5 Best Magic Bloopers

by | posted at 2009-12-17 01:09:00
tagged:

For many a pro player, Magic card art is "the thing above the important parts." For the rest of the community, the Minotaurs, Planeswalkers, Jittes, landscapes, fiery bolts, gigantic swords, mythic beasts, partridge and a pear trees are what drew us to the Magic: The Gathering brand, what help us feel connected to it, and provide the "Ooh" and "Aah" factor that keeps us coming back. Here today, from TheStarkingtonPost.com, are the Top 5 Magic card illustration bloopers. (And while some pros may argue they don't care about art, see how they feel about Drew Tucker drawing all their planeswalkers...) 5. Hyalopterous Lemure [caption id="attachment_1633" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] There was a dark age in Magic's history when rules language hadn't quite been hammered out, when Magic's future was unknown, indeed when the very story of what TCGs were and would be was still being written, and when the Magic art department wasn't the well oiled machine it is today. When the Ice Age art assignments went out, Richard Thomas was awarded the noble Hyalopterous Lemure. The ole' Lemure never saw much competitive play (okay, let's be honest, in a set with Dark Ritual, Demonic Consultation, and Necropotence as "other" black cards, it never saw ANY competitive play), but the blooper is not just in the art but combined with the name: "Hyalopterous Lemure." For those without an English degree: Lemur: A small furry beast that's utterly adorable and looks like this. Lemure: A mythological ghost/phantasm/spirit like thingy usually risen from the dead and which would presumably look nothing like the aforementioned lemur. It seems clear what happened. Richard Thomas got the email for a "Hyalopterous Lemure" and thought "Well, I don't get it, but if they want a spooky lemur, that's what I'll give 'em!" And today? We have a hilarious footnote on an otherwise meaningless card. 4. Cuombajj Witches [caption id="attachment_1634" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] There was a time when Cuombajj Witches were a reasonable inclusion in an Extended deck, back when the world was getting its beat on with 2/1 Knights that could pump themselves or gain first strike. But like any good art blooper, there's something a little off about the image. What's that? Can't quite put your finger on it? Here, let us give you a hand: [caption id="attachment_1635" align="aligncenter" width="77" caption=""][/caption] For some reason, Kaja Foglio drew the white witch's left hand with six fingers while the other visible hand has five. You can check out Kaja's work (her husband Phil was a Magic artist too!) at http://www.studiofoglio.com/. 3. Suntail Hawk [caption id="attachment_1636" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] There are plenty of 1/1 flyers costed at a single mana, but Suntail Hawk is the only one with an easter egg hidden in its art. Who knows what Heather Hudson was planning when she was given the art assignment, but her lovely raptor set against a gorgeous sky definitely has a leg up on the competition: [caption id="attachment_1637" align="aligncenter" width="71" caption=""][/caption] The world will always wonder why Suntail Hawk has one more limb than its avian brethren, but TheStarkingtonPost.com has surmised it probably harbors in New York. After all, it's a lot easier to flip somebody the bird when you've got an extra hand to do it with. For more of artist Heather Hudson, visit her official website. 2. Ekundu Cyclops [caption id="attachment_1642" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] One has to imagine if you were casting the life story of artist Robert Bliss, it would look like the beginning of the life of Jonah Hill's character from the movie "Superbad": tons of drawings of one very specific part of the male body. Don't believe us? Take a close look at Ekundu Cyclops. See the tell-tale shape of the perch the female character is sitting on in the background? How about the uncanny positioning of the two moons in the background? For further research on the matter, check out all the Magic cards Robert Bliss has ever illustrated. 1. Uktabi Orangutan [caption id="attachment_1638" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] We saved the best for last, an art blooper so famous it earned the card its own nickname and was later lampooned in the Unhinged set. So what's the deal with the Orangutan? At first glance there isn't anything wild or crazy going on, but take a closer look at the background and you'll see this: [caption id="attachment_1639" align="aligncenter" width="79" caption=""][/caption] The Orangutan came on to the scene just as the world was beginning to comprehend what card advantage was and just before Cursed Scroll began terrorizing Standard and Extended. That meant it saw plenty of play during the Mirage/Tempest eras, enough for players to recognize the two chimps in the back getting hot and heavy and to bestow it with the loving nickname "Sex Monkey." So famous was the blooper, Una Fricker was brought on to pen a spoof of the thing for Unhinged, Uktabi Kong. [caption id="attachment_1640" align="aligncenter" width="215" caption="Image copyright Wizards of the Coast"][/caption] Those are the five most famous Magic card illustration bloopers of all time. Don't agree? Share your opinions on our five and tell us which ones you think we missed in the forum link below!

Follow us @starkpo.

Email the author.

Become a fan.