TIME magazine releases special Pokémon covers

Ancient gamers like myself remember when TIME magazine first put Pokémon on its cover all the way back in 1999. At that time, TIME wasn’t all that positive on the franchise, and instead leaned into unfounded concerns in order to stir controversy and sell issues. The cover put Pokémon front-and-center, but also included the following blurb:

For many kids it’s now an addiction: cards, videogames, toys, a new movie. Is it bad for them?

TIME knew exactly what they were doing with their coverage, and it helped fuel a small, but loud backlash to all things Pokémon at the time. Now, nearly 25 years after their initial feature, TIME is finally setting things right.

TIME has released not one, but four different covers that once again put Pokemon in the spotlight. The cover variants include Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and of course Pikachu, but the contents in each magazine is the same. The special issue breaks down 25 years of Pokémon, looks at the brand’s popularity across the world, and also includes a deep dive into Pokémon GO specifically.

To be clear, this isn’t a standard issue of TIME magazine, but a special release from them. Still, you can find this special issue on newsstands, at book stores and online today. Go out there and collect them all!