Kenny’s message is clear: he’s worried that mainstream media promoting Pokémon cards as investments is a bad sign. He believes it’s a warning of an oncoming bubble—that the hobby is being overrun by investor-types looking for a quick profit rather than true fans. And honestly? He’s not entirely wrong. But he’s also missing a lot.
📰 Why the Tariffs Matter
Kenny starts with a current economic reality: tariffs and global market instability are pushing people to look for new ways to store value. An article from the New York Post even claimed that tariffs are driving investors to Pokémon and Mickey Mantle cards. Collectibles, the article argued, are being seen as domestic assets—already here, not affected by international trade disruptions.
But here’s where Kenny’s take runs into trouble.
He sees this as a disaster—proof that the Pokémon card market is becoming overrun with greedy investor types. In his view, the focus on monetizing children’s cardboard is the worst thing that can happen to the hobby.
But is it really that simple?
🧠 The Problem with Gatekeeping
I understand Kenny’s frustration. Pokémon is a world of nostalgia, adventure, and fun—watching it become another battleground for flippers and speculators feels wrong. But we can’t ignore that markets are cyclical, and that the line between collector and investor has always been blurry.
In a previous post, “The Hobby We Created: Hype, Scarcity, and Speculation”, I explored how the TCG community itself is partially responsible for the hype that fuels market spikes. From limited print runs to influencer-driven buying frenzies, the drive for rarity is baked into the hobby.
Another of my articles, “Scalpers, Speculators, and the State of the Hobby”, pointed out that the line between a collector and a speculator is often just a matter of timing. Those who hoard sealed products for future resale may not be so different from those who flip the latest hot card.
🕰️ A Lesson from History
Instead of seeing investors as a plague, we should view this as part of a larger cycle—one that has repeated across countless hobbies:
- In the 80s, kids thought their Jose Canseco rookies would pay off their mortgages.
- In the 90s, Beanie Babies were treated like gold.
- Funko Pops had their own boom, riding the wave of pop culture.
And in another article, “The Sealed Product Debate: Balancing Fun and Investment”, I made the point that sealed product has always been a battleground between two opposing forces—collectors who love the art and nostalgia, and investors who see potential value.
But does that make the investors wrong? Or just different?
💡 Collecting and Investing Aren’t Enemies
In “Investing in Pokémon TCG: Profits and Pitfalls”, I talked about how Pokémon cards can be both a hobby and an investment. The key is balance. You can enjoy the thrill of a great pull without turning everything into a stock ticker. You can collect for love while still being aware of market trends.
This is where Kenny’s argument misses the mark. It’s not about driving investors out of the hobby—it’s about understanding that they were always part of it. Some of the greatest collections were built by people who loved the cards but also understood their value.
Instead of saying “go ruin someone else’s hobby,” why not use the platform to educate? Talk about how the 80s Junk Wax Era burned sports card collectors who thought their cards were gold. Point to Ty Beanie Babies and the rapid crash of their market. Show that hype cycles are as old as collecting itself.
🔍 What’s Actually Dangerous
The real danger isn’t that Pokémon is being treated as an investment. It’s that people—both collectors and investors—are walking into it without understanding how markets work.
In “Is It Worth It? A Look at Charizard EX Super Premium Collection”, I explored the tension between those who genuinely love a product and those who hoard it hoping for future profit. The pro
blem isn’t the existence of both groups—it’s the refusal to recognize that each affects the other.
💭 Final Thoughts
Kennyboulder’s video had a lot of heart. He clearly cares about Pokémon and doesn’t want it to be consumed by greed. But simply complaining about investors won’t change anything.
If you love the hobby, show it by educating those who are just getting started. Share stories of the highs and lows of past markets. Encourage people to collect what they love without losing sight of reality.
At Holy Shock, we don’t just chase cardboard.
We chase meaning. The kind that’s found in the stories we tell, the lessons we learn, and the community we build.
⚡ Until next time,
Ruhtra