Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and somehow, 30 years later, we’re right back where we started: hunting Pokémon cards.  

On Episode 215 of Adventures in Collecting, Erik and Dave dive into the current state of Pokémon collecting, the massive Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary set, the chase cards commanding absolutely wild prices, and why Pokémon cards have pulled Erik back into the hobby in a BIG way.  

We break down Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, EX cards, Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs), sealed collecting, pull rates and the new 30th Anniversary cards — including a futuristic Mew chase card hitting the market at around $20,000 at the time of recording.  

Erik also recounts his launch-day hunt for the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set at Target and Best Buy, including missing an ETB by ONE PERSON, and explains why he’s keeping his Pokémon Center ETBs sealed.  Then, we rip some packs!  

Dave opens Pokémon cards for the FIRST TIME EVER with two packs of Pitch Black, while Erik cracks into his first packs of the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set. Do either of us pull something big? You’ll have to watch to find out.  

Plus: Erik’s road to New York Comic Con 2026, Dave heads to Toy Insider Holiday of Play, the Adventures in Collecting September G.I. Joe Classified giveaway, and plenty of the usual collecting nonsense.  

What are YOU chasing from the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set? Are you ripping your ETBs or keeping them sealed? Let us know in the comments!

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Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari
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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies

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Pokémon Cards Are INSANE Right Now — $20K Chases, ETBs & Pack Rips

It’s a big week for action figure collectors! On Episode 214 of Adventures in Collecting, Erik breaks down the latest Marvel Legends reveals from Hasbro, the massive G.I. Joe Classified Series Thunder Machine, Mattel’s WWE Ultimate Edition Penta, and more from the world of toys and collectibles.  

Hasbro’s latest Marvel Legends livestream brought plenty to talk about, including Matt Fraction-inspired Hawkeye with Pizza Dog, Earth X Captain America, Marvel Zombies Elsa Bloodstone, Spider-Man in a Doom suit, classic Elektra, Kro, and the return of several Spider-Man: The Animated Series favorites. Plus, we take a closer look at the new holiday Spider-Man inspired by the Ultimate Spider-Man #12 cover and speculate about that mysterious Marvel Legends teaser.  

Then it’s over to G.I. Joe Classified Series for the Dreadnoks’ legendary Thunder Machine! Erik breaks down the massive made-to-order vehicle, its $125 price tag, ordering window, and Hasbro’s changes to how made-to-order purchases are charged.  

Also in this episode: The Tick from Fresh Monkey Fiction and BigBadWorkshop, Marvel Legends Doc Samson, Fantastic Four MCU Marvel Legends, the return of Mary Jane and Aunt May, what Hasbro may be saving for New York Comic Con 2026, WWE Ultimate Edition Penta, and the upcoming Pokémon 30th anniversary.  

 * 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 214 
 * 00:56 — September G.I. Joe Giveaway 
 * 02:43 — Pokémon 30th Anniversary & Pokémon Card Collecting 
 * 06:03 — Fresh Monkey Fiction / Longbox Heroes The Tick 
 * 08:50 — Marvel Legends March Madness & Doc Samson 
 * 11:14 — Hasbro Marvel Legends Livestream 
 * 12:10 — Fantastic Four MCU Marvel Legends 
 * 13:58 — New Marvel Legends Comic Wave & Matt Fraction Hawkeye 
 * 15:48 — Spider-Man Animated Series Retro Card Re-Releases 
 * 17:53 — Why “Background Characters” Matter in Toy Collections 
 * 20:25 — Maximum Carnage & Retro Packaging 
 * 21:27 — Marvel Legends Preorder Details 
 * 21:52 — Holiday Spider-Man & Ultimate Spider-Man #12 
 * 25:38 — Hasbro’s Mystery Spider-Man Teaser 
 * 26:37 — Marvel Legends at New York Comic Con 2026 
 * 27:40 — G.I. Joe Classified Series Thunder Machine 
 * 31:16 — WWE Ultimate Edition Penta 
 * 34:13 — What’s Next on Adventures in Collecting?  

What was your favorite reveal? And what do YOU think Hasbro’s latest Marvel Legends teaser is hinting at? Let us know in the comments!  

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://x.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://youtube.com/@aic_podcast] 

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#MarvelLegends #GIJoeClassified #WWEFigures #ActionFigures #ToyCollecting #Hasbro #SpiderMan #GIJoe #MarvelLegendsCollectors #ActionFigureCollector #ToyNews #PokemonTCG #AdventuresInCollecting

New Marvel Legends, Penta SELLS OUT, and Hasbro Brings Out the Thunder Machine

Another edition of Reel Talk is here — this time we're launching into spooky season properly by taking a look at the Inde (get it?) darling of the year, Obsession. Let's talk about the movie, the impacts it's having on the genre, and pop culture in general!

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]      

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Best Horror Movie of the Year?!? Reel Talk: Obsession (2026) | A Movie Review and Analysis

Erik is laid up and Dave is on vacation — that's OK though.... we're kicking it old school and just talking toys for a bit. Hear about Erik's gruesome surgery | we talk about the new Renaissance of kids meal toys | and Pokemon Cards!   

Bookmark the Planetoid Raiders Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderingplanettoys/planetoid-raiders-retro-style-action-figures?ref=4o8k0k   

Follow Wandering Planet Toys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingplanettoys

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Start creating a podcast today with Zencastr! Learn more [https://zencastr.com/?via=erik].    

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies    

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Erik Gets Surgery and We Talk Pokemon and Happy Meal Toys

It has been A WEEK. From new crowdfund campaigns to preorders and REALLLLY big Transformers figures, let's rundown everything you need to know headed into a new week of toys and the final week of August 2026.

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]  

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies  

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AIC NEWS: Week of August 24, 2026

In toy world of big IP and mass market appeal, who's looking out for the niches with die-hard and under-serviced fans? Why look no further than Wandering Planet Toys. Gavin Hignight founded the company in 2021 and has since produced successful toys for Laurel and Hardy, Nancy Drew, and The Prisoner (to name a few). This week we're chatting about what toys mean to him and what can be expected in their new Planetoid Raiders Kickstarter that's coming in hot!  

Bookmark the Planetoid Raiders Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderingplanettoys/planetoid-raiders-retro-style-action-figures?ref=4o8k0k   [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderingplanettoys/planetoid-raiders-retro-style-action-figures?ref=4o8k0k]

Follow Wandering Planet Toys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingplanettoys  [https://www.instagram.com/wanderingplanettoys]

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]  

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies  

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A chat with Gavin Hignight — Founder of Wandering Planet Toys!

Another edition of Reel Talk is here — this time we're swinging back into the MCU and looking at the latest addition to the ever-expanding MCU, Spider-Man Brand New Day! My Peter is tingling... how about yours?

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]

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Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies

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Reel Talk: Spider-Man Brand New Day (2026) | A Movie Review and Analysis

This week we're joined by returning guest and CEO of The Loyal Subjects, Jonathan Cathey — right on the heels of #SDCC to get an update on what TLS is up to, what's coming, and what's driving change throughout the entire company.   

Follow The Loyal Subjects on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theloyalsubjects

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]

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Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies

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The Art of Making Cool with Stuff The Loyal Subjects' Jonathan Cathey

HOLY SMOKES! SDCC is in the books and there's a lot to bring you up to speed about — while we can't possibly cover all of it here, these are some critical highlights, preorder info, and more you need to know about headed into this week. Strap in. 

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]

Start creating a podcast today with Zencastr! Learn more. [https://zencastr.com/?via=erik]

Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies

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AIC NEWS SPECIAL: 2026 SDCC RECAP

Regardless of coast and regardless of convention, if Bandai is there, you know it's going to be a good time. Between booth experiences, off-site events, exclusives, reveals, and panels, the folks at Bandai know how to have a good time. This year's #SDCC is no exception — find out what's in store across the Bandai, Tamashii Nations, Godzilla, Gundam, and Tamogotchi booths in this conversation with our friends Dave and Justin from Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America!

Get the full rundown of events here:  https://www.bandai.com/News/post/events/bandai-namco-toys-and-collectibles-america-inc-heads-to-san-diego-comic-con-2026

Follow us @aic_podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/aic_podcast], Facebook [https://facebook.com/aicpodcast], X [https://twitter.com/aic_podcast], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeNtqD5fka34ndNJ4kD0zlw]

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Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari

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Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies

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The Bandai Experience at SDCC 2026 with Dave and Justin from Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America

From Funko and WWE to Star Wars, Bandai, Marvel, LEGO, and more, grab the cart and hit the aisles with Dave and Erik as they talk toy news, collecting, culture, and more!

Adventures in Collecting Toy Collecting Podcast