Collect-A-Con 2025: Trading Cards, Throwbacks & Total Vibes
This year, I had the privilege of attending Collect-A-Con 2025 in Edison, New Jersey, where I immersed myself in trading cards, voice actors, and collectibles. Collect-A-Con is considered by many to be one of the nation’s largest conventions for Trading Cards, Anime, and Pop Culture, so I was excited to experience it for myself. While I’m no stranger to conventions, this one had more of a focus on trading cards—where collectors could buy, sell, and trade with others to improve their collections. Furthermore, this convention focused particularly on Pokémon cards.
Arriving at the Expo Center, I immediately noticed that the building was packed from one end to the other. As always, there was diversity everywhere, with people of all ages and backgrounds in attendance. And since this was a convention aimed toward card collectors, it was no surprise that there were booths stacked with trading cards as far as the eye could see, all in perfect condition.
Several voice actors attended the event, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. These performers included Johnny Bosch, Cherami Leigh, Christopher Sabat, Monica Rial, Christopher Judge, and many more. As expected, the lines were long, and people were anxious to meet their favorite voice actors—some even said they had been waiting for hours to get the opportunity to meet their idols.
Collect-A-Con felt like a trip down memory lane. As I walked through the hall, I saw Pokémon cards I had when I was a kid. Pokémon was one of those defining shows of my younger years, so seeing so many cards—both old and new—really put a smile on my face. But the cherry on top was when the original Pokémon theme song started playing and the crowd cheered. There was a dancing Eevee and others dancing and singing along. It was a memorable moment.
But the best part of attending the con was getting to meet voice actor Dan Green. Dan Green, the veteran voice actor for 4Kids TV in the early 2000s. His résumé includes Knuckles from Sonic X and related Sonic games, Mewtwo, Entei, and various Gym Leaders from the Pokémon series and films, and lastly, his most iconic role—Atem, aka Yami Yugi, from the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise.
Fortunate to see that his line wasn’t as long as expected, I wasted no time securing a spot. While waiting, I noticed other fans with Yu-Gi-Oh! items for him to sign, but I had something more original in mind....
When I finally got to the front, I felt confident about meeting him—I already knew what I wanted to say. And when I met him face-to-face, I was happy to show him my original manga, Element Drive. I told him that my main protagonist, Payton, was heavily inspired by Atem—his multi-color hair, and the fact that Payton wears red as a callback to one of Atem’s signature monsters, Slifer the Sky Dragon. Dan Green read a few pages, commented that he “liked the artwork,” and signed it. He also wished me luck on my future endeavors and we fist-bumped—which became the highlight of my convention experience.
SideNote: I was visibly happy that someone who played a major role in my childhood appreciated my work. It was a real morale boost.
Overall, Collect-A-Con was a memorable experience. From seeing collectors of all ages engage in their passion, to the nostalgia of classic shows, to meeting Dan Green—it was definitely a day well spent. The energy was just as lively as one would expect.
I recommend anyone with a passion for trading cards to attend this con as conventions like these serve a powerful purpose: helping people escape into their hobbies and even if trading cards aren’t your thing, I suggest going to meet some of the voices behind your favorite characters as a kid.
