Now that the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes set has been unveiled in its entirety, fans are left pondering a mystery more complex than the Infinity War itself: Where are the X-Men, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and dark icons like Ghost Rider?
With a roster exceeding 600 unique cards, Marvel Super Heroes notably omits several fan-favorite heavy hitters. However, after analyzing insights from Wizards of the Coast, developer commentary, and internal design documents, it becomes clear that these absences are entirely by design.
Following the October 2023 announcement of a multi-year partnership between Hasbro and Marvel, it was established that this collaboration would span multiple trading card game releases. We saw the debut of Marvel’s Spider-Man last year, and Marvel Super Heroes is set to arrive shortly. These projects are merely building blocks for a much grander, long-term roadmap.
“We realized that this was such a massive IP that we wanted to do more than just one set,” stated Magic head designer Mark Rosewater during a recent press briefing. This confirms an unprecedented approach for the Universes Beyond line: the Marvel collaboration was never intended to be a standalone crossover but was architected from the start as a multi-year, multi-set initiative.
While Marvel’s Spider-Man focused almost exclusively on Peter Parker’s urban orbit, Marvel Super Heroes adopts a broader scope—what Rosewater calls “Avengers Plus.” The set prioritizes terrestrial heroes and villains, focusing heavily on iconic figures like Iron Man and Captain America, along with supporting characters tethered to the Avengers’ core earthly missions.
Aside from a few exceptions like Galactus and the Silver Surfer, the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe remains largely untouched. Heroes like Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Nova are completely absent, suggesting that a future set will likely venture into the outer reaches of space.
The supernatural corner of the Marvel tapestry is also underrepresented. Doctor Strange, Surgeon, for instance, depicts Stephen Strange as a mere medical professional rather than the Sorcerer Supreme, with mechanics focused on lifegain rather than reality-bending magic. This creative choice implies a chronological progression or specific thematic silos for future sets that could eventually highlight the mystical arts.
Similarly, Moon Knight appears in the background art of Borough Backup alongside Luke Cage and Iron Fist, yet lacks a dedicated card—an odd exclusion for such a popular character. His inclusion in that artwork hints at his historical connection to the Defenders, leaving plenty of room for he and other divine avatars to headline later expansions.
Likewise, the Midnight Sons and other supernatural entities—such as Ghost Rider, Blade, and Agatha Harkness—remain conspicuously missing. Their absence suggests they are being reserved for a future release dedicated to the darker, occult aspects of the Marvel Universe.
The pattern holds true for Marvel’s mutants. While the set features roughly two dozen mutant characters—including mainstays like Wolverine and Storm—the legendary ranks are missing icons like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Professor X, and Magneto. By parceling out these characters, Wizards of the Coast allows for future narrative developments, such as a specialized X-Men set that could explore more complex relationships and transformations.
As Rosewater noted, the team is treating Marvel as a modular entity: “Marvel can be chopped up into different sections.” He hinted that absent characters are likely waiting for their moment in the spotlight in upcoming releases.
The design handoff documents support this, revealing a tiered character strategy. “Tier 1” icons are slated for multiple appearances across the three-set block, while “Tier 3” characters are intended for single, spotlighted appearances. This calculated distribution ensures that as the collaboration grows, the excitement remains sustainable.
Perhaps the clearest indicator of this long-term strategy is the Infinity Stones. With the Soul Stone introduced in Spider-Man and the Mind Stone added here, four artifacts—Reality, Power, Space, and Time—remain. These stones serve as the narrative glue for the series. While each release functions as a standalone experience, these items provide a cohesive arc that spans the entire partnership.
Ultimately, Marvel Super Heroes is merely the tip of the iceberg. Its selective roster is not a lack of vision, but a carefully calibrated plan. Wizards of the Coast isn’t ignoring the X-Men or the supernatural legends of Marvel; they are simply waiting for the right moment to assemble them. With four stones still on the table and a clear intent to revisit the Marvel Universe, fans should look not at who was left out, but at what corner of the map will be conquered next.
Source: Polygon
