Grim Flayer. He's an axe-wielding dude in the forest with graveyard related abilities, and the gloves he's holding are probably the ones seen on Grotesque Mutation. The guy on Ironwright's Cleansing also has some white gloves on, though it doesn't look like the same ones. Do we know anything else about Flayer from stories or articles? Has anyone connected the dots on those gloves? They are so prominent in Flayer's artwork that they must be trying to tell a story here.
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I highly doubt there is only one pair of gloves on Innistrad.
Oh, very clever. Of course, but why would they portray Grim Flayer as holding a pair of white gloves? It makes absolutely no sense unless they are trying to imply whose gloves those used to be, and what happened to their owner.
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I highly doubt there is only one pair of gloves on Innistrad.
Oh, very clever. Of course, but why would they portray Grim Flayer as holding a pair of white gloves? It makes absolutely no sense unless they are trying to imply whose gloves those used to be, and what happened to their owner.
The white gloves are "fresh". Look at his coat. It's made of gloves, but all of them older and thus grey-brown due to the dirt and blood accumulating on them. The white just indicates they're new to make you aware that he literally just killed a human/vampire. The body is very possibly laying offscreen just below him. There's no more to it. It's just to show him "caught in the act" so to say. If they had the same colour as the others, it would just look like he returned from a shopping spree.
I highly doubt there is only one pair of gloves on Innistrad.
Oh, very clever. Of course, but why would they portray Grim Flayer as holding a pair of white gloves? It makes absolutely no sense unless they are trying to imply whose gloves those used to be, and what happened to their owner.
The white gloves are "fresh". Look at his coat. It's made of gloves, but all of them older and thus grey-brown due to the dirt and blood accumulating on them. The white just indicates they're new to make you aware that he literally just killed a human/vampire. The body is very possibly laying offscreen just below him. There's no more to it. It's just to show him "caught in the act" so to say. If they had the same colour as the others, it would just look like he returned from a shopping spree.
That's it. I didn't see his coat. They're just using it to portray him as a veteran vampire/corrupted human hunter. Thanks.
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My thought process was that the Grim Flayer was the progression of Deranged Outcast from the last time we were here, having picked up a Murderer's Axe in a recent escapade.
But that's probably just my love of "Where are they now?"
Grim Flayer. He's an axe-wielding dude in the forest with graveyard related abilities, and the gloves he's holding are probably the ones seen on Grotesque Mutation. The guy on Ironwright's Cleansing also has some white gloves on, though it doesn't look like the same ones. Do we know anything else about Flayer from stories or articles? Has anyone connected the dots on those gloves? They are so prominent in Flayer's artwork that they must be trying to tell a story here.
I think it's funny you think that those are gloves.
Search the definition for flay.
I first read this and was disgusted and amused at the same time. I'm not sure if the laughter was because of how clever this was or how disturbing the sudden revelation was. Props to you.
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I am, however, almost sure that the cloak is meant to be NOT made from *gloves*.
Thanks for the larger image. I do find it odd that, for all the madness in Innistrad, this guy somehow is merely collecting gloves. As for your statement that those cloak of his could be made of something other than gloves, I personally would beg to differ for one reason: The finger ends of the gloves are smooth; certainly it is rather unlikely, even with Emrakul's mutations considered, that Innistrad people start having hands without fingernails, no? And let's not think about how difficult it is to carefully skin those fingers, especially not when you're not in the right state of mind....
Makes me wonder why this guy only collects gloves.... maybe in his madness, he thinks gloves are hands and thus keep them as, well, trophies?
While calling him Grim Flayer and having those not being hands is very odd skinning hands while keeping the fingers in fact is nearly impossible and as Magac pointed out the fingertips are more broadly rounded like gloves and without nails. When the card was first spoiled it seemed like I was the only person who thought they weren't gloves. But now, seeing the larger art outside of the card it's pretty clear that they're gloves. Which is sad because it should have been skin.
Did Magic actually have art in recent history as graphic as flayed humans? Entrails, sure. Dismembered limbs, yeah. But something as gruesome as skinned humans? Maybe they just wanted to avoid being too graphic with their art?
Did Magic actually have art in recent history as graphic as flayed humans? Entrails, sure. Dismembered limbs, yeah. But something as gruesome as skinned humans? Maybe they just wanted to avoid being too graphic with their art?
I don't exactly call this "recent history", but Sudden Death is quite close to skinned humans as far as I can think of.
But yeah, your sentiment, which implies a somewhat odd case of selective brutality, is somewhat understandable considering what manners of nasty things can happen to dudes in Magic arts... let's see, bisecting (Infinite Obliteration is semi-PG due to lack of gore, Utter End is too zoomed in), melting (Bile Blight FNM version and Mutilate latest version), burned to the bones (Flamebreak).... but no skinning (Sudden Death example is a bit distorted), no fresh de-limb-ing (much less decapitation; Innistrad's Fling chops off a devil's head), no sepukku etc.
But okay, I think I'm giving tooooo much bad ideas
To flay can also mean to strip someone of their property or belongings, so maybe he really is just strolling around collecting gloves. You know, after he murders the owners and keeps the gloves as trophies.
If you just google it, it only lists definitions related to skinning. However, if you ask the folks at Merriam Webster...
Possibly the artist also left that there for subtleties, to imply skinning. Which is satirical and very clever.
They also could've been hinting at how harshly you were going to be criticized for playing this card in Modern. It's quite good, imo.
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
Search the definition for flay.
The white gloves are "fresh". Look at his coat. It's made of gloves, but all of them older and thus grey-brown due to the dirt and blood accumulating on them. The white just indicates they're new to make you aware that he literally just killed a human/vampire. The body is very possibly laying offscreen just below him. There's no more to it. It's just to show him "caught in the act" so to say. If they had the same colour as the others, it would just look like he returned from a shopping spree.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
As for Grim Flayer, I imagine he's supposed to represent the crazed serial killer trope.
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But that's probably just my love of "Where are they now?"
I always thought that Grotesque Mutation is the result of Thraben Inspector's mini story. Same hand, same setting (floor looks similar).
This adds a whole new layer of creepy on Grotesque Mutation. That person was peeling off their skin.
I first read this and was disgusted and amused at the same time. I'm not sure if the laughter was because of how clever this was or how disturbing the sudden revelation was. Props to you.
When the card was revealed, I was sure that he is actually holding a flayed skin from one hand.
In the larger image, it is, however, clearly a white glove, with a bit of lace.
I am, however, almost sure that the cloak is meant to be NOT made from *gloves*.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Thanks for the larger image. I do find it odd that, for all the madness in Innistrad, this guy somehow is merely collecting gloves. As for your statement that those cloak of his could be made of something other than gloves, I personally would beg to differ for one reason: The finger ends of the gloves are smooth; certainly it is rather unlikely, even with Emrakul's mutations considered, that Innistrad people start having hands without fingernails, no? And let's not think about how difficult it is to carefully skin those fingers, especially not when you're not in the right state of mind....
Makes me wonder why this guy only collects gloves.... maybe in his madness, he thinks gloves are hands and thus keep them as, well, trophies?
Decks:
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R Burn R
EDH
R Godo Voltron R
RUG ETB Overload RUG
BW Clerics Pain and Drain BW
GW Spirits!!! GW
RUG Landfall Silliness RUG
I don't exactly call this "recent history", but Sudden Death is quite close to skinned humans as far as I can think of.
But yeah, your sentiment, which implies a somewhat odd case of selective brutality, is somewhat understandable considering what manners of nasty things can happen to dudes in Magic arts... let's see, bisecting (Infinite Obliteration is semi-PG due to lack of gore, Utter End is too zoomed in), melting (Bile Blight FNM version and Mutilate latest version), burned to the bones (Flamebreak).... but no skinning (Sudden Death example is a bit distorted), no fresh de-limb-ing (much less decapitation; Innistrad's Fling chops off a devil's head), no sepukku etc.
But okay, I think I'm giving tooooo much bad ideas
If you just google it, it only lists definitions related to skinning. However, if you ask the folks at Merriam Webster...
Possibly the artist also left that there for subtleties, to imply skinning. Which is satirical and very clever.
They also could've been hinting at how harshly you were going to be criticized for playing this card in Modern. It's quite good, imo.
Eerie serial killer vibe, and the glove motif is fascinatingly odd.
My personal favorite card of the set I would sure love to know his story.
"OH GOD MY BRAIN IS EXPLOADING AT HOW BAD THE ART IS ON MY OWN CARD"
-A friend's first impression of Ancestral Recall
10/10, I tapped.
Modern day serial killers *sometimes* like to keep trophies of the people they killed, so maybe the gloves are his trophies?
Also, we haven't even thought about what side this guy is on: Has he succumbed to Emrakul's madness, or has he prevailed and started killing Eldrazi?
I mean, when we look at Grotesque Mutation, it's obvious this person is being transformed/corrupted into an Eldrazi, but the flayer isn't.
WHY? Yes, he does have Delirium, but that doesn't mean he has succumbed.
Edit: Caranthir also noted how the gloves have lace in Grim Flayer's art, but not in Grotesque Mutation, very true.
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