I think afterlife is an ability that needs to come back for it to prove how good it can really be
As the instant, Brainstorm is obviously the better of the two, but it hardly matters considering the effect
Self-mill decks can also focus on combos
Artifact Creature: Baleful StrixBaleful Strix, 152,238 Inclusions Artifact Land: Mistvault BridgeMistvault Bridge, 56284 Enchantment Creature: Spirited CompanionSpirited Companion, 82248 Kindred Enchantment: Faerie TauntingsFaerie Tauntings, 4836 Kindred Instant: Reach of BranchesReach of Branches, 3401 Instant Sorcery: Consecrate // ConsumeConsecrate // Consume, 1437 Kindred Sorcery: Summon the SchoolSummon the School, 1003 Whether your colors allow for Baleful StrixBaleful Strix or Spirited CompanionSpirited Companion, you're going to end up playing them
In many ways, this era resembles the first five years of Magic, when a rowdy crew of misfits had a wild idea for a trading card game and an avant-garde approach to its imagery