Hey Magic fans and fantasy lovers, hold onto your mana! Jesper Myrfors, the visionary behind Magic: The Gathering's early artistic revolution, just dropped some electrifying stories from the archives of gaming history. Get ready to dive deep into the ethos that shaped one of the most legendary card games of all time!
In a dynamic Facebook post last weekend, Myrfors opened the floodgates to brilliant insights from his groundbreaking efforts as Magic’s original art director. Among his bold moves? Implementing a simple, yet game-changing decree: "No babe art!" That’s right, Myrfors set out to obliterate the outdated fantasy tropes, ensuring Magic wasn't just another male-centric quest but a thrilling escapade for all players—both women and men!
“When I was art directing Magic, one of my rules was ‘No babe art!’” Myrfors passionately shared. “That is, no artwork that shows scantily clad women in subservient or weak positions. I really wanted Magic to appeal to a broader group than traditional fantasy.” His experiences with diverse gaming groups fueled his drive to shatter the glass ceiling of fantasy art and introduce the brilliant talents of women artists to Magic's universe.
Let’s reel back to the dawn of the 90s—a landscape often unwelcoming to women in gaming, dominated by male power fantasies. Myrfors envisioned Magic as a battleground of empowerment, a realm where female strength stood shoulder to shoulder with male might. He boldly declared, "Was this ‘woke?’ If you think so you are probably an idiot. Seriously, get help." Ouch, bitter truth served straight-up!
Myrfors’ pioneering stance met some bumps on the road, acknowledging that the 'No Babe Art' rule wasn't all-encompassing. Case in point: the notorious Earthbind card slipped through the cracks. But even amidst this, Myrfors maintained a balanced view: men and women adorned the cards, each depicted with their own strength and allure.
In his conclusion, Myrfors reflected on the diversity he championed, stating, "It's crazy to me that one of the secrets to Magic's success was as obvious and simple as 'hire talented women'." In his era-defining move, he brought in five female artists among the original 25, infusing Magic with an artistic flair that both men and women could celebrate.
Even though the Magic universe wasn’t instantly transformed into a perfectly inclusive space, Myrfors paved the way for future generations. So next time you wield your deck, remember the bold art director who dared to dream of a different kind of magic.