Magic: The Gathering: Mage of Zhalfir Sends Teferi Back to Tolarian Academy

Magic: The Gathering: Mage of Zhalfir takes Teferi Akosa back to his years at Tolarian Academy. Dark Horse Comics and Wizards of the Coast have announced a 12-issue series, with issue #1 scheduled for January 20, 2027 in comic shops. The opening premise follows a younger Teferi studying under Urza as he learns to manipulate time and space.

What is Mage of Zhalfir about?

The publisher’s issue listing describes Teferi as an ambitious student at the academy on Dominaria. It warns that tampering with reality has consequences. That is the announced setup, not a chapter-by-chapter account of a comic that has yet to release.

The listing also mentions Phyrexia, a long-running threat in Magic lore. It does not name a specific Phyrexian character or say exactly how the threat enters Teferi’s academy story. The series’ title points to Zhalfir, but the published synopsis centers its first issue on Tolaria; it would be premature to map the whole 12-issue timeline from that summary.

Who is making the comic?

Ray Fawkes writes the series. Rapha Lobosco illustrates the first four issues, with Jão Canola on colors and AndWorld Design on lettering. Paris Alleyne drew the main cover for issue #1, shown above; Mateus Manhanini drew a variant. The announcement names Lobosco and Canola for the first four issues rather than promising the same interior team for all twelve.

Why return to Teferi’s academy years?

For readers who know Teferi chiefly as a veteran Planeswalker, this premise visits an earlier point in his life. Wizards of the Coast’s existing character history places him among the academy’s early students and explains that Urza and Barrin founded the school in the shadow of the Phyrexian threat. That lore helps explain the setting; it does not confirm which established events the new comic will dramatize or revise.

When does issue #1 come out?

The retail listing gives January 20, 2027 as the on-sale date for the first 32-page issue in the U.S. It lists a $4.99 U.S. cover price. Local shop availability may differ. No digital edition details or dates for the remaining eleven issues are specified there.