I can't express to any of you how awesome this art is. If this is the direction they are taking 4th edition in art, then I'll be happy. I like the comic looking art; I like the horned helmets, big freekish and evil looking trolls. For me, it's alot about art and how it inspires me; I love the older art of the OD&D, 1e, 2e, and some of the 3e games. Art leads my imagination to a place and I then take over and start exploring. I especially loved alot of the full page illustrations from the 2e books, like the scene from the revised PHB where two characters fight a flying lich in a venice-looking city on a boat that's sinking. Or the classic Emerikol the Chaotic, or a Paladin in Hell. Those illustrations are a portal to adventure and imagination, and I just need to look at them to start asking questions, and start answering them.
How awesome does this fighter look, greatsword in hand, horned helm, in armor, holding his sword to the sky? So awesome that I want to be that guy. I want to kick ass and have a horned helmet. I've played this game for 14 years, and I've had a gold helmet, but never a horned helmet. I think it's time to get me one.
And yeah, I wanna fight trolls that scare the excrement from me and make me think "We're gonna die! Game over! Game over man!" I wanna feel the fear. Make me feel the fear WotC, make me feel the fear!
I'm so pumped about this artwork, whoever said give this artist work, I agree. Give him more work, and I'll give WotC some of my dollars.
EDIT: I don't even care that the warrior isn't wearing full armor. He has a "give em hell" look, a big sword, and a HORNED HELMET! He defeated the trolls with his awesome style way before he sliced their heads off. If looks could kill, he's grinding his arse off.