Magic: The Gathering/Resaurus

Shown at NYTF 99', this Goblin Grenade and Orgg were to have been part of a box set

## Product Information

### Year(s)

1999

While Resaurus had plenty of released and cancelled video game licenses under their belt, they also had plans near the end of the 20th Century to produce a line of action figures based on the game that invented and pioneered the "trading card" genre: *Magic: The Gathering*. However, with another toy company completely buying the rights to the series, things got complicated.

## **Summary**

In 1999, Resaurus announced that they were in the development of manufacturing action figures based on the highly-successful series of trading cards also known as *MTG* and/or simply just *Magic*. Some of the figures for Series 1 were showcased at the New York Toy Fair that year and consisted of the Talruum Minotaur, which would've included the Grinning Totem; the Serra Angel with the Sword of Faith, a mace made of a troll arm with silver ball, and an Orgg with the Hammer of Bogardan and a Goblin Grenade that were to have been part of a box set.  The Orgg was also shown at Ohio Con 1999, though it looks like none of the other *Magic* figures were "Gathered" for the event.  Resaurus already got to work on a Series 2 before the first figures were even approved, though they were never shown at any toy convention. Confidential photos of them have popped up on a forum board in Hisstank and the line up for Wave II would've included Dakkon Backblade, the Soldevi Golem, who was to be accompanied by rats with two disabilities: one having metal, robotic legs and the other having wooden cart wheels for its hind legs; Juzam Djinn, the Cateran Overlord, and Crovak the Ascendant Evincar. No shots can be found for the latter prototype, though it was intended to be released as a mail give-away and artwork of it appeared on the back of some book inserts around the late 1990's.

With such a unique toyline full of intricate action figures and based on a franchise running for more than six years at this point, Resaurus' *Magic: The Gathering* series was sure to be a hit; especially with fans of the game's classic years. Though unfortunately, by the time Resaurus nailed down the prototypes for each figure they planned on releasing, Wizards of the Coast was bought out by Hasbro and consequentially kicked off a tidal wave of behind-the-scenes drama as technically, a smaller toy company is now being commissioned into producing several products for a company of a much higher rank than them. For a while, online rumours went around circulating about the future of Resaurus’ *Magic* line as they did not issue any statement on the matter at hand. To add even more fuel to the fire, Action-Figure.com reported their receipt from an email sent by a WotC employee stating that the internal perception is that the ReSaurus deal is dead and was brought back by Hasbro under their umbrella; thus revoking their license in December. Resaurus said they would "look into the matter," but come February 2000's Toy Fair and their promised Series 1 [nor 2] of *Magic: The Gathering* action figures were nowhere to be seen; meaning they lost the license indefinitely as Hasbro now owned the rights to make action figures off "their" franchise (that one would be cancelled too and is the subject of another article).

## **Final Verdict**

While a very obscure case nowadays, the quick demise of Resaurus' *Magic: The Gathering* franchise was seen as a huge blow to the guts of toy collectors and fans of the trading card series at the time. But more importantly, its a very unfortunate story of a small independent toy company with big dreams and ambitions that gets dusted in the wind by a conglomerate much higher up on the economical ladder. Funko would release some *Magic: The Gathering* action figures as part of their Legacy line in 2014, though those were mainly based on the new series and even with the "Classic-inspired" POP! figures they also released; along with those based on current characters, they'll never hold a candle to the figures that Resaurus could've and should've released. With the company going bankrupt in 2001, its unknown if any of the Series 1 or 2 prototypes are owned by any ex-employees or destroyed, and until further notice, will remain: **LOST**.

## **Gallery**

Another shot of the Goblin at NYTF 99', along with the Grinning Totem.A full body shot of the Talruum Minotaur prototypeAn advertisement for the Resaurus MTG action figures from the Comic Shop Locator Service that features the only known full-body shot of the Serra Angel prototypeThe Soldevi Golem prototype with the disabled rat accessories he would've come withThe Dakkon Backblade prototypeThe Juzam Djinn prototypeThe Cateran Overlord prototype

## **External Link**

* Raving Toy Maniac. (Last updated 2000, February 3). *ReSaurus' Magic: The Gathering DOA?*
* Hisstank.com (Originated 2011, September 7). *Magic the Gathering ?*. Online thread.

## **References**

1. ↑ http://www.toymania.com/news/toyfair99/resaurus/index.shtml
2. ↑ http://www.toymania.com/news/midohiocon99/resaurusmain.shtml