Some thoughts on "Holy Cow":I don't think it's specifically an issue with Holy Cow in a vacuum.Instead, it's more about the massive increase in proliferation of "meme cards" and "joke cards", cards that make references to real life idioms, seek to break the 4th wall in some way, make puns or jokes that pander to everyone, naming cards after a ubiquitous a turn of phrase in pop culture, etc.Sometimes it's cute and whimsical but when it misses, it can feel pretty cringe. I don't want my favorite game to have a bunch of cringe references which becomes a possibility when Magic makes dozens of "joke cards". It also makes the Magic world and universe feel less bespoke and more like a series of existing references.

For what it's worth, I think the Holy Cow reference would have been funnier if it weren't so obvious (i.e. design the card as is with the same art but name it something different).

Years ago, I made this card:

I love puns, so much so that I wove this one into the story (this was the Weatherlight Saga that Michael and I created). Very, very few players got it. (The pun is “squeeze toy”, the squeezable rubber toy that makes noise when you squeeze it, like you would give a dog.) Every time I explain this, I get more people say, “I never got that.”I have nothing against the subtle joke now and then (and there are some pretty subtle jokes in the Un-sets), but I would rather do jokes that the majority of players get. If the trade of is some people roll their eyes and say “that’s not my style of humor”, but many others laugh and enjoy it, I’ll gladly take that. A joke more people get is “funnier” in the aggregate.

Can we cast squee from under awol

No.

I call upon your oath on this, my 40th! Some goblin trivia please!

Squee, one of the most popular legendary Goblins, got his name from the original flavor text for Relentless Assault. I made the name Squee up because it rhymed with tree. When naming Squee I remembered the flavor text. Happy Birthday!

Why isn't squee, dubious monarch's "cast from the graveyard" ability escape? from what i can see they have identical rules.

Escape isn’t deciduous and it wasn’t a keyword in that set.

What's you're favourite pun on a Magic card?

Probably Squee’s Toy. Every time I mention it, someone always replies, “I didn’t realize that was a pun.” : )

hey mark! its my birthday and im cashing in my annual token for some trivia about goblins if youve got any

I believe Squee was the first Weatherlight character Michael and I made (that didn’t already exist - Sisay wasn’t created by us). He got his name from a piece of flavor text I wrote (on Relentless Assault).Happy Birthday

You don't like cards returning things from exile they didn't put there as it turns exile just into a second graveyard. But you've stated you're okay with cards like Squee the Immortal and Misthollow Griffin that can bring themselves back from exile. Where do you fall on effects like the Buy a Box Athreos or Kaya's Ghostform? Does the immediacy of the return make it okay?

For all intents and purposes, it’s sending the card somewhere else instead of to exile, and I’m fine with that.

Kind Sir MarkIt's my birthdayMay I ask for cool trivia about the Izzet League since they're my favorite guild?

Izzet is named after its founder Niv-Mizzet. I always thought that was obvious, but every time I state it, I have people writing in - “I did not see that”. Kind of how people missed Squee’s Toy was Squeeze Toy.Happy Birthday!

What's your favorite pun in Magic?

Probably Squee’s Toy.

See you messed up on your podcast and now I want a Flogg, brother of Squee card

I knew that as soon as I said it.