Magic: The Gathering highlights LGBTQ+ artists in Secret Lair set

By: Philippa Axinous | 03.05.2022, 00:55

Although it isn’t yet Pride Month, it’s never too late to embrace the spirit. Wizards of the Coast just revealed its Secret Lair Collection of alternative art cards for Magic: The Gathering , each of which was illustrated by a LGBTQ+ artist. Pride Across the Multiverse is the fitting name for the collection.

Launched in 2020, Secret Lair is a print-on-demand series that allows Magic fans to purchase customized versions of existing cards. These special sets are only available for a limited time, although in this case, the purchasing window is quite forgiving: Pride of the Multiverse will be available to order from May 4 to June 30. Wizards of the Coast donates half of the profits to The Trevor Project. This nonprofit provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth.

Clockwise: Lauren YS‘s Sol Ring; Merlin G.G‘s Triumphant Reckoning; Ricardo Bessa‘s Bearscape; Winona Nelson‘s Alesha, Who Smiles at Death; Ricardo Bessa‘s Collective Voyage; Peo Michie’s Heartbeat of Spring; Jabari Weathers‘ Mana Confluence; Kieran Yanner‘s Savor the Moment
Image: Wizards of the Coast

Stephanie Cheung, the art director for Pride Across the Multiverse, described the process as follows: “I looked for artists across the spectrum of LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC identities; having a breadth of artists is an important part of celebrating the diversity of our community and experiences.” Cheung also noted that “there was no way this collection of eight cards would represent every aspect of the community, but we wanted to honor the hope and joy found in our multifaceted identities.”

Cheung ended by emphasizing the central qualities that unify these cards. “Each Pride Across the Multiverse card tells its own tale of love, struggle and resilience, joy, community, and hope. Stories are how we practice hope, and I think it’s so important to hope, to really be in the practice of holding fast and remaining true. It is our triumph, and we will shape the future with our ferocious resilience.”

The set of eight cards costs $39. 99 for regular finish and $49. 99 for foil versions; they’ll arrive in a rainbow foil box. The order will also include codes for virtual card sleeves in Magic: The Gathering Arena; the four card designs in the image at the top of this article show off how those will look.