Geek Culture Reviews

Previewing Magic #6... ' How does the ancient past hold the key to the future of the entire Multiverse? Ral, Vraska, and Kaya have finally tracked down the being that can help them unravel the true nature of the threat they face – Jaya Ballard, one of the oldest living, and most experienced, Planeswalkers in existence. And the key to understanding lies in Jaya’s origins during the Age of Ice in Dominaria… and a threat that was neutralized but never truly eliminated.’  Magic #6 is heading to stores on 1st September, 2021. Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below...

Rob reviews Magic #4... BOOM! Studios' original series based on Magic The Gathering has steadily been gaining pace since its opening issue a few months back.  Our three heroes Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya have spent the last couple of issues hunting down the apparent culprits of the assassinations - The Dimir Guild. However, Magic #3 revealed that the Dimir aren't quite the "baddies" as we've been left to believe. And as such Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya reluctantly go searching for answers at the destroyed Duskmantle guildhall. Compared to the previous issues, Magic #4 feels very much a turned down affair. The action takes somewhat of a back seat as Jed MacKay does the heavy lifting with his writing. That's not to say that Magic #4 is a dull issue - far from it. The journey to Duskmantle reveals plenty of details to the overall plan to destroy Ravnica, as well as more character building for our unlikely team of heroes.  The Lazav drea...

Previewing Magic #4... BOOM! Studios have revealed the next chapter in their original series based on Magic The Gathering. ' What secrets does the Guildmaster of Dimir keep? After discovering Duskmantle, the guildhall of the Dimir, Kaya, Vraska, and Ral will meet with the secretive Lazav, who may be the key to unraveling the mystery of the assassination attempts. Meanwhile, the plot against the trio is beginning to turn Ravnica itself against them…’ Written by  Jed MacKay , artist  Ig Guara , colorist  Arianna Consonni , and letterer  Ed Dukeshire . Magic #4 is heading to stores this Wednesday 7th July, 2021.  Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below...

Rob reviews Magic #3... The investigation into who ordered the attack on the Guildmasters steps up a gear this week. Now deep in the Undercity Planeswalkers Kaya, Ral, and Vraska are lead on a wild goose chase (or should I say zombie) to find the location of Duskmantle - the Dimir guildhall.  Meanwhile, the unknown assassin stalks the Ravnica streets in search of someone or something. With war brewing on the horizon, what exactly is going on?  Well, the short answer is that we still don't know. But Magic #3 does dive into an even grander mystery... Jed MacKay takes Ral, Kaya, and Vraska on a somewhat smooth journey this time out. Still, in search of the assassins true motive behind the guildhall attacks, Vraska uses her powers in an attempt to reconstruct one of the memories of the assassin. There's some great conversation here as Ral and Kaya take two different sides overturning someone into a zombie, with the Gorgon-Queen firmly believing that she...

Previewing Magic #3... BOOM! Studios has revealed the first at  Magic  #3, the next issue in their all new comic book series from writer  Jed MacKay , artist  Ig Guara , colorist  Arianna Consonni , and letterer  Ed Dukeshire . ' When their investigation into the role of one of Ravnica’s biggest Guilds in the assassination attempts on their lives lead Planeswalkers Kaya, Ral, and Vraska deep into the Undercity, they will need to succeed in the impossible. Will they uncover the location of Duskmantle, the Dimir guildhall, and survive to tell the tale? Meanwhile, the assassin is amassing guild members to betray their own Guilds, even as their true motivations remain a mystery… ’ Magic #3 is heading to stores on 9th June, 2021.  Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below...

Rob reviews Magic #2... After surviving a coordinated assassination attempts the three Planeswalkers - Kaya, Vraska, and Ral Zarek are still none the wiser as to who would want them dead. When the Mind Sculptor, Jace is then attacked by one of the surviving assassins. The trio realise that Jace may of been the real target... Magic #2 picks up in the aftermath of the attack on Jace. As Ral Zarek, Kaya and Vraska attempt to come to terms with whats happening, their thrust into yet another attempt on Jace's life. It doesn't get easier for the Mind Sculptor either as he's powerless to defend himself as he attempts to recover from the previous attacks. Fans of Magic The Gathering will be quite at home with this issue. After the opening action sequences, Jed MacKay introduces a plethora of well known MtG characters to the story. It's an interesting set-up and is one thats MacKay uses to set up the card games various guilds.  In terms of writing, MacKa...

Previewing Magic #2... ‘With their homes rocked by an attack – and Jace Beleren’s life hanging in the balance – Planeswalkers Kaya, Ral, and Vraska must discover who is behind it all. But as they begin to suspect one of Ravnica’s most prominent Guilds is behind the attack, it becomes clear their enemy may be plotting something even more destructive…’ Magic #2 is heading to stores in May 2021 Can't wait? Then check out the official preview pages below.  You can also catch up with my review of Magic #1 here .

Rob Lake reviews Magic #1... I've never experienced the phenomenon that's Magic The Gathering . The bestselling trading card game has never sunk its claws into me. This isn't to say that I don't know what the basic premise is. I've got two friends who are heavily into collecting and playing Magic, with one who even writes for a couple of MtG orientated websites. When BOOM! Studios announced that they would be developing the MtG world into a comic it piqued my interest.  Magic #1 follows the Guildmasters, Ral Zarek, Vraska and Kaya - who I've been informed are actually major characters in the CCG. The opening issue focuses on the trio of Planeswalkers as they fend of a series of separate assassination attempts. As the issue progresses we soon learn that the assassins are all working together and the events are not as random as first thought.  The story builds up as the Guildmasters, with the help of the Azoruis Senate, interrogate one of the assassin...

Previewing Magic #1 Ashcan Edition, coming soon from BOOM! Studios... "Across the vast Multiverse, those gifted with a “spark” can tap into the raw power of Magic and travel across realms -- they are Planeswalkers. When coordinated assassination attempts on Guildmasters Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya rock the city of Ravnica and leave Jace Beleren’s life hanging in the balance, a fuse is lit that threatens not just these three Guilds, but the entire plane of Ravnica. Now these three must covertly infiltrate the wild plane of Zendikar and form a tenuous alliance to uncover why the targets of the assassins have all been Planeswalkers. . . which will lead them straight to one of the most enigmatic characters in Magic history!" Magic #1 is scheduled for release on 7th April, 2021. Can't wait? Check out the preview pages below... Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not f...