Magic: The Gathering will return to Zhalfir on Oct. 1, 2027, with a new set devoted to the former Dominaria kingdom that now exists as its own plane. Wizards of the Coast is promising an Afrofantasy setting filled with “mind-bending cards,” along with the return of Teferi Akosa, Magic’s master of chronomancy. But players won’t have to wait until next fall to reunite with Teferi.
Polygon can exclusively reveal that Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast are launching Magic: The Gathering: Mage of Zhalfir, a new 12-issue comic series following Teferi’s early years. The story begins as the ambitious young mage leaves Zhalfir to study under the legendary Planeswalker Urza at the prestigious Tolarian Academy on Dominaria. Polygon can also reveal the two covers — with a main cover by Paris Alleyne and a variant cover by Mateus Manhanini — along with the first five pages of Issue #1.
Written by Ray Fawkes (Batman: Eternal, Black Hammer ’45), Mage of Zhalfir will explore Teferi’s attempts to master the manipulation of time and space — delicate work with potentially disastrous consequences. The first four issues will feature art by Rapha Lobosco (ThunderCats, Vampirella), colors by Jão Canola (Knights of Doom), and letters by AndWorld Design.
Quintorius uncovers Teferi’s past
The issue opens during the present day at Strixhaven, where we see the Planeswalker and archaeomancer Quintorius Kand conducting research inside the Biblioplex with the assistance of one of its mechanical librarians. The librarian leads Quint into the Hall of Oracles, a round chamber at the center of the building. As he begins reading, we see Urza channeling magical energy on the bottom half of the page with a smaller panel featuring zoomed-out look at Tolarian Academy. On page four, we learn that Urza is “calling the best and brightest in all the world to his cause.”
There we see a young Teferi celebrating with his family. He says his heartfelt goodbyes and promises to return, using his “newfound gifts” to help all of Zhalfir. Then Urza and Barrin open a portal to collect him, and Teferi quickly goes through while his grandfather pleads with him to wait. In Tolaria, Urza somewhat ominously says that Teferi has “much to contribute” and that “the enemy does not rest.”
The series arrives at a particularly fitting moment in Magic’s history. Zhalfir was once part of Dominaria before Teferi phased the entire kingdom out of existence to protect it from a Phyrexian invasion. It remained isolated for centuries until the events of 2023’s March of the Machine, when Zhalfir returned to the Multiverse as its own plane and took the place previously occupied by New Phyrexia. The upcoming Zhalfir set will bring Teferi home once again, while Mage of Zhalfir explores how his journey began.
The first issue will be released in comic shops on Jan. 20, 2027, for $4.99.
