**Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes Set: A Fresh Era of Thematic Gameplay**

Next June, amidst the buzz surrounding the *Avengers* returning to cinemas and the premiere of *Doomsday*, Magic: The Gathering will unveil its eagerly awaited Marvel Super Heroes set. This expansion is a part of the ongoing Universes Beyond series, designed to weave cherished franchises into the Magic universe while preserving the core gameplay experience that fans love.

In a recent episode of WeeklyMTG, Wizards of the Coast offered a preview of 38 new cards featured in this set. The reveal emphasized several Legendary Creatures and inventive mechanics, ensuring that the set delivers more than mere nostalgic connections to the Marvel franchise. Among the highlighted characters are legendary heroes and villains, each exhibiting unique abilities that mirror their comic book origins.

The set showcases Captain America as a 3/2 white creature, equipped with a shield counter for additional protection, highlighting the tactical nature of this hero. Bruce Banner is represented as a 1/1 blue creature, capable of transforming into the Incredible Hulk under certain conditions, acquiring a +1/+1 counter when damaged and granting him an extra attack phase. This transformation mechanic underscores the duality of Banner’s characters, merging strategy with narrative depth.

Doctor Doom is prominently featured as a powerful 3/3 black creature whose arrival on the battlefield is accompanied by Doombot tokens. Players can take advantage of his ability to draw cards while incurring damage at the end of their turn, introducing an element of risk and reward. Moreover, Doctor Doom remains indestructible as long as an artifact creature or Planeswalker is present, making him a formidable presence.

Key reprints in this set include Heroic Intervention, granting permanents hexproof and indestructibility until the end of the turn—an effect capable of significantly altering the course of battle. The set also brings new and exciting cards like Horn of Greed, adorned with whimsical artwork that resonates with Doctor Doom’s character.

Collectors and players will enjoy the full-art variants of cards such as Widow-Making Infiltrator, Dig Through Time, and Elektra, Deadly Assassin, which enhance both aesthetic appeal and gameplay richness. For those steeped in Magic lore, the Saga cards like World War Hulk and The Coming of Galactus will provide exhilarating narratives; the former boosts a creature’s power and toughness, while the latter introduces a formidable 16/16 Elder Alien with flying and trample.

Initial responses to the Marvel set were varied, particularly considering its launch following the Spider-Man expansion and numerous other crossovers in the Universes Beyond series. However, the early reveals indicate a depth and originality that may rekindle interest among players and collectors. The fusion of Marvel’s iconic storytelling with Magic’s strategic gameplay could yield a successful combination, positioning the Marvel Super Heroes set as one to keep an eye on as fans gear up to explore its features next June.