Magic the Gathering's "Secret Lair" series is expanding into the realm of comic book creators this September! Last week, the MTG official site announced two separate artist editions featuring the artwork of award-winning comic creators Fiona Staples (SAGA) and Jen Bartel (Blackbird, Mother of Madness).
Wizards of the Coast on Fiona Staples:
You would not believe what Fiona Staples said when we asked her if she wanted to illustrate a Secret Lair Drop. She said, “Yes.” Well, since you’re looking at this product page you probably believe it pretty easily, but we still think we’re dreaming. The Fiona Staples, award-winning comic book artist known for her emotive art and compelling characters, has entered the Magic arena! (Not that one.) She directed her unbelievable reserves of talent towards five sweet cards—cards that can be yours, right now.
Wizard of the Coast on Jen Bartel:
Jen Bartel is here, and she means business. She honed her skills on the mean streets of multiple major comic companies, and now she’s come for Magic. When she karate-kicked the doors to Wizards HQ wide open, she immediately charged the artist pit. But it wasn’t ‘til she performed at least six different judo throws on several perplexed staff members that she told us what she wanted: her own Secret Lair Drop. We immediately acquiesced—partially out of fear, but mostly out of deep respect for her ridiculous talent. She immediately put her award-winning skills to work. Several weeks later, a flaming arrow crashed through the window of our boss’s office, immolating a carefully manicured fern. Art for the following cards was attached.
The Secret Lair Special Guest: Fiona Staples is scheduled for release on September 23rd. It contains 1 Borderless Dryad of the Ilysian Grove, 1 Borderless, Metallic Mimic, 1Borderless Sakura-Tribe Elder, 1 Borderless Soul-Scar Mage, and 1 Borderless Spell Queller.
The Special Guest: Jen Bartel releases September 23rd and has 1 Borderless Archaeomancer, 1 Borderless Bloom Tender, 1 Borderless Mesa Enchantress, and 1 Borderless Meteor Golem.
Both are available to pre-order now and come in foil ($39.99) and non-foil ($29.99) variants. Check out the Secret Lair site for more. You can discover further projects by Jen Bartel and Fiona Staples below.
IMAGE COMICS
(W) Emilia Clarke, Marguerite Bennett (A) Leila Leiz (CA) Jo Ratcliffe
Game of Thrones superstar EMILIA CLARKE debuts an EXTRA-LENGTH, THREE-ISSUE MINISERIES! The mayhem begins with Maya, under-the-weather scientist by day, over-the-top superhero by night, and badass single mom 24/7. Deadpool action and Fleabag comedy collide when Maya activates her freakish superpowers to take on a secret sect of human traffickers. Mature readers only! Comedy and chaos await in the first of three 40-page issues by the glamorous artist of Horde, LEILA LEIZ!
In Shops: Jul 21, 2021
SRP: $5.99
PREVIEWS Page #42
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DARK HORSE COMICS
(W) Jen Bartel, Tyler Bartel (A/CA) Jen Bartel
Stella's a bored teen who's part of the first generation to grow up immersed in a world of virtual reality games, in which she discovers a secret magical girl fight club. Now that she's gotten her wish of finding something exciting in her life, she also discovers a dark side to magical girls, and finds herself having to prove her worth in a series of tournaments where, if she loses, she can never come back.
o Jen is currently working on Marvel's Storm with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.
o Originally serialized on the digital platform Stela.
In Shops: Sep 05, 2018
SRP: $12.99
PREVIEWS Page #57
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IMAGE COMICS
(W) Brian K. Vaughan (A/CA) Fiona Staples
From New York Times bestselling writer BRIAN K.VAUGHAN (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist FIONA STAPLES (Mystery Society, North 40), SAGA is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in a sexy, subversive drama for adults.
This specially priced volume collects the first arc of the smash hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make." Collects SAGA #1-6.
In Shops: Sep 01, 2021
SRP: $9.99
PREVIEWS Page #53
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ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
(W) Mark Waid (A) Andre Szymanowicz, Jack Morelli, Veronica Fish, Annie Wu (A/CA) Fiona Staples
Archie, one of the longest-running titles in comic book history, is rebooted here by two of the most talented creators in comics, Mark Waid and Fiona Staples. Together they create a surprising and definitive take on the origins of everyone's favorite redheaded teen and his friends while showcasing the beginnings of the historic love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica. Volume 1 collects issues #1-6. Volume 2 collects issues #7-12. Volume 3 collects issues #13-17.
In Shops: Mar 16, 2016
SRP: $19.99
PREVIEWS Page #256
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