiptcomics.com/.
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