Ser Andrew, I Choose You!

My daughter is obsessed with Pokemon. She and her friends collect the cards, swap them and battle. They play Pokemon on their DSs, they own t-shirts, gadgets and games. And so many cards. When not occupied by all things Pokemon, they read Sgt. Frog, a manga series by Mine Yoshizaki. She and her friends all have Sgt. Frog names. We have baked Sgt. Frog cookies.

Recently, she discovered a website where she could create her own Pokemon cards (for fun) and two of her obsessions met and combined in a series of cards featuring attributes and powers she described using her knowledge of the Sgt. Frog manga series. I sized the images appropriately and printed them out on card stock for her.

I really enjoyed watching her exercise her creativity. Choosing the powers, describing them. She made up her own rules. Essentially, she made her own game.

Then she suggested I make my own set, so I did!

I gathered up my favourite fiction, fan fiction and role play characters, assembled images (some my own art, some commissioned) and created a series of cards. I chose unique powers for them and had a lot of fun reminiscing over their personality quirks. When I had them all printed out and cut to size, I had a unique keepsake, one I’ll treasure. I am not allowed to keep them in a drawer, however. My daughter wants to battle, my cards against hers.

Pictures of some of my favourite cards under the cut.

I love the idea a foe might be disabled by laughter.

And this cute little thing has a devastating rocker launcher.

Yep, lift and separate.

Apparently she can’t spell ‘annoyance’. Bit annoying, eh?

With her unique talent for tripping over shoe boxes, Mickey makes a great forward scout (not).

My mighty Warden.

Siorus is not amused.

My first foray into fan fiction and obsession.

With a power like Joy, who needs anything else?

Reg is good with his hands.

(Original art by me, Desiree Rosa, Anna Martindale and Kay Steele)