Adventures in Collecting Toy Collecting Podcast

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
https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/
Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network

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, Facebook, X, and YouTube
Start creating a podcast today with Zencastr! Learn more. https://zencastr.com/?via=erik
Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari
https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/ Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network
#MarvelLegends #GIJoeClassified #WWEFigures #ActionFigures #ToyCollecting #Hasbro #SpiderMan #GIJoe #MarvelLegendsCollectors #ActionFigureCollector #ToyNews #PokemonTCG #AdventuresInCollecting

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]
Shop AIC Merch [https://aicpodcast.dashery.com]
Start creating a podcast today with Zencastr! Learn more [https://zencastr.com/?via=erik].
Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/
Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network [https://non-productive.com/]

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
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 https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/
Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network [https://non-productive.com/]

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]
Start creating a podcast today with Zencastr! Learn more. [https://zencastr.com/?via=erik]
Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/
Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network [https://non-productive.com/]