Mega Charizard X ex Special Illustration Rare

And here’s the winner. We can lament the disastrous state of the Pokémon TCG, and be furious with The Pokémon Company for seeing to go out of its way to make the situation worse, and we can even be utterly horrified that this card is currently selling for $775. Those are all very legitimate positions. But also, if there’s a card that’s going to be one of the most expensive brand new pulls of all time, this one really does deserve it.

Crucially, it’s functionally identical to the other two listed here, and indeed to the $5 regular version, but I could stare at this piece of art forever. If only artist danciao could be on commission, because with this and next January’s Mega Gengar ex, they’d be a billionaire. The more you look at it, the more impressive it becomes, from the lithograph-style line work to the realization that Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard all appear beneath the blue flames and clouds of Mega Charizard X’s dramatic pose. If there’s anything to take away from it, it’s that his head does look a little dislocated until you pick out the neck from the wing, but goodness me, what a card. No, it’s not worth nearly $800, but it’s at least something pretty special.