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Kadabra has been completely absent from the Pokémon Trading Card Game since the year 2000, disappointing fans for the past couple of decades. The reason behind this is thanks to Kadabra’s borrowing of the mannerisms of illusionist and magician Uri Geller. Geller sued Nintendo for using his likeness (and in Japan, a distortion of his name, Yungerer) without his permission back in 2000. Since then, there’s been a silent ban on new Kadabra cards.

Just last Summer, Geller apologized for his actions. He declared that he no longer minded if Nintendo published Kadabra cards, and he even hinted that a new card would be arriving “soon, perhaps as early as December”. Today brings us the next step in this story, and things are looking more confirmed than ever.

According to the gang at PokeBeach, a new “sell sheet” for the “Pokémon Card 151” set mentions that all original 151 Pokémon will be represented. Furthermore, an “Alakazam ex” card is specifically mentioned.

Following this discovery, Geller had even more to say about the situation, and he’s clearly feeling quite apologetic for his original actions.

“Hi my dear friends. I am pleased Pokemon fans are excited to see Kadabra return to the card game. Look, I want to thank the Pokemon fans who reached out to me over the last [few] years. Including the ones from PokeBeach, who kept contacting me nonstop. So basically, it was you and my granddaughters that got me to change my mind. Now we can all see Kadabra reunited with the original Pokemon in the card game this summer. I love you all. And I admit, totally open and honest. I was a fool. It was a devastating mistake for me to sue Pokemon. [Kadabra] was basically a tribute to Uri Geller. But it’s back now. Forgive me. I love you all. Much love and energy.”

[Uri Geller]

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Comments (1)

noxide

1y ago

I think he may have realized that by suing to removing Kadabra for having referenced his work/ character, he in turned removed some of the impact his work has made on the world. Now I'm sure he's thinking how great it is to have something reference him and be enjoyed by children several generations later, very few people in the world get to experience that.