I also really like both this Kingler and Sudowoodo artwork. I actually once (very briefly) considered collecting Sudowoodo simply because of this artwork (happy I never did, since I already have trouble keeping up with my other collection goals). And although I’ve always liked Kingler in both the anime and as cards, this artwork is for some reason also among my favorites. Can’t exactly explain why, since there isn’t too much going on, but the pose and holofoil just fits.
I really get what you mean with that Kingler.
Also, that was a cool little story about the Sharpedo! It’s always nice to read about people having a connection to cards that generally get overlooked.
I know it looks like a meme, but I honestly love slowpoke solely because of this gem of an artwork. Basically just one day back in high school, my friends and I were looking through cards, and for some reason, this one caught our eye and made us laugh way too hard at the thought of someone deciding to draw such a simplistic thing and the fact that it is now a famous artwork. Not to mention the fact that slowpoke, a water pokemon, is in the middle of a field with zero water in sight. Definitely something a derp pokemon would do. But I genuinely love slowpoke now because of it. I don’t collect his cards in particular, but the ones I like, I get a bunch of. Playmat, and McDonalds 2002 to be specific. maybe someday I’ll do a slowpoke collection, but I’ve gotta do a pidgey one first it seems haha!
I always liked the Cubone-Marowak evolution. Cubone has received some great WOTC art (Jungle, Expedition, Aquapolis) but Marowak seemed to lag behind a bit. This changed with TRR:
I love how they blended the tail into looking like an erupting volcano with his tail looking like flowing lava. Charmander looks so stoked on it, and the more realistic drawing of the trees makes me love this artwork.
Pikachu is…Pikachu. Always viewed him a the “buddy” pokemon; he’s always got your back and has moments where he can be tough, but nothing too crazy. This artwork made me go “Damn, Pikachu’s kind of a bad ass” for the first time.
This one really made me sit up and notice Reshiram properly for the first time. The medieval drawing style of art has major Ancient Mew vibes and really helps to drive home the idea of Reshiram as this ancient creature from Unova folklore. The inclusion of the Light Stone in the top left of the artwork also helps sell the feeling that this drawing is telling a story of the legendary fire dragon.