Bad Ass

Bad Ass was released in 2004 as part of the Unhinged expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. As the game's third 'un-set,' Unhinged was designed specifically to push the boundaries of traditional rules through humor and mechanics that were impossible to implement in standard play. The card's name and its literal depiction of a donkey reflect the set's satirical tone, which frequently utilized wordplay and pop culture references to offer players a break from the more serious, competitive environments of the era.

The card was illustrated by Greg Staples, a long-time contributor to the Magic: The Gathering franchise. Staples was tasked with translating the card's tongue-in-cheek concept into a visual form that fit the Unhinged aesthetic, which emphasized vibrant, slightly absurd artwork. Upon release, the set was received as a polarizing but creative experiment, appreciated by the community for its willingness to poke fun at the game's own complex history and rigid design philosophy.