Hurricane - MTG 4E

 

I never liked this card. It damages me as well as the other players. Unless I'm playing a blue player who relies on flying creatures. Then yeah, jam it in and bring those suckers down!

Hurloon Minotaur - MTG 4E

See, that's the kind of hymnody I don't want to deal with!

[Art] The Summer Maiden

 

This completes the Maidens of the Year cycle. Maiden of Spring, now The Summer Maiden, then the Lady of the Fall and finally The Maiden of Christmas Solstice.

I like that the sunlight is that syrupy gold that just whispers of drowsy sleepiness as the insects drone in the background. It is so quiet you can hear the butterflies as they flap their wings. August is always the height of summer here. Hot, humid, sunny. Makes you want to sit on a porch swing and just look out over the landscape while your brain slumbers. 

Hurkyl's Recall - MTG 4E

 

Drafna, that dawg. Somebody should punch him in the head for stealing his own wife's work. And then give him another punch in the head for hitting on his own student. Shame on Drafna!

Howling Mine - MTG 4E

 

In Magic, drawing extra cards is one of the top things you want to do. Card Draw is King, you might say. So a card like this is fantastic.

EXCEPT

It also gives your opponent card draw. Which is bad, very bad. As I found out every time I tried to play this card. I always got the short end of the Card Draw stick when I played this, so I ended up giving up on it. Even when I coupled it with Black Vise and jammed in 4 Howling Mines and 4 Black Vises, I lost every time. Looking back, I think it was because I wasn't a very good player ;-)

Howl from Beyond - MTG 4E

 

That is one ugly monster. Glad he's not related to me! It is also cards looking like this that kept me from playing black back in the day. If my parents had seen this, they probably would have been like "Nuh uh, you're not playing THAT game any more". I knew this, so I just avoided the whole issue. Who says teens are dumb? 

Holy Strength - MTG 4E

 

Unlike last week's "Holy Armor", this actually looks "holy" to me. I can practically hear the angelic choirs singing in the background.

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee,
Who was and is and evermore shall be.

3. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

There you go, your weekly dose of hymnary. Bet you didn't expect that :-D

Holy Armor - MTG 4E

 

I don't know, that doesn't really scream "HOLY" to me, not at all. The horns, that's what doesn't really work for me on this picture, as well as the face. 

Hill Giant - MTG 4E

 

I think he's wearing trousers. I HOPE he's wearing trousers! We'll have NO kilt-clad Hill Giants on this blog...

Helm of Chatzuk - MTG 4E

 

You think that mug is ugly looking? Wait until you read the rules for Banding!

Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. Bands are blocked as a group. If any creatures with banding a player controls are blocking or being blocked by a creature, that player divides that creature’s combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it’s being blocked by or is blocking.

Wow, that is some seriously ugly wording. And that is why Banding fell out of favor, and for good reason I might say.

Healing Salve - MTG 4E

 

It's amazing to me how just having armless hands and that funky red background gives this whole picture a djinni, arabian nights vibe. 

Grizzly Bear - MTG 4E

 

OR....

...........you can knock your friend down and hope the bear eats him instead! Worth a shot, right? 

Green Ward - MTG 4E

 

I never used the wards very much because they only affected one creature and I was always about getting as many creatures out onto the field as I could. I think they would be much more effective now in the Commander variant, giving your commander protection from whatever threats you faced across the table.

Green Mana Battery - MTG 4E

 

This doesn't look like ANY sort of battery, but it looks wicked cool. That was enough for me back in '95 anyway :-D

Greed - MTG 4E

 

Hurray, another funny Foglio piece of art! And this time I actually like it :-D

Gray Ogre - MTG 4E

 

Thank goodness that club is strategically placed. Some things I simply do not want to see.

Grapeshot Catapult - MTG 4E

 

Goblin Rock Sled - MTG 4E

 

[Art] The Darknesses Cry Goodbye

 

“My breaking heart and I agree, that you and I could never be, so with my best... my very best, I set you free” ― Rachel Yamagata

The pain will fade and I know that, but right now, it hurts. Just like back then. I hate having a heart. And this time, I will not keep it to myself. While I might not be telling everyone I know, in essence I am telling the world. 

Goblin King - MTG 4E

 

He's no David Bowie, that's for sure!