Wizards of the Coast’s latest Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop, a crossover with the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, has disappointed fans who were expecting more from the collaboration.
Despite the visually striking art by Scott Watabane and others, the drop omits central characters from the film, such as Huntr/x and the Saja Boys, leaving fans wanting for more dedicated representations of the KPop Demon Hunters universe.
High Marks for Art, Low Marks for Content
The KPop Demon Hunters Secret Lair is part of the larger Corn Maze Superdrop, which includes several other themed sets. The author notes that many of these other drops are excellent, featuring gorgeous art and strong reprint value. The Veronique Meignaud artist series Drop is praised for its focus on black mana staples, and the Marvel Zombies reprints are described as pitch-perfect, with cards like Zombie Captain America and Zombie Giant-Man offering thematic synergy. The Ashley Dreyfus-illustrated treefolk drop is also highlighted for its cohesive theme and dreamy art.
However, the KPop Demon Hunters crossover itself falls short. While the art captures iconic moments and beloved characters, with specific callouts for the hilarious Swan Song card featuring the demon bird Sussie and an incredible printing of Underworld Breach by Helen Chen, the selection of cards feels incomplete. Cards like Unbreakable Formation, Demonic Counsel, and Tempt With Immortality are thematically appropriate, but Dawn's Truce and Freed from the Real are described as feeling "half-cooked."
What Was Missing
The primary criticism is the absence of main characters. The author expresses a desire for at least two individual KPop Demon Hunters Drops, one for each musical group, and ideally featuring legendary creatures that could serve as commanders. The article suggests that a collaboration akin to the Hatsune Miku Secret Lair or the previous Halana and Alena, Partners card would have been more satisfying. The ultimate hope is for a Rumi card to be available as a commander, perhaps partnered with a Mira and Zoey team-up.
A Glimmer of Hope for the Future?
Despite the current disappointment, there is speculation that this limited release might be a precursor to a larger KPop Demon Hunters presence in Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast has several Universes Beyond sets planned for 2027, and the possibility of a full expansion based on the anime is raised. The author hopes that if Wizards is indeed testing the waters with this Secret Lair drop, they will consider a more comprehensive approach in the future, potentially including a water demon and the courage to fully realize the potential of a KPop Demon Hunters Magic set.