While you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the story to enjoy Magic the Gathering, knowing what’s going on in the Planes sure does help add to the enjoyment of it. Looking through the cards, seeing my favorite characters and thinking about the implications and possibilities of its constantly-evolving plotlines is easily one of the best bits of the game for me.
In the last few years, a major story following the Elder Dragon Nicol Bolas has been unfolding. After stealing powerful artifacts from the planes of Kaladesh and Amonkhet, before completely destroying the latter in the Hour of Devastation set, the final confrontation between him and the heroic team of Planeswalkers known as the Gatewatch came to a head in War of the Spark.
If MTG has ever had its own The Avengers moment where years of story come together in a pure celebration of the series so far, it was War of the Spark. With Nicol Bolas’ army of mummies from Amonkhet running amok in the streets of Ravnica, it was a big compilation and crossover set that saw characters and concepts from across the entire multiverse come together in one big fight.
However, because of it being told mostly through secondary books (one of which, Forsaken, received widespread criticism for its poor characterisation and erasing of Chandra Nalar’s bisexuality) and story spotlight cards, you could’ve played War of the Spark and completely missed the magnitude of what was going down. With such a major story that is going to affect the game for years to come, it’s good to know what actually happened. And that’s where The Art of Magic the Gathering: War of the Spark comes in.
Published by VIZ Media, The Art of War of the Spark is an excellent resource for those who are just as invested in Magic’s story as they are the mechanics of the cards. For hardcore fans of Magic, the art book is a nice thing to have in your collection. The print quality is excellent, with art spilling across the pages providing a more detailed look than what you ever get on a teeny-tiny card.
I also really appreciate the behind-the-scenes information, carefully researched by author James Wyatt, who is also a senior Game Designer for Magic itself. Looking back on everything from the origins of Nicol Bolas to the delicate balancing act of spreading the story over years of set that became known internally as ‘Project Handlebars’, it’s the look at how the sausage is made that makes this book a worthwhile one for veteran fans who already know their Eternals from their Returned.
But I think it’s the service it provides to newcomers to the game that makes this book really special. Art of War of the Spark isn’t just an art book collection of pretty art, it’s an encyclopaedia of everything in the lore that is relevant to the modern player. It goes in deep on everything a Magic player should know but are maybe too afraid to ask, like what a Planeswalker is, or what their ‘spark’ is, what the different colors of mana mean, and even the common planes they travel to like Dominaria, Innistrad, Kaladesh and Ravnica. It even dedicates an entire page to the shards of Alara!
This is a compendium of the last 10+ years of Magic lore in one book, and a valuable resource to have on hand. Trawling through a fan wiki is one thing, but having an actual, physical book for you and friends to glance through while setting up to play a few games is just lovely.
Art of War of the Spark is by no means the first art book released for the game. Lauren Orsini took a look at the previous one, Legends, earlier this year. A compendium of the game’s long history of powerful creatures, Legends was just as vital a reference guide for fans as Art of War of the Spark. Where Legends helped refresh us on long-lost characters, Art of War of the Spark does a fantastic job at priming us on the massive events that have just unfolded, letting us go into sets like Kaldheim and Strixhaven with a new respect for the worlds, characters and plotlines Wizards of the Coast squeezes into its game.
Whether you’re new to the Magic the Gathering, a hardened veteran, or just a bit rusty on what the heck was going on with Jace Beleren and Vraska, The Art of Magic the Gathering: War of the Spark is a worthwhile buy. Part coffee table book, part essential guide, it’s one no Magic fan will want to skip.
The Art of Magic the Gathering: War of the Spark is available for purchase now for $39.99. A review copy was provided by VIZ Media to both myself and Lauren Orsini.
