ex Era: ex’s Holos, and Reverse Holos
This era hold some of my favorite art as it showcases an elite selection of artists with dynamic, colorful, and unique styles. I will continue to add to this collection, especially the gold stars and reverses, but I have gotten to a point where I have most of my top arts from each set.
No Power Keepers reverses since the stamp logo is… kinda ugly
No Team Aqua / Magma bc the art style is… not my cup of tea
Till next time!!
Holos and Gold Stars - I generally enjoy getting the holo rares from the first few sets since the reverses are still the e reader style, starting with Hidden Legends I typically picked up the reverse holo rares.
ex Holos - someday I'd like to get a copy of each card in some form. I have a lot of JP exs for their affordability
I’ve updated this section since I moved all my reverses into a side loading zipper binder. Eventually the binder will be filled since I have planned out how many of each set I will have (in multiples of 12). I decided not to organize the binder in any specific way except to group evolution lines to show continuity between artists.
e-Reader, Ruby & Sapphire, Sandstorm, Dragon Reverse Holos - I dont have many of my favorite e reader reverses due to their cost, so sometime I’ll post my non holo e reader binder.
Even though this style reverse is my least favorite from Gen III, there is still some amazing art to appreciate. Some standouts for me are the Kusube’s Slobro, Kusajima’s Golduck, Kimura’s Camerupt, and Komiya’s Whiscash. Favorite: Arita’s Shelgon
Hidden Legends and FireRed & LeafGreen Reverse Holos - HL starts the era that gives every card the true holofoil treatment. It gives common cards with fantastic art a boost to its aesthetics with a subtle touch of increased rarity and challenge for collectors. Discovering and studying artist styles in these sets was so much fun and something I wish I could experience for the first time again.
Hidden Legends is conventionally popular among collectors for its lack of gold stars and somewhat underwhelming ex’s, but the normal card art is still strong throughout. Kusube’s Starmie and Chinchou, Kimura’s Corsola, and Kizuki’s Castform forms are some of my most liked. Favorite: Aoki’s Ninetales.
FRLG is such a banger of a set for obvious reasons, but some of the less popular 151 pokemon really shine here. Komiyas Victreebel line, Umemotos Rats, and Kusube’s Marowak line always get my attention. Favorite: Arita’s Squirtle
Team Rocket Returns Reverse Holos - An E4 favorite, this set exudes sinister, criminal energy…until you get to that togepi! I love the fact that you can still get galaxy swirls in the holo pattern among the array of energy symbols, and its here where we first get gold Pokemon names for the HRare cards and our first set stamp, which are different colors for H rares too.
Way too many amazing art to list one by one but some of the best for me include: Baba’s Magby, Arita’s Marowak, Kimura’s Houndour, Komiya’s Yanma
Favorite: Nakaoka’s Dnite
Deoxys Reverse Holos - I actually really like the reverse pattern for this set and think it really fits well with the concept of Deoxys.
This set is LOADED! Kusube’s terrifying Sableye and wacked out Slugma, Baba’s Starmie, Wakai’s Dusclops (who sadly only has cards from this set), Nakamura’s Karp line, Kusajima’s epic Manectric, and Komiya’s Pelipper were some of my first pickups from this set. Favorite: Kizuki’s Jirachi
Emerald and Unseen Forces Reverse Holos - Ex Emerald is known for being a hodge-podge mess of JP decks and promos, but I really like the set stamp, especially the green on the HRare cards, and the focus on the gen III pokemon gives it some set cohesion. Unseen forces has some of the best variety of great artists in the common uncommon slots, and a really unique reverse holo pattern that creates some cool effects when there are print lines (see: Hitmontop).
For Emerald I think the start trio rares are an awesome set from three great legends of the TCG. The Kaito’s Ray, Jusajuma’s Dodrio, and Kimura’s Swellow all have killer poses.
Favorite: Harada’s Battle Factory
Listing highlights for Unseen Forces is too much but I’m going to do it anyway: Sunflora, Chinchou line, Cyndaquil line, Corsola, Slowking, Electabuzz, Hitmons, and Miltank are all so fun. Favorite: Poliwhirl
Delta Species and Legend Maker Reverse Holos - Delta Species introduced delta pokemon which unlocked a whole new dimension of TCG lore but also creates some really cool card aesthetics and concepts. While I think the reverse holo pattern for the delta species cards aren’t as exciting as the previous sets, the set stamps are still great.
Legend Maker’s reverse holo is simple but super effective, making even the least powerful pokemon feel like OP holos with the galaxy foil treatment. I think this set has my highest completion percentage.
The set cohesion with Delta Species is really what makes it special. I have some slabs that I'll add in here at some point, but there are still plenty of gems to point out - Nakamura's Staryu, Komiya's Sandshrew, and Kusajima's Metang. *Favorite:* Kusajima's Dragonair
Legend Maker was probably my first love when it comes to ex-era reverse holos, and the only set I’d consider completing fully at this point. Kusube’s majestic Girafarig, Himeno’s epic Tentacreul, Kizuki’s playful Graveler and Victreebel, Nakamura’s regal Lunatone, Kusajuma’s menacing Aerodactyl, Komiya’s in-game-setting Keckleon, and Toyama’s heartbreaking Omanytemake my top cut. Favorite: Eo’s Growlithe
Holon Phantoms and Crystal Guardians Reverse Holos - Holon Phantoms - pfew. Just banger after banger with some really powerful 'mons from front to back. Crystal Guardians is another with good set cohesion,
HP, Where to begin? The third page was intentionally mapped to be a gauntlet of terrifying powerhouses you’d see in some romhack’s Elite 4. All the Deoxys forms are epic, especially Attack and Speed. I dont love every Saito card, but the Cradily is awesome. Arita’s Aerodactyl ad Rayquaza, Fukuda’s Kingdra and Kabutops, Himeno’s Belossum and Flygon always catch my eye. Favorite: Kusajima’s Gyarados
As a whole, Crystal Guardians isn’t at the top of my list but there are certainly some standouts to mention. Komiya’s dugtrio and Krabby, Arita’s Swalot, and all of the Kanto starter line cards are very well done. Favorite: Kusajima’s Squirtle, which I happened to pull myself back in the day.
Dragon Frontiers Reverse Holos
And finally, we have Dragon Frontiers. Composted (almost) entirely of delta species, and shows some nice creativity with matching pokemon types and their appearance. When done right, such cards have an extra layer of pop to them (think: Gold Star Delta Species Gyarados!).
Kusajima and Komiya are the real front runners here, with the Wooper, Ninetales, Dratini, Vibrava, Seel, Horsea all in their classic styles. Gotta shoutout Kizuki’s Mantine, and Nakamura’s work in the set too. Favorite: Ledian
Thanks everyone for reading or checking out the photos and I hope I’ve inspired you to check these sets out further, beyond the ex and gold stars that get more of the spotlight. I’ll be updating the holos, exs and gold star sections soon as well, so stay tuned. Until next time.
Cheers!
. I’m hoping to see if you’ll post an ex era update someday with some great artwork/artist appreciation blurbs!
(oh and the artist blurbs will be a plenty!)
