Pokemania

I had thought the Pokemon craze died out a few years ago but my son, who is 7, is totally into it right now.  I guess it has become one of those things, like Barbie, Hello Kitty or Harry Potter, which will always attract kids of a certain age and/or gender, and will have  brand new followers every year, forever.
I do not understand Pokemon.  First of all, there are literally (and I mean literally literally) hundreds of the little monsters.  Pikachu is every kids’ favorite, but there are Psyduck, Voltorb, Murkrow, Magnemite and so many more that no one could possibly learn them all.  He’s trying, though.
I played a couple of times with him but we just played it like the card game War, and the highest point card won.  I know that there are other ways to play.  Some Pokemons are at a higher level than others, so might beat them even though their point value is lower.

Furret, 80 points, special powers: Find a Friend and Quick Blow

In addition, they all have special powers.  For instance, Flareon has Tackle and Fire Tail Slap and Eevee has Call for Family and Tickle.  To make things worse, they are not consistent.  One Pikachu card has a special  power of BikaBika, but another Pikachu has Mega Shot.  Same character, different powers.  That’s not only confusing, it’s not realistic.
It reminds me of that card game Kirk and Spock invented when they were on the planet where everybody dressed, talked and acted like 1930s gangsters, where the rules just got more and more complex until they threw the table over and started blasting away with their fazers.  It wasn’t really meant to be understood.
I will say, to Pokemon’s credit, there is a great amount of creativity that goes into naming and drawing the characters, and describing their powers.
I just wish I could understand it, but I suppose I am too old for that.