Restless Dead

Restless Dead was released in 1996 as part of the Mirage expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. This set was notable for being the first to be designed as a standalone block, introducing mechanics like phasing and flanking, and shifting the game's aesthetic toward a more cohesive, African-inspired fantasy world. The card reflects the set's exploration of black mana themes, focusing on graveyard recursion and the undead.

The artwork was commissioned from British fantasy illustrator Ian Miller, whose distinct, heavily textured, and gothic style became a hallmark of the game's early years. Miller sought to capture a sense of decay and otherworldly movement consistent with the card's theme of risen spirits. Upon its release, the card was received as a functional, if standard, common that highlighted the atmospheric visual direction Wizards of the Coast was pursuing during the mid-nineties.