It was literally the Illustrator and it was a bidding auction that ended at $23,000, he said
Jin-Gitaxias's last ability triggers once each turn, not once each turn per opponent
Then the Vampire was printed next, same cost, this time it adds flying and +1 toughness, but it just works once per turn so it's both better then Mentor (flying, bigger size, no mana needed) and worse (just once per turn)
If the third mode is chosen for Silent Hallcreeper's last ability but the target creature is an illegal target as the ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen
To cap it off this can be cast at instant speed, whether that is to wipe the board clean yourself, or, as a two mana way to interfere in another players attempt to protect their creatures