Mystic Arcana - Format

Format

Each individual issue of "Mystic Arcana" contains a 22-page main story, and a 10-page back-up story. The main stories in each revolve around the introduction of one of four different groups of "mystical implements" (which Beard describes as "pillars of the Universe" and David Sexton calls "The Cornerstones of Creation"). The back-up stories focus on the quest of Ian McNee, one time Dr. Strange adversary, to collect one implement from each of The Cornerstones of Creation.

Each individual issue of the Mystic Arcana series corresponds to one of the four classical Greek elements and features a different Marvel character. Additionally, David Sexton explains,"the series is called Mystic Arcana...because the Minor Arcana of the Tarot will serve as the unifying element to the stories." Sexton cites the character Magik as the representative of the Tarot minor arcana suit of swords, Black Knight for the suit of pentacles, Scarlet Witch for the suit of cups, and Nico Minoru for the suit of wands. Information on the focus of each issue and their different creative teams is as follows:

• Mystic Arcana Book I: Air (focusing on Illyana Rasputin/Magik). Author: Louise Simonson. Pencils: Steve Scott.
• Mystic Arcana Book II: Earth (focusing on Sir Percy of Scandia, the Black Knight). Author: Roy Thomas (with plotting assist by Jean-Marc Lofficier). Pencils: Tom Grummett & Scott Hanna.
• Mystic Arcana Book III: Water (focusing on Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch). Author: Jeff Parker. Pencils: Juan Santacruz.
• Mystic Arcana Book IV: Fire (focusing on Nico Minoru/Sister Grimm) Author: C. B. Cebulski. Pencils: Phil Noto.

A fifth book, The Marvel Tarot, which is related to but separate from the four issue series, focuses on Ian McNee with various Marvel archetypal characters appearing on Tarot Cards. The Marvel Tarot was written and illustrated by David Sexton with Doug Sexton and Jeff Christiansen.