Magic: The Gathering – Shadow Mage #1 (1995 Armada Comics) – VF/NM – First Issue of MTG Comic Series

📦 Product Description:

Condition: VF/NM (Very Fine to Near Mint)
Publisher: Armada Comics (Acclaim)
Release Year: 1995
Series: Magic: The Gathering – Shadow Mage
Issue: #1 (First Issue)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Trading Card Tie-In
Based On: Magic: The Gathering by Wizards of the Coast

🧠 Issue Overview:
Before the Gatewatch. Before War of the Spark. Before Modern meta debates... there was Jared Carthalion, a tortured mage with more power than wisdom. In Shadow Mage #1, Jared finds himself hunted by rival sorcerers, dark forces, and inner demons — all wrapped in a dark fantasy world where magic is survival, and the wrong spell gets you killed.

This issue:

• Launches the first MTG comic book run

• Introduces Jared, heir to a legacy he doesn’t understand

• Delivers a gritty, high-magic tale perfect for fans of Dominaria, black mana, and corrupted power

📊 Condition Notes (VF/NM Estimate):

• Cover: Sharp color, gloss intact, tiny edge wear

• Spine: Tight with 1–2 minor stress lines

• Corners: Clean, slight lower tip rub

• Interior Pages: White, sharp, no tears or creases

• Stored bagged & boarded since acquisition

💀 Why This Comic Still Holds Mana Value:

• 1st Issue in the earliest official Magic: The Gathering comic series

• Scarce print run by Armada/Acclaim — hard to find in high grade

• Great for MTG fans, dark fantasy readers, and 90s nostalgia collectors

• A sleeper collectible now gaining attention as MTG lore expands

🧟♂️ From the Reaper’s arcane archive — a tale of shadow, mana, and memory, sealed in VF/NM.