1992 MARVEL MASTERPIECES 30th Anniversary Book

[BobCollects]

I hate to say this after waiting so long and finally getting close to the books shipping but I am not a fan of the slipcase (slipcover?) for the Signed and Numbered Limited Edition version of the book. It looks like it has all the cards printed on it and that makes it too busy and not pleasing to the eye, in my opinion. I much prefer the slipcase shown on the campaign page.



It's simple and elegant. Oh well! At least I'll have the book in hand soon, hopefully.

[DynaEtch]

I noticed that too. Well the new one is colorful at least, if a bit busy.

At this point, I guess we gotta take what we can get. Still curious where the sig is gonna be on that mid tier book, hopefully the page itself is signed.

I was actually convinced they were gonna go with Surfer for the cover on the mid book, since I saw a retailer preselling it with a Surfer cover mockup. So it’s cool they kept to the campaign Spiderman cover.

I do like the look of the minimalist OA tier slipcovers matching the painting. So it looks like there will be only 124 Wolverine books out there if both round 1 and round 2 are Wolverine cover. In the off chance they did make a different cover for the round 2s, which they said they would at one point, but I’m seeing no evidence of it in the pic- then it would be just 104 Wolverine books, and 20 of the round 2 (Surfer or whoever).

Edit: I’m still firmly in the ‘when I get the book, I get the book’ mindset, and I will believe it when it’s here. We’ve been told a lot throughout the project, and there is no guarantee even the latest update will be true (June’s wasn’t, for example). But pics are at least a good sign.

[HiltonL]

I hate to be "that person", no, I actually like being contrarian and criticizing, but my secret joy aside, what about that staged pair of photos FPG sent out is actually indicative of any delivery progress?

In publishing, samples get made and sent for approval prior to mass production. Various half-finished things at different stages get printed for review in all projects. Who's to say that these specific samples in the photographs weren't in hand a year and a half ago, before the "printed in the USA" fiasco?

Now, if FPG had sent pics of cartons of books, of stacks of books, then I'd be impressed. Somewhere, somebody took a pic of completed books! In an anonymous foreign warehouse probably, but we'd be able to assume they existed, AI aside. Is there a sample of the custom slipcover for OA backers? Not in these photos.
All that to say, this is still a "prove to me" story. Don't believe the staged photos. The evidence we have is that FPG has blown through all deadlines so far, has fibbed repeatedly, and treated backers like dirt. Why believe them at face/photo value when all the evidence is to the contrary?

[Xazark]

its funny, but nothing would surprise me with this process, its been a difficult to believe anything they say for some time... and with good reason...

I am a little confused on the slip covers tho, it appears that there are 2x Thanos covers you can see the fist from the same image behind the full cover in the first pic, if each of the slip covers are unique not sure why they have 2 of the same image in the same photo or is that some sort of slip insert or something?

[HiltonL]

Originally Posted by Xazark

its funny, but nothing would surprise me with this process, its been a difficult to believe anything they say for some time... and with good reason...

I am a little confused on the slip covers tho, it appears that there are 2x Thanos covers you can see the fist from the same image behind the full cover in the first pic, if each of the slip covers are unique not sure why they have 2 of the same image in the same photo or is that some sort of slip insert or something?

My understanding is that for the OA backers, the customization that makes slipcovers unique to each OA is in the form of an insert. In other words the OA slipcovers all have a clear window and each OA backer gets an insert of their specific OA to place into the window.
As for that Thanos image, the partially hidden one looks like a print. The actual OA does not have that rectangular border around the art.

[BobCollects]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

I hate to be "that person", no, I actually like being contrarian and criticizing, but my secret joy aside, what about that staged pair of photos FPG sent out is actually indicative of any delivery progress?

In publishing, samples get made and sent for approval prior to mass production. Various half-finished things at different stages get printed for review in all projects. Who's to say that these specific samples in the photographs weren't in hand a year and a half ago, before the "printed in the USA" fiasco?

You’re not wrong. Who knows what’s really happening. The saga continues.


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[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

I hate to be "that person", no, I actually like being contrarian and criticizing, but my secret joy aside, what about that staged pair of photos FPG sent out is actually indicative of any delivery progress?

In publishing, samples get made and sent for approval prior to mass production. Various half-finished things at different stages get printed for review in all projects. Who's to say that these specific samples in the photographs weren't in hand a year and a half ago, before the "printed in the USA" fiasco?

Now, if FPG had sent pics of cartons of books, of stacks of books, then I'd be impressed. Somewhere, somebody took a pic of completed books! In an anonymous foreign warehouse probably, but we'd be able to assume they existed, AI aside. Is there a sample of the custom slipcover for OA backers? Not in these photos.
All that to say, this is still a "prove to me" story. Don't believe the staged photos. The evidence we have is that FPG has blown through all deadlines so far, has fibbed repeatedly, and treated backers like dirt. Why believe them at face/photo value when all the evidence is to the contrary?

I can’t argue anything here. There is certainly no guarantee we’ll really see them by next month. After thinking about it more, I added the edit to my last post. I go back to the June update and it said ‘confirmation’ books would be received by end of June to mid July, which turned out to be not true.

As for the custom slipcase….it does look like it’s in the pic. Maybe I’m not seeing it correctly, but it looks like an outer white slipcase with the image of the character for the painting- that’s what is meant by custom, each is made differently specifically for that painting.

I was under the impression the insert is just a holder for the painting (since they didn’t come through the frame). Maybe it fits into the case along with the book. So there would be a Thanos printed on the outer case, and an insert inside with the Thanos art. That’s my take on it at least from what I’m seeing. I went ahead and framed mine, so I dunno what to do, I may take it out of the frame to have it in the ‘official holder’ along with the book.

[jdandns]

Update coming and it's great news, guys!
The slipcase is being redesigned by popular demand. Delivery has been tentatively rescheduled for November 2026 which is great because we'll have them in time for that Christmas!

[sfgiants4life]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Update coming and it's great news, guys!
The slipcase is being redesigned by popular demand. Delivery has been tentatively rescheduled for November 2026 which is great because we'll have them in time for that Christmas!

This is a joke right?

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Update coming and it's great news, guys!
The slipcase is being redesigned by popular demand. Delivery has been tentatively rescheduled for November 2026 which is great because we'll have them in time for that Christmas!

Had me for a second (I hope??? This is a joke I really hope). Literally nothing would surprise me with this project at this point.

[jdandns]

Haha, yes, joking, only joking.
That's kind of my thing, but I do understand the reason for frayed nerves with this one.
Sorry, fellas!

[MMguy]

...at this point, part of me doesn't want this book anymore.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by MMguy

...at this point, part of me doesn't want this book anymore.

I really had some hope after that last update with the pic…

That said. calling it now….not gonna get here end of July/beginning of August. It’s unbelievable how much we’ve been lied to in this project.

[DynaEtch]

So shipping questions aside…

I gotta say I’m amazed how little some of the rarer extras have hit the open market….are people just generally not selling any of these? I have been closely watching the market….and I can’t even recall the last time a full color bronze was for sale, and I’m still waiting for just one of the full color Hulks to come up for sale. Weren’t there like 25 each of those? That’s pretty remarkable not one on eBay. Don’t think I’ve spotted a Hulk silver yet, and probably less than a handful of the colorized 1/1s (out of 50).

The regular bronze, zombies, etc people seem readily wanting to sell, I guess to pay back the project buy in price easily. But people must really be holding onto the rare ones- much more so than I expected.

[BobCollects]

It’s also possible some people who only wanted the book don’t realize they have a rare/valuable card or they don’t sell on eBay and have no way of selling it if they do know it’s rare/valuable.


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[DynaEtch]

Solid point considering it’s a Kickstarter and has a general audience…maybe not people super tuned into the collectible/card side.

If only some of them would realize their extra could be worth upwards of $1k. A lot of this stuff is gonna be buried long term I think.

Needless to say the gold spidey hasn’t even been sniffed/seen anywhere. Unless it came up in the private groups somewhere.

[DynaEtch]

As we get to the end of July….opinions on whether books start shipping by the end of the month? What are people’s guesses, yay or nay?

My guess is nay….call it a hunch

Edit: latest comment just says “update coming on 7-1”….which I take to mean 8-1. Can’t wait to see whats posted. Last update in July said, “the next update will be the official “The shipping has begun” post”- let’s see if that’s true. It’s should be a black/white thing here: that’s either true or not.

What are the theories on why we haven’t been told honest updates?

[HiltonL]

OK, I'll go.

1) covering up began when things went minorly sideways; the printing during the pandemic
2) no leadership means no 'party line' to adhere to; explains the variety of voices and responses to comments
3) was so overfunded they thought 'we can use some of this extra loot to buy our way out'; metal cards and slabs born
4) has taken such a long time that some backers forgot they backed, or assumed it collapsed, or would take so much longer that they didn't have space in their conscious mind to keep thinking about it

[DynaEtch]

Fair possibilities.

To 1), I guess I’m confused about why even try to hide all that? It's a Kickstarter and what can backers do either way. May as well say early on this book will see some major obstacles/delays due to printer closings and what not- backers just have to take it either way. Instead we are told we were gonna it more than a year ago, and almost every month since.

The 2) point…I was under the impression the top guy is Mike Frielander at FPG who founded it, but don’t seem to hear much from him anywhere in this….I figure it’s a situation where project details are delegated to others (the ‘carousel’ of a few people fielding questions). It’s hard to even find much info about the company or how large it is…I’m going to guess pretty small.

My opinion…the constant “book will be shipping out next month” thing is just to appease backers and quiet people (not that it should appease anyone at this point). They lose nothing by constantly saying it and not coming through. Then “ok we are still waiting on them but they will REALLLLLLY get here next month now”, you think wouldnt continually work ad infinitum, but there is definitely a “ra-ra crowd” that’ll eat up any update, including a false one.

I just think they are backing themselves into a corner now all but guaranteeing the books will be there at the end of the recent months. And also having said they were finished and started shipping back to the US way back in December last year- there comes a point that is basically not possible and we were told something false…to appease us.

It’s easier to forget about the project I guess when it’s a $59 purchase….not as much for mid or high tier purchasers though.

[fabiani12333]

At this point, screw the book -- I just want to know the backstory of the delays. It could make for a good article or documentary.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

At this point, screw the book -- I just want to know the backstory of the delays. It could make for a good article or documentary.

I feel like we’ll never get the actual story. It could way beyond just printer delays. The timelines and updates just aren’t lining up or making sense (like it being finished last Dec).

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Then “ok we are still waiting on them but they will REALLLLLLY get here next month now”, you think wouldnt continually work ad infinitum, but there is definitely a “ra-ra crowd” that’ll eat up any update, including a false one.

Um, what if this was a kickstarter and not an online store? Perhaps there is no "ra-ra crowd" and there are people who view themselves as kickstarting this project instead of engaging in the commerce action of paying $X for Y products? Like I don't say "I bought MST3K back into existence", I say "I kickstarted the bring back MST3K campaign".

I guess I'm the sole person on blowout forums thinking this but as someone who has done many kickstarters, this is pretty par for the course. Not saying you don't have a right to be mad or whatever, but if you read the kickstarter fineprint (and you really should) kickstarter probably isn't for a lot of people on this thread. I mean, the posts about delay narration here show that folks are devoting a lot of time to thinking about this. The assumption that this would make a great documentary is really puzzling. Artists & Publishers are notoriously bad at having their %&#$ together and they are taking up front money to make something. That's ... that's not very surprising to me that the date is going to slip and you're going to get a ton of excuses why.

I think there are better sites for you like Amazon or Forbidden Planet or something like that. Even then, I've preordered trade paperbacks from Things From Another World and they never materialized. Oh well.

Looking at my Kickstarter history, one that jumps out is I kickstarted Steve Grand's Grandroids in 2011 for $50 to be an early tester and I'm still waiting for the invite to test his simulation software. I'm sad it hasn't happened but I did see the guy posting updates for like 5 years (albeit rarely). I think the scope of the project was just absurd and I should have known that. I wanted it to happen but it didn't.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by eldavojohn

Um, what if this was a kickstarter and not an online store? Perhaps there is no "ra-ra crowd" and there are people who view themselves as kickstarting this project instead of engaging in the commerce action of paying $X for Y products? Like I don't say "I bought MST3K back into existence", I say "I kickstarted the bring back MST3K campaign".
.

So we gonna go here I guess…

Of course it’s a Kickstarter and not buying a product off Amazon. That said, if you don’t think the handling of this has been terrible…even for a Kickstarter….you are becoming one of a few at this point. There will always be a “ra-ra” crowd, its likely mostly the people backing first tier pledges and backing all kinds of kickstarters too (can’t say I’ve spoken to many OA tiers, in fact zero, who are ra-ra at this point), but the overall disappointment and questioning is starting to show itself in the comments- remarks along lines of most disappointing Kickstarter project ever backed, “this is ridiculous”, and it’s unusual for a Kickstarter, etc.

It’s not just delays, which at this point has been about 16 months and counting since they first said they’d be delivered. How about not almost every month saying the book will be here by the end of the month or next month, and then not delivering? Why are backers being led on, like teasing it on a string to be yanked away? Why have backers been lied to so much? Why is there almost no transparency for the people responsible funding the project? We’re talking almost zero. This isn’t even getting into the behavior of the company, removing people’s pledges asking questions along the way without their consent (after year+ waiting too), stifling discourse on the comment page, creating a situation where backers are afraid to even chime in, and I will add…some bizarre responses at times. There is more, which I won’t go into here, but may eventually.

There is not even getting into for example not coming through with basic things advertised in the campaign already such as the official frame for the OA. They at least corrected that with custom slipcases, but not everyone liked that swap out. They specifically listed in the risk section there will be no delays due to Covid (then in this project that’s basically all we hear about month after month…Covid delays…this far out). Well that’s what’s being said at least. I imagine we simply aren’t being told the story….for some reason.

Again, you basically have to expect a Kickstarter to be delayed…even up to years out, sure….but you shouldn’t have to expect it to be handled this poorly.

I would consider whatever you backed in 2011 if it didn’t come through to be a failure then. This Jusko project isn’t a random guy creating a project either, it’s (supposedly) a prominent company and a project centered around Jusko, a major name in marvel comics and cards.

[Xazark]

just like they continue to remind us at every chance they get. They have been in business for 35 years and never have they ever had any of these such issues. Just keep saying it, eventually people start to believe it once you've said it enough

[BipolarBear]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

At this point, screw the book -- I just want to know the backstory of the delays. It could make for a good article or documentary.

That's a separate book. I'm starting a Kickstarter and taking pledges to get it published, if you're interested. It should be ready by the end of next month.