If you were captivated by our reveal of Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover last week and found yourself wondering, "Video games are fantastic, but where are the *superheroes*?" then prepare to be thrilled. Today, we're giving you an exclusive first look at six new cards from Magic's upcoming Spider-Man set, along with a sneak peek at all the accompanying products and packaging.
**Click through the image gallery below** to explore all the Spider-Man cards featured in the Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more. Dive into the details of the set as explained by Wizards of the Coast.
Marvel's Spider-Man x Magic: The Gathering - First Card and Packaging Reveal
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Set to launch on September 26, Marvel's Spider-Man will be the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set within Magic's Universes Beyond line, following the Final Fantasy set and succeeding the 2023 Modern-legal Lord of the Rings set. Notably, the Scene Box cards shown above are designed for Commander play and will not be Standard-legal.
While a Secret Lair featuring Wolverine, Captain America, and other characters marked Magic's first foray into the Marvel universe last year, Spider-Man represents the first full set inspired by the comics. According to Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer Max McCall, a full set was essential to properly showcase the breadth of Spider-Man's world and villains.
"Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character and incorporate the many villains he's come across over the years," McCall explains. "Picking characters from the Spider-Man canon as part of a wider set would leave far too many characters on the cutting room floor. We could probably have found room for Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-Spider-Man specific set, but there wouldn't have been room for Aunt May."
McCall highlights that designing for a Universes Beyond set "flips the worldbuilding on its head." Unlike a typical Magic set, which must introduce its setting and mechanics while engaging players, Universes Beyond sets can leverage existing familiarity with characters like Spider-Man. "When we make a card that speaks to great power bearing great responsibility, there's room to add mechanical complexity because folks understand the story the card is telling. We don't have to make Universes Beyond cards that are 'simple' - we just have to pick moments that are recognizable, and they'll be easy for fans to understand."
AnswerSee ResultsMagic's color pie, as explained by Head Designer Mark Rosewater, is versatile enough to portray heroism and villainy across all five colors. For instance, Spider-Man's character aligns with white, blue, and green, with the Scene Box version featuring the first two colors. "Spider-Man feeling obligated to use his power to help people is core to him being part of the white color pie. Spider-Man is also the product of science, being bitten by a radioactive spider. This, and Peter's aptitude for science and invention (like his web-slingers) is very blue. Finally, Spider-Man's powers are based on an animal, and the comics have shown that there is a certain destiny to his connection to both spiders and the Spider-Man universe, which is all core green."
"We're not limiting ourselves to any one [comic] run or series."
In addition to the Scene Box, the set will include Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Prerelease Packs, all showcased in the gallery above. Although there won't be preconstructed Commander decks, this set will see the return of Welcome Decks – introductory decks designed to help new players learn the game in a low-pressure environment.
Alongside this year's Final Fantasy set, Wizards of the Coast has also announced a set themed around Avatar: The Last Airbender. Before that, two more in-universe sets will be released: Tarkir: Dragontsorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.
*Read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast's Max McCall and Mark Rosewater:*
