For anyone who needs a refresher, Secret Lair is the place where Wizards takes familiar cards and gives them fresh art, wild themes, or special twists that collectors and fans will love. These drops are limited and often available only for a short window, so they carry a mix of excitement, urgency, and a “did you snag that yet?” energy every time they drop.

This newest Superdrop leans hard into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover spirit, mixing mutant mayhem with surprising Magic staples. There are six drops in total, and each one brings its own personality:

This set, the Secret Lair x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: VHS Villains, features classic villain vibes like Higure, the Still Wind as “Shredder, Criminal Mastermind” and Triskelion as “Krang’s Android.”

Wizard’s is breaking out of their shell (pun intended) with Secret Lair x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mighty Mutanimals, bringing us cards like Deepglow Skate as “Man Ray, Eco Avenger” and Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar as “Mondo Gecko, Esquire.”

Being a huge fan of the Last Ronin comic series, I am so excited for Secret Lair x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which will bring fans Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni as “Splinter, Vengeful Sensei,” as well as incredible artwork pulled straight from the series’ pages.

Two drops featuring art by Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Turtles, give fans both colors and inks editions to enjoy.

A collection “Featuring Stan Sakai” brings Usagi Yojimbo into the mix with flavorful new identities.

Each of these drops will be priced at $29.99 for non-foil and $39.99 for foil versions, and if you want every card in one go, the Totally TubuLair! Everything Bundle offers both foil and non-foil versions for $399.99. There are also bundle options focused on specific subsets, like the Turtle Power Foil Bundle and a non-foil combo set.

This release is absolutely built for fans who enjoy seeing unexpected corners of pop culture woven into the Magic multiverse, and are super excited for the rest of the Universes Beyond set’s release. From sewer skirmishes to the philosophic calm of a ronin’s blade, the Totally TubuLair Superdrop feels like a celebration of collaboration and creativity that brings a beloved franchise into a new context.

Like all Secret Lair drops, these are likely to disappear once the window closes, so if any of these turtle-powered cards call to you, mark your calendar and prepare for the launch at 9 a.m. PT on March 2.

The post Secret Lair: Totally TubuLair Superdrop on March 2 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

For players who have been around competitive Magic for a while, this kind of announcement is part of the rhythm of the game. Wizards has explained that the goal of these updates is to keep formats feeling fun and fair without tipping the scales too far in any one direction, and what we got today reflects that mindset.

Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy: Still Quiet

For most of the big constructed formats, the verdict was simple: no changes. Standard stays as it was, with its wide variety of viable decks thanks to better diversity in the meta. Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy were untouched this round, meaning cards players expected could be targeted didn’t see any restriction or ban. For players who were rooting for a banning of certain over-performing cards in those formats, this will feel like a collective shrug, but also a sign that things are relatively balanced right now compared to past years.

Historic Shifts: A Bigger Story

The biggest individual hits went to Historic, where several cards were moved off the legal list entirely. Eldrazi Temple, Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, Crop Rotation, and Scholar of the Lost Trove are now banned in that format. On the flip side, a whole suite of cards previously absent from Historic are now legal again, including Magus of the Moon, Harbinger of the Seas, Force of Vigor, Force of Negation, Endurance, and Wilderness Reclamation. Agent of Treachery also returns to Historic playability after being freed by today’s changes.

This is the part where many players will feel their predictions were partly right; there were expectations that Historic would see some shake-ups, and Wizards delivered exactly that. However, the presence of several unbans was a bit more generous than some anticipated, so players who were bracing for only bans might feel pleasantly surprised.

Timeless Format Gets a Tweak

In Timeless, one noteworthy move was made: Necropotence is now restricted. This means players can still use it, but in a limited way that curbs some of its overwhelming power without removing it entirely from the format. That middle ground approach was something many players called for, given how iconic Necropotence is and how much it warps games when unrestricted.

Commander Sees Real Change

Commander, the format that generates perhaps the widest range of banlist speculation, got some true surprises. Two cards that have been banned for quite some time are now unbanned: Biorhythm and Lutri, the Spellchaser (Lutri is still banned as a companion, but otherwise legal). For Commander players who have been begging for these updates, this feels like recognition that the format continues to evolve and that some old restrictions might not matter as much in the context of broader multiplayer play.

Community discussion prior to the announcement saw wild price movements on cards like Primeval Titan, Prophet of Kruphix, and Jeweled Lotus as speculators anticipated potential unbans, but ultimately today’s changes were more measured than the most extreme expectations.

What This Means for Players

For folks playing Standard at your local store or queueing up for day one of a Premier event, today’s announcement probably won’t radically change your deckbuilding plans. But for Historic and Commander players, there’s plenty to explore. Some decks that were dormant may see new life, and interactions that once felt unthinkable could become part of your next game night.

Taken together, this update reads as an interesting conversation between Wizards and the community, rather than a list of unilateral strikes. It’s a reminder that balance is a moving target, and that part of what makes Magic so engaging is seeing how formats shift as new sets, strategies, and play habits emerge.

If you’ve been glued to prediction threads about which cards would be struck or restored today, this announcement gives players a good indication as to the trajectory Wizards is planning to move in future decisions. Whether you’re building a new Historic brew or dusting off your Commander deck, there is plenty to talk about and explore after today’s banlist shift.

The post Magic: The Gathering Banned and Restricted Update – February 9, 2026 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

While my love for MTG runs deeper than Urza’s Mine, it has been a little bit of an existential crisis — and still a little hard to process — the fact that I can show up to my local card shop in 2025 and get destroyed by a SpongeBob SquarePants Commander deck. While the Universes Beyond and Secret Lair sets have been pretty controversial, there’s no denying that they are extremely fun. Some sets, like Lord of the Rings and Warhammer, have been perfect fits, while others, like Sonic the Hedgehog and My Little Pony, are fun but canonically all over the place. So I’ve taken it upon myself to come up with 3 different IP universes that I think should partner with Wizards of the Coast in 2026.

Star Wars

Last weekend, the newest MTG set Edge of Eternities dropped, offering a unique backdrop for the game that somewhat divided the community at large but excited sci-fi-loving Planeswalkers.

“The story of the set is located in outer space and is top-down inspired by space opera,” as described by Wizards of the Coast. This set primes the pump for what could be an insane collaboration if Magic: The Gathering were to ever create a Star Wars set.

Fan-made Star Wars MTG cards have been floating around hobby groups and Reddit threads for YEARS, even before Universes Beyond started — and for good reason. The characters in Star Wars are powerful, diverse, and beautiful to illustrate. Imagine how smoothly droids could be imagined as artifact creatures, Sith characters would integrate into black and red, or how natural Wookiees and Ewoks would feel in green. Lightsaber equipment cards. Legendary ships. The possibilities are endless.

Honestly, I’m getting more and more frustrated just thinking about this potential set, because who knows if we’ll ever get it. But with Disney-owned properties like Deadpool and Spider-Man already making the jump to Magic: The Gathering, maybe it’s only a matter of time before we get a Mandalorian and Grogu partner Commander deck.

Harry Potter

Now, I’m not even a Potterhead, but it seems ludicrous that we haven’t seen an official Harry Potter Secret Lair or Universes Beyond set.

You could argue that Strixhaven already feels like a royalty-free imagining of Harry Potter within the MTG universe — and you wouldn’t be wrong — but that’s all the more reason to make it official in 2026. The different wizard houses fit perfectly into the MTG color wheel. Spells and incantations could be reimagined as instants and sorceries. Legendary beasts, illusions, and whatever the heck Dobby was could all come together in an epic set that would 100% bring in a new, enthusiastic player base.

Pokémon

Now remember: I warned you. If you don’t think MTG is the best TCG on the planet, you probably should’ve skipped this article. But for those still reading — hear me out…

Yes, Pokémon is an iconic trading card franchise that’s wildly successful and still thriving. People are still getting trampled in Walmart for a chance to collect rare cards. But that’s the problem — Pokémon is notoriously fun to collect… and painfully lame to actually play.

If the stars could align, imagine the sheer pandemonium and shock value of mixing humanity’s two largest trading card games into one mind-blowing collaboration. You’d combine the cultural power and nostalgia of Pokémon with the mechanical brilliance of Magic. Pokémon Trainers like Ash could be insane Planeswalkers. The famous type-based strengths and weaknesses from Pokémon could be mapped to MTG’s color system. Fantasy battles between Charizard and Nicol Bolas? Karn vs. Regirock? Fans of both games would lose their minds. And finally, we’d give Pokémon fans something better to do with their cardboard than just stuffing them into plastic binders.

There you have it — three franchises I’d love to see pop up in a Secret Lair or Universes Beyond release. Maybe if we all hold hands and believe, we’ll see one or two of these sets by San Diego Comic-Con 2026

The post 3 Franchises that Magic: The Gathering Should Crossover with in 2026 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The timing? Questionable. The contents? Chaotically compelling.

The Vault Opens: Three Key Cards, One Wild Ride

At the top of this particular spell stack is a long-awaited reappearance of Crucible of Worlds, making its first return since 2022’s Double Masters. A powerhouse in land recursion strategies and eternal formats alike, the card has long hovered in price purgatory, so its reprint here could shake the singles market, at least until the vault doors swing open long enough to flood inventory.

Joining the Crucible are two other surprise inclusions: Aggressive Mining, seeing its first reprint since its original 2015 run in Magic 2015, and Reprocess, now clocking in its third-ever printing, last spotted in 7th Edition. While none of these picks scream top-tier tournament staples, they serve as flavorful reminders of Magic’s weirder design moments; and frankly, that’s half the point of a drop like this.

Each card is presented with an appropriately wild new borderless treatment that leans hard into surrealist fantasy. Think chaotic ley lines meeting cosmic entropy, the kind of visuals that feel like they’d whisper secrets to you if you stare long enough. The art doesn’t just pop; it feels like it’s trying to planeswalk off the page and onto your kitchen table.

Buy It for Love, Not for Value

For collectors and deck builders alike, the drop may not be the most competitively optimized drop to date, but it doesn’t need to be. Secret Lair has always lived at the intersection of art and niche appeal, and this one, right before the lore-heavy, multiversal stakes of Edge of Eternities, feels more like a thematic appetizer than a main course.

Of course, it bears repeating: don’t let your wallet be ruled by FOMO. The value of these reprints will likely slide once the market saturates and the speculative dust settles. As always, the best reason to snag a Secret Lair is because the cards speak to you, whether it’s for your deck, your shelf, or your soul.

Still in Stock… For Now

As of this article’s release, all bundles—foil and non-foil—remain available on the Secret Lair website, but if history has taught us anything, chaos doesn’t stay caged for long.

So whether you’re hunting for value, art, or just love the smell of mana in the morning, the Chaos Vault might be your kind of strange magic.

The post Magic: The Gathering’s Secret Lair Cracks Open the Chaos Vault Ahead of Edge of Eternities Release appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The hotel ballroom was transformed into a vibrant homage to Spider-Man’s New York City neighborhood, complete with comic book-inspired decor, and immersive experiences. Fans in attendance were able to get their hands on welcome decks and explore the new cards featuring iconic characters like Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Spider Gwen, Spider-Man 20999, and Venom. But the night’s highlight was undoubtedly DMC’s surprise performance, which brought a wave of nostalgia and energy to the packed venue.

DMC, one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group Run-DMC, is no stranger to blending music with comic book culture. A self-professed comic book fan, McDaniels has long celebrated his love for superheroes, even launching his own comic book series, DMC, through his publishing company, Darryl Makes Comics.
During his performance, D.M.C. played hits like Tricky and Walk This Way, and spoke about his love for superheroes. Even know at the age 61, he still believes in superheroes and encouraged the crowd to continue to follow their dreams.

For those who missed the preview night, the Hard Rock Hotel activation runs through the weekend, offering more chances to dive into the Marvel x Magic universe. Marvel’s Spider-Man | Magic: The Gathering set, is slated for global release on September 26, 2025.

The post DMC of Run DMC Headlines Magic: Spider-Man Night at San Diego Comic-Con appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

We’ve compiled a list of activations headed to San Diego Comic-Con 2025, with movies and shows including Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, Peacock’s Twisted Metal, and more.

• Thunderbolts* Treatz Truck
• Peacock’s Twisted Metal Bumper Battle
• Hulu’s King of the Hill Activation
• Alien: Earth
• Brawl Stars’ Starr Park Activation
• Adult Swim’s Pirate Purrrty on the Green
• Paramount+’s The Lodge
• Peacemaker’s Peacefest
• Stars Wars + Coca Cola’s Holocreator
• Star Trek Immersive Show
• Magic the Gathering’s Spider-Man Activation

Thunderbolts* Treatz Truck

Disney and Marvel Studios are gearing up for the release of Thunderbolts* on Blu-ray and DVD, and they will be sending an ice cream truck to San Diego Comic-Con. The Thunderbolts* Treatz Truck will offer different ice cream flavors inspired by members of the Thunderbolts. The truck will also have exclusive swag and photo ops.

The soft serve menu includes American Shield (U.S. Agent), Vanishing Vanilla (Ghost), Winter Soldier Swirl (Bucky), Strawberry Red Glory (Red Guardian), and Killer Charm Sundae (Yelena Belova).

When: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27

July 24-26: 10 am – 7 pm
July 27: 10 am – 2 pm (SDCC)

Where: MLK Walkway behind the Omni Hotel directly across from the convention center

Peacock’s Twisted Metal Bumper Battle

Based on the PlayStation video game series, Peacock will be promoting the second season of the Twisted Metal series by bringing a bumper car activation to SDCC. It will also have an exclusive sneak peek at the show with Executive Producer/Star Anthony Mackie on Thursday, July 24 in Ballroom 20 at 3 pm PT. There will also be an advance screening on Thursday in Room 6DE at 10 pm PT.

Description for Twisted Metal Bumper Battle: Fans will step into a post-apocalyptic world filled with bumper-to-bumper chaos at Peacock’s Twisted Metal Bumper Battle. As an homage to the Twisted Metal tournament at the forefront of season two, fans will be able to choose their ride, featuring the show’s most iconic vehicles reimagined as bumper cars, and take part in their own version of the Calypso-hosted derby. In addition to the bumper car experience, fans can expect epic photo ops, a display of some of the tournament cars featured in the series, surprise and delight moments, and pandemonium around every corner.

When: Thursday, July 24 – Saturday, July 26

• Thursday, July 24: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Friday, July 25: 12 pm – 6 pm
• Saturday, July 26: 12 pm – 6 pm

Where: THE LOT @ 1ST & J – 450 2nd Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Event is free and open to the public. No badge required. Entry and bumper car participation are first come, first served, and not guaranteed. Waivers must be signed by all riders and passengers.

Hulu’s King of the Hill Activation

King of the Hill fans can now feel like they’re part of Arlen, Texas, with the SDCC activation.

Alamo Pong: Guests will get a chance to partake in a game of ‘Alamo Pong’, participating in some friendly competition in hopes of winning a prize and claiming Alamo Pong championship. Large-scale 2D cutouts of the King of the Hill’s beloved characters will be stationed throughout the space for special photo opportunities.

Lawn Mower Photo Op: Guests have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to picture themselves in the world of King of the Hill. The Lawn Mower photo opportunity moment features the iconic Hill residence, where guests can pose on the front lawn with large-scale 2D cutouts of the beloved Hill family, ride the family lawn mower, and ‘drive’ through Arlen, Texas.

Mega Lo Mart Customization Hat Station: Visit the Mega Lo Mart, an Arlen staple, to customize your own Trucker hat with special patches, unique to King of the Hill. With an array of hats and colors to choose from, guests will be fitting in with the citizens of Arlen in no time!

Water Tower: Quench your thirst with a crisp can of Alamo water under the Arlen water tower. Not only does the water tower serve as a beacon of Arlen, Texas – it will also be a rehydration point for attendees. Guests will receive cold-canned water in Alamo branded aluminum cans. You can choose to drink it to quench your thirst or take it home as a souvenir.

Rhinestein’s Cowboy Boot Toss: Visit Rhinestein’s Cowboy storefront for a game of boot toss. Guests will be given 2 pairs of oversized, animated-style boots with the goal of tossing the open side of the boot over a stake in front of the store. The lucky winners will receive prizes exclusive to the activation.

Backyard Cookout: Unwind in the Hill’s Backyard with a backyard cookout. Guests can refuel and rest at umbrellas and picnic tables with the Hill family. Texas-inspired BBQ bites will be served all day, keeping guests in the world of Arlen. Guests will be invited to participate in lawn games such as cornhole, and pose with photo opportunities from the show, like Dale’s Dead Bug van and more! There will be a large grill playing clips from the previous and new season of the show, for guests to enjoy while relaxing.

When: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27

• July 24: 11:30 am – 7 pm
• July 25-26: 9:30 am – 7 pm daily
• July 27: 9:30 am – 5 pm

Where: Located next to the Convention Center on the Bayfront’s Parking Lot (Fifth Ave Landing – Lot A1) – 600 Convention Way, San Diego, CA 92101.

FX’s Alien: Earth ‘The Wreckage’ Activation

What: Guests are invited to explore the mysterious debris of the USCSS Maginot to unearth new details from the highly anticipated upcoming series from creator Noah Hawley, inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise. The experience will feature various interactive thrills and never-before-seen alien specimens. Guests can visit “The Wreckage” during the day to explore new areas of the USCSS Maginot or brave a terrifying mission at “The Wreckage: Code Red” once the sun goes down.

The activation will also feature:

An interactive Prodigy Corp Drop Site where fans can sign up to be an FX Insider to claim exclusive giveaways and get a first look at Alien: Earth VR experiences that will be available once the show premieres.

A vending machine stocked with a custom in-world beverage available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con via a collaboration with Chain, the dining experience known for its reimagined takes on Pop-Cuisine staples.

A state-of-the-art Alien: Earth Podcast Studio, which will host various talent and influencers throughout the weekend.

When: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27

Thursday, July 24:

• The Wreckage: 11 am – 4 pm
• The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30 pm – 8 pm

Friday, July 25:

• The Wreckage: 10 am – 4 pm
• The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30 pm – 10 pm

Saturday, July 26:

• The Wreckage: 10 am – 4 pm
• The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30 pm – 10 pm

Sunday, July 27:

• The Wreckage: 11 am – 3 pm

Where: Hilton Bayfront Lawn (1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101)

Activation is open to the public ages 18+. Admission is free. Prodigy Corp Drop Site giveaways available during daytime hours only, while supplies last.

Brawl Stars’ Starr Park Activation

Brawl Stars is a MOBA and battle royale game from Supercell that has gained over 48 million followers on social media and 4.4 billion views on YouTube. The game is headed to San Diego Comic-Con for the first time in real life.

Description: All aboard! Jump on the Starr Rail for a wild ride through Starr Park, the amusement park that serves as the setting for matches in Brawl Stars. What starts as a calm monorail tour quickly goes off the rails, sending guests on a hypercharged adventure that sets the tone for the Starr Park experience.

Once inside Starr Park, explore classic carnival games with a chaotic Brawl Stars twist. Guests can visit Mike’s Mine for explosive fun, Haunted Haven to put their strength to the test. Piper’s Pie Shop to try some tempting treat options, and more. Attendees will have the chance to win exclusive Brawl Stars swag and in-game prizes throughout their Starr Park visit, and may even get to meet their favorite Brawlers, like beloved mischief-making cactus mascot Spike.

As part of the larger Comic-Con activation, Brawl Stars has teamed up with MrBeast’s Feastables to deliver an exclusive treat for fans: Feastables’ first-ever co-branded chocolate bars. 20,000 limited-edition Brawl Bars will be distributed throughout the Starr Park experience and beyond, which feature a code players can redeem for a special in-game reward. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, so fans will want to act fast!

The Comic-Con chaos continues beyond Starr Park. Be on the lookout around San Diego as Spike’s Street Team challenges Brawl Stars fans to unique challenges, if they’re bold enough to try. Fans can play trivia, get a pie to the face, or even get a Spike haircut if they dare to win special prizes and in-game rewards!

Starr Park is free to enter with onsite registration, and is first-come, first-served. San Diego Comic-Con badges are welcome but not required for entry to Starr Park. For those wanting a guaranteed entry time, limited advance time slots will be available beginning on July 11th for a $2 charity donation.

When: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27

• July 24 – July 26: 11 am – 7 pm
• July 27: 11 am – 4 pm

Where: Next to the San Diego Convention Center at 5th Ave. Landing (600 Convention Way, San Diego, CA 92101).

Adult Swim’s Pirate Purrrty on the Green

Adult Swim is having a cat-themed party with Pirate Purrrty on the Green, and it will be celebrating Robot Chicken, Rick and Morty, Smiling Friends and more.

“Robot Chicken” – A Celebration 20 Years in the Making – Come celebrate 20 years of hilarious stop-motion comedy with Matt Senreich, Seth Green and special guests. Get an inside peek at what it’s like to be a part of one of Adult Swim’s longest running, highly acclaimed shows. Thursday (7/24) at 7:15pm

Adult Swim Presents: Live Table Reads – Brace yourself for an exclusive live table read with the voice casts from “Rick and Morty” and “SMILING FRIENDS” that’s equal parts chaotic, emotional, and probably the best thing you’ll ever witness. Friday (7/25) at 7:15pm

Adult Swim’s Night of New – Attendees to this special outdoor screening event will be the first to experience a collection of never-before-aired Adult Swim content featuring full-length episodes of “SMILING FRIENDS,” “Women Wearing Should Pads,” “Haha, You Clowns,” and an early look at the season 8 finale of “Rick and Morty,” alongside more new Adult Swim content. Saturday (7/26) at 7:15pm.

Fun activities include:

“Smiling Friends” Break Room – Step into a real-life recreation of the iconic break room, snap a photo, and get exclusive merch.

“Rick and Morty” Buttworld Bounce House – Bounce into the bizarre with this inflatable tribute to one of the show’s most unforgettable dimensions.

Adopt-a-Cuy Station – Inspired by the upcoming series “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads,” fans can take home their very own (plush) pet cuy.

“Common Side Effects” Mushroom Hunt – Search for hidden fungi and claim an exclusive plushie from the upcoming series.

There will be games, photo ops and nightly DJ sets including the DIRECTV Face Painting Zone inspired by Rick and Morty, Smiling Friends and more, and a walk away with a framed photo souvenir.

When: Thursday, July 24 – Saturday, July 26 from 1 pm – 7 pm.

Where: Outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way)

No badge is required.

Paramount+’s The Lodge

Paramount+’s The Lodge is returning to SDCC with immersive areas from its shows and films including Dexter, Star Trek: Strange New World, Landman, NCIS: Tony & Ziva and Mission: Impossible.

Dexter: Resurrection Vault description – Hidden behind the sleek facade of a wine cellar lies a mysterious Vault, an unsettling shrine to the darkest corners of human nature. Inside, guests will discover a chilling collection of relics, case files, and twisted keepsakes from some of history’s most notorious killers, all curated with cold precision in true Dexter fashion.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy: To celebrate the spirit of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS season three, fans are invited to step inside an oversized Starfleet holodeck, a fully immersive sci-fi playground featuring a series of interactive vignettes, each inspired by specific episodes from the upcoming season. Guests can sip cosmic cocktails in the romantic ‘Intergalactic Love Lounge,’ or dive into a campus-inspired environment of the STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY space that features exclusive themed swag. Designed for free exploration, social sharing, and full-throttle fandom, this holodeck journey lets guests experience the series like never before.

The Landman Patch Café: Step into an authentic slice of Midland, Texas and kick back in a faithful recreation of the series’ favorite watering hole. Guests can order up signature drinks at the bar in a M*Tex souvenir mug.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva: Enter a world of espionage, romance, and high-stakes tension with this Parisian café with a twist. Inspired by Tony and Ziva’s journey, this space features a cozy exterior that hints at the quiet life they crave, while inside transports guests to a different world. Step inside a stripped-down safehouse, complete with easter eggs such as surveillance equipment, photos, and passports.

Mission: Impossible – Die-hard fans and first-time agents alike will experience a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity in a recreation of the iconic scene from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996) where Ethan is lowered into a high-security vault. Guests can strike the legendary suspended pose for a personalized image to take home of their unforgettable IMF mission.

You can book sessions here. Admission is free and is based on a reservation system. A standby line is available if there are no reservations.

When: Wednesday, July 23 – Sunday, July 27

*Sessions rolling in 50 min intervals with 10 min breaks in-between

• Wednesday, July 23: 6 pm – 10 pm
• Thursday, July 24: 9 am – 7 pm
• Friday, July 25: 9 am – 7 pm
• Saturday, July 26: 9 am – 7 pm
• Sunday, July 27: 9 am – 7 pm

Where: Happy Does in the Gaslamp District (340 5th Ave, San Diego).

Peacemaker’s Peacefest

Peacemaker Season 2 is headed to HBO Max next month, and the streaming service will be promoting the sophomore installment at San Diego Comic-Con with Peacefest starting on Thursday, July 24. On Saturday from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, James Gunn (showrunner, writer, director) will be at the Hall H panel to talk about the show and debut the global trailer for season two.

It: Welcome to Derry will have pop-ups including Pennywise-inspired pedicabs, ambassadors handing out sweets, and a sneak peek at the upcoming series and a new teaser trailer, presented by Andy and Barbara Muschietti (Saturday, July 26 from 9:15 pm to 9:45 pm at the Convention Center’s Room 6DE).

Peacemaker’s Peacefest Details:

From Thursday, July 24 through Saturday, July 26, HBO Max will bring Peacemaker’s favorite alternate dimension to life with an immersive 80’s glam rock bar experience at Nova San Diego nightclub. Guests will enter Peacefest through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, featuring all of Peacemaker’s favorite things including exclusive fan access to the Peacecycle from Season 2 and a limited opportunity for select fans to meet Peacemaker’s sidekick Eagly, in partnership with the American Eagle Foundation. Throughout the experience, fans can rock out to live musical performances, grab drinks and play themed games at Harcourt’s KO Corner Bar or visit Vigilante’s Hero S*** Merch Shop, where exclusive merchandise from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, DC Shop, licensed partners McFarlane Toys, Sideshow and Upper Deck will be available for purchase. Peacefest will also feature interactive character themed booths like Adebayo’s Hero Test Photo Booth and Economos’ Ops Mortal Kombat gaming station.

Fans can now register at peacefest2025.com to secure their spot at Peacefest. Reservations are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be selected for the Eagly meet-and-greet while waiting for entry to “Peacefest” during their reserved time. All guests must be 21 or older to attend.

Peacefest | Nova SD Club – 454 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA
Thursday, July 24: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Friday, July 25: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Saturday, July 26: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Saturday, July 26: 7:00pm – 10:00pm (VIP Press Night)

On Saturday, July 26, Peacefest will close out with an invite-only VIP press night featuring appearances by the PEACEMAKER cast, executive producers, DC talent, and headlining live musical performances by Foxy Shazam and Steel Panther. Throughout “Peacefest”, a limited number of fans will be randomly selected to attend the VIP press night.

Star Wars + Coca-Cola’s Holocreator

Fandom has partnered with Star Wars and Coca-Cola for the Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy.

Here is what fans can expect to experience: Fans step inside a custom Coca-Cola-themed augmented reality (AR) experience – the Holocreator – to record their very own holographic message with memorable Star Wars-inspired backdrops and bring to life galactic moments in a personalized way.

Attendees will also receive limited-edition Star Wars character design cans and bottles, available at the event while supplies last.

WHEN: Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27

• Thursday, July 24 – Saturday, July 26 from 10:30am – 7pm
• Sunday, July 27 from 11am – 4pm

Star Trek Immersive Show

WHERE: San Diego Comic-Con Convention Center Offsite Activation (333 First Ave, San Diego, 92113)

WHAT: On Saturday, July 26, the Gaslamp Quarter will transform into a living stage, as fans journey through five immersive “strange new worlds” inspired by Season 3 of CBS’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds genre-bending episodes: a noir murder mystery, a zombie horror, a 60s retro mission, a Vulcan wedding, and plenty of sci-fi mayhem. Created by JFI Productions, each 10-minute performance is bold and inspired and offers fans the chance to step into the story.

WHEN: Saturday, July 26, 2025

Between 3:00PM and 4:00PM PST (Interactive Zone at Petco Park)

Between 6:00PM and 8:00PM PST (Outside the Paramount+ Lodge at Happy Does)

Fans can follow @StarTrek social handles to learn about additional performance locations.

WHERE:

· Interactive Zone at Petco Park

o At Park Boulevard & Imperial Avenue, San Diego, California 92113

· Outside the Paramount+ Lodge at Happy Does

o 340 5th Avenue San Diego, CA, 92101

Magic the Gathering’s Spider-Man Activation

Magic the Gathering has partnered with Marvel for Spider-Man cards, and fans can get the chance to try out the different decks at the Magic the Gathering x Spider-Man activation.

The Hard Rock Hotel activation runs through the weekend, offering more chances to dive into the Marvel x Magic universe. Marvel’s Spider-Man | Magic: The Gathering set, is slated for global release on September 26, 2025. Read about our preview night here.

You can check out our San Diego Comic-Con coverage here for the latest news, interviews, and reviews.

The post Every Major Activation at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 You Need to See appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Job classes bring a new twist to Magic

This crossover doesn’t just slap Final Fantasy art onto existing cards—it’s mechanically thoughtful, too. One of the most interesting additions comes in the form of Artifact – Equipment cards. These are weapons that can be played on the battlefield. But here’s where the FF twist comes in: when you drop one of these artifacts, you can also summon a 1/1 Hero creature token.

That Hero isn’t just a vanilla creature—they become the job class associated with the weapon they pick up. Give them a staff card? They’re a White Mage. Play a lance card? They’re a Dragoon. It’s a simple system, but it brings that Final Fantasy flavor to the forefront and gives you a strategic reason to think about what job class will lead you to battle victory.

And when your Hero gets taken out (which they most likely will), the weapon doesn’t disappear. It stays behind on the battlefield, available for another character to wield.

Cloud vs Sephiroth: Choose your playstyle

The Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Starter Kit gives you a choice: Cloud or Sephiroth. These aren’t just cosmetic differences—the two decks are built around very different strategies. Cloud’s deck, I was told, is built to be fast and aggressive, just like Cloud himself. It’s designed to attack early, swing hard, and pressure your opponent before they can fully set up. Think limit breaks and reckless bravery.

Sephiroth’s deck, on the other hand, plays the long game. It’s described as “patient but powerful,” with mechanics that reward timing, control, and overwhelming force once everything’s in place.

In my demo match, I got to summon Cloud himself. What makes him interesting is that if there are multiple weapons already on the field, he can pick up any of them. It’s not just about flavor—it’s a real strategic decision. Equip Cloud with a heavy hitter, and he becomes an immediate threat. Stack his gear smartly, and he can turn into a beast with boosted Power and Toughness. Watching him wield a mix of legendary FF weapons felt like a turn-based fever dream—in the best way. Despite equipping Cloud with a Samurai katana, Sephiroth’s slow and methodical approach eventually killed my Cloud and then me.

If you’re a Final Fantasy fan curious about Magic, this set might be the perfect bridge. And if you’re a Magic veteran who’s always had a soft spot for Midgar, Eorzea, or Spira, there’s a lot to love here, too. Either way, consider me converted—I may have started the demo as a Magic newbie, but I ended up looking forward to my next match (and learning how to win my next game).

The post Hands-On: Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Might Be the Collaboration That Converts Non-Magic Players (Like Me) appeared first on Nerd Reactor.