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Hello, all, this is my first column at MDV, and I'm proud of it! Due to my low budget and rather small amount of cards, instead of some sort of card review or quirky deck column, I decided to do one on the art of MTG! The art is, well, amazing, and I'm an aspiring artist myself, so I can take tips from it, and critique it!
Also, I will not be taking into account the effects or mana cost or any kind of gameplay elements in the review. I will relate the name to the artwork, though. There isn't going to be a set review system or anything, I shall just say what I like and dislike about the art. So exactly what cards will I review? Well, I'm going to take a set, and then break it down, reviewing Black Commons one day, then White Commons, Red, Green, Blue, then Gold, and then Artifact, and I shall then move on to the uncommons, and then the rares. This column will be daily, and since there's seven types of
cards, there will almost always be a common/uncommon/rare cycle per week!
Snazzy, eh? [EDITOR'S NOTE: Daily... or as often as
I can post them. *grin* ...and Runeblade can write them...] Now that I've explained myself, and how this column will
work, let's move right on, to the first review!
Ah, yes, good card. Well, on to the art. The guy standing behind the creature getting "Last Gasped" is very cool, I love the detail on his suit and the light blueish-gray skin. The skin looks sort of stretched, I guess, makes him look evil. And those gauntlets are awesome. The creature below looks like it's, well, taking it's Last Gasp. It looks a bit odd, to my eyes, though. It seems like the skin is too stretched, and the perspective on just that person isn't quite right. The general perspective is very well done, and the pillars next to the upper person look great. The background is okay, not too stylish. It would have looked better with a moon, I think. The piece is just a tad bit muddled, though although the focal point being on the upper guy helps.
The background is nice, until you run into the mural of the other house guards near the bottom. I think it would have looked better had it not had that, and the temple the House Guard is in had been a tad darker. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Given the Chinese versions of Magic cards are not aloud to show human skeletons, I wonder what this art looks like on the Chinese version of the card. Anyone have any links to it? If you do, please post the card art in the forums. I will appreciate it.]
Me likey. The 'pede itself looks fantastic, lots of detail, insect-like markings, and I especially like the head. All those claws give you the insect-like feeling, and they look lethal to boot. The background has that evil-abandoned-weird-lighting-temple (yes, odd hyphenating will occur multiple times) feel to it, and that's good. The people in the pic kind of ruin the sort of mood where the 'pede is just crawling out of this hole to go hunt. However, it also gives the mood of desperation, but I feel like the people are too obscure for that. And it does match the flavor text. Nice, overall, though.
Largely cool. The undead thing coming off of the strings is very nice, and detailed, although the pot belly takes away from it, I think. The red gum showing on the mouth (Or blood, can't tell) is very nice, gives you that creepy undead feeling. The strands themselves are nice, and the placement of the undead thing is just right. Again, my gripe is with the background. The face on the wall is a little... Odd. I don't think it belongs, it looks a bit too ridiculous. Otherwise, great piece. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on the symbol on the stretched undead thing's chest, it could be an Orzhov minion which would explain the ornate background. If you look at the flavor text of Cyclopean Snare, I think you will understand what I mean...]
We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen. And it's Roofstalker Wight. This thing is SOOO cool. The lighting is completely well done, with the evil blue storm-thing rushing in from the background. The shading is great as it really defines and darkens the Wight, making him look cooler than he already was. The rooftop that the Wight is on is a minor thing, but it gives the picture some grounding, so the Wight has a place to stand (or sit) on. The detail on the Wight is fantastic, I love the runic markings. The spiked arm is a little odd, but it's kinda cool. The ripples on the cape are great. I also like how the cape looks sort of 'sharp' in places, like a Vampire Cape or something. It looks sinister, evil, and it's totally cool to boot! Great job on this piece, Wizards! And that concludes today's column. I know, you're sad, but we'll get to White Commons tomorrow! Until next time, may your decks win 2 times out of 2!
Thanks a bunch! You can discuss this article in the MDV forums here. Most Popular
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Of course, there is a disclaimer for this article I think
you should know: This is my opinion, and thus it should be treated as such. This
means no hate mail about my opinion being wrong or anything. I fully expect many
people to disagree according to taste, but please don't hate me for it. If
you don't agree with something, be sure to post about it in the forums. 
5.
Last Gasp 
4.
Dimir House Guard 
3.
Mortipede 
2.
Strands of Undeath 
1.
Roofstalker Wight