Jumpstart 2022 falls into a strange category when it comes toMagic: the Gatheringproducts: it’s not a standard expansion, and therefore isn’t bound to any particular Plane or theme. But it also isn’t a full-blown Un-set, so it has to remain fairly consistent with what we’d expect from a standard expansion in terms of art and mechanics.
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Despite lacking the thematic coherence that a singular setting provides, Jumpstart 2022 still manages to deliver some excellent artwork, both on its normal cards and on the special anime-inspired alternate art cards that appear in every pack. We’ve gathered the best pieces here, so lets Jump in and get Started!
Putting the ‘agony’ in ‘agony aunt,’ Blyte appears in one of the set’s most creative and well-executed compositions. Combining the idea of a malevolent demon with that of a gossipy relative, Kirgetova really nails the details here: the bold lipstick, overflowing teacup, and horn-rimmed glasses are all masterful touches that reallymake this character feel legendary.
The beauty of the piece is the seriousness that exists alongside the whimsy, however. As Blyte whispers sinister nothings in the ear of the human figure in the foreground, acting quite literally as a devil on their shoulder, it only takes a glance at the skull on her teacup to imagine the horror and chaos that’s about to unfold at their hands.
9Blood Artist, By Julie Dillon
Blood Artist is an iconic card that has seen many printings and almost as many alternate artworks, but this new version from Julie Dillon stands out from the rest. Presenting a more dynamic take on the visionary vampire, this piece shows him scattering his paintings in frustration, an expression on his face that seems to mock the ‘tortured artist’ trope the original piece subverted.
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This adds an element of self-aware humor to the piece, which works well with the more light-hearted overall tone of Jumpstart 2022, but a darker undercurrent creeps in when you consider the implications of the many paintings being scattered; the many victims their creation required, and the many more that will likely be necessary to finally satisfy their cold-hearted creator.
8Towering Gibbon, By Chris Seaman
With a visual and architectural style that clearly places this scene on New Capenna, Towering Gibbon serves as the Plane’s slightly less intimidating take on King Kong, subverting the classic monster movie trope by (literally) spotlighting a fairly placid-looking creature rather than a rampaging beast.
There’sa lot of humorin that alone. The piece also shines from a technical perspective, with superb use of lighting and shadow to cast a color-appropriate green glow across the scene, the reactions of the gawking crowd just barely visible in their silhouettes.
7Preordain, By Ayuko
Despite being an incredibly popular card, ubiquitous enough to get banned in Modern, Preordain has actually only had one alternative artwork since its original printing in 2010, discounting a Secret Lair drop. This new version more than makes up for it, however, giving us a truly stunning take on the concept of divination.
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The ripples on the water, the reflection of the central character, the delicate lighting, and the contrasting orange of the butterflies give this piece a sense of true beauty. At its heart, however, is tragedy: a white skull in the center of the water, more than likely an omen of death for the unfortunate seer pictured.
6Ossuary Rats, By Ralph Horsley
The use of perspective in this piece is the star of the show here: with clever framing, both the grisly, intimate details of the crypt floor and the full scale of the area are conveyed. It fits perfectly with howrats occupy the space: scavenging for scraps on the floor and crawling within the walls themselves like guest stars in a Lovecraft story.
The best trick here is that of the central rat, however. While initially appearing huge, almost ceiling-height, closer examination reveals that this is, in fact, a normal-sized rat perched on a bone in the foreground. It’s a brilliant composition that cleverly conveys the very real threat that these diminutive creatures pose.
5Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, By Kenta Ishikawa
Perhaps more appropriately titled ‘Kiki-Jiki, Format Breaker,’ this pesky Goblin was exiled from the Modern format for his role in the long-dominant Splinter Twin combo deck. His propensity for breaking things is showcased perfectly in this new piece, which leverages the bold, expressive colors of the anime art style to great effect.
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Shards of the titular mirror cascade down around the central legend, showing a range of creatures, including a cat (perhaps a reference to the similar Cat Combo deck from Kaladesh) and another goblin. These frame Kiki-Jiki perfectly, who strikes his most devious pose yet, at last appearing in a piece that properly reflects his tricksy gameplay functionality.
4Angelic Cub, By Miranda Meeks
A piece that marries the reverence and cosmic awe that defined many renaissance-era depictions of angels, witheveryone’s favorite angels-on-Earth, cats, to create a winning blend of cute and majestic, whimsical and serious.
The central figure’s wings and pose, along with the sumptuous use of color in the backdrop and how its eyes match the burning rings behind it, create a striking piece that promises power far beyond the base 1/1 stats of the creature, neatly reflecting the potential for growth promised by its passive ability.
3Rapacious Dragon, By Yumi Ozuno
Perhaps the most striking of all the anime-inspired cards in Jumpstart 2022, Rapacious Dragon presents a truly unique take on one of Magic’s longest-running creature types. This is achieved not just through the color palette used, though purple and orange are certainly unusual in that regard, but also through the personality of the dragon itself.
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The glinting, nearly-closed eye, the burning dimple on the cheek, and the sly, toothy grin all combine to create a vision of a dragon like we’ve never seen before in Magic. They could dispense witty banter Smaug-style if confronted by a hapless treasure hunter. It’s a highly original take on a well-worn idea.
2Isu The Abominable, By Victor Adame Minguez
A somewhat understated piece compared to many in the set, Isu the Abominable is a testament to what can be achieved with a limited color palette and clever lighting. Emerging from the snowy mists of the background, his torso and rear legs barely visible, Isu perfectly captures the elusive nature of Yetis as a creature type.
As you move further along, his full, imposing face and arm are visible in the sunlight, along with some scattered rocks and slopes. Aside from these features, the entire piece is made up entirely of subtly varied whites and blues, an appropriate restriction, given the legendary creature’s color and typing.
1Tree Of Perdition, By Yuchi Yuki
Cleverly using the anime art style to lean into the Japanese trope of a seemingly innocent young girl associated with evil, Tree of Perdition gets off to a great start. The real star though is, of course, the tree itself: a twisting, writhing arboreal abomination that will make you think twice about your next woodland retreat.
There are some brilliant details here: the tree branches doubling as arms with claws, the red of the flowers matching the red blood on the end of said claws, the rib cage pattern of knots on the upper trunk, and the screaming faces just next to the central figure, channeling a Weirwood heart tree on a bad day.
