One Creator Is Single-Handedly Cornering the Market on Pokémon's Most Cursed Card
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Content creator Emily Hopkins has built a massive collection of over 300 copies of the infamous 2007 Bonsly Pokémon card, turning a bizarre piece of trading card trivia into a viral community phenomenon.
Content creator Emily Hopkins has turned a niche piece of trading card history into a viral sensation. Over the course of 2025, Hopkins has stockpiled over 300 copies of the 2007 Diamond and Pearl Bonsly card, a specific print that has baffled and amused collectors for nearly two decades. Featuring a crying Bonsly in a somewhat unfortunate pose that prominently showcases its characteristic drainage hole, the card became an accidental internet meme for its stark contrast to the usual polished artwork found in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
What started as a conversation at a local card shop quickly spiraling into a dedicated collection has made Hopkins a fixture of her local hobby scene, affectionately known to staff as the Bonsly Girl. While massive capital usually dictates the high end of modern card collecting, Hopkins has spent roughly $400 acquiring her binder full of standard prints, 20 reverse holos, and even a PSA 6-graded copy. It is a brilliant reminder of the joy found in hyper-specific, community-driven collecting hobbies that prioritize humor and personality over sterile financial investment.
As digital economies and high-value pull videos dominate gaming and streaming culture, stories like this ground the hobby back in pure community fun. Original reporting by Patricia Hernandez over at Polygon details how a single, bizarre design choice from 2007 can capture the imagination of a modern creator and unite a community around a shared laugh. You can read the full story on Polygon.
Tags: Pokemon, TCG, Gaming Culture, Streaming, Collecting
Original article: Polygon