Collecting in this day and age is fueled by community and shared experiences with fellow collectors. More and more new collectors are formed by joining and partaking in breaking platforms like WhatNot and groups on Reddit. GPK collectors have done this for nearly two decades, just with internet message boards and Facebook groups, but these new collecting places are here to stay.
Sam may have a love of coffee houses, but the past couple of years she’s also getting her energy from another type hobby, collecting cards. This Nevada transplant first got the collecting bug with Pokémon as a child in the 90’s. Her childhood collection found its way to another family member as Sam went through college and life. However, just last year, in 2023, Sam would be pulled back into the collecting world. She started by seeing some posts on Reddit for Cardsmith’s Currency Series 1. After joining a subreddit for Currency Series 1, Sam found herself really enjoying being part of that community and watching a new product grow.
Her love of Craniacs happened by chance. While Sam was visiting her parents during Christmas last year, she turned on her favorite WhatNot breaker, Junior at Geekfuel, to show her mom what her new hobby was about. (Yes, that’s the same Junior at Geekfuel that played an important part in the Craniacs Series 0 painting winner.) That night however, Geekfuel wasn’t breaking Currency Series 1, instead they had boxes of Craniacs Series 0. Sam bought a box and found her first ever 1/1, a sketch of Evie. Form that point on she was hooked, “I was floored. I’d never had a 1/1 of anything, ever! And so was born my love of Craniacs.” Sam went on the buy “many more” boxes of Series 0. A few months later she joined the Craniacs subreddit, and has been trading and collecting ever since.
With the release this past summer of Craniacs Series 1, Sam started with a small preorder of 2 Hobby and 2 Blaster boxes from GPK & Wacky Warehouse. This is where she pulled the only redemption in the set for an original Joe Simko painting from their series. “I seriously still can’t believe my luck. At the time I pulled the card I was in shock, and I still am! It was so much fun opening my first boxes of S1.” These boxes were truly a memorable experience, “Pulling the redemption was THE BEST pack-opening experience I’ve ever had!” After this Sam has gone all in on the series, buying master hobby and blaster cases. After turning in the redemption, excitement set in, “I was so anxious for the painting to arrive. I was so happy when I opened the package and saw Libby staring back at me!” Sam has plans to get the painting framed and hung in her house.
Sam has since also started a Garbage Pail Kids Collection this year, thanks to Geekfuel. These communities are proving to be how younger adults become attracted to collecting in this post Covid world. Being able to meet fellow collectors and share like experiences is invaluable, “Nothing can beat having a relatively small group of internet strangers that you trust and can confidently trade cards with! It’s so much fun! I’ve also made some pretty great friends along the way!” After the successful release of Craniacs Series 1, the company has no plans on slowing down. Initial work has begun on Craniacs Series 2, and plans are full steam ahead on a production deal with Titmouse for an animated series. Sam will be a fan for life, “I see myself collecting Craniacs for many years to come. I’m really curious and excited to see how the animated series turns out. I genuinely love the trading card community and the friends I have made along the way, and I won’t be leaving any time soon!”