Magic: The Gathering is one of the world's most popular card games, with millions of players flinging spells and summoning creatures against one another in the game's decades-long history. There is also some fascinating lore behind the game, with some of these stories being told through comic books and graphic novels.
These have explored the card game's vast Multiverse, from the Japan-inspired plane of Kamigawa to the Greece-inspired Theros, the plane of Ravnica and the setting’s original plane, Dominaria. They often follow countless characters that players are familiar with from the card game, such as Serra, Dakkon Blackblade, Chandra Nalar, and many more.
Magic: The Gathering Volume 1
Best Value See at AmazonMagic: Soul & Stone
Best Story Collection See at AmazonMagic The Gathering: Chandra #1
Best Chandra Story See at AmazonDestroy All Humans. They Can't Be Regenerated
Best Manga See at AmazonMagic: The Hidden Planeswalker
Best New Character See at Amazon
The Best Magic: The Gathering Comics
Best ValueMagic: The Gathering Volume 1
Dack Fayden's Past Comes Back To Haunt Him
The planeswalking thief, Dack Fayden, takes center stage in this graphic novel that takes him from the world of Ravnica to Innistrad and back to his home plane of Fiora. In these adventures, he makes an important discovery after being chased by the Cult of Rakdos.
Pros & Cons- Has great art that is consistent with the card game.
- An exciting adventure story filled with magic and intrigue.
Writer Matt Forbeck and artist Martin Coccolo bring the story of master thief Dack Faden to life in this graphic novel about the planeswalker's adventures across the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse.
In the story, Dack Fayden travels around different planes to look for greater magical knowledge. However, in one of his heists, he discovers that another planeswalker is the person responsible for destroying his hometown. Now, he is out for revenge.
Best Hard CoverMagic Volume 1
An Unexpected Team Up
WRITER Jed MacKay Artist Ig Guara Publisher Boom! Studios Release Date October 19, 2012The first in a five-arc narrative, BOOM! Studios' Magic Series focuses on several planeswalkers as they try to save the MTG Multiverse from various interconnected threats. In the first volume, three rival Ravnica guildmasters must put their differences aside to save the plane.
Pros & Cons- So many familiar characters from the TCG.
- Explores the complicated relationship between planeswalkers.
- The story is officially regarded as non-canon.
Several assassination attempts have rocked the planet-wide city of Ravnica as mysterious assassins tried to take out guildmasters Kaya of the Orzhov Syndicate, Vraska of the Golgari Swarm, and Ral Zerek of the Izzet League. The three of them, who also happen to be planeswalkers, have banded together to hunt down the ones who tried to kill them.
This first volume collects MAGIC #1–5 and is part of a much larger and overarching story filled with adventure, romance, betrayal, and, of course, magic.
Best Story CollectionMagic: Soul & Stone
Two White Mana Planeswalkers Take The Spotlight
Magic: Soul & Stone is a collection of tales focusing on two specific planeswalkers: the mighty Leonin warrior from Alara, Ajani Goldmane, and the Kor lithomancer from Ikoria, Nahiri. The stories take a look at their respective adventures across MTG's Multiverse.
Pros & Cons- Sheds more light into the characters of Ajani and Nahiri.
- Has cameos from some very popular MTG characters.
Magic: Soul And Stone tells two very distinct tales. In Ajani's story, he is visited by his old friend, Tamiyo, who warns him of a swarm of insects that have been wreaking havoc across multiple planes. Meanwhile, Nahiri's story dives deep into her past and explores why the lithomancer is so ruthless when it comes to protecting her home plane, Ikoria, including some of the terrible deeds she has done.
The book includes Magic: Ajani Goldmane #1 and Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer #1. It comes in a hardcover edition with cover art featuring the two main planeswalkers.
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Posts Best Chandra StoryMagic The Gathering: Chandra #1
Even More Chandra
WRITER Vita Ayala Artist Harvey Tolibao Publisher IDW Publishing Release Date December 1, 2018 Colorist Joana LefuenteThe raging pyromancer from Kaladesh, Chandra Nalar, not only has the highest number of planeswalker cards in Magic: The Gathering, but she also has her own four-issue series from IDW comics. The story spans several planes as the hotheaded mage goes on a journey to find herself.
Pros & Cons- Its shows that Chandra is more than just a hothead.
- Tibalt is the perfect villain for the story.
- It's still unclear if this is actually canon.
After the events of War Of The Spark, Chandra has been grieving and striking out on her own. In her adventures after that harrowing experience, she has been trying to save every life she can, no matter what plane she finds herself on.
However, her mother, Pia Nalar, and fellow planeswalker, Ajani Goldmane, have expressed their concerns that she has been overextending herself in her quests. To make it even more complicated, the devilish planeswalker known as Tibalt shows up to cause more trouble.
Best MangaDestroy All Humans. They Can't Be Regenerated
MTG And Japanese School Life
A high school slice of manga set in the '90s, Destroy All Humans. They Can't Be Regenerated, follows middle school student Hajime Kano as he takes up a certain trading card game that has been taking Japan by storm during that period.
Pros & Cons- A unique Japanese take on Magic: The Gathering.
- The 90s retro MTG gives off some nostalgic vibes.
Magic: The Gathering changed the Japanese tabletop gaming landscape and is still popular in the country today, so it should come as no surprise that the TCG also has its very own manga. However, this one is not set in the game's vast multiverse but in a Japanese school. It is written by Katsura Ise, and the illustrations are provided by Takuma Yokota.
In the story, Tokiwagi Middle School student Hajime Kano is getting frustrated with always coming in second place against popular honor student Emi Sawatari in the academic rankings. However, their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when Hajime discovers that she also plays Magic: The Gathering.
Best New CharacterMagic: The Hidden Planeswalker
A New Planeswalker Makes Things More Complicated
Two very powerful planeswalkers are on a collision course with one another as the necromancer, Liliana Vess, takes on the villainous metal mage, Tezzeret. Meanwhile, a new planeswalker finds herself trapped in the middle of their conflict in this tale by Mairghread Scott.
Pros & Cons- Liliana Vess shines in this story.
- Introduces a brand new Planeswalker named Isona Maive.
Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker follows the planeswalking necromancer, Liliana Vess, as she searches for a brand new planeswalker whose spark has just activated during her time in Amonkhet. However, it seems that Tezzeret, the Master of Metal, also wants her for his own nefarious plans.
Writer Mairghread Scott weaves the tale of this showdown between Liliana and Tezzeret, with art by Fabiana Mascolo and French Carlomagno. This hardcover edition collects Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker #1–4 and Magic: Master of Metal #1.
FAQ
Which Comicbook Publishers Are Responsible For Magic: The Gathering Comics?
Several companies have published the comics for Magic: The Gathering through the years, with IDW Publishing being responsible for the Dack Fayden series, while others, such as The Hidden Planeswalker, were published by BOOM! Studios.
ARMADA Comics was responsible for the comic about the angelic planeswalker, Serra, as well as several other tales, including ones about the elder dragons. Meanwhile, Dark Horse Comics also delved into the MTG Multiverse with stories surrounding the Weatherlight Saga.
Which Is Better, Paperback or Hardcover Graphic Novels?
It depends on if you prefer durability or light weight in your graphic novels. Hardcover graphic novels are sturdier and often last longer, while TPBs get damaged more easily and show more wear. However, when it comes to pricing, TPBs are often the much cheaper option.
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