Summary
Out of all of DC’s massive roster of heroes, it’s hard to overstate the enduring appeal of the dynamic duo:BatmanandRobin. The iconic pair is immediately recognizable and a major element of pop culture, to the point that even other franchises, like the immensely popularMagic: the Gatheringcard game, can’t help but give the team a friendly shoutout in its latest expansion.
Magic: the Gatheringhas entered preview season for its newest expansion, “Bloomburrow,” set to release on August 2nd, 2024. InMagic: the Gathering’sBloomburrow Card Gallery, Lorenzo Mastroianni’s art for the card “Lifecreed Duo” features a highly specific pair of animals: a bat and a red-breasted bird, hanging together on a branch.
Giventhe iconic nature of Batman and Robin,the pairing of a bat and a robin together as a “duo” seems far too deliberate to be anything but a sly nod to DC’s Dynamic Duo.
Batman and Robin Are Finally Becoming the Father & Son Duo Fans Deserve
Batman and Robin are back together just when fans need them. As the Bat-Family falls apart, Bruce and his son are reforging their father/son bond.
Batman and Robin Make a Card Game Cameo as Adorable Animals
MtG Gives the Perfect DC Nod
Magic: the Gathering’s “Bloomburrow” expansion takes place in a world of lightly anthropomorphized animals, drawing clear inspiration fromBrian Jacques’Redwallbooks. As there are no humans in the world of Bloomburrow, any and all who visit end up taking animal form, including the franchise’s “Planeswalker” wizards (characters who are important toMagic: the Gathering’s overarching story, as well as player avatars). This means thatthe world’s version of Batman and Robin end up being portrayed as a literal bat and robin working togetherin a (truly adorable) nod to their comic book counterparts.
Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman debuted in 1939’sDetective Comics#27. A year later, Robin debuted in 1940’sDetective Comics#38.
Batman and Robin’s cameo in this set is, admittedly, largely serendipitous. There are five colors of cards inMagic: the Gathering(White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green), and in the “Bloomburrow” expansion, each pair of colors is represented by a signature animal species. “Duo” cards like “Lifecreed Duo” show where those pairings intersect, with the White and Black animals (Bats) teaming up with the White and Blue animals (Birds). However,the artist’s deliberate choice to make the bird in question a robin turns a serendipitous pairing into an explicit homage.
Are More DC Comics-Themed Magic Cards on the Way?
MtG Features Plenty of Easter Eggs
Magic: the Gatheringis no stranger to making cards out of other popular franchises. The “Universes Beyond” subset of cards features popular characters and worlds from other franchises translated intoMagiccard form, with notable examples beingThe Walking Deadin 2020,The Lord of the RingsandDoctor Whoin 2023, andAssassin’s Creedin 2024(among many others). Notably for comic fans, as reported byBusiness Wire, Marvel has announced that they will be pairing withMagic: the Gathering’s parent company, Hasbro, toproduce a set of Marvel hero-themed cards in 2025.
Despite the long history of references and in-jokes woven intoMagic: the Gatheringcards, the “Universes Beyond” subtheme means thatthere is a very real opportunity for the game to expand beyond references into actively featuring DC characters on official cards. In fact, the game’s popularity and future pairing with Marvel suggests that it may only be a matter of time before DC gets its bite at the apple, too. An officialMagic: the Gatheringcard ofBatmanandRobinmay be years away — but for the time being, players get to enjoy the most adorable version of DC’s iconic team yet.
Sources:Magic: the Gathering,Business Wire
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
Robin
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering is a strategic collectible card game where players use customized decks featuring creatures, spells, and abilities to reduce opponents’ life totals to zero. It combines fantasy themes with tactical gameplay, resource management, and deck-building. Published by Wizards of the Coast, it remains an influential trading card game over three decades after its initial release in 1993
