Did you see our reveal of Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover last week and wonder where the superheroes were in the mix? Well, you're in luck! Today, we're thrilled to give you a first look at six exciting new cards from Magic's upcoming Spider-Man set, along with a sneak peek at 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 deeper into the set's details as shared 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 marks the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magic's Universes Beyond line, following the Final Fantasy set and coming after the Modern-legal Lord of the Rings set in 2023. Notably, while the set doesn't include preconstructed Commander decks, **the cards in the Scene Box shown above** are specifically designed for Commander play and **will not** be Standard-legal.
While last year's Secret Lair featuring Wolverine, Captain America, and more marked Magic's initial foray into the Marvel universe, the Spider-Man set stands as the first comprehensive set inspired by the comics. According to Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer Max McCall, the decision to create a full set was driven by the desire to do justice to the vast Spider-Man universe.
"Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character..."“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. “Choosing characters from the Spider-Man canon for a broader set would leave too many important figures out. We could have included Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-specific set, but there wouldn't have been room for characters like Aunt May."
McCall highlights that designing for a Universes Beyond set "flips the worldbuilding on its head." Unlike a typical Magic set that needs to introduce its setting and location while being engaging, a set featuring a character like Spider-Man can leverage existing fan familiarity. "When we create a card that reflects the theme of great power and great responsibility, we can add mechanical complexity because fans already grasp the story the card tells. We don't need to simplify Universes Beyond cards; we just need to capture recognizable moments that fans will easily connect with."
When it comes to translating the Spider-Man universe into Magic cards, Head Designer Mark Rosewater emphasizes the versatility of Magic's color pie. "It's robust enough to showcase heroism and villainy across all five colors," he notes. For instance, Rosewater positions Spider-Man within white, blue, and green colors, with the Scene Box version featuring the first two.
"Spider-Man feeling obligated to use his power to help people is core to him being part of the white color pie. His origin from a radioactive spider bite, and his scientific prowess, including inventions like his web-slingers, align him with the blue color. Finally, his animal-based powers and his destined connection to the Spider-Man universe fit well within the green color."
"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 preconstructed Commander decks are absent, the set introduces the return of Welcome Decks—introductory decks provided by game stores to help new players learn the game in a relaxed setting.
Alongside this year's Final Fantasy set, Wizards of the Coast has also announced a set themed around Avatar: The Last Airbender. Before that, fans can look forward to two more in-universe sets, 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:*
