Pokémonis a veritable goliath among Japanese franchises worldwide, and an upcoming crossover with another major franchise shows how powerful the legacies of both series are. Of allPokemon’s many different iterations, perhaps none is historically more underestimated thanPokémonTCG. While other major franchises likeYu-Gi-Oh!have made huge inroads in the global TCG market,Pokémon’s TCG has always struggled for the same recognition. Tides are changing for its TCG, though, with the release ofPokémon TCG Pocketbringing a new wave of acclaim for the game—and cash, ifPokémon TCG Pocket’s hefty $200 million since launchis anything to go by.
The mobile adaptation isn’t one-for-one withPokémon’s traditional TCG, which some say isall the better forPokémon TCG Pocket. Regardless of what critics might say, though, the TCG has a devoted fanbase, and its cards are highly valued among collectors. Now, an unlikely collaboration withFist of the North Starmangaka Tetsuo Hara is providing what might become one of the card game’s most sought-after collectibles yet.
Fist Of The North Star Teams Up With Pokémon For Hot New Collab
The Card Is Part Of The Terastal Festival Ex Set
Every era ofPokémon, essentially, has brought with it series and sets expandingPokémon’s TCG. TheScarlet & Violetera has just unveiled a major surprise: a take on the heroic Palafin by one of the most renowned shōnen mangaka of all time.Hara’s version of Palafin is absolutely breathtaking, with striking colors and beautiful composition. Palafin is shown performing Kenshiro’s classic barrage of fists attack, which usually leads to his iconic line, “You are already dead”, before his opponents succumb to the power of the Hokuto school.
When Palafin is swapped out in battle, it shifts from the Zero form, the unimposing cutesy dolphin form in which it always starts battle, to the Hero form—an anthropomorphic damage-dealer with massive fists. Far from a gimmick, Palafin’s heroic “evolution” mirrors the archetypal shōnen protagonist who, through some kind of trial, becomes stronger.Fist of the North Star, on top of being responsible for the modern battle shōnen hero writ large, is also largely responsible for shōnen’s preoccupation with strength being the result of hard-earned training. There’s hardly a better Pokémon to reflect Tetsuo Hara’s legacy and the archetypes he helped imagine.
Pokémon’s Tetsuo Hara Collaboration Might Signal Further Future Collabs
Could The Long-Overdue Surge In Popularity Signal More Crossovers Soon?
Star-studded collaborations are hardly a new thing forPokémonTCG. One of the best-sellingPokémoncards of all time isPikachu’s Mario crossover. That’s not to mention the endless run of McDonald’s promos, including a set for the TCG’s 25th anniversary back during theSword & Shieldera. For its most valuable cards, an incredibly lucrative secondary market exists, and it’s only going to be growing now thatTCG Pocketis bringing the mechanics of the TCG to a wave of nostalgic fans and present-dayPokémonlovers.
Besides, in general,Pokémonis renowned for its collaborations—ones that tend to make a lot less sense than the collab with Hara, even. If the TCG continues to explode in recognition, it’s likely that many more collaborations are on the horizon. The Tetsuo Hara collaboration could only be the beginning of a much bigger promo wave. After all,Pokémonis one of the hugest franchises of all time—who wouldn’t want to get in on the action?
