Let me start by saying that I have so far manage to resist the temptation to buy any of the Frank Frazetta Secret Lair cards. It has not always been easy but I have held strong – Probably for no other reason than the one I gave back when the cards were first revealed: I don’t have a deck where these cards would easily go.

So, what do Wizards of the Coast do? You guessed it! They’ve announced another Frazetta Secret Lair of course! It’s part of this year’s Summer Superdrop releasing on June 9th. Five new cards to be tempted by:

Of the five, the two below are my favourites in terms of art. Chained in particular (on the Deadly Dispute card) is another of Frazetta’s signature pieces. If I recall correctly, it graced one of the Conan books that I read as a kid.

Much like last time, definitely some cool art but no cards that immediately scream out to be added into a deck that I currently have. If nothing else, it makes me appreciate the first Frazetta set even more – particularly now that Dark Confidant is Standard Legal. That card might have gone nicely into my Crime Pays deck.

Anyways, as of tonight, I’m holding strong on buying a Frazetta Secret Lair set. I’ll let you know if things change.

And in case you are interested in a mono-black deck focused around crimes, here is my Crime Pays deck:

Main Deck

• 2 Tinybones Joins Up (OTJ) 108
• 2 Tinybones, the Pickpocket (OTJ) 109
• 1 Mirrex (ONE) 254
• 4 Deep-Cavern Bat (LCI) 102
• 2 Vadmir, New Blood (OTJ) 113
• 2 Kaervek, the Punisher (OTJ) 92
• 3 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
• 2 Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal (LCI) 88
• 3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107
• 2 Sheoldred’s Edict (ONE) 108
• 2 Fell (BLB) 95
• 3 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
• 2 Skullcap Snail (LCI) 119
• 3 Hopeless Nightmare (WOE) 95
• 2 Bandit’s Talent (BLB) 83
• 1 Cursecloth Wrappings (DFT) 81
• 2 Unstoppable Slasher (DSK) 119
• 2 Desecration Demon (FDN) 603
• 2 Demolition Field (BRO) 260
• 1 Hidden Necropolis (LCI) 275
• 1 The Dross Pits (ONE) 251
• 16 Swamp (MH3) 315

Sideboard

• 1 Gix’s Command (BRO) 97
• 1 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
• 1 Gisa, the Hellraiser (OTJ) 89
• 1 Duress (STA) 29
• 1 Ruthless Negotiation (BLB) 108
• 2 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
• 1 Vein Ripper (MKM) 110
• 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
• 1 Hostile Investigator (BIG) 10

I’ve yet to purchase a Secret Lair Drop (although Noah has). As far as I’m concerned, most of the SLD offerings fall into that category of products that WOTC calls “not for everyone.” Most have been reprints of cards that can be purchased often for significantly less. If you purchase a Secret Lair, it is because the art or the theme of the cards appeals to you. And I’m completely fine with giving buyers different options at different price points. Mechanically unique cards are a different matter and not one for today!

It’s rare that I will splurge for a particular version of a card if I know that there is a cheaper version available. There have been exceptions for one reason or another (most often the art and a minimal price difference) but I’ve yet to be swayed by a particular version if the price is substantially higher (yes, the boys have called me cheap!).

The latest Secret Lair may change that though. The upcoming drop features art by Frank Frazetta. Five cards have been revealed so far courtesy of Gizmodo:

I first discovered Frank Frazetta through my love of Conan the Barbarian, John Carter of Mars and Tarzan books and comics.

My two favourite cards are the Midnight Reaper (Frazetta’s classic Death Dealer) and the Field Marshal. The Dark Ritual is pretty sweet as well. Okay, they are all awesome!

But here is the reality: I don’t have any decks currently using either of those cards. Am I really going to splurge on a Secret Lair and either put the cards into a binder and only look at them once in a while or build a deck around them? I could see myself building a Soldiers deck of some kind, especially in the current Standard format, but that’s a whole lot more cards to buy. Dark Ritual would be the easiest card to slot into a deck.

If cold and emotionless reason prevails and I don’t buy this Secret Lair, I will likely add one or two cards to my singles wish list and get them later (when that same reason does not remind me that I’m just doing it to bling out a deck).