Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman

Launching on Tuesday 17th February at 4pm UK time (11am EST/8am PST)- the latest campaign from A. Haines Playing Cards: Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman.

Combining a long-held love of fantastic creatures with their love of hand-drawn vintage playing cards, the new project from AHPC pays homage to two mythical monsters: from England, the phantom hound Black Shuck, and from the USA, the infamous Mothman, each character being honoured with their own deck of playing cards in a collectable two-deck set, using a colour palette of deep red and black set against aged paper. 

The legend of Black Shuck goes all the way back to the year 1577 when the beast was reported to appear as a terrible form at a village church during a large electrical storm. Reports of the ghostly dog endure up  until the current day, with some witnesses reporting Shuck to be as large as a horse and with burning red or orange eyes, he is often encountered by lone walkers out at night, deep in the countryside of rural Suffolk and Norfolk on the East coast of the UK. 

Mothman first appeared in a graveyard in West Virginia in 1966 and haunted the area around the town of Point Pleasant for a year until the collapse of the Silver Bridge, when he vanished just as abruptly as he had appeared. The legend of Mothman lived on however, and in recent times he has been sighted all across the Great Lakes areas, and is even known to frequent Chicago on a dark, rainy night.  

The courts are original and adapted from a one-way British design, hundreds of years old, here transformed into symmetrical two-way cards for optimum functionality. The entire project is hand-drawn and uses no stock elements or A.I. 

Both decks are housed in matte tuckboxes and printed on premium classic finish by Legends PCC - and available in standard and gilded editions, with Shuck's edges being a matte black and Mothman's being a smooth red. 

Have a look at the pre-launch Kickstarter page here! Early Bird deals will be available during the first 24 hrs of the campaign -  and there will even be one or two extras to look out for on launch day!

Now Available! Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards

Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards are a lavish tribute to an era when opulence was not optional... it was expected. Drawing inspiration from the Baroque period (1600–1750), this limited edition deck by Mark Stutzman channels the grandeur, drama, and ornamental excess commissioned by Europe’s most powerful monarchies. 

At the heart of the deck is a richly reimagined take on Bicycle’s classic Maiden Back. While the original is known for elegance and symmetry, the Baroque edition amplifies it with 17th-century flair. The back design is densely layered with floral motifs, mythical creatures, and angelic figures arranged in perfect symmetry. Metallic gold accents, lace-like borders, and an interior rope frame evoke the look of sculpted plaster ceilings and cathedral reliefs, giving the cards depth and a distinctly old-world presence.

The court cards are where the Baroque theme truly comes alive. Illustrated with ink and watercolor washes, they are fully custom and designed for two-way play. Rather than sticking to the standard four solid color palette, the courts embrace a broader, painterly range inspired by period art. 

Each suit represents a different European monarchy: England (including Scotland and Ireland), France, Denmark, and Spain... reflecting the power struggles, alliances, and rivalries that defined the era. Every court card is captioned, grounding the artwork in real historical figures and inviting deeper exploration of the symbolism behind each character.

The number cards depart from modern conventions in favor of a more archaic aesthetic. Roman numerals replace standard indices, and the elongated, rustic suit symbols are arranged in clusters that feel antique yet readable. This design choice reinforces the deck’s historical tone while maintaining functionality for gameplay.

The Ace of Spades features two mirrored knights locked in a tense sword clash beneath a crown, an image that perfectly captures the uncertainty of power and allegiance during the Baroque age. The “813-ISH” mark pays homage to Bicycle’s original Maiden Back (No. 813), nodding to tradition while embracing reinterpretation. 

The two Jokers are framed to match the courts and presented in a two-way design, one embodying joy, the other sorrow... mirroring the emotional extremes so often depicted in Baroque art.

The tuck box is a statement piece in its own right. Printed by the USPCC on uncoated stock and flooded with warm gold-toned ink, it’s accented with cream and powdery aqua hues. Select decorative elements are stamped in gold foil and subtly embossed, while an additional bronze foil highlights intricate line work. Inside the box, a repeating fleur-de-lis pattern in metallic gold awaits.

Available now on Mark Stutzman's online store for $14.99.

Now on Kickstarter, Mount Olympus Playing Cards

Mount Olympus Playing Cards is a fully custom, mythology-driven deck by Midnight Cards that brings the gods, monsters, and legends of ancient Greece to life through hand-drawn illustration and premium production. Designed by Randy Butterfield, this deck is a personal passion project that blends classical inspiration with modern card design.

Every character in the deck has been hand-drawn. The courts, aces, and jokers were all hand-sketched before being scanned and digitally painted, preserving the organic line work while adding rich color and depth. The result is a deck that feels both illustrative and timeless, echoing the look of ancient manuscripts and mythological art.

The card back design showcases Mount Olympus itself, illustrated in a symmetrical, head-to-head layout ideal for gameplay and magic. Greek border elements frame the artwork, forming a silhouette reminiscent of ancient shields and architectural motifs, reinforcing the deck’s classical identity.

On the face cards, each suit is unified by a subtle sky-toned background within a Greek border—blue for Hearts, orange for Spades, grey for Diamonds, and greenish-blue for Clubs. The court cards depict twelve Olympian figures, including gods such as Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hermes, alongside goddesses Hera, Artemis, Athena, and Aphrodite. 

The aces highlight iconic mythological creatures: Cyclops, Cerberus, Medusa, and the Colchian Dragon... while the jokers feature a vertical version of the Mount Olympus illustration, tying the entire deck together visually.

Kickstarter backers can choose between two tuck box editions, each housing the same card designs inside. The Standard Edition features Zeus on the front and Hades on the back, printed in full color with gold foil accents framing the artwork and text.

The Limited Edition, produced exclusively for Kickstarter and capped at 1,000 decks, elevates the presentation with premium white pearlescent paper, dark green and gold foil detailing, and gold gilded card edges, giving the deck a ceremonial, relic-like presence.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co., Mount Olympus Playing Cards balances artistry and performance. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Year of the Horse Playing Cards by TCC Fashion

Year of the Horse Playing Cards by TCC Fashion welcome the 2026 with an elegant blend of symbolism, craftsmanship, and Eastern aesthetics. Designed as a celebration of new beginnings, this limited edition deck channels hope, momentum, and prosperity... values closely tied to both the Lunar New Year and the spirit of the horse.

The core of the design is the calla lily, a flower traditionally associated with swift success, devotion, purity, and eternity. Its meaning of “flowers blooming at once” runs throughout the deck, lending the artwork a sense of calm confidence and forward motion.

Paired with dynamic horse imagery, auspicious clouds, and flowing floral elements, the composition feels both graceful and powerful. The double-sided symmetrical card back maintains visual balance, while the Eastern-inspired Joker reinforces the cultural narrative.

The tuck and cards are finished with hot foil stamping and embossing, layered to catch and shift with the light. This restrained approach to luxury enhances depth without overwhelming the design, allowing details to emerge naturally as the deck is handled. 

Limited to 2,026 decks worldwide, each set is sealed with an exclusive hot-foil serial-numbered seal, making it a refined yet accessible collectible at $11.95. Available now on TCC Playing Card.