Earlier this week, MTG players noticed a rather shocking detail regarding some of the new artwork coming in Wizards of the Coast’s Secret Lair Superdrop. While most of the drop seemed inconspicuous enough, even offering some insane but sparse financial value with key reprints, some rather controversial artwork stole the spotlight for the Secret Lair promotion. Just a few days after this unsuspecting anaconda was discovered as a part of the Ssssssnakessssss’ Secret Lair drop, MTG’s official Secret Lair Twitter showcased a new artwork with the offender nowhere to be seen. MTG players are complaining in droves.
Stonecoil ‘Serpent’
Earlier this week, a surprisingly not-safe-for-work detail was discovered on the artwork for the MTG card Stonecoil Serpent. Impaled upon a spike in the background was a seemingly innocent but very unfortunate male human-like figure. Surprisingly, upon revealing further details, it turns out the genitals of this individual was on display for the viewer to see.
Contrary to what some may assume, this received a relatively warm welcome from some of the MTG community. You can read more about that and a very brief look at MTG’s history of risqué artwork here.
While it was not clear if this feature was intended upon releasing the Secret Lair for preorders, it looks like, according to the changes made to this artwork, that it was indeed a mistake:
“The initial image for Stonecoil Serpent in the Ssssssnakessssss’ drop had an error that is not reflective of the final product. This has been updated on our website to correct this. Customers who purchased the drop will be notified directly as well.”
As seen in the new artwork featured on the official Secret Lair Twitter, the man that was previously impaled, showing off his junk to the world, has seamlessly disappeared. If not made clear by the legion of Twitter replies that read “put him back”, a majority of the MTG community is outraged that the unfortunate man has disappeared:
“I DID want to buy this drop. Now. Not so much.”
@whiffypenguin
“Censorship has gone too far.”
@ObiMagic
“I am sick of pop media shunning nudity while actively displaying ghouls and monsters eating dead flesh, ripping bodies apart, and other gruesome imagery. As a society, we have demonized our reproductive organs, and paved the way for religious zealots to control everything.”
@TandyMTG
Unfortunately, aside from the controversial little guy, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people drawn to this particular Secret Lair. As outlined in our previous discussion regarding the financial of this Secret Lair Superdrop, the Ssssssnakessssss’ Secret Lair is not reprinting the most valuable cards in the world. As a result, there are a lot of players that have even stated that this controversial artwork was the only reason they were even considering the Secret Lair:
“I DID want to buy this drop. Now. Not so much.”
@whiffypenguin
“Actually the only reason why I was interested in the drop. Oh well”
@Dexelele
Modern Standards Failed
Looking at Wizards of the Coast’s recent track record, this decision may not be too surprising. As a part of the release of the 30th Anniversary Edition, an incredibly controversial reprint of the Beta set, Wizards of the Coast announced that some cards would not be reprinted with the set because they no longer meet the company’s ‘modern standards.’ Included among these is the card Earthbind, a card that many in the MTG community assume was “too sexy” to be reprinted into the modern age. This removal from the new set even created an unexpected price spike for the card as players speculated that this artwork would never again see an MTG printing. Like this decision now, Earthbind’s sudden disappearance also caused a round of controversy amongst the community.
“Put Him Back!”
The replies of criticism seem endless. Even Tolarian Community College, one of MTG’s most prominent content creators ever, threw his hat in the ring, simply tweeting “#releasethedongcut.” Even with all this criticism, some concerned players are happy to see the removal of controversial artistic choice:
“I’m so glad honestly, I was worried for a minute there”
DeathbyMTG
“THANK YOU WIZARDS”
caioo08
While a few are happy to see the nudity gone, this seems to be a tiny portion of the vocal community on Twitter. Considering how much outrage this decision has received in the first few hours of it being made public, it will be interesting to see if anything further develops.
