Comic Cut Up?

Today I go the way of a comic panel card from the recently released 2015 Rittenhouse Avengers Silver Age: Archive Cuts. The set is based on Marvel's Silver Age books, which ran from the mid-50s to the early-70s. The base cards are illustrations from a specific book that corresponds with the card so card #1 is from Marvel Avengers #1 and so on.

 

This card is a cut card, which is made up of a panel cut from a Silver Age Avengers comic book and framed. The Rittenhouse cards are still new but do not seem to be as popular as Upper Decks Marvel comic panel cards which is fine with me because where else can I get a cool panel that includes both Captain America and Wasp for under $7 shipped?

An Interesting Take On Superheroes

Upper Deck released something unusual today that has brought a bit of a heated discussion among some collectors because of the odd pack out. The release, 2015 Marvel 3D Trading Card, is not a standard comic card product but instead is a mixture of comic cards and DBG (Deck Building Game) set. It was initially a 2014 product and set for a November 2014 release but was delayed until today and was re-designated as 2015 release.

The pack out consists of 20 packs per box with 6 cards per pack for $100. The set has a 100-card checklist but there is also a 40-card DBG checklist, which is what makes this release different. The base cards are 3D lenticular cards while the DBG cards are your standard trading card game design. Additionally each box contains 1 sketch card but the card is playable DBG card, a first in the sketch card world. A box break will give you 60 base cards, 40 playable Legendary DGB cards and a sketch card.

Initially when I read the information about the set I was questionable because all that I saw were the sketch cards but now that the cards are starting to show up on eBay I have to admit I dig both the 3D Lenticular base set as well as the Deck Building Game (DBG) cards and considering that there are only 100 base cards and 40 DBG cards I may end up working on this set. It is unique enough to keep my attention and small enough to not break the bank.

Here is a sample of base and DBG cards that are currently up for auction to get an idea of what Upper Deck is putting out.

 

The sketch cards that I have seen have some amazing artwork from artists like Rich Molinelli, Mike Thomas, Eric Ninaltowski and Carlos Cabaleiro. These are cards that I pulled off of artist's Facebook and DeviantArt pages.

2012 Upper Deck Marvel Beginnings III Is Now Live

Upper Deck has a tendency to hold fast on certain upcoming sets, they release very little information and even less preview images. The Marvel products are usually among those releases that they keep quiet and close to the chest. I sent an email to Chris Carlin two weeks ago asking if they had planned on releasing any info or images and he sent me the checklist only. The checklist was released to members of Upper Deck’s Insiders Newsletter the next day. Not really the scoop I was hoping for.

 

Today Marvel Beginnings III was released, the final piece to the Marvel Beginnings trilogy product. Starting with Beginnings I, which was released late last year, and continued with Beginnings II, released earlier this year, the set has used a continuing checklist number system. Each release contained 180 base cards so when all has been said and done the Beginnings line has a total of 540 base cards. Each release also included Ultimate Panel cards, a panel out of various comic books was inserted in a card to create an original type of relic card, as well as sketch cards. Inserts varied from set to set otherwise.

 

As expected the sketch cards are the highlight of the insert checklist, inserted at 1:2 boxes, each sketch card is a 1/1 sketch from one of the 76 artists included in this release. The product was released today but there are some amazing sketch cards already out there for auction.

 

 

The Breakthrough Issues Autographs, inserted at 1:2 boxes, are also lighting it up, it seems like collectors can never get enough of Stan Lee’s autograph. There are 49 cards included in the checklist plus another 33 cards on the Breakthrough Issues Dual Autographs checklist. I like that Upper Deck used gold and silver paint pens for the on-card autographs.

Preview: Marvel Bronze Age

Schedule Release Date: December 5, 2012
Box Configuration:  5 cards per pack/24 packs per box
SRP: $60/box

 

Box Break:

1 Sketch Card
120 cards  total per box

 

 

My Thoughts:

Like many readers I grew up during the Bronze Age of comics (1970-1985) and read plenty of books over the years. This set is a tribute to that time, paying homage to the heroes as well as the writers and artists that made it happen.

 

Marvel: Bronze Age, from Rittenhouse Archives,  is an 81-card set focusing on the characters and major story lines during the time frame. There are foil parallels of each base card and inserts include Retro Marvel Logo cards, Classic Heroes cards and sketch cards. Like most comic book releases the product is all about the sketch cards. Each box contains one sketch card from some of today’s top artists like Tony Perna, Mike Lilly, Anthony Tan and Andy Price.

 

The big news of the release is the various “hot” boxes; apparently there are three different types. One type will include a full sketch card puzzle (multiple sketch cards that make up a complete scene). The Mini Archive hot boxes contain a complete foil parallel set (81-cards), all inserts and 5 sketch cards. The Archive hot boxes have 30 random sketch cards included.

 

If there is perfect collation you should be able to complete the 81-card checklist considering that you will pull 120 cards total out of a box.

 

Case Incentives include:

1 Case Incentive: A 5-card Bronze Age Puzzle case topper
6 Case Incentive: A Painted Sketch card by Jim Kyle
9 Case Incentive: A Painted Sketch card by Mick Glebe or Matt Glebe
18 Case Incentive: A Marvel: Bronze Age Archive Box (hot box includes 30 sketch cards)

 

 

Pros:

Decent Price
One Sketch Card per box

 

Cons:

Not much information released yet

 

Rating:

It is difficult to rate right now, Rittenhouse has released very little information besides a couple of promo cards, 5 insert cards and 17 sketch artists so hopefully as time gets closer to the release date there will be more information released.

Base Card

Captain America Classic Heroes insert

Incredible Hulk Classic Heroes Insert



Thor Classic Heroes Insert

 

 

The cards below are the sketch cards that are one per box. I have selected one card from 16 of the 17 announced artists plus a Sketch Puzzle card from artist Rhiannon Owens (the 17th announced artist).

 

 

 

Sketch Puzzle cards by Rhiannon Owens