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Magic: The Gathering #1
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!
36 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Matt Forbeck
211 books314 followersI'm an award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author and game designer and happily married father of five, including a set of quadruplets. For more on my work, see Forbeck.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 1, 2015
I'm a long-time MTG player and this was my first time reading MTG comics. The main character, Dack Fayden, is a planeswalker and a charismatic thief with a seemingly constant inner monologue. He quickly ends up in search of Sifa Grent, an evil planeswalker responsible for wiping out his hometown. Both characters are new for this comic and not previously referenced MTG characters, although the settings are mostly familiar ones.
Dack is an interesting character, but I thought the story was only okay. The art was also a bit too darkly colored for my liking (it may have been intentional because of the Innistrad setting, but it was still a bit annoying) and Dack's thoughts/inner monologue going on concurrent with conversation makes for a bit of an awkward read at times.
Dack is an interesting character, but I thought the story was only okay. The art was also a bit too darkly colored for my liking (it may have been intentional because of the Innistrad setting, but it was still a bit annoying) and Dack's thoughts/inner monologue going on concurrent with conversation makes for a bit of an awkward read at times.
May 12, 2017
OK. Wasn't as good as I wanted but as a fan of the card game I think I'll continue the series 'cause it's on comixology unlimited.
October 25, 2018
Dilemma.
I really, really, really, really love the story.
But at the same time I can't stand the graphical style, no matter how well done it is.
I really, really, really, really love the story.
But at the same time I can't stand the graphical style, no matter how well done it is.
June 29, 2012
Shadowhawk reviews the brand-new 4-issues comics mini-series by Matt Forbeck, Magic: The Gathering, published by IDW Publishing.
“A fast-paced and thrilling ride that is a fantastic introduction to the world of Magic: The Gathering. Dack Fayden has arrived and he’s taking names!” ~The Founding Fields
Comics are fun things because they really take you on a very visually-intense journey through fantastical worlds that are often quite surreal and simply fascinating. Superhero comics in particular are the main culprits here but comics set in fantasy worlds filled with magic, vampires, gods and dimension-hoppers are just as intriguing. The new mini-series of Magic: The Gathering comics by Matt Forbeck illustrates that quite perfectly because it is a series that quickly draws you in and keeps you hooked on till the end.
I originally picked up Magic: The Gathering #1 through NetGalley on a whim, spotting Matt Forbeck as the author of the comic and knowing that I could expect this to be a great experience as I’m a fan of his work. Additionally, I wanted to give the Magic setting a try as well, having had no previous experience with it. I knew some friends back in college who were ardent fans and had deck upon deck of the playing cards but that’s about it. I never really got into the whole craze. The comics seemed like an apt starting point.
The mini-series follows Dack Fayden, a Planesrunner and a thief who is on the run from a cult after stealing one of their prized possessions. He jumps several planes, only to find himself quickly on the run again as he keeps getting caught up in events he’d rather not be a part of.
Matt’s comics are really a ton of fun. They have a very relaxing atmosphere to them that is, surprisingly, never at odds with the narrative itself, even when there are some really tense standoffs between Dack and the villains. This made it really easy for me to get into the story and enjoy the setting itself alongside the various characters. You really can’t ask for more in that regard because that really is what comics are all about. They should be quick, easy reads that can immediately grab your attention and keep you on a high for all of those 30-36 pages. So that’s one tick on the checklist for the comics.
Dack himself is a really cool character that you just got to love. He is street-smart, defiant, irrepressibly heroic although he’d rather do without all the attention, a thief and an accomplished mage all at the same time. But as he’ll tell you, he is no battle-mage! What really works for the series here with respect to Dack is that it is all told from his perspective, making this is akin to a novel written in the first-person. You don’t get as much depth as in a novel, as this is a much shorter, much more immediate format, but it still makes for a very immersive experience. Dack’s commentary and his monologues are well-written and you really get the feel for this reluctant hero. Combine that with him setting out on a quest for vengeance against the mage who destroyed his home-town and you have the makings of a superb series which delivers on the promise of that epic showdown.
You can find the full review at The Founding Fields:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...
“A fast-paced and thrilling ride that is a fantastic introduction to the world of Magic: The Gathering. Dack Fayden has arrived and he’s taking names!” ~The Founding Fields
Comics are fun things because they really take you on a very visually-intense journey through fantastical worlds that are often quite surreal and simply fascinating. Superhero comics in particular are the main culprits here but comics set in fantasy worlds filled with magic, vampires, gods and dimension-hoppers are just as intriguing. The new mini-series of Magic: The Gathering comics by Matt Forbeck illustrates that quite perfectly because it is a series that quickly draws you in and keeps you hooked on till the end.
I originally picked up Magic: The Gathering #1 through NetGalley on a whim, spotting Matt Forbeck as the author of the comic and knowing that I could expect this to be a great experience as I’m a fan of his work. Additionally, I wanted to give the Magic setting a try as well, having had no previous experience with it. I knew some friends back in college who were ardent fans and had deck upon deck of the playing cards but that’s about it. I never really got into the whole craze. The comics seemed like an apt starting point.
The mini-series follows Dack Fayden, a Planesrunner and a thief who is on the run from a cult after stealing one of their prized possessions. He jumps several planes, only to find himself quickly on the run again as he keeps getting caught up in events he’d rather not be a part of.
Matt’s comics are really a ton of fun. They have a very relaxing atmosphere to them that is, surprisingly, never at odds with the narrative itself, even when there are some really tense standoffs between Dack and the villains. This made it really easy for me to get into the story and enjoy the setting itself alongside the various characters. You really can’t ask for more in that regard because that really is what comics are all about. They should be quick, easy reads that can immediately grab your attention and keep you on a high for all of those 30-36 pages. So that’s one tick on the checklist for the comics.
Dack himself is a really cool character that you just got to love. He is street-smart, defiant, irrepressibly heroic although he’d rather do without all the attention, a thief and an accomplished mage all at the same time. But as he’ll tell you, he is no battle-mage! What really works for the series here with respect to Dack is that it is all told from his perspective, making this is akin to a novel written in the first-person. You don’t get as much depth as in a novel, as this is a much shorter, much more immediate format, but it still makes for a very immersive experience. Dack’s commentary and his monologues are well-written and you really get the feel for this reluctant hero. Combine that with him setting out on a quest for vengeance against the mage who destroyed his home-town and you have the makings of a superb series which delivers on the promise of that epic showdown.
You can find the full review at The Founding Fields:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...
May 5, 2012
Originally Reviewed at:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: NetGalley
Reviewer:Me
For those of you are unfamiliar with Magic: The Gathering, it is one of the most recognizable, and widely played trading card games to date. It has expanded into a vast universe of books, comics, and yes, there was even an Xbox Live Arcade Game developed a while back in 2009. Each game consists of players, or wizards, battling each other as Planeswalkers who use magical spells, items and creatures to defeat their respective opponents. Brief history lesson aside, in Magic: The Gathering Volume 1 we are introduced to Dack Fayden, a Planeswalker, and a thief on the run.
The story is very fast paced, mainly because when we are introduced to Dack in the city of Ravnica, he’s on the run from a group known as the Thrill, Killers of the Cult of Rakdos. Obviously he’s stolen from them and to evade capture he jumps the plane. For a few quick frames, he ends up in Fiora. Sill a fugitive there also, his visit is short and then he’s back to Ravnica. He stops for a visit with an old friend who heals his wounds before heading to his original destination, his safe house.
Once at the safe house, Dack begins to examine the artifact he’s stolen. This is where we find out what type of thief he is, and we get glimpse into his other magical abilities. Upon his examination of the artifacts hidden secrets, Dack is shown a vision from the previous owners’ point of view. What he sees in this vision is devastating, and sets him on a path of vengeance.
Overall, this was a really great introduction into the Magic: The Gathering universe. It’s beautifully illustrated; we get a lot of insight into our main character, his motivation, and goals. I really enjoyed stepping into this world and I am really looking forward to coming back.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: NetGalley
Reviewer:Me
For those of you are unfamiliar with Magic: The Gathering, it is one of the most recognizable, and widely played trading card games to date. It has expanded into a vast universe of books, comics, and yes, there was even an Xbox Live Arcade Game developed a while back in 2009. Each game consists of players, or wizards, battling each other as Planeswalkers who use magical spells, items and creatures to defeat their respective opponents. Brief history lesson aside, in Magic: The Gathering Volume 1 we are introduced to Dack Fayden, a Planeswalker, and a thief on the run.
The story is very fast paced, mainly because when we are introduced to Dack in the city of Ravnica, he’s on the run from a group known as the Thrill, Killers of the Cult of Rakdos. Obviously he’s stolen from them and to evade capture he jumps the plane. For a few quick frames, he ends up in Fiora. Sill a fugitive there also, his visit is short and then he’s back to Ravnica. He stops for a visit with an old friend who heals his wounds before heading to his original destination, his safe house.
Once at the safe house, Dack begins to examine the artifact he’s stolen. This is where we find out what type of thief he is, and we get glimpse into his other magical abilities. Upon his examination of the artifacts hidden secrets, Dack is shown a vision from the previous owners’ point of view. What he sees in this vision is devastating, and sets him on a path of vengeance.
Overall, this was a really great introduction into the Magic: The Gathering universe. It’s beautifully illustrated; we get a lot of insight into our main character, his motivation, and goals. I really enjoyed stepping into this world and I am really looking forward to coming back.
April 6, 2012
Background: Dack is a planewalker and obviously in trouble, this issue has him jumping from one place to another to evade his misdeeds and track others in search of magical knowledge and those that have done him wrong.
Review: This was a good issue, even if you do not know Magic: The Gathering the writer has left you clues throughout to figure out Dack’s abilities and nuances. The characters are all ran through pretty quickly, mostly in passing, because Dack is fleeing, but his character development is interesting and will hold the reader. Mostly inner monologue, it tells a great tale, of running away, and trying to find answers.
Review: This was a good issue, even if you do not know Magic: The Gathering the writer has left you clues throughout to figure out Dack’s abilities and nuances. The characters are all ran through pretty quickly, mostly in passing, because Dack is fleeing, but his character development is interesting and will hold the reader. Mostly inner monologue, it tells a great tale, of running away, and trying to find answers.
May 18, 2012
Great artwork. The story line was typical of what you would expect of a story based on a card game
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews