Anyone Else Not A Fan Of Modern Cards? (Full Arts)

[modbot]

@buckna

28 does not make you an older collector.

Modern cards are the lifeblood of the hobby, always have been and always will be.

Try out Japanese if you are upset with modern English.

haha I understand that I am not old and that when I was a kid many that were much older than me were collecting. I only say that because I have been called old when playing online video games the last couple of years which blows my mind.

I will say the Shiny Star V set does have some cards that I do like. The issue I am having is the markup to obtain one. Any recommendations for a place that sells Japanese booster boxes at decent prices? I am sure you were likely speaking of singles which I know you can get on eBay for at least a decent price if you look.

[modbot]

@mykel

With full arts in particular, I didn’t like them at all in Sun & Moon until the alternate full art tag teams. The smooth CGI drawings on top of a flat, solid colour background looked terrible to me.
But when the background design changed both in TEU-CEC for tag teams, and then for all full arts in SWSH-on, I found those all great.

With modern in general, there is just so much stuff, that I find it hard to believe someone could hate all of it. From the great commons/uncommons in English sets, all the shiny sets, the English and Japanese promos, there’s so much unique and different stuff someone could find enjoyable. I can’t even keep up, so I stick to my favourites.

Do you have a couple favorite cards from the modern sets? I would love to take a look at which ones you are referring to. Also, I do agree that there is a ton out there. With WOTC I have been going for almost complete sets (not realistic for me I dont think but at least attempting). For modern I will likely be much more picky about what makes it into the collection.

[modbot]

@mikejofthecoast

I’m also 28. And I, too, am not into full arts at all. If they stopped making them completely and just went back to having holo rares with the cosmos holo pattern i’d be a real happy camper.

Cosmos was introduced in Base Set 2 right? All of my cards were Base Set Unlimited growing up but I recent did get some Base Set 2 in a lot and the holo pattern is beautiful. (If that is what you are referencing.)

[modbot]

@pfm

I think they are great. You’ve probably never held one before, and if you have well… I guess you can’t please everyone.

I have, when I bought the 30 packs from a local card shop I did get a couple. At first I was like oohaah at the shine but it quickly faded and I do not find myself enjoying them as much. I can definitely understand why other do like them though. Perhaps they will grow on me with time.

[modbot]

@anon83099482

Kind of indifferent towards Full Art Pokemon (with the exception of tag team alt arts, which I love), but I think Full Art Supporters consistently have some of the best art that the game has ever produced.

By supporters are you referencing trainer cards? That I may agree with I did think many (not all) of the older trainers were pretty boring. Is Tag Team a solo set or is that something that has been across multiple sets now?

[modbot]

@squirtle1000

I grew up with all the originals too, so I understand your perspective.

Personally I really like both vintage and modern, so I collect both. There are some full arts that I think are sensory overload, but for each one of those I can point to several others that I think look amazing.

Maybe as you get more used to the modern cards you’ll develop more interest in them, but if not that’s fine too.

I agree with this. I think my head just has this idea of what pokemon cards are and are not which was instilled in my head as a kid. Since I have not looked at them for close to 20 years it just seems foreign. May be something that I will adapt to.

[modbot]

@tkerbs

Modern isn’t just about full arts, it just depends on what you like. If you like vintage holos there are some modern equivalent. Evolutions, half art hidden fates are simple, some japanese promos are amazing too. Its all about finding stuff theres so many different things going on in pokemon now

I do like some of the Evolutions cards. Granted the ones that have the same art as original I would rather have the original but I do like some of the secret cards like the mew in that set. I also do like some of the Shiny Cards in both Shining Legends and Hidden Fates. Those are probably my favorite two modern sets.

[tkerbs]

Yess, I think the half art texture cards are so simple and nice. I really dig a lot of the unique japanese arts too it gives them more of a premium to me

[modbot]

@trainerjack

I’m not the biggest fan of Rainbow full arts either, but I have always loved full arts since they arrived in BW. Just seemed like an evolution of Pokemon cards to me haha. Not all of them are bangers but neither is every holo from WOTC or ex from the original nintendo era and so on. Some amazing full arts that come to mind are Shining Legends Mewtwo GX and Flashfire Charizard EX. In the end like you said different strokes, collect what you like and welcome back to the hobby!

Here are the cards I mentioned if you were wondering:

Thank you for your response and your overall kind tone. That Mewtwo is one that I have seen mentioned by quite a few people and I agree it is a pretty awesome looking card. I do not think I have seen that variation of Charizard but it is much better than some of the others I have seen. Also, that is a very valid point. There are some vintage cards that I am like meh just not doing it for me. I can also appreciate your use of the word “bangers”. Ask anyone on my team at work and I use that to describe quite a bit of things in my day to day.

Cheers!

[tkerbs]

I think the rainbow rares are semi over rated tbh, they look really good with full pages in binders but for example the full art trainers i prefer the colored ones by far

[bluerogue]

Totally agree with those that are calling out the tag team alternate arts as being really great. I personally appreciate both vintage and modern. I do find that that some of the original WotC cards are a little bland, but it’s hard to beat the nostalgia. That said, some of the modern cards that are 3D look pretty bad.

[tkerbs]

The ones with plain red/blue/whatever the color the pokemon is looks really bad, like that charizard full are with the plain red back looks so bland

[modbot]

@effectspore

I like modern more than WOTC cards. With modern there is so much better artwork, always something new coming out. The Full Art cards are literally a piece of artwork. (Isn’t that why we buy cards for the artwork? Not like most here read their cards).

WOTC is really boring. The same 300ish cards. Stock Ken image artwork. Ugly Base Set foil. I don’t see why people only collect WOTC. Really feel sorry for them

I definitely disagree with this. IMO Southern Islands, and some of the Black Star Promos are awesome. Also the artwork does evolve quite a bit in the Gym Hero/E-Reader Series. I feel those cards did not need to try so hard to be something special.

I do think some of the full arts are nice (the scream series is pretty epic) but the simplicity of the WOTC era is quite beautiful to me. Then again if we are talking about these cards as art it makes sense we would have different tastes or opinions. I can go into a gallery with paintings that sell for millions that many love and not like the art because it is completely subjective. Which in a way is the beauty of art.

[cooltrainert]

@anon83099482

Kind of indifferent towards Full Art Pokemon (with the exception of tag team alt arts, which I love), but I think Full Art Supporters consistently have some of the best art that the game has ever produced.

I agree, the Tag team arts have really grown on me. I feel partial to the Gen 1 and Gen 2 pokemon that have the Full Art cards.

[trainerjack]

@modbot, It’s awesome you took the time to respond to so many people. Glad you liked my use of bangers. I’m the same way I use it all the time.

[modbot]

@fischerman2

Returning 31 year old collector here and I have a hard time with modern because I have no clue who these new pokemon are!! I think the full arts look awesome but without that nostalgic warm fuzzy feeling I get when holding a mint card from childhood. That Mewtwo GX is doing something for me though, are there multiple Gen 1/2 pokemon in the modern sets?

This ^^ may be half of my issue. When I collected there were 151 Pokemon then towards the end Gen 2 came out and I am at least somewhat familiar with them. However when I open modern packs I am like dont know, dont know, dont know etc. Now that is definitely not Pokemon’s fault since I fell out of the hobby but you may have a point. I did see a full art Alakazam that I thought was absolutely beautiful.

[modbot]

@elshod

@effectspore

WOTC is really boring. The same 300ish cards. Stock Ken image artwork. Ugly Base Set foil. I don’t see why people only collect WOTC. Really feel sorry for them

I collect both, but Ken Sugimori’s “ugly and boring” pen and watercolor is my favorite art in Pokémon. You don’t have to feel sorry for people with different tastes than your own.

I also love Ken Sugimori’s work. I think having a difference of opinion is one thing but the response was an unnecessary blow to others that may have (a more refined palette) lmao I couldn’t help myself with that one.

[modbot]

@azulryu

I mostly have an issue with the 5ban like stuff though they seem to slowly be getting better. There are also some exceptions where the 5ban motif works. I’m also not as big of a fan of “clean” art, where lines, shading, and everything is perfect - every curve is a curve, every line is a line kind of deal. I tend to like rougher designs that gives the sense of charm but I recognize that as an aesthetic preference.

I imagine there will come a point, at some point, where 3D/CGI art reaches another level or they’ll get experimental with designs overall. Imagine a real-life Pokemon printing where the texture of a Full Art matches the scales of a Gyarados, or the fur of a Meowth.

At the end of the day, let’s just all remember. If a card exists, there’s a likely chance that it’s loved by someone.

I apologize but would you happen to have an example of a 5ban card? Not sure if I am completely sure what that is. Haha having a furry or scale-like card is something I think I could adapt to. Shoot maybe they will even make them scratch and sniff were a gyrados card smells like the ocean

Totally, different strokes which is also a huge plus. If we all loved the same cards how boring that would be. I like that everyone has their own tastes and personal goals.

[brendantheclayboy]

@modbot

@brendantheclayboy

You are very much not alone. We get in (heated) discussion about it here frequently. E4 consists of all kinds, many vintage exclusive, many modern exclusive, and many who collect all.

I am english and japanese vintage only. I like hand drawn art, and as a huge exception, early Kinebuchi because of its originality and novelty, and artistry. Modern not only is a sea change difference from the original era but it is also largely consisted of these styles with the sheen/finish you speak of that I personally am not into. To much blandness, too much lack of uniqueness, etc.

I was hoping not to open a can of worms but it does seem some feel very strongly about what is better.

Do you know what ERA they stopped with hand drawn art? Where any of the early sets from Nintendo hand drawn? I recently picked up the Southern Islands set and I am absolutely in love with the art. Even going after many of the old black star promo cards from the WOTC era there are many unique options. I never collected Japanese as a kid, but recently picked up a few and almost won the auction for a complete Rocket Gang set two days ago (I was so close). My main incentive for Japanese is two fold, overall, they are cheaper than their english counterparts, there are some exclusives (band cards, cd promos, vending machines) and the cards really seem so much easier to find in better condition. I have heard this is due to both card stock and just stricter guidlines in the factories which I am a huge fan of. Since I do not play the game and just collect the artwork is gorgeous either way (even if I cannot read the card).

It’s fine, don’t worry at all. Everyone who is passionate is going to be intense about their interests. They aren’t done with hand drawn. It is still done on occasion. But WOTC era (the original few years) and the Japanese original era were almost exclusively hand drawn, and have the aesthetic I value as an artist myself. They still do hand drawn but it is dwarfed by the huge amount of CG they do. And most of the hand drawn of today that does happen is a different style and pokemon design. It’s just different. I like a few of the original artists conceptual Mon and card design the most. And early nintendo stuff has plenty of hand illustration. It was over time they started to stray further from that classic style. Neo Destiny in particular is a great set because it shows you can bring in different artists, do all hand drawn and paint and get wildly different design and aesthetic. It’s not like you can run out of styles doing it. They just wanted to develop a new layout and look.

Southern islands rules! It is also WOTC era. And Japanese? You nailed it by mentioning the exclusives. That’s what it is all about. Coro Coro, vending, carddass, natta wake promos, CD, set exclusives, you name it. All so so good. Yeah, higher quality control, some better manufacturing processes. Also the aesthetic with thinner borders and a few other things are amazing. I can’t read Japanese either. It is all about art work for me.

[modbot]

@tkerbs

I think the rainbow rares are semi over rated tbh, they look really good with full pages in binders but for example the full art trainers i prefer the colored ones by far

When I got back into this and saw the rainbow rare chonky Pikachu I thought it was sick because I thought it was just something they did for that card. Then I realized there are a ton of rainbow rares. The rainbow pattern is pretty sure but it hides alot of the details from the illustration.