Right now we are in the middle of two Magic: The Gathering releases. The vaults opened for Commander and Fallout fans on March 8, and we’re eagerly anticipating what we’ll see when previews begin for Outlaws of Thunder Junction on March 26! While we wait for Thunder Junction’s set debut, I wanted to take a moment for all of us to think about and appreciate all of the amazing and unique art that we’ve seen for more than 30 years. This art has taken us on new journeys with friends, provided great backdrops in our homes, and even stunning tattoos that so many of us proudly wear.
I don’t know about y’all, but I love tattoos. Currently, I have fourteen, and I’m already itching to get my next one. Why? Well something, something, depression, something, something, pretty art. Regardless, out of those fourteen tattoos, only one of them is a Magic tattoo, and I’ve been thinking about getting another one. This then begs the question: what do I get?
Disclaimer: If you don’t know what my tattoos look like, I feel like my selections are pretty telling about my preferred tattoo style/aesthetic. Art is subjective, so if you don’t vibe with my choices, that is totally chill!
Shriekmaw
When I first started looking at getting a Magic tattoo, Shriekmaw was one of my first considerations. Full disclosure: I do not play this card. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever played this card, however, I remember falling in love with the art the moment I found it in a bulk bin. There is something so incredibly beautiful about Steve Prescott’s Elemental. The mixture of bird, butterfly, and salamander feels so striking to me. If I were to get this tattooed on me, I’d definitely have it be a full sleeve. It deserves to be the main event.
Bone Splinters (Jeremy Wilson, Dominaria United)
I am begging Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to have Jeremy Wilson do more Magic art, because all I can say is wow. Every single piece he has done has struck me greatly, from Jaya’s Firenado to Insidious Roots. However, my absolute favorite has to be Bone Splinters from Dominaria United. The use of negative space would translate beautifully into a tattoo. I absolutely love the choice of color and jagged shapes. All of my tattoos are black and gray, however, this is one of the few pieces on my list that would sway me on that aesthetic choice. Due to the sheer scope of the art, I also see this as being a stunning sleeve.
Demonic Bargain
The moment Sam Guay stepped into the Magic scene, I was hooked on her style. It has the perfect balance of delicate colors, beautiful gestures, and intricate detailing. It took everything in my power not to cop out and choose every one of Sam’s pieces for this section because I would be happy with any and all of them. I love her take on Impulse, the deep purples of Lethal Exploit and Macabre Reconstruction, and the geometry of Annex Sentry. All of her pieces just hit differently.
The one that narrowly beat her other works, however, was Demonic Bargain. It has everything I love in a tattoo: the perfect balance of beauty and horror. In my section on Bone Splinters, I stated how it would be one of the few pieces on this list to change my mind on color tattoos. Well, Demonic Bargain is the only other piece that would drive me to get color. I could see this being an incredibly striking back piece… I don’t know if I’m brave enough for that, though.
Mindslaver (Volkan Baga, Scars of Mirrodin)
In my first year of Magic, I remember stumbling upon Volkan Baga’s Mindslaver in my partner’s trade binder. I don’t use the word masterpiece often, but for Mindslaver? Absolutely. This piece screams H.R. Giger, which is probably why I find it so stunning. The shapes used in this piece is eye-catching, and you can just feel the helplessness of the subject through the card. I genuinely can’t find a single thing I dislike about this art. Baga perfectly captures the balance between horror and beauty in Mindslaver.
Regarding placement, I can see this being a gnarly calf piece. Word to the wise: calf tattoos are insanely painful. In fact, out of all fourteen I have, the calf was the worst. If I wasn’t so chicken to get that spot tatted again, Mindslaver would be the piece to go on my other leg.
Death’s Shadow (Matt Stikker, Secret Lair Prize)
Let’s talk about another card I have never played as a Commander creator. It’s Death’s Shadow, specifically Matt Stikker’s rendition of this Modern (????) titan. All I can say is holy sh*t. This is the gnarliest of the gnarliest works of art I’ve seen in a while. In fact, it reminds me a little of my Thing tattoo (which is probably why I love it so much).
This art would absolutely shine as a black and gray tattoo. It is so detailed and so intricate that this would definitely take multiple sessions to complete, but with how stunning it is, it would be worth it. Regarding placement (also, I’m not a tattoo artist, so this is just my layman’s instinct), I could see this being an insane back piece, featuring the entire card art, or as a top of the thigh piece, featuring the Avatar only. Either way, this is high on my list. In fact, I like this art so much, I bought the card just to frame it in my house.
Parasitic Grasp
I think by now you’re starting to sense a theme in my tattoo taste. I feel like Mulder when he asks Scully, “Do you think I’m spooky?”
It’s me. I’m spooky.
Speaking of spooky, we have Parasitic Grasp. When I look at this art, all I can think of is, “Hey, that looks how my migraines feel!” Jokes aside, I absolutely love the soft strokes in Rovina Cai’s work. Being able to balance dark colors and themes with the softness of what appears to be watercolor is incredibly impressive to me. Tendrils of Agony was a close runner-up, but ultimately I like how jagged and emotional Parasitic Grasp feels to me. Imagine this art on your outer bicep, with the white figure being negative space/skin instead. Ugh, I love it!
Gilder Bairn
Everyone needs at least one ‘funky little guy’ tattoo. I don’t have one yet, but if I were to get one, Gilder Bairn would be my funky little guy. On my life, I get cuteness aggression when I look at him. Why does he look like that?! Nils Hamm does such beautiful, detailed work, and yet I chose the weird fella card. What can I say? I’m a simple person. Since I think Gilder Bairn falls into the funky little guy genre of tattoos, for me, I would go simple with it. No color, no shading, no detail. Linework only. I don’t know why, but he looks like he belongs on my ankle.
Grist, the Hunger Tide (Sketch Variant)
Next up, we have one of the few cards that I think looks better in its sketch variant. Grist, the Hunger Tide is perfect in my opinion. The sketch variant looks so raw and visceral. It reminds me of the art featured briefly in Thirteen Ghosts (2001) or something out of Silent Hill.
Now, this isn’t me saying that the regular version of the art is bad. On the contrary, I love it so much that at one point I built a deck around it for the art alone. What can I say? I love horror. However, the sketch variant features some details (or lack thereof) that strike me more. The lack of eyes; the agape, jagged mouth; and viscera on the neck and hands are weirdly beautiful to me. Due to the lack of detail in this (it is a sketch, after all), I think this is one of the few pieces on this list to be a smaller tattoo featured on the inside of the forearm.
Murktide Regent (Rowynn Ellis, Secret Lair Prize)
Are you surprised that a $3000 Secret Lair card made my list? I didn’t think so. When I saw the art for this Murktide Regent previewed, I immediately became thankful that it would be a bad card for my Secret Lair Sisay deck. Buying that Ragavan was enough for me, thanks.
In fact, artist Rowynn Ellis has knocked my socks off more than once. Their Secret Lair very nearly made this list, specifically their take on Felidar Guardian. This Murktide Regent looks like it belongs on the side of a van, which means it fits my tastes to a T. The detail in this card is truly masterful, and I know getting it tatted would be a nightmare… but so worth it. I think this would be cool to see this start on the top of the thigh and wrap around to the back. And while I am not a fan of color tattoos, this one for sure would be an exception for me.
Shadowborn Apostle (Diego Andrade, Secret Lair #682)
Lastly, we have the special Secret Lair insert of Shadowborn Apostle, specifically the version done by Diego Andrade. I love how unique their version of the card is amongst the other Secret Lair versions. It looks like it would be at home on a tarot card or a metal band poster. The Grim Reaper-esque figure is so incredibly detailed. It’s haunting but delicate. Personally, I think the eyeballs are the perfect final touch. Due to the position and shape of the figure in the card, I truly see this art fitting practically anywhere on your body. Bicep, forearm, back, calf, you name it. It has so much potential that it has me questioning if I should text my tattoo artist to prepare for my next appointment.
Inkshield, Anyone?
I’ve said it a million times, and I will say it again here. Art makes Magic: The Gathering. Without it, the scope of the game would be incredibly different. The art breathes a certain special magic (hehe) into Magic, and this has never been lost on the players. At every event I go to, I see hundreds of players covered in ink from their favorite game and I love it. You must truly be passionate about something to have it permanently put on your body (which makes me wonder why one of the workers at my LGS has a gummy bear Bart Simpson tattoo).
Seeing art be translated in such a way is incredibly beautiful, and I hope to add another Magic tattoo to the canvas that is my flesh. What did you think of my list? Would you get any of them tatted on you? Do you have any Magic tattoos? Please let me know.
Happy inking, deckbuilders.
