One of the first trading card games, Magic: The Gathering has amassed a humongous fan following since its inception in the early '90s. Within the game's lore, Planeswalkers are powerful wizards who can travel between realms of the multiverse. Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, in association with Boom! Studios, present a new story that takes the reader to the gorgeous ecumenopolis of Ravnica. With artist Ig Guara's help, writer Jed MacKay continues the storyline of War of the Spark, bringing new challenges to the land of Magic.
A city of thousand cultures, Ravnica houses ten powerful guilds who are held together in an uneasy peace by the Guildpact and its keeper, the dragon Niv-Mizzet. However, that idyllic setting shatters when a group of assassins launches a series of coordinated attacks on three Guilds, resulting in an avalanche of events that threaten to resurrect a dark, ancient power. Magic Vol. 1 collects the first five issues of the ongoing series and takes the planeswalker Guildmasters on a dangerous quest searching for the culprits from one realm to the next.
Producer, composer, and writer Jed MacKay (Death of Doctor Strange) takes on a different kind of magical adventure in Magic Vol. 1, providing his spin on the lore. The story follows the three Guildmasters closely as they bond over a shared enemy while fighting werewolves, zombies, and dinosaurs in whichever realm the journey takes them. Even though the narrative seems long-winded at times, its numerous twists and turns keep the reader tethered to their seats. MacKay weaves a story that takes known characters and stretches their established relationships to the limits of his imagination, painting a colorful world of Magic: The Gathering.
Magic: The Gathering is renowned for its cards' gorgeous artwork. Brazilian artist Ig Guara illustrates page after page of exquisite panels that feel as expansive as the world it's portraying. From the grand arches that ornament Ravnica to the intricate masonry on the Chamber of Guildpact, Guara gives the story an aesthetic akin to the art on the trading cards. The vibrant shades from colorist Arianna Consonni help cement a feeling of nostalgia, especially for longtime MTG players. The colorful magic imbued special effects give a dynamic feeling to this comic book.
Magic Vol. 1's sleek designs and glossy artworks cannot hide the story's occasional drab character interactions. However, the comic's plot more than makes up for those moments. Magic Vol. 1 will fascinate not just MTG players, but also comic readers looking for a portal into the world of Magic: The Gathering.
0 Comments