Magic: The Gathering will be launching a huge Spider-Man set, bringing the Webslinger’s world into the game. With so many characters included, it can be challenging to keep track of who they all are. Below is a selection of red creature cards, exploring who they are and when they first appeared.
J. Jonah Jameson (2 Colorless, 2 Red)
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Card Type: Legendary Creature – Human Citizen
Card Text: When J. Jonah Jameson enters, suspect up to one target creature.
Whenever a creature you control with menace attacks, create a Treasure token.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963).
Jameson is the publisher of the Daily Bugle and was Peter Parker’s boss for a long time. A hatred of Spider-Man often led him to create misinformation about him in the Daily Bugle, and he even made many villains target and attack the wallcrawler. Jameson is a complicated person. He is fiercely protective of his staff, even those he dislikes. He’s loud, arrogant, and rude, but respectful of soldiers, astronauts, police officers, figures he considers “real heroes.” It was Jameson who created public perceptions of Spider-Man and other heroes, which never affected his public standing, as he was elected as Mayor of New York City.
Electro, Assaulting Battery (1 Colorless, 2 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Human Villain
Card Text: Flying
You don’t lose unspent red mana as steps and phases end.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, add (1 Red).
When Electro leaves the battlefield, you may pay (X Colorless). When you do, he deals X damage to target player.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #9 (1963).
The incredibly powerful Electro started as a lineman. He was struck by lightning while working on the power lines and immediately gained the ability to control and become electricity. His shocking powers often led Spider-Man to resort to runner gloves or other methods to try to subdue him. Electro was a founding and core member of the Sinister Six, with Doctor Octopus also using him as a power source, as well as a tool for getting into buildings. His powers reached such volatility that he once killed an entire prison full of inmates and guards.
Gwen Stacy (1 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Human Performer Hero.
Card Text: When Gwen Stacy enters, exile the top card of your library. You may play that card for as long as you control this creature.
(2 Colorless, 1 Blue, 1 Red, 1 White): Transform Gwen Stacy. Activate only as a sorcery.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #31 (1965).
Gwen Stacy is Peter Parker’s first love. Gwen and Peter quickly became young lovers. They were perfect for each other, as Gwen was also a scientific genius. While she was sometimes inadvertently involved in Spider-Man’s life, her biggest concern was competing for Pete’s affection with Mary Jane. This role took a dark turn when she was kidnapped by Green Goblin and died when Spider-Man tried to break her fall, snapping her neck in the process. That detail was so slight, but devastating for Peter. Gwen’s death had ramifications not just in the comic book but also for Peter, as losing her haunted him for the rest of his life.
Hobgoblin (1 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Goblin Human Villain
Card Text: Flying, haste.
Whenever you discard a card, Hobgoblin gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #238 (1983).
There have been many Hobgoblins, but the most famous is Roderick Kingsley. Initially finding the Green Goblin costume, Kingsley ultimately sought out his own form of the serum that transformed Norman Osborn. Kingsley became even stronger than Osborn, matching Spider-Man. He also had the same insanity as Osborn. Notable for his more orange outfit, Hobgoblin’s true identity was hidden for over a decade, leading to others being suspected instead.
Spider-Cat (1 Red)
Card Type: Creature – Spider Cat Hero
Card Text: Haste.
Discard a card, sacrifice this creature: Draw a card.
First appearance: Spider-Island: I Love New York City Issue 1 (2011).
It’s a cat with Spider-powers. ‘Nuff said.
Molten Man, Inferno Incarnate (2 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Elemental Villain
Card Text: When Molten Man enters, search your library for a basic Mountain card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Molten Man gets +1/+1 for each Mountain you control.
When Molten Man leaves the battlefield, sacrifice a land.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #28 (1965).
Mark Raxton was creating a new alloy derived from a meteor to build a Spider-Slayer when he ended up putting the molten metal all over himself. He was now covered in molten metal, with a scorching hot skin and the ability to create fireballs. He was always one of the most dangerous of villains for Spider-Man, with the intensity of the heat he generated and the fact that Spidey’s webbing couldn’t get a purchase on his red-hot, frictionless skin. He is the step-brother of Liz Allan, Peter’s school friend. Raxton has since been cured of his condition.
Shocker, Unshakable (4 Colorless, 2 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Human Rogue Villain
Card Text: During your turn. Shocker has first strike.
Vibro-Shock Gauntlets – When Shocker enters he deals 2 damage to target creature and 2 damage to that creature’s controller.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #46 (1967).
Career criminal Herman Schultz created gauntlets that fire powerful vibrational blasts of air. To insulate himself from the vibrations that would otherwise rip his body apart, he wears a signature yellow insulated suit. Despite the power in his gadget and a genuine intelligence in invention, Shocker had often been considered a joke. This has led to a crisis in confidence, which has prevented him from becoming the dangerous villain he could possibly become.
Spider-Gwen, Free Spirit (2 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Spider Human Hero
Card Text: Reach
Whenever Spider-Gwen becomes tapped, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
First appearance: Edge of Spider-Verse Issue #2 (2014).
One of many Spider-Gwen cards. In this universe, Gwen Stacy got the spider powers instead of superpowers. Gwen was not only a web-slinging vigilante, often hunted by the police, but also a member of the Mary Janes. The free-spirited hero initially thrived off attention before being grounded and becoming more focused on saving lives. Both Gwen and her father are now on the main Earth, unable to return home. She now goes by Ghost-Spider.
Spider-Islanders (3 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Creature – Spider Horror Citizen
Card Text: Mayhem (1 Colorless, 1 Red) (You may cast this card from your graveyard for (1 Colorless, 1 Red) if you discarded it this turn. Timing rules still apply.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #666 (2011).
During the Spider-Island event, every single human in Manhattan developed spider powers. All of a sudden, Peter Parker wasn’t special, as everyone could web-sling and stick to walls. But that wasn’t all. The mutations didn’t stop there, as those infected soon transformed even further, becoming actual giant spiders.
Spider-Punk (1 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Spider Human Hero
Card Text: Riot (This creature enters with your choice of a +1/+1 counter os haste.)
Other Spiders you control have riot.
Spells and abilities can’t be countered.
Damage can’t be prevented.
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #10 (2015).
Hobie Brown was a squatter bitten by a radioactive spider, a consequence of toxic waste dumping. This version of Spider-Man is much louder and foul-mouthed than other iterations, with an authentic anarchist lifestyle. He’s a punk rocker with spikes on his mask and always carrying around guitars that he uses as weapons. He even beheaded his world’s version of Norman Osborn with his guitar.
Spinneret and Spiderling (1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Spider Human Hero
Card Text: Whenever you attack with two or more Spiders, put a +1/+1 counter on Spinneret and Spiderling.
Whenever Spinneret and Spiderling deal 4 or more damage, exile the top card of your library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play that card.
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1. (2017)
Spinneret is Mary Jane Watson, Spiderling is her daughter Annie. In a world where The Avengers had been killed, Spider-Man retired, with inhibitor bracelets to hide his and his family’s powers. But when one broke, the whole family fought alongside each other, with a special suit for Mary Jane.
Stegron the Dinosaur Man (4 Colors, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Dinosaur Villain
Card Text: Menace (This creature can’t be blocked except by two or more creatures._
Dinosaur Formula – (1 Colorless, 1 Red), Discard this card: Until end of turn, target creature you control gets +3/+1 and becomes a Dinosaur in addition to its other types.
First appearance: Marvel Team-Up #19 (1974).
Remarkable to look at, Vincent Stegron was an assistant to Curtis Connors and stole a serum. This serum had the DNA of a stegosaurus, and when ingested, turned Stegron into part dinosaur. Not only did he have the strength and weapons of a dinosaur, but he could also control any dinosaur around him, which were alone and thriving in the Savage Land. He alternates between trying to rule the Savage Land and returning to the world of man to try to restore dinosaurs to their rightful dominance on Earth.
The Mary Janes (3 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Legendary Creature – Human Bard Perfomer
Card Text: This spell costs (1 Colorless) less to cast for each creature that attacked this turn.
Menace (This creature can’t be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
First appearance: Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (2014).
An all-female band with Spider-Gwen as the drummer, the members are a selection of ladies who have counterparts on other worlds. Em Jay is the lead singer, with Betty Brant, Glory Grant, and Felicia Hardy all playing instruments or backup vocals.
Rampaging Classmate (2 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Creature – Lizard Berserker
Card Text: Whenever this creature attacks, ot gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each other attacking creature.
First appearance: Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (2014).
Peter Parker was a childhood friend of Spider-Gwen, growing up with her. Nerdy and weak, Gwen often protected Peter from the school bullies. He looked up to and idolized the Spider-Woman, who was seen in New York, so he decided he wanted powers, too. He stole a serum from Doctor Connors and became the Lizard. He went on a rampage in his school and was killed in a battle with Gwen, even though he pleaded with her to stop hitting him.
Superior Foes of Spider-Man (2 Colorless, 1 Red)
Card Type: Creature – Human Rogue Villain
Card Text: Trample
Whenever you cast a spell with mana value 4 or greater, you may exile the top card of your library. If you do, you may play that card until you exile another card with this creature.
First appearance: Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1 (2013).
A new team of the Sinister Six, created by Boomerang. Except they weren’t very sinister, and there weren’t six of them. Consisting of Beetle, Speed Demon, Shocker, and Overdrive, they set about trying to be the new kingpins of New York, but failed miserably as Boomerang upset everyone.
There are some cards not included in this summary because they have been included in other color categories as well.
For a complete list of the entire Spider-Man set, check out the official Magic: The Gathering website.
