Last updated on October 21, 2025
Angel of the Ruins | Illustration by Fang.Xinyu
Marvel's Spider-Man hit a new low for Magic, and that goes for all of its supplementary sets as well, most notably the latest “Staten Island” Secret Lair, which introduced Magic fans to some of the most truly uninspired designs ever to grace the game.
Escape From New York
Wisecrack | Illustration by Wayne Reynolds
Aside from all the usual Universes Beyond hate, Magic players were especially ticked off about the representation of New York across cards in this drop. “The Battle at Snug Harbor” definitely raised some eyebrows, and there was a lot of outrage against including references to the Statue of Liberty, which any self-respecting Yorker knows is in Manhattan, not Staten Island. “The Statue of Liberty, Enraged might be the most American card I've ever seen,” says Reddit user u/bigdawg420. “I love a good red, white, and blue commander, but get your facts straight, Rosewater.”
The new “Carpetbagging” removal spell didn't go over well, either. Not only was it deemed offensive to Northerners, but people weren't keen on having a strictly better Swords to Plowshares introduced through a Secret Lair drop. The card has revolutionized Vintage as a 4-of in the emerging Yankee Lurrus Combo decks, causing the price of the Secret Lair drop to skyrocket.
The untimely Bagel and Schmear reprint also came as a blow to collectors, tanking the $0.15 card down to single-digit prices.
It's not all bad news, though. The “Times Square” card frame garnered some applause, and people felt like Seb McKinnon's portrayal of New Yorkers as walking skeleton people was fairly accurate. Collectors were especially happy with the bonus card selection; each drop has a small chance of including one of the coveted serialized Hot Dog Carts, though very few have been confirmed to be opened so far. The Secret Lair website also shipped buyers an actual fully loaded New York hot dog with every purchase over $200, though there have been some complaints about sauerkraut damaging the cards in their package.
Still, the reception doesn't bode well for the upcoming “Bronx & Manhattan” Secret Lair releasing next month, nor 2027's recently announced Escape from New York Universes Beyond set. It raises questions about why so much of Magic is taking place in New York to begin with, which hit a peak when New York was confirmed to be the eleventh realm in the Return to Kaldheim set. Sure, the state's rich with history, but does it really need this much representation in Magic: The Gathering?
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