Sisay

Sisay was released in 1997 as part of the Vanguard Series, a promotional expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Unlike traditional sets, these oversized cards were designed to represent legendary characters who served as 'avatars' for players, significantly altering starting hand sizes and life totals to introduce a new layer of strategic variety to casual play. The cards were distributed primarily through specialized starter decks and tournament events, marking an experimental period for Wizards of the Coast as they sought to broaden the narrative reach of the game's core setting.

The character Sisay, later known as Captain Sisay, was illustrated by Kaja Foglio, a frequent contributor to the game during its early years. Foglio’s artistic style, characterized by a whimsical, storybook-influenced aesthetic, helped define the visual identity of the Weatherlight Saga, the expansive multi-year storyline that dominated Magic's lore in the late 1990s. While the Vanguard mechanic itself saw limited long-term adoption in competitive spheres, the card remains a notable piece of late-nineties hobby history, reflecting the publisher's push toward character-driven gameplay and the enduring influence of the Foglios' illustrative work on the brand.