MTG Path of Vengeance

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

On the weekend, we dropped over to Big B Comics here in Barrie, Ontario to pick up some missing issues in both of our Magic: the Gathering comic book series.  A very helpful staff member dug around in the back room and was able to complete our collection of the initial MTG Comic series, as well as the next one, Spell Thief.  Here is a quick run down of the special promo cards of each comic in the series so far . . .

 

Magic: the Gathering Comics IDW Promo Cards :
• Treasure Hunt
• Faithless Looting
• Feast of Blood
• Electrolyze

Magic: the Gathering Comics IDW Spell Thief Promo Cards :
• Arrest
• Consume Spirit
• Standstill
• Breath of Malfegor

We are now consider picking up a few of the non-promo / regular cards from MTG Mint Card to work out a few casual fun builds we are contemplating right now.  Anywhoos - onto today's post!  The next Magic: the Gathering comic series to be issued by Wizards of the Coast and IDW Publishing is called 'Path of Vengeance'.  This story line again features the badboy Planeswalker Thief, Dack Fayden in all sorts of mischief in the City of Ravnica.  We expect a few promo cards here is see print in either Gatecrash or Dragon's Maze in the current Return to Ravnica block.  We've provided the anticipated release date of each comic but please don't hold your breath - their record of street release dates are pretty bad (perhaps this has something to do with possible spoilers and official previews?).
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Magic: The Gathering - Path of Vengeance #1 (of 4)
Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Dan Scott (c)
Dack Fayden returns to Ravnica! Dack knows that the malevolent Sifa Grent has something sinister planned for the city of Ravnica, but he must uncover her plot while being pursued by Rakdos cultists and Boros soldiers. Not only that, but someone from Dack’s past may just put an end to the Planeswalker thief!
Scheduled release - November, 2012
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Magic: The Gathering - Path of Vengeance #2 (of 4)
Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Dan Scott (c)
The Cult of Rakdos has put a price on Dack Fayden's head - and Maytov, the best thief in Ravnica, has come to collect. Now, Dack must fight for his life against an opponent more cunning than anyone he's ever faced. Will Maytov succeed where even Sifa Grent has failed-and kill the Planeswalker Thief?
Scheduled release - January 30, 2013
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Magic: The Gathering ― Path of Vengeance #3 (of 4)
Matt Forbeck (w) • Martin Coccolo (a) • Chris Rahn (c)
Dack Fayden has finally uncovered Sifa Grent’s plan for Ravnica… and it could bring unbelievable devastation to the city-plane! Now, Dack must make his way through Ravnica, with Rakdos cultists and city guards hot on his trail, in the hope that he can stop Sifa before it’s too late!
Scheduled release - February, 2013
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Magic: The Gathering - Path of Vengeance #4 (of 4)
Matt Forbeck (w) • Martin Coccolo (a) • Alex Horley (c)
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN! Dack Fayden confronts Sifa Grent in a battle that may be too much for the Planeswalker thief. With the fate of Ravnica hanging in the balance, Dack must rally all his strength to put an end to the villainous Sifa once and for all!
Scheduled release - March, 2013
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Spell Thief No. 3

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Happy Thursday MTG Peeps,

We hope you've made arrangements /called ahead to your local gaming store to reserve your spot and your Guild pack at this weekend's Return to Ravnica PreRelease.  We've already got a spot waiting for us at OMG! Games in Barrie, Ontario for Sunday (we couldn't make it to the Friday midnight or any of the Saturday times unfortunately).  If you are new to Barrie and near Georgian College, drop in and game.

This evening we dropped by 'Big B Comics', the local Comic shop around the corner from us and picked up the latest Magic: The Gathering Comics from IDW, so we wanted to share . . .
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IDW Comic Book - Magic: The Gathering — The Spell Thief #3
Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Matt Stewart (c)
Leaving his home plane behind, Dack Fayden returns to Innistrad, still in pursuit of the villainous Sifa Grent. He convenes with the Reichert family again, who provide Dack with crucial information on the evil Planewalker’s location. But when Sorin Markov arrives, looking for Dack, things quickly escalate and our hero finds himself in a situation where he may not come out alive…
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

MTG / IDW Promo Card
Standstill, 1u
Enchantment
When a player casts a spell, sacrifice Standstill. If you do, each of that player’s opponents draws three cards.
“You learn a lot in no time when you’re about to get your neck snapped.”
- Dack Fayden

Standstill saw original printing as an Odyssey Uncommon.

Rulings (10.04.2004) - It only works once. If someone casts another spell after it triggers, but before that trigger resolves, then it will trigger again. The first time one of these triggers resolves, it will be sacrificed for the full effect. Any additional triggers on the stack will do nothing when they resolve because you will be unable to sacrifice it additional times.

Note from ratchet1215 (1/21/2011 10:52:45 AM) - Standstill is sacrificed on the RESOLUTION of the triggered ability, not when the ability goes on the stack. Only when the ability that draws you three cards resolves will Standstill cause itself to sacrifice. Stifle, Trickbind, or Voidslime would counter not only the card draw but also the sacrifice of Standstill. Of course, playing any one of those ability counterspells just causes another instance of Standstill's triggered ability to be put on the stack on top of it, so the point is moot.
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Spell Thief

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

We recently picked up the first issue of Spell Thief, the next series in IDW's Magic the Gathering comic book series.  Most MTG players we know have a bit of collector in them.  Since these comic books have variant graphic covers, as well as an exclusive, alternate art playable Magic The Gathering card, we think that these may also make a nice inexpensive gift for that MTG nerd in your life, or perhaps as a nice apology for that fellow gamer who may have forgot to ask for that deckset of whatever you've been gaming with.  

Anywhoos, here's a quick rundown of the issues to expect.  We would like to provide expected release dates but it may not be helpful as even we are hardpressed to get these comics up in our neck 'o' the woods within a reasonable time frame from the official release date.
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Magic: The Gathering—The Spell Thief #1

Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo, Christian Duce (a) • Christopher Moeller (c)Fayden has followed Sifa Grent into a mysterious plane, where a Titan’s castle looms invitingly in the distance. Entering the castle in search of Sifa, Dack is soon imprisoned by the Titan and added to his vast collection. Dack must find a way out before the trail to Sifa runs cold and he remains the Titan’s prisoner forever! Special playable Magic: The Gathering card polybagged in each issue!FC • 32 pages • $4.99

Dack Fayden, Planeswalker thief, has stolen a valuable artifact from Ravnica, the Ancient Fang. Using his abilities to learn the artifact's secrets, instead he witnesses the destruction of his hometown through the eyes of the villain that committed the act: Sifa Grent. Dack sets out to track her down at her next destination: Innistrad. Once in Innistrad, he meets a cathar by the name of Ingrid Reichert. Ingrid aids him in tracking down Sifa, who has allied herself with a local vampire Baron. In tracking down the Baron, they learn that Sifa has travelled to Ingrid's hometown and plans to steal the souls of the inhabitants, just like she did to Dack's hometown. Dack and Ingrid manage to stop her, but she escapes and planeswalks away. Dack follows and finds himself in front of an enormous castle…

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Magic: The Gathering—The Spell Thief #2

Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Dan Scott (c)
Dack Fayden barely escapes the Collector's prison... and now finds himself back on his home plane of Fiora. Forced to confront the destruction of his hometown, Dack relives the painful memories as he seeks clues that will lead him back on the trail of the malevolent Sifa Grent. Dack must find the strength within himself to carry on or his burden of guilt may prove too overwhelming for the Planeswalker thief. Special playable MAGIC: THE GATHERING card polybagged in this issue!
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

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Magic: The Gathering—The Spell Thief #3

Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Matt Stewart (c)
Leaving his home plane behind, Dack Fayden returns to Innistrad, still in pursuit of the villainous Sifa Grent. He convenes with the Reichert family again, who provide Dack with crucial information on the evil Planewalker's location. But when Sorin Markov arrives, looking for Dack, things quickly escalate and our hero finds himself in a situation where he may not come out alive...
FC • 32 pages • $4.99

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Magic: The Gathering—The Spell Thief #4

Matt Forbeck (w) • Martín Cóccolo (a) • Alex Horley (c)
Dack Fayden’s quest to track down the villainous Sifa Grent has brought him to Grixis, a vast wasteland dominated by the undead and vicious demons—including the demon-dragon Malfegor. Imprisoned by the demon’s cult, Dack soon discovers the morbid origins of Sifa and her sinister ties to Malfegor... but will he be able to escape this undead plane in order to stop her plans?
FC • 32 pages • $4.99
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If you were looking to include any of these sweet alternate art cards in a standard constructed build, make sure you drop by MTG Mint Card who have an amazing stock and even better prices.
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MTG Comics

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

For today's post, we wanted to do a round-up of upcoming Magic the Gathering Comics published by IDW. We realise that depending where you may reside, you might not even have the very first one in your local store yet. First though, here's an interesting blurb about MTG comic sales from Comic Book Resources -

"IDW had a strong month with "Magic the Gathering" topping the sales list for the publisher. Issue #1 sold around 28,854 units and #2 sold around 23,846 estimated units." IDW had a strong month with "Magic the Gathering" topping the sales list for the publisher. Issue #1 sold around 28,854 units and #2 sold around 23,846 estimated units. IDW has a fairly diverse lineup of properties with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles, the Transformers titles, the Infestation 2 crossover event and the G.I. Joe titles, as well as having a number of original properties like "Locke and Key" and "Next Men."

One reason that the IDW Magic: the Gathering comics may be selling so well is because they come with an alternate art promotional Magic: the Gathering card.

The first issue of IDW's Magic: the Gathering comic book series featured an exclusive alternate-art Treasure Hunt, while issue two a Faithless Looting. The third issue will feature an Electrolyze, and the fourth comes with Feast of Blood.

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Here's the blurb on the new series

San Diego, CA (March 9, 2012) – What happens when mystery, sorcery, different planes of existence, comic books, and trading card gaming collide? A brand-newMagic: The Gathering® miniseries, of course!

Continuing the blockbuster success of the eponymous first series, writer Matt Forbeck and artist Martín Cóccolobring further adventures of Planeswalker Dack Fayden inMagic: The Gathering: The Spell Thief! “Dack is back!” says series writer Matt Forbeck. “And I’m thrilled that [series artist] Martin Cóccolo and I get to tell more of his story. He’s hot on the trail of Sifa Grent, the woman who destroyed his hometown, and it’s only a matter of time before the Multiverse’s greatest thief tracks her down—if he survives that long.” Forbeck laughs. “Poor Dack. He’s got a hell of a path ahead of him, one that leads through all sorts of different planes and runs him smack into a Planeswalker or two that fans of the card game should recognize.”

As spells, swords, and wits clash, an epic new tale unfolds along with a fully playable, alternate-art Magic: The Gathering card only available in each polybagged issue! Your only excuse for missing out on this series is a hatred of adventure!

Magic: The Gathering - The Spell Thief #2 (of 4)
Release Date : June 27, 2012
Dack Fayden barely escapes the Collector's prison... and now finds himself back on his home plane of Fiora. Forced to confront the destruction of his hometown, Dack relives the painful memories as he seeks clues that will lead him back on the trail of the malevolent Sifa Grent. Dack must find the strength within himself to carry on or his burden of guilt may prove too overwhelming for the Planeswalker thief. Special playable MAGIC: THE GATHERING card polybagged in this issue!

Magic: The Gathering: - The Spell Thief #1 (of 4)
Release Date : May 30, 2012
Planeswalker Dack Fayden has followed Sifa Grent into a mysterious plane, where a Titan's castle looms invitingly in the distance. Entering the castle in search of Sifa, Dack is soon imprisoned by the Titan and added to his vast collection. Dack must find a way out before the trail to Sifa runs cold and he remains the Titan's prisoner forever! Special playable Magic: The Gathering card polybagged in each issue!

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And the rest for reference . . .

MAGIC THE GATHERING #1
Release Date : Wed, February 1st, 2012
Get ready, Magic: The Gathering fans, there's a new Planeswalker in town! In search of greater magical knowledge and on the hunt for the people who destroyed his town, Dack Fayden is the greatest thief in the Multiverse. When he gets his hands on his latest prize, though, he has no idea where it will lead him-or to who!
Issue #1 MTG Card - Treasure Hunt

MAGIC THE GATHERING #2
Release Date : Wed, February 29th, 2012
Get ready, Magic: The Gathering fans, there’s a new Planeswalker in town! On the trail of the person who destroyed his town, Dack Fayden must travel to Innistrad, a plane of savage monsters, strange transformations and sinister magic. Naturally, Dack immediately gets caught up in a vampire attack at a secluded inn.
Issue #2 MTG Card - Faithless Looting

MAGIC THE GATHERING #3
Release Date : Wed, March 28th, 2012
After last issue's fierce battle against a group of Innistrad vampires, Dack Fayden has found a new ally: young cathar Ingrid Reichert. With her help, Dack continues to track down the person who devastated his hometown. But when Dack stumbles into another vampire attack, even Ingrid's help may not be enough to get them out alive...
Issue #3 MTG Card - Feast of Blood
MAGIC THE GATHERING #4
Release Date : ?
Dack Fayden has finally caught up to the mage that destroyed his home village, but it might be too late: she has begun casting a deadly spell that will drain hundreds of their life force. And, now that Dack has arrived, he may fall prey to the same dark magic as the rest!
Issue #4 MTG Card - Electrolyze

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Finally,
The next set in the Duel Deck series, Venser vs. Koth is due out next month (March 30th). There is already a bit of hype about this set and we should very soon within the next few weeks have the full decklist. We suggest you stay tuned to MTG Mint Card which will have all the coolest singles from this set for pre-order.
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