There Are Skeletons Within Us

[@ZacLovoy]

I greatly appreciate the respect shown to The Twelve Foot Human Skeleton From Home Depot by using its full title at all times as we all should.

[@Spice8Rack]

Don't you DARE tell me what may or may not be inside of me.

[@collinbeal]

Spice has a mind goblin within it

[@marlonabelsilvarios2566]

"Ok, but we have to take that out" - Spice8rack´s Doctor probably

[@sashalittledemon6766]

Among us there be spooky scary skeletons

[@Bluecho4]

Do not resist, Spicey. You, too, will join the Skeleton War soon enough. It is your destiny.

[@dylanehooverlibrarian7026]

DON'T GIVE UP, SKELETON!

[@Mother_boards]

"Tenacious Dead is not the greatest title line on a skeleton in Magic. No, it is only a tribute." That might be my new favorite Rhystic Studies line of all time.

[@livedandletdie]

All Tenacious D references are much welcome.

[@jdvred9210]

I don’t play video games no more

[@countOfHenneberg]

Similar to picking up on the Mighty Boosh references that Spice8Rack comes out with.

[@lightfut]

Came here to post this

[@yorokobeshitbag4618]

The single best Rhystic Studies line will always be “Life happens in the red zone, and death is the byproduct of time well spent.”

[@Eidolon98]

I can only assume that the lack of any mention of the best skeleton card, Skeleton Ship, is because you are planing a full length video to feature that card exclusively, and I eagerly await the arrival of said video. (It has a skeleton riding a sea turtle!)

[@Kryptnyt]

Aye, sea turtles

[@hndrxmn]

Agreed. Best skeleton-related art in all of Magic!

[@FuryMaster]

i too will be waiting with bated breath, this needs to happen

[@SquareViking]

@@Kryptnyt Sea turtles, Gibbs?

[@renfineout5350]

You misspelled lightning skelemental

[@WowItsErin]

I can’t imagine how painful it must’ve been to have this script written and an upload lined up, and then Ixalan shows up to do Skeletons Matter for the first time in years

[@ghost_fueled_scarecrow]

Seeing typal actually being used killed me a little inside

[@Zomburai45]

Sam going along and BOO! A SKELETON (type) JUMPS OUT AND SURPRISES HIM!

[@tigerninja18]

What the fuck is a typal

[@BlueNemo3]

​@@tigerninja18new wording used in place of the older "tribal"

[@christophercarson3590]

*tribal

[@gabba-hey]

I appreciate how seriously the skeleton has been treated in Magic. I do like goofy skeletons, but I also enjoy their symbolic significance and how a well presented skeleton can be one of the most unnerving images of death which many cards have captured. They do all sound like that Everquest skeleton though.

[@strikermodel]

I agree, the portrayal of skeletons in MTG art actually makes them look spooky in a more intimidating sense. It's a refreshing change of pace.

[@thechikage1091]

​@@strikermodel absolutely. I was looking at the Warhammer 40k printing of Skullclamp recently, and was actually loving how much it unnerved me.

[@casketbase7750]

My favorite skeletal art is from Unburial Rites. It's unclear whether the subject is fighting to escape or fighting to stay put. Fitting, since its themed around involuntary resurrection. "All crave the Blessed Sleep. Few receive it."

[@theherbertness24]

I never liked the idea of my skeleton being inside me. Rather it surrounds me, the brain, and extends downward as a mechanical core of my meat mecha

[@ThunderJ16]

5:58 - Rather than a possessed figure, I think that was meant to be a jiangshi, a kind of Chinese vampire (with a hint of zombie characteristics). It doesn't have a paper talisman but the coffin and outstretched hands matches.

[@annevarmint4659]

Good catch! The posture also matches up since jiangshi are typically depicted as hopping, their bodies being too stiff to walk

[@nathanielleon4163]

You love to go to the comments to find someone already did the work for you.

[@Thelegoterrapin]

@@nathanielleon4163But why did I read all those Xianxia novels if not for the clout of correcting people on the internet?

[@ackbooh9032]

​@@Thelegoterrapin You can always try to change the value of your experiences afterwards. You can always try to change the meaning, in the present and for the rest of your days.

[@abyssalcomforts]

Don’t panic, but there’s a skeleton inside you right now

[@lancelot717]

Mmmfffmmmffgggg

[@genzo454]

"Bart, I don't want to alarm you, but-"

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

*_AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-_*

[@bosslca9630]

Thats the title of my faviorites children's book.

[@DemonikDom]

For anyone wondering the song Sam is playing at the end is When Skeletons Live by Coheed and Cambria. I had the pleasure of meeting Sam in Vegas in September and we both gushed about our love for Coheed. This made me so happy!

[@IAMAGUNH4XP]

Thank you! I knew it sounded familiar but i couldnt place it.

[@snowboundwhale6860]

15:00 It's known that Yugioh started out as a Magic the Gathering reference that grew into it's own thing, but they have some amount of this there as well. One of the earliest undead skeletons in the game is Skull Servant, a weak non-effect monster whose flavour text is "A skeletal ghost that isn't strong but can mean trouble in large numbers." It later went on to get support & became a kinda strong but also very silly deck, collecting skeletons in the grave to empower the boss skeleton(s), who themselves are weak and get stronger for each "Skull Servant" in grave Relentless rats style.

[@AlluMan96]

I'd say it's almost inversed of the effect, where weak bodies are but fodder to the deck's chief, who will discard them to continue it's own existence. Much more in line with the D&D concept of a necromancer or lich, where the horde is merely just window-dressing to the big bad on the scene. Also a card-flavour that feels really funny in hindsight with the way the Skull Servant lore became more about the chillest skeleton dad that doesn't feel like he'd banish his loyal servants and family members to resurrect himself.

[@goldenarmour7975]

The king of all skull servants. Funny that this deck became a deck that turbos out a ~5k beatstick instead of spamming links as the original text suggests.

[@goldenarmour7975]

Yugioh also embraces the sillyness of skeletons with cards like there can only be one where a skull servant and his family are not allowed to go on vacation by the border agencies, one of many silly cards featuring skull servant.

[@seanh2785]

I love the concept of skeletons as simultaneously foolish and jester-like, while also being threatening and dangerous!

[@gspoiler]

A deadly joke

[@seanh2785]

@@gspoiler You said it perfectly!

[@danielesse470]

That subtle nod at the end to the skull hidden in Rotting Mastadon...so good, man.

[@meshuggahshirt]

I'd never noticed that before until this moment

[@XaleManix]

Somehow, I was not expecting the When Skeletons Live cover. Even though you are literally the man who taught me to play that and countless other Coheed songs over the years. Well played, Dr. Sam.

[@sadisticsalmon7323]

I was playing dark sentencer whilst watching the video!! It was such a shock to the system 😭

[@LadyGainhart]

I was expecting it to open, not to close!

[@laboratoryrack6488]

Thanks for letting me know what song it was...After your comment, I went down the rabbit hole and found this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5e9lJd9nr-IaNE 🤪

[@Hellrider_145]

9:35 that joke got me good. Great video, I missed this style of videos from you.

[@Kodaxor]

Came to the comments to see how many other people noticed this lol

[@askani21]

"Great Yawgmoth moves through the seas of shard and bone and rust. We exalt Him in life, in death, and in between." You scared the shit out of me. As always, magnificent work, Rhystic Studies.

[@ianfranke1674]

I think the Chinese raise dead at 5:58 is actually a Jiang-Shi (not sure if that’s the correct spelling), a more culturally relevant form of undead on china

[@raymondan4701]

僵尸basically means a zombie.

[@ChiralWolf]

I think there's also a really interesting element to magic's (and other fantasies) more serious tone for skeletons in how they pose such a tangible threat in a world with necromancers. Real skeletons serve as a grim reminder of mortality but in their harmlessness can also be turned to mock it. When a skeleton can actually stand up again though one might not be so inclined to partake in the same levity.

[@potatogrease2420]

17:18 “there are skeletons within us” *Proceeds to shred harder than the skeleton in skate 3*

[@janmelantu7490]

“Spooky Scary Skeletons send shivers down your spine Shrieking skulls will shock your soul Seal your doom tonight!”

[@effren]

8:05 the EverQuest skeleton laugh will always have a special place in my heart.

[@thstguy8023]

Those pinch harmonics soundin juicy sir

[@salvatorenoth2489]

8:05, The EQ Skeleton laugh is iconic.

[@hereticaljake740]

Best Magic: The Gathering content creator on the Tube. Absolute monster of an intellectual. Thanks for the amazing content, Sam! Keep up the good work.

[@orionfire1947]

In the middle of the table of Hans' The Ambassador is the Universal S, depicted as we all know it now and is yet another reminder that we return to where we were, be it bone or otherwise.

[@kailaine3974]

All skeletons canonically have the same voice as Skeletor for enhanced comedic effect

[@bchavez149]

Huge fan of the designer of the Skeleton, stroke of genius is an understatement to say the least. I'm so glad I have my own.

[@alexabney7913]

I LOVE the flavor text for persistent specimen

[@kyleallan8676]

You're videos are always insightful and top quality, but dude it's so cool to see you shred on that guitar

[@mahtimonni97]

"Halloween clown" is such a perfect thing and perfectly condenses the essence of the skeleton.

[@PdrZnt]

gotta give props for the mid riff pich harmonics. vid a banger, as always.

[@timsim83]

Ten-D shout out! It is amazing how different fiction can shed light on each-other!

[@blackdragonxtra]

Shoutout to my jawless skelly, Phossy, for their loyal service across Barovia.

[@petrolandcoffee]

Today due to some wisdom teeth issues i ran my tongue from one end of my jaw on both the top and the bottom for the first time in a long time. and after doing ti absent mindedly for a while i became more aware of my skull and it's shape, i felt the skin wrapping around it's contours and the copious fat sloshing in it. and i felt in that moment not like i am a spirit in my body but that my body was the entirety of my being. There is a skeleton within me

[@McArRuIzO]

That riff at the end sounds like something Coheed and Cambria would play.

[@DraftMatters]

Absolutely badass song at the end there. Thanks for sharing your playing with us.

[@RichJMoneyTV]

That “spare ribs” video is my favorite bit of all time. I regularly watch it to improve my mood

[@moleculeman27]

As ever, probably the most thoughtful Magic channel around.

[@marquismahan8016]

I keep seeing Skeletal Grimace in scryfall’s randomizer, so when I saw this title, my heart jumped out of my body, taking my skeleton with it.

[@hugmonger]

My man just said the words "Maniacal Bonish" which might be my favorite pair of words ever.

[@nathanialshicks]

I had already liked the video, but would like it again for the credits jam

[@makonevernow]

Sad that my fave card of all time Augur of Skulls didn't make it into the video, its art and flavor text was what pulled me into the game. That bit about Rotting Mastodon was amazing though, drafted KTK so much but I never knew that about it

[@strikermodel]

That's one of my favorite card arts. That, and the painterly bone splinter.

[@nicolascamacho7219]

Loving all the references to Coheed lately. Perfect intersection of two of my favorite things 🖤

[@cianlacy6515]

Reassembling skeleton is a mainstay In every black deck I make 🫡

[@Stickweasel91]

There are skeletons within the friends we made along the way.

[@strikermodel]

I hope that us Skelebros get to have our hayday soon. . .

[@ludosgd]

That Rotting Mastodon fade-out sent SHIVERS down my spine. Phenomenal work!!!

[@maasee123]

This video musta been a lot of work, but you know whats not a lotta work? This banana bread recipe! Just mix the dry stuff then add the wet stuff! 2 to 3 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) very ripe bananas, peeled (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups mashed) 1/3 cup (76g) butter, unsalted or salted, melted 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (not baking powder) 1 pinch salt 3/4 cup (150g) sugar (1/2 cup if you would like it less sweet, 1 cup if more sweet) 1 large egg, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups (205g) all-purpose flour

[@austinsmith8287]

I love these types of videos, cant wait for a video on mirrodin

[@twarnold14]

15:07 Oh, so like B1 battle droids in Star Wars. Funny (especially since Clone Wars) but deadly in a large group. And they match the skinny aesthetic too. One is even named Mr. Bones!

[@griffincrump5077]

17:59 damn, fucking sick solo dude!

[@J3fftodd]

Rad episode! Ripping solo! You seem like a cool dude, I want to play Dandan with you! Lol

[@ZackeroniAndCheese]

I never saw the skull in Rotting Mastadon before. Very cool!

[@lollusk]

I'm so glad you included the EverQuest skeleton laugh. So many ai skeletons killed between that and EQ2. That stock sound effect is forever burned in my mind as what a skeleton sounds like lol, glad to see it represented

[@jaredbanks5606]

When referencing skeletons in other media, I find it criminal that no attention was put on Spinal, from Killer Instinct 2013. That cackle is forever in my memory of what a reanimated bone man sounds like. Still, a great video as always, keep up the good work.

[@proto303]

Can't forget the fact that the round start noise in Spinal's music track is a Tibetan kangkling, a horn made out of a human femur.

[@korakys]

One of your best videos, and I really didn't expect that to be the case going in.

[@Fadzi2342]

I used to watch this channel, but I remembered it with a different name. I can’t, for the life of me, remember what that name was.

[@Xingyi21]

Thanks

[@cultiumera]

As an Ooze i find this video title to be rather humerus

[@Titleknown]

I will say, it is impossible to take Manor Skeleton seriously at all with how hard Chorocojo, Zorak & friends ended up memeing him. "NYEH, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BITCOIN!"

[@NotSkywalker24]

He just wants to dry strawberries and mine bitcoin, and he's all out of strawberries

[@tonyblitz1]

I always really dug the look of skeleton archer! Just wish he was as cool as he looks.

[@demolisherman1763]

The yearly Halloween update makes it feel like a second Christmas!

[@hellNo116]

Why does it make so much sense to me that you at an sg. That is one great looking guitar and the tone you captured is on point for the video and the theme

[@mekklord]

Congratulations on the most ominous title I've ever seen on a Magic the Gathering video!

[@thebarbecube317]

Damn Mr. Rhystic Studies shreds!

[@dukedynamite3d]

Man, the fact that you did a whole skeleton themed video but didn't showcase Augur of Skulls is mad disrespectful. I love your videos but damn man, we're having a fight. His art is beyond goated.

[@captainstarlight3780]

Dang youtube didn't even say there was a new video until I checked the channel.

[@nagashizzar3978]

This is my favorite video I have ever watched. Thank you for all the hard work.

[@simonecasolo3122]

I studied at Uni next door to S Bernardino alle Ossa. I talked once to those who were restoring the Chapel. There is a cabinet opposite to the altar wall, containing skulls of 5 criminals, they didn't want to mix them with those of innocent people. Thanks for the amazing video, coming out right while I am building a jund skeleton tribal deck.

[@mat4039]

Would be cool if you talked about block prints impact om mtg art and perhaps some of its negatives

[@ZonamaPrime]

@9:41 Couldn't remember the greatest skeleton in the world? No?

[@zonkodraw3480]

Rhystic coming in clutch for the spook season.

[@blackgear98]

Another great video, perfect for the season! Great cover at the end too!

[@GR20000]

Raise dead is actually a very, very clever one. 5:57 THAT is a Jiangshi, a Chinese folk monster that is somewhere between a zombie and a vampire. They can't bend their knees, so they hop around to get places, and their touch can steal your life force as they hop, arms out stretched, towards you.

[@annevarmint4659]

Really appreciated bringing up the contrast of skeletons not only as stoic reminders of inevitable death and eventually becoming low-level goons in modern action-combat systems. They take a more hands-on approach to confronting you with your own mortality (i.e. by relentlessly pursuing you and hacking at you with blades), but funnily enough their refusal to yield even when reduced to bone feels like it illustrates much more commitment to life. Historical skeletons don't have nearly as much joie de vivre -- death doesn't need to rush, he's waiting for you to come to him. Sanitarium Skeleton was one of my first favorite cards when I started learning Magic, and every so often I still try to put together skeleton-based sacrifice decks because, much like the bony dead themselves, I cannot give up until I fall apart

[@danacoleman4007]

Geez o man! That bit at the end! Sam, is there anything you can't do! Really great video, as always!

[@adamzielinski1053]

Cool video & guitar outro. One of my favorite paintings is Ecce Homo by Belgian surrealist Paul Delvaux, he used the elegiac aesthetic of skeletons to paint about the end of religion.

[@cyrus6236]

Tinybones was actually the first legendary creature i ever owned in magic, and when i saw that magic had some humor to it, i was hooked

[@gothic22d]

Thank you Sam. As always your video is just superb.

[@Maniaco1612]

This is a masterclass for presentation and viewer’s captivation. Rhystic Studies’ videos are just getting better and better. From behalf of the entire Magic community- please don’t stop working, Sam.

[@donut_jam]

Love your deep dives and stories on so many things through the use of magic cards. Keep it up

[@jakabrezavscek969]

Never in my life would I have imagined hearing my tiny country mentioned in a rhystic studies video... You really do your research and your videos are so poeting, pieces of art just like the paintings you talk about

[@sadisticsalmon7323]

COHEED IN A RHYSTIC STUDIES VIDEO WTF, AND SUCH A BANGER TOO. Your music taste is elite. Sam i love you.

[@Frostgiantbutsmall]

Dude, your guitar work just keeps getting sweeter, love it!

[@lunondisposable5382]

God skeletons are so fucking spooky, I'm glad they're not real

[@crayzeegamer7695]

Now if only spiders could get some love too

[@valentinolepro4110]

Great content, as always!

[@Eggc0-rh3cc]

i have no clue why i clicked on a video with a title that i already knew

[@ianquick4284]

I love how much work you put into investigating obscure details. Reminds me of Aaron Mahnke.

[@poenpotzu2865]

Always glad to see another video from Rhystic Studies. I'm not a big fan of the spooky season but a fan of your works.

[@robertbadgley6291]

I think about Alex Steacy’s character in LRR from time to time, specifically a recurring bit he had about refusing to admit he had a skeleton inside him, and being racist against skeletons specifically. Great bit, great vid!

[@tylerh3378]

This is one of my favorite videos you've ever made!

[@golgariguy]

Amazing video, although I'm a bit sad that the iconic Necropotence skeleton wasn't mentioned!

[@jamesevans6332]

RATTLE 'EM, BOYS! The Bad to the Bones Secret Lair was basically an instant buy for me because I do love me some wacky boney boys, and I have been desperately holding out for an dedicated skeleton tribal commander for years at this point. I cannot tell you how hyped I was when I saw MaRo's teaser on Tumblr saying a skeleton lord is going to be in Ixalan, so here's hoping my wish eventually comes true

[@catoticneutral]

It's kinda cool how the unworthy dead are shaped kinda like vultures because of their posture, and the chins of the two in the background almost look like beaks. pretty sweet art overall.

[@David_Symonds]

That coheed cover was a nice treat

[@mikemanard3847]

Rock on! Love your videos and appreciated the jam!!

[@ricolasX]

My father was a science teacher. In the lab space between the class rooms was all the tools and junk used for the classes. Including a real skeleton. As a kid I used to shake hands and dance with it. This duality of seeing the actual remains of a dead person who had a life, dreams, love and the goofy Halloweenesque nature of this skeleton mounted on a wheel rack fascinated me. Nowadays only plastic replicas are allowed. But I'll always keep the memory of this unknown dead person I played with.

[@SamundraDarion]

"Art and life remain intertwined" - INCREDIBLE!