The popular card game “Magic: The Gathering” continues to find new audiences with its “Universes Beyond” series, which brings iconic characters and stories from across pop culture into the long-running strategy game. Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, is following up past crossover sets — “The Lord of the Rings,” “Fallout” and “Final Fantasy” — with “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” scheduled for release Sept. 26.
Wizards of the Coast, also known for creating “Dungeons & Dragons,” established the trading card game genre when founder Richard Garfield introduced the first “Magic: The Gathering” booster packs in 1993. While the company originally focused on its own original worlds, the ground-breaking success of “Universes Beyond” has shifted that approach. Earlier this year, WotC told shareholders the crossover brand will expand into additional game systems, signaling that even role-playing players may see more famous characters entering their worlds.
The excitement is already evident. Both longtime fans and newcomers ask about Spider-Man and when they’ll be able to get their hands on the new cards. The buzz around the release is already tremendous, which is hardly surprising based on the sales of previous “Universe Beyond” sets.
Though the excitement is high, it’s important to know that shopping locally helps players avoid the pitfalls of online scalpers and overpriced resellers, who often take advantage of new players and the marketed scarcity of popular sets. Your friendly neighborhood game store can make sure fans get their cards at a fair price while also connecting them with a welcoming community to play in.
John Calderwood has been gaming for more than 20 years and is co-owner of Card Command Games in Kingman. He writes about tabletop gaming and the community it builds.
