The rare collectibles industry has attracted a cult following. Some of them won’t bat an eye when asked to pay tens of millions of dollars for an otherwise insignificant item. From game-winning sneakers to record-breaking home runs, the business is thriving like never before by delivering memorabilia directly to these rabid, avid fans. But many of pop culture’s most coveted artifacts pale in comparison to the Black Lotus, the holy grail of early ’90s hunting cards. Produced by Rhystic Studies, the eponymous documentary examines the phenomenon of collecting through the prism of the elusive piece of cardboard.
The Black Lotus is the most valuable item in Magic: The Gathering, a trading card game that first launched in 1993. This map was a valuable find many years ago. Now, 25 years later, the game has earned millions of fans worldwide and is more popular than ever. reason? its rarity.
The Black Lotus is part of the Reserved List, a collection that is no longer in print so as not to affect its value to the original owner. Over a thousand limited-edition cards change hands frequently among avid collectors. Recently auctioned on eBay, it fetched a whopping $87,000. With so many at stake, counterfeiting is a problem. A savvy buyer examines these cards like a skilled jeweler, scrutinizing every feature to determine their authenticity.
We have heard the voices of many players who have successfully obtained the cards, and they all showed the ultimate sense of accomplishment for the cards. The movie was crafted by a devoted fan of the game; as such, his tone is very insightful and respectful.
Fans of Magic The Gathering will love every bit of historical detail presented in the film; others less accustomed to the culture may feel a little lost. Still, “Black Lotus” is a riveting portrait of a global community willing to sacrifice sanity and practicality for the most mundane things in pop culture.
