Liliana Vess Returns — Torunn Grønnekk’s Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories--Liliana #1 Is a Dark Hunt

Liliana Vess has bargained with four demons for her power, and now she wants her soul back. Torunn Grønnekk and Nataliia Rerekina launch a new four-issue series following the necromancer’s dangerous journey to Innistrad to hunt Griselbrand. A gothic tale of vengeance and dark magic from the world of Magic: The Gathering.

There is a specific kind of gravity that Liliana Vess carries with her, even before she steps foot on the page. She is the multiverse’s most formidable necromancer, a figure defined as much by what she has lost as by what she commands. For those who have never dipped into the world of Magic: The Gathering, this debut invites you into a story where magic is a transaction and power always comes with a receipt. It is a fresh entry point that feels both expansive and deeply personal.

The premise is elegantly cruel. Liliana’s mastery over death was not a gift; it was a purchase. To gain her strength, she signed away pieces of her soul to four distinct and terrifying demons: Kothophed, Razaketh, Belzenlok, and Griselbrand. Now, driven by a desire to reclaim her freedom, she is tracking Griselbrand to Innistrad. This plane is described as a place choked with corruption, chaos, and suffering, making it the perfect hunting ground for someone who knows how to navigate the dark.

What makes this debut so compelling is the creative team behind it. Writer Torunn Grønnekk brings a sharp, mythic sensibility to the material, having previously explored complex female power dynamics in titles like Jane Foster: Valkyrie and Catwoman. She pairs that narrative drive with artist Nataliia Rerekina, whose work on The Witcher proves she can handle gothic horror and gritty fantasy with equal ease. The visual tone here is likely to be haunting, with every panel feeling weighted by the stakes of the pact etched into Liliana’s skin.

If you enjoy stories where the protagonist is fighting against their own nature while battling external monsters, this series checks all the boxes. It’s a four-issue run, which means the narrative arc is tight and focused. You’re getting a complete journey rather than an open-ended saga, which gives the story a satisfying momentum from the very first page.

This is the one I’d hand you if you’ve been curious about Magic: The Gathering but didn’t know where to start. The lore here is rich, but the emotional core is entirely accessible. Keep an eye on the variant covers, too; with a debut like this, the primary art by Rerekina tends to sell out quickly, so those alternate versions might be the way to go if you want a piece of the art that lingers.