Theory11's X-Men Playing Cards

Theory11's X-Men Playing Cards brings Marvel’s legendary mutant team back to the 1990s, with a vibrant deck inspired by the bold comic-book artwork and larger-than-life style from the 90's.

The deck features completely reimagined artwork throughout, bringing characters including Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jean Grey, Professor X, Magneto, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee into a custom playing card design. Fans can also expect plenty of Easter eggs hidden throughout the deck.

Visually, the cards comes with explosive colors, dynamic comic-inspired graphics, and the energetic look of classic X-Men issues. Each card is designed to feel like a small piece of the mutant universe rather than a standard deck with licensed characters simply added to it.

Inspired by both the classic comics and the renewed popularity of the franchise through X-Men ’97, the deck offers a nostalgic celebration of the Children of the Atom for collectors and fans alike. Available now $12.95 on Theory11.

Blood & Brine Playing Cards, Final Week on Kickstarter

Now on Kickstarter, Blood & Brine Playing Cards plunges into a world where the tides run red with the blood of fallen sailors and the sea never forgets a debt. Illustrated by Jody Eklund, this dark nautical release tells the story of a legendary pirate crew who dared to steal enchanted gold from the sirens. Their reward was not riches, but a curse. Condemned for their greed, they now sail as half-men, half-shadow- suspended between life and death, forever bound to the ocean’s grasp.

At the heart of the series is The Widow’s Wake, a custom deck steeped in maritime folklore and gothic atmosphere. Every element of the deck reflects its narrative foundation, from the hand-illustrated courts to the ornate finishes that feel like treasure hauled from the ocean floor. This is not simply a pirate-themed deck... it’s a fully realized world rendered in ink, foil, and texture.

The project expands the Blood & Brine universe through multiple editions tailored to collectors and card enthusiasts:

The Widow’s Wake Classic Edition features 100% custom and hand-drawn. The courts depict cursed pirates, sirens, and figures from the Blood & Brine saga, while the pips and indices are carefully styled to match the deck’s dark maritime tone. The cards are housed in a deep blue tuck case accented with rich embossing and foil, designed to evoke a relic guarded by the sea itself.

The Widow’s Wake Limited Edition elevates the presentation with cold-foil detailing on both sides of every card, allowing the artwork to shimmer like moonlight on open water. The tuck case is heavily embossed and foiled, transforming it into a display-worthy artifact. A custom-designed seal completes the package, underscoring its exclusivity and collector appeal.

At the top of the line sits the Widow’s Wake Gold Gilded Edition, the most luxurious offering in the cursed fleet. Each deck features gold-gilded edges that flash like freshly plundered coin during fans and spreads. Inside are 56 fully custom, hand-illustrated cards showcasing the saga’s most iconic characters. The tuck box is richly finished with foil and deep embossing, sealed with a custom stamp that marks it as a true collector’s piece. This edition is positioned as the rarest treasure of the release.

The back design centers on a corrupted compass rose that never points home, surrounded by coiled sea serpents and ornate filigree inspired by antique nautical charts. Deep blues, blood-dark accents, and gold detailing give the symmetrical, fully reversible design the feel of a relic dredged from the depths — elegant in motion, yet quietly menacing.

Every card in Widow’s Wake is custom illustrated, from the courts to the smallest pip details. Nothing is standard or borrowed; each flourish is designed to feel like part of a larger legend. The deck is printed on durable, traditional playing card stock with a smooth air-cushion–style finish, offering a familiar snap and flexibility suited for shuffling, flourishing, gameplay, and long-term handling.

Printed by WJPC, pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Odyssey (Exodus Edition) Playing Cards

Futuristic. Minimal. Elegant.

Odyssey Exodus Playing Cards by Feel the Universe features the Odyssey series’ signature minimalist aesthetic while introducing a futuristic, sci-fi-inspired narrative based on an ancient civilization from deep space.

Face designs uncorporates futuristic borders, while the iconic diagonal stripe on the back balances simplicity with modern elegance. Odyssey Exodus offers a visually striking experience for collectors, magicians, and cardists alike

The black tuck case is detailed with gold and stunning copper foil, reflecting the blend of advanced technology and cultural complexity.  Printed by Hanson Chien Production Co.

Bicycle Capcom Fighting Legends Playing Cards

Designed by Hinanana, the Capcom Fighting Legends Playing Cards are a vibrant celebration of Capcom’s iconic characters, created in collaboration with Bicycle.

These cards, along with their suits and the intricately designed box, feature stunning original illustrations.  Each suit is uniquely dedicated to a legendary Capcom franchise: ♣: Street Fighter, ♠: Red Earth, ♥: Darkstalkers, and ♦: Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness.

Each character is depicted in Western apparel, with the suits and aces meticulously designed to reflect the spirit of their respective titles. This thoughtful attention to detail brings out everything that makes these characters so special while preserving the timeless feel of classic playing cards.

The tuck box itself is a standout feature, designed from scratch rather than following the standard template, adding a personal touch that elevates the entire collection.

Fans of the Capcom universe will delight in discovering their favorite characters reimagined in a deck of playing cards. Available now from FanGamer for €22.

Issue 84 of Kardify Mag Released!

Issue 84 of Kardify Magazine has just been released on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-April to mid-May. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Space Suits: Meadowlark takes you on a nostalgic journey to the retro era, to the age when children idolize space heroes of a galactic adventure.

+ Odd Fellows ‘The Dude’: The latest addition to the renowned Odd Fellows series, designed by the talented Lorenzo Gaggiotti in collaboration with Penguin Magic. Check it out!

+ J&T: Crown Edition 2: This luxurious deck embodies the perfect fusion of practicality and aesthetic appeal, drawing inspiration from life, death, and stoicism.

+ Sushi: Take a look at BaoBao Restaurant’s latest addition to their food-themed decks, this time, representing the beloved delicacy from Japan.

+ New 1982 VHS: Inspired by the nostalgic charm of 1980s VHS tapes, this retro-themed deck by Kings Wild is sure to evoke memories of late-night movie marathons and rewinding tapes.

+ Ten in One Black Collection: Take a look at the latest addition to Dave Koenig’s vintage carnival-themed set of playing cards.

 + Odyssey Elite V2: After 5 years, Feel the Universe has launched the ELITE V2 with new designs on the faces and is enhanced with elegantly aesthetic borders that elevate its overall appearance. Check it out!

+ Dan and Dave’s Work Released to the World: Dan and Dave made a significant decision that will impact the cardistry world. Find out more!

… and more! 46 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Odyssey Elite V2 Playing Cards

After 5 years, Feel the Universe has launched the ELITE V2 on Kickstarter. The deck stunning new designs on the faces and is enhanced with elegantly aesthetic borders that elevate its overall appearance.

This edition is among the most futuristic deck of cards so far. Setting itself apart from other decks, the Odyssey Elite edition boasts an exquisite and unique tuck case with a diagonal opener and magnetic closer.

Inside, the deck features 52 custom playing cards plus 2 Jokers, perfect for cardistry, magic, poker, or any card game. The back design embodies minimalism and futurism, with vivid red coloring and stylish borders that complement the overall theme. The iconic diagonal stripe remains, evoking a sense of elegance and modernity.

Inspired by sci-fi culture, the court cards are armored and mechanized, reflecting a vision of the future that is perfectly balanced and luxurious. The jokers feature a modern design that encapsulates the “Feel the Universe in your hands” philosophy.

The tuck case of the Odyssey Elite V2 deck is a standout feature, boasting a unique diagonal opener and sophisticated design. Enhanced with magnets for a satisfying opening and closing experience, the tuck case is crafted from thicker, more resilient cardboard to maintain its pristine condition over time.

Printed by TCC Playing Card, the Odyssey Elite V2 deck utilizes exclusive ELITE paper stock and finish. Available NOW on Kickstarter for $18.

Odyssey KHAOS Edition Playing Cards

Feel The Universe Card Co. has once again collaborated with TCC Playing Card Co. for their latest deck on Kickstarter. The Odyssey KHAOS edition playing cards will be the first Odyssey deck with UV light ink on the cards.

The card backs are extracts from the digital artwork of Dimitri Thouzery. Using 3D rendering technology, a random algorithm has been programmed to simulate a network of entropy and destruction that grows, changes shape, and evolves. The card backs still come with the iconic diagonal line.

Each face card has its own design and simulates the small windows into the darkness. Some will be more vibrant or darker than others.

Once again, the tuck case comes with the characteristic details of Odyssey in black foil on black matte paper. The tuck case may look simplistic, but when the light reflects at the right angle more details will be revealed.

Printed by TCC PLAYING CARDS Company and available now on Kickstarter for $16. Limited to 3000 units.

Genesys, The Most Ambitious Odyssey Deck Now on Kickstarter

Feel The Universe Card Co. in collaboration with TCC Playing Card Co. launched on Kickstarter, the most ambitious Odyssey Playing Cards ever! For this campaign, there are 3 different Odyssey editions- Black & Silver, White & Gold, and Holo Edition. 

 

Odyssey Genesys is inspired by high minimal shapes with futuristic design elements. The luxury is presented with impressive materials and tonalities like gold, silver, and holographic. According to the campaign page,

This is not just a foiled deck of cards... this is again a totally different way to Feel The Universe but keep the essence of our brand.

The fully custom decks feature the iconic diagonal stripe line on the tuck case and card backs. The new diagonal line looks bold and futuristic in tier respective foil colorway. The courts have been updated and they look impressive. 

Combining futuristic touches with the minimal design, metallic plates conforms to the armor and weapons of the royals. The classic ace design has also been updated with Genesys aesthetics. 

  

Genesys has maybe the most impressive case design ever created for an Odyssey deck. The elegant tuck case showcases a Gold and Silver foil combo on black and white matte paper, making the tuck a piece of art on its own. Simple but sophisticated. 

Printed by TCC PLAYING CARDS Company and available now on Kickstarter for $16. Add-ons such as the limited edition (of 500) gilded Prime500 collector set, uncut sheets, and trainers are available during the campaign. Don't miss out!

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Feel the Universe Has Just Dropped Odyssey Karma

Feel the Universe has just dropped Odyssey Karma playing cards on their online store. Going back to its roots, the new deck is inspired by nebula and designed with cardists in mind. 

The vibrant nebula color palette accentuates card flourishes and displays, fans, spins, and cascades look incredible! 

The Karma edition features custom modern suits, aces, sci-fi courts, and 2 custom Jokers. The vibrant color palette is consistent across the deck and the iconic diagonal white stripe is prominently featured on the card backs. 

 
The deck is packaged in an eye-catching nebula tuck case with a wraparound design and adorned with striking rare pearl foil. The Karma edition definitely maintains the futuristic and sci-fi look and feel from the previous editions. 

 
The Odyssey Karma Edition will be produced by Feel the Universe Card Co. Limited edition of 2000 units, one of the most exclusive and limited Odysseys. Available now on feeltheuniverse.com for €14.95.

This story first appeared on crdstry.com and is republished with permission.

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Odyssey Exodus Launched on Kickstarter. Funded in 3 Hours!

Feel The Universe Card Co. set out to raise $8,500 for the Odyssey Exodus Edition Playing Cards, and quickly hit their funding goal in 3 hours on Kickastarter! The latest addition to the Odyssey series maintains the futuristic and minimalist look from the previous editions. 

Exodus comes with a black tuck case adorned with gold and copper foil. Inspired by sci-fi, the design is based on an ancient civilization from deep space. The complexity of the ancient cultures combined with the futurism and minimalism of the advanced civilizations. 

With the new narrative, the face designs have been updated along with futuristic borders. Once again, Feel The Universe Card Co. has maintained its iconic diagonal stripe and combines minimalism and futurism to create a simple yet aesthetically stylish card back. 

Pledge for the Odyssey Exodus Edition starts at $13 on Kickstarter. Don't miss out!

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First Look at Odyssey Exodus Edition Playing Cards

Odyssey Exodus Edition Playing Cards are the most complex deck in the Odyssey series. The deck maintains its futuristic and minimalist look from the previous editions. 

Exodus comes with a black tuck case adorned with gold and copper foil. Inspired by sci-fi, the design is based on an ancient civilization from deep space. The complexity of the ancient cultures combined with the futurism and minimalism of the advanced civilizations. 

 

With the new narrative, the face designs have been updated along with futuristic borders. Once again, the back design demonstrates how minimalism and futurism can be combined with a striking colorway to create a simple yet aesthetically stylish card back. 

Like every edition, Feel The Universe Card Co. has maintained its iconic diagonal stripe. The Odyssey Exodus Edition is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter on February 12th.

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Kickstarter: Omen (Pirate Edition) Playing Cards

It's been a while since we've seen a pirate-themed deck on Kickstarter and out of nowhere, the team at OMEN Playing Cards released a fully custom deck based on fantasy pirate's world. This is definitely a different style from their deck, OMEN Revolution.

OMEN Playing Cards has been created with the vision of bringing a new style of playing cards. OMEN is defined by its unique and innovative design, as well as its exclusive protector cases in each edition. The drawing style of the Pirate Edition is characterized by its designer Dave Navarro and aims to transmit the vision fantasy world to all playing cards lovers in an amazing Pirate's adventure.

The card backs feature a combination of the most iconic objects of the fantasy pirate's world. The rudder in the center symbolizes the letter O of OMEN in reference to our brand, which is represented in each edition. The faces have been updated to suit the pirate theme; their traditional and broken shapes allow a perfect understanding of the clubs and maintain a balance between the classic and our style.

The four aces are quite prominently displayed in the deck. They are larger and contain a special design that reflects the style of the deck. The figures have been meticulously designed and illustrated for each of the suits and figures.

Each pirate has its own story within this particular fantasy universe. Finally, with the OMEN logo in the center and wrapped by the Kraken, the jokers are the signature cards of this Pirates Deck.

The team OMEN aims to innovate and therefore provides you with its special OMEN Deck Case. Each edition seeks to create a unique deck case set in the specific theme and usable with any other deck of playing cards. The Pirates Edition box is designed to simulate a beautiful wooden chest, with gold ornaments and diamond details. The key lock is hidden when the box is closed but visible from the inside. The inner printing is a wooden texture just like a treasure chest.

The deck will be printed by Hanson Chien Production Co. on Vintage Paper Stock with Legendary Finish, just like OMEN Revolution Edition. Also, a special pirate's coin made of zinc alloy is available as an add-on. The unique and antique gold finish makes it feel real and its size is like a half-dollar coin.

Pledge starts at $14 on Kickstarter.

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Kickstarter: 7 Questions with Maciej Frolow of Victorian Playing Cards

Victorian Playing Cards is an intriguing deck combining the old and the new in historic Victorian-inspired design. The deck is currently over 160% funded on Kickstarter with .. to go. Designed by Maciej Frolow, the deck features fretwork patterns, with gold and silver arabesques, floral lines, and curves.

The main idea of the deck is to replace the traditional court cards with symbols: scepter for the king, rose for the queen, and pistol for the jack. The color of the suits has been updated: copper for the red and silver for the blacks. This makes the various design elements and patterns do stand-out against the black cards. The mirrored card backs are filled with a dense copper and silver pattern which also integrates two card symbols. The deck is packaged in an elegant tuck box with embossed and embellished in silver foil!



Last week, we had a chat with Maciej about his design background, inspiration, and design process behind the Victorian Playing Cards.

For those of us who don’t know, can you tell us about yourself and what is your design background?
I was born in Poland, moved to France at the age of nine, and still going back and forth between those two countries. I get cultural influences from both of them. About work, I’m a self-taught freelance illustrator using 3D tools instead of traditional pencil and pen 😉 I’m working with advertising agencies, magazines, and scientific & medical clients for 25 years now creating photorealistic images and animations. My influences are from Japanese manga, French comics, American movies, and of course a lot of illustrators like Syd Mead, John Howe, Rodney Matthews, Paul Bonner, concept art designers Like Doug Chiang or Daniel Simon and many many more.

Can you describe Victorian Playing Cards and why you’re passionate about it?
Working for advertising or magazines is based on short projects with limited diffusion so all ends to be some kind of virtual. I wanted to spend more time on a project which people can enjoy and cards came naturally.

For the description, I’ll refer to what I wrote “The project main idea is to replace the traditional court cards by symbols: scepter for the king, rose for the queen and pistol for the jack. Other cards stay as usual. The colors are copper for the red and silver for the blacks. The background is black with a victorian pattern.“



As my passion is 3d modeling, in fact sculpting in virtual clay, for those who don’t know the term. Spending long hours creating the patterns, sculpting the shapes, working with textures, lights, and how they react to each other, with no deadlines and no constraints is what I love to do. With hope, the final result will be eye-catching and pleasant

Walk us through the process you took to design the deck. How did you come out with the idea and how did you get to this finished product?
In fact, I came to the idea by planning another deck which involved crazy amounts of time, people and money and about which I’ll talk more one day. In short, it was real people in costumes a with 3D generated backgrounds. An idea we had with my associate Vincent Corlaix who is a great storyteller and with him, we are creating a bunch of fantasy worlds and ideas for next projects.

For the process first I established the color palette, I wanted something very limited in colors. So I chose copper for hearts & diamonds and silver for spades & clubs. Black background with a Victorian pattern given to all an elegant look. As second I worked on the shapes of the scepters which each fit the symbol on the top of it.

What was your most brilliant breakthrough when designing the deck?
I think as in the description above, by replacing the traditional court cards with symbols. Something interesting which is not so far from the original concept and communicates immediately what “function” the court card does. It can be turned into many different ways.

With so many playing card projects competing for funding, why should potential backers choose your deck?
I think because most of the decks use traditional two-dimensional techniques instead of 3D rendering which I used. You should know there is no photoshop used there for anything else than color correction. Also because they will be printed by NPCC. By seeing what they created and spending a lot of time speaking with Roman I have no doubt the result will be awesome. Also, I feel really lucky as I meet Max (from Max playing cards) who decided to help me in this campaign preparation process which I did know absolutely nothing. He told me that he believes in this project and treats it like it was his own which is great. So with such support, I’m confident this is a good project.


What’s next? Can we expect more deck designs in the future?
Yes, I have many ideas that will come from my twisted mind and from the Galaeth universe we are creating with Vincent, especially one which will continue the concept of replacing the court cards figures by symbols but in a much more extended way. It will be a steampunk style deck. I’m showing you just two card sketches. The Jack of Diamonds and the back of the cards. The background story of those cards is huge and you’ll discover it soon.

Finally, what are your favorite playing cards?
Those with elaborated graphics, surprised? 😉 Wicked Kingdom by Wilie Becket – Dark and twisted beautifully executed illustrations, LUMINOSITY Playing Cards – Just awesome and Vonnart Illustrated Playing Cards – I’m actually backing this one as it’s still running on Kickstarter.

Thank you for your time Maciej and congratulations on the quick funding. If you like what you've read here and want to support Victorian Playing Cards, you can find it on Kickstarter Here! 


The deck will be printed by NPCC on 310 gsm premium German linen card stock. Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

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