Bloody Hell, Magic's 2026 Marvel Set is Going Full Avengers (and Squirrel Girl!), Mate!
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Magic: The Gathering is fast-tracking its Marvel crossover, launching an 'Avengers-level' set called 'Marvel Super Heroes' in June 2026, much sooner than expected. Head designer Mark Rosewater confirmed a diverse roster spanning iconic heroes, street-level characters, Young Avengers, and even the fan-favourite Squirrel Girl, hinting at many more Marvel sets to come.
Right, so remember how we all thought Magic: The Gathering's grand dive into the Marvel multiverse would be a slow burn? A cautious dip of the toe, perhaps? Well, turns out Wizards of the Coast accidentally blew a hole through the fabric of reality and just went full throttle, mate.
After kicking things off with a Spider-Man set that included a tantalising hint of a Soul Stone – prompting whispers of an 'eventual' Avengers crossover – Magic head designer Mark Rosewater has spilled the beans. And by 'eventual,' he apparently meant 'next year.' At MagicCon Atlanta last weekend, the curtain was pulled back: June 2026 isn't just *another* Marvel set, it's the *big one*: 'Marvel Super Heroes.'
I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. Polygon caught up with Rosewater and the crew after the official reveal, and the details are juicy. Forget a focused character study; this next set is going straight for the ensemble. "Unlike Spider-Man, which is focused on one character, this is focused on a lot more characters," Rosewater said, adding, "The way I would think of it is Avengers and Avengers-related characters.”
Now, 'Avengers-related' can mean a fair bit, can't it? Like when you say your D&D campaign is 'D&D-related,' it could be anything from fighting goblins to debating dragon tax policy. But Wizards showed off some rather spiffy art featuring the likes of Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, the Wasp, War Machine, She-Hulk, and even Wolverine making an appearance. Fair dinkum, that’s a power lineup.
But it gets better, or perhaps, *deeper*. The set, much like the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man's initial foray, is rooted in New York. This means we're not just getting the heavy hitters; we're also seeing other iconic Big Apple residents. Think The Fantastic Four (finally!), S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (always good to have someone looking sternly from the shadows), and even the Heroes for Hire squad. Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Misty Knight, Colleen Wing – now that’s what I call bringing the street-level grit to the grand stage. "Marvel’s all about the characters," Rosewater observed, and he's not wrong. "One of the things that’s fun about the Marvel license is, when I say the roster goes deep, it goes deep.” And deep cuts are where the real magic happens, especially for us curious folk.
Speaking of deep cuts and delightful surprises, the Young Avengers are making an appearance too! We're talking Captain Marvel shaking hands with Ms. Marvel, Ant-Man high-fiving Cassie Lang, Wiccan working some serious magic with the Scarlet Witch (because, let's be honest, those two were always destined for a crossover), and Kate Bishop lining up a shot with Hawkeye and Pizza Dog. If that doesn't scream 'authentic enthusiasm,' I don't know what does.
But the true highlight, the card that will undoubtedly launch a thousand squirrel decks into the meta, is Squirrel Girl taking down Doctor Doom. Yes, you read that right. Doctor Doom, with his regal menace and often-overpowered machinations, is being dealt with by an army of squirrels. Rosewater even noted this genius inclusion: "[Squirrel Girl is] both a deep cut for the fans and something Magic players would like in a vacuum… If Marvel just isn’t your thing, there’s so many squirrel fans in Magic. I guarantee if you play a squirrel deck, she’s great in your squirrel deck.” It's the kind of wonderfully chaotic energy that just makes me smile, like a spell going wonderfully, unexpectedly awry.
Now, you can't have heroes without villains, can you? And the rogues' gallery looks promising. We’ve got a group shot with Abomination, Loki, M.O.D.O.K., Ultron, Taskmaster, Baron Zemo, Dr. Doom (who presumably recovers from his squirrel-induced embarrassment), and Leader. Plus, a rather imposing image of Killmonger in Wakanda. It’s a good mix of cosmic threats, tech terrors, and grounded baddies.
But here’s where my gently skeptical, cleverly observant hat comes on. Rosewater was quick to temper expectations, saying, "There’s lots of things we’re not doing... Marvel is just very broad and has lots and lots of different things and there’s lots of things that we can and will do, but we’re not doing here.” This, my friends, is marketing speak for 'we've got at least ten more sets planned, don't you worry your pretty little heads.' While the set is broad, it’s clearly not *everything* Marvel. No sign of the Guardians of the Galaxy, for instance, who'd make a cracking space-faring set. And while Wolverine makes an appearance, a full-blown X-Men set seems like a logical next step, doesn't it? They're practically begging for their own Universes Beyond spotlight.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Is Wizards hitting the fast-forward button too hard? Jumping straight to an Avengers-level crossover so quickly after Spider-Man is undeniably exciting, but it also raises questions about pacing. Are they striking while the iron's hot, or are we risking a bit of crossover fatigue down the line? It’s a delicate balance, like trying to juggle a dozen spell components while riding a runaway broomstick.
From a player's perspective, though, more options are generally a good thing. The sheer variety of characters, from global icons to street-level legends and even the wonderfully niche Squirrel Girl, offers a smorgasbord of potential Commander decks and new gameplay strategies. And for collectors, well, good luck keeping up, eh? It's a testament to the depth of the Marvel universe and Magic's design team's willingness to embrace the unexpected.
So, June 2026, mate. Mark it in your calendars, gather your squirrel tokens, and prepare for a veritable digital tea leaf reading as we wait to see what other magical mischief Wizards has planned for this rapidly expanding Marvel-verse. It's an optimistically chaotic future, and I, for one, can't wait to see what happens next. Because what happens if you *really* push the boundaries? That's what I reckon we're about to find out.
Tags: MagicTheGathering, MarvelComics, UniversesBeyond, TCG, GamingNews
Original article: Polygon