Our fifth international specimen, from the 2019 set Unbroken Bonds, is a true work of art. This Onix showcases the unmistakable, surreal, and beloved art style of Tomokazu Komiya, an artist famous for his abstract, almost primal interpretations of Pokémon.
Card Details
- Pokémon Name: Onix
- Set: Sun & Moon – Unbroken Bonds
- Year: 2019
- Card Number: 109/214
- Rarity/Edition: Common
- Artist: Tomokazu Komiya
- National Pokédex No.: 095
Card Text & Attacks
- Type: Fighting
- HP: 120
- Attack 1: Land Crush
- Cost: [Colourless][Colourless][Colourless][Colourless]
- Damage: 120
- Weakness: Grass x2
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: [Colourless][Colourless][Colourless][Colourless]
- Flavour Text: It usually lives underground. It searches for food while boring its way through the ground at 50 miles per hour.
Collector’s Notes
The highlight of this card is the unique and abstract artwork by Tomokazu Komiya. His style is often described as childlike, chaotic, or even unsettling, but it is always memorable. He has been illustrating for the TCG since the Neo era, and his work is highly sought after by art-focused collectors.
For our Geological Pokémon exhibit, this card is a masterpiece of artistic interpretation. Komiya has depicted Onix tunnelling through different layers of the Earth’s crust. We can see distinct strata—layers of sedimentary rock—in the background, each with its own colour and texture. The dark blue layer even contains small, fossil-like shapes, suggesting Onix is burrowing through a prehistoric seabed. This isn’t just a picture of Onix; it’s a cross-section of the very geology it inhabits. The art style itself, reminiscent of ancient cave paintings or petroglyphs, further deepens the card’s connection to our geological theme.
