New Magic: The Gathering Comic Celebrates the Franchise's 25th Anniversary

By Jesse Schedeen The popular card game Magic: The Gathering is expanding to comics once again. We can exclusively reveal that Wizards of the Coast and IDW Publishing are collaborating on a new series called Magic: The Gathering - Chandra, one timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the franchise.

The new series will focus on Chandra Nalaar, a Planeswalker who plays a key role in Magic: The Gathering lore. The series will be written by Vita Ayala (Supergirl) and drawn by Harvey Tolibao (X-Men).


Magic: The Gathering - Chandra #1 cover (not final art) [IDW Publishing]

One of IDW's goals with the new series is to offer a clean gateway into the Magic universe for readers who aren't necessarily familiar with the 25 years of existing lore. This series is billed as a "fresh start" for the franchise with "an all-new approach to storytelling," according to IDW's press release. The new series isn't connected to IDW's previous Magic comic from 2014.

Ayala explained that new reader-friendly approach in an email interview. "With this story, the team and I wanted very much to introduce people who may not be familiar with the game to the rich characters, worlds, and lore that have come from it, in an accessible way! There have been comics before, of course, but as many have said, every comic is someone’s first comic, and to be able to entice people to check out something as amazing as the Magic: The Gathering universe while getting to tell a compelling story about a character as complex and interesting as Chandra is such a thrill!"

Ayala also revealed that the series will focus a great deal on the fundamental link between Planeswalkers and the magic they wield. "One of the aspects that I wanted to highlight in the story is the connection between the characters and their magic – how their mental, emotional, and physical states can effect how they manifest their magic. Literally WHO someone IS affects what they can do, magic-wise, in this universe."

Ayala continued, "The challenge is to do this in a way that doesn’t get too into the minutia of mana and the mechanics of that stuff more closely linked to the card game. I think the team and I have managed to do it, in a subtle, organic way that enhances all the cool stuff that Chandra (and other characters) can do! The antagonist of the series is as good an example of this as Chandra is, and I am excited to see how people react to the push and pull of their dynamic!"

Finally, Ayala made it clear that her love for the card game is fueling her excitement for this project. "I have been playing the game on and off for probably about sixteen years now. There were cycles in my life where I didn’t collect as much (college was a lean time, wallet-wise), but Magic has been a constant in my life in terms of the mythos and community building since I was a teenager. I ride or die for a couple of the characters – Garruk, Chandra, Kiora, Xenagos, and Samut especially. Like, I used to carry a Garruk, Primal Hunter in my wallet. He is in a deck right now, though, so I have a Solitary Hunter, Hallar the Fire Fletcher, and Frazzled Editor in there instead!"

Look for Magic: The Gathering - Chandra #1 to hit stores in November 2018.

An adventurous Planeswalker and powerful pyromancer, Chandra Nalaar has seen much in her time — but she had never experienced such tragedy before. In the wake of a devastating loss, Chandra is striking out on her own, determined to prove—to her family and to herself—that next time she’ll be prepared. But when faced with threats both old and new, will she be able to overcome her grief in time to survive? And who is that familiar face lurking in the shadows?

In the wake of a devastating loss, Chandra is striking out on her own, determined to prove—to her family and to herself—that next time she’ll be prepared

More interviews and new revelations: http://comicbook.com/comics/2018/08/08/magic-the-gathering-comics-chandra-idw-publishing/#7



Based on the interview, this comic will take place after the new Ravnica set. So, on the one hand, Chandra makes it out of the Bolas invasion of Ravnica alive. On the other hand.....**** goes down and someone or someones don't. Right now Chandra really only cares about two other 'Walkers, Gideon and Nissa. Place your bets!

There's a non 0% chance it could be Nissa. with the arrival of Vivian and MaRo assuring everyone that they plan on using Garruk more, we now have three mono-green 'Walkers (once we get Garruk cured). It would not be unexpected after Nissa's exit from the Gatewatch that she has a soul-searching moment back on Zendikar, decides to go help her friends, and shows up late to the party during the main fight with Bolas, does a thing, and ends up dying because of it, which would probably make Chandra really sad.

Is it a high chance any of that will happen? Not really. But they don't have a good stand-in for Gideon right now since we lost Elspeth.

She left, not really as a narrative device, but because she was so unpopular.

[citation needed]

The information put out at the time indicated that had been planned for a while and there's foreshadowing setting up her growing discomfort with the Gatewatch as far back as Amonkhet, an entire year before.

feel like some of those quotes have internet losers real angry about "THE SJW AGENDA"

Normally I can pick out when something like that would incense the mobs, but I'm actually at a loss for what would set them off here...

"One of the aspects that I wanted to highlight in the story is the connection between the characters and their magic – how their mental, emotional, and physical states can effect how they manifest their magic. Literally WHO someone IS affects what they can do, magic-wise, in this universe."

"OBVIOUSLY THE WIZARDS OF THE COAST ARE PUSHING THEIR SJW AGENDA OF SLEF IDENTIFICATION OF THE SIXTY SEVEN GENDERS AND PIZZAGATE AND HILLARY AND EMAILS" - my facebook feed, eventually.

Amonkhet was also the first set they could apply any feedback from consumers gathered in the period during Battle for Zendikar.
You might not mind Nissa, and I know she has a dedicated fanbase out there, but statements made during her departure and a LOT of fan criticism point to the fact she was bumped out of the limelight for that reason.

I dispute that there was a lot of fan criticism. I saw a lot here, and some on MTG Salvation, but what I saw on Twitter and Tumblr was positive and a lot of what I saw got very invested in the Chissa ship. I also happen to think that this was a very logical place for her character to go, regardless of whatever real-world stuff is or is not have been going on around that.