Posted in: Card Games, Games, Tabletop | Tagged: pokemon, pokemon cards, Shinya Komatsu, Sword & Shield

Pokémon Trading Card Game Artist Spotlight: Shinya Komatsu

This week's Pokémon Trading Card Game Artist Spotlight focuses on artist Shinya Komatsu who combines a cartoony style with intense detail.

Throughout the years, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has featured a variety of incredible art styles. Now that the hobby has been around for more than a quarter of a century, we have seen the artwork of Pokémon TCG cards elevated by daring new artist choices as well as illustrators who have been veteran contributors since the very first releases. Let's take a journey through the eye-popping, mind-expanding history of Pokémon TCG artwork by exploring some of the hobby's most interesting and unique artists. Today, we will spotlight Shinya Komatsu.

Shinya Komatsu is a new contributor to the Pokémon TCG who specializes in special cards. Of the ten cards that Komatsu has drawn, only four of them are standard cards. The first-ever Komatsu credit was the Octillery Character Rare in Sword & Shield – Brilliant Stars, which was unique for two features: its cartoony style paired with its uniquely detailed backgrounds. Komatsu continued into the next set, Sword & Shield – Astral Radiance, where their Machamp V Alternate Art ended up being the most sought-after and valuable card of the set. The level of fine detail on the card had Pokémon TCG collectors looking more closely at the art than a Where's Waldo drawing. Komatsu included the same level of intense detail in Crown Zenith's Magnezone Illustration Rare.

Komatsu continued with the same level of output in the now-active Scarlet & Violet era, with the focus on Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares at the forefront of their work. The high level of detailing remains on all of their latest credits, including the underwater landscape featured on the Clauncher Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet, the fan-favorite Alakazam ex Special Illustration Rare from Scarlet & Violet – 151, and most recently, the newly revealed Garbodor Illustration Rare from Japan's Ancient Roar set.

Be sure to check Bleeding Cool every day to follow our in-depth Pokémon TCG coverage as we explore the hobby's past, present, and even future with upcoming set reveals.

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