Legendary Artist Greg Hildebrandt Sails to the Undying Lands

Greg Hildebrandt, the wizard of fantasy art and half of the legendary Brothers Hildebrandt, sailed on to the Undying Lands on October 31 at 85, after fighting health issues. Now, for all you Magic: The Gathering junkies out there, he’s the guy who, with his brother Tim, shook up the scene with nearly 200 illustrations, starting back in ‘99 with Urza’s Destiny. But listen up, because that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Where I first knew Greg? It was through The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks’ page-turner, and Urshurak, his and Tim’s brainchild with Jerry Nichols. These Detroit-born dreamers had their sights on Disney animation, but life had a different script, one where they became the gods of fantasy illustration.

They didn’t stop at Magic. Oh no. 1977 rolls around, and they whip up an iconic Star Wars poster for the UK release, deadline blazing like a high-stakes poker game—36 hours to submit. And let's talk Lord of the Rings, those mid-’70s calendars? They weren't just pages; they were gospel for fantasy lovers. Greg didn't just hit Magic or Middle-earth; his pencil made Omni and Heavy Metal covers explode with life, and he reimagined the classics like The Wizard of Oz and Dracula.

What made Greg larger than life was that love for his craft and, hell, his fans. Even when life threw him curveballs, he was signing art, sharing that magic. The art world? It’s buzzing with tributes, stories, shout-outs—from comic book hotshots to fantasy veterans, everyone knows he set the bar sky-high. Jean, his partner in everything, and his family? They’ve got the art world’s heart right now. Greg Hildebrandt didn’t just paint; he laid down a legacy. And when he left, he took a piece of fantasy history with him.