Upper Deck has lost Marvel to Fanatics.

[glorbgorb]

This is certainly not proof to the contrary, but if an announcement were to happen, I'd be shocked that nothing has leaked so far.

We know UD employees were openly telling people at very public places like SDCC that it was pretty much a done deal. Not no person one from Topps/Fanatics is blurbing anything? If one of their employees even so much as hinted at it at a neighborhood barbecue it'd be on social media.

Still, this has to be the best example of open secrets in some time.

I'm looking forward to an announcement just to see what mock-ups they'll inevitably show off. I assume "Look at this! Spider-Man in all his shiny glory on Topps Chrome stock!"

Maybe I'm building it up too much in my head. As I've said before, I'm a character collector. It doesn't really matter to me who makes the cards.

[Kobefan]

Originally Posted by newhobbygeek

I'm going to guess not. I haven't heard or seen anything about other Non-sport/Entertainment genres. If they had more Disney/Star Wars/Dune/Stranger Things promotions for their current licenses I'd lean towards yes for Marvel announcement.

If they wanted to make a splash and put Fanatics Marvel on front page... all they would need to do is copy Hall H and have RDJ come out and do 2 minute promotion for them.

Fanatics did a giveaway of virtual Marvel packs at the event.

[Rictor]

Originally Posted by Kobefan

Fanatics did a giveaway of virtual Marvel packs at the event.

Topps has had a digital card Marvel license for years now though. They put them out through their app.

[finfangfan]

So Fanatics Fan Dest seems to have passed without any announcement t being dropped. So maybe the rumors will churn around a bit longer.

[glorbgorb]

A tad more than a month after the "announcement" and we know nothing more.

Anyway, as Metal Avengers was just released, it hit me--I usually will grab, say, a /50 or less on eBay (or rarely Marvel FB groups), and wait for COMC for the other items as sellers undercut one another to recoup money spent on ePack. Eventually (again, no one knows details) COMC will not have the ePack->COMC pipeline.

Sure, people can submit themselves, but the volume of Marvel will eventually drop considerably. Sucks for character collectors or those mid-tier set builders.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

A tad more than a month after the "announcement" and we know nothing more.

Anyway, as Metal Avengers was just released, it hit me--I usually will grab, say, a /50 or less on eBay (or rarely Marvel FB groups), and wait for COMC for the other items as sellers undercut one another to recoup money spent on ePack. Eventually (again, no one knows details) COMC will not have the ePack->COMC pipeline.

Sure, people can submit themselves, but the volume of Marvel will eventually drop considerably. Sucks for character collectors or those mid-tier set builders.

True. Bad for collectors and set builders. Good for people wanting cards to retain more value. A bit of a give and take.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

A tad more than a month after the "announcement" and we know nothing more.

Anyway, as Metal Avengers was just released, it hit me--I usually will grab, say, a /50 or less on eBay (or rarely Marvel FB groups), and wait for COMC for the other items as sellers undercut one another to recoup money spent on ePack. Eventually (again, no one knows details) COMC will not have the ePack->COMC pipeline.

Sure, people can submit themselves, but the volume of Marvel will eventually drop considerably. Sucks for character collectors or those mid-tier set builders.

Still a chance for Fanaticsepack or Toppsepack

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

Still a chance for Fanaticsepack or Toppsepack

eTopps

[Rictor]

They already have the Fanatics Vault, but it's mostly for high-end stuff.

https://www.fanaticscollect.com/vault-marketplace

I don't think they're interested in storing millions of commons, which is probably why they haven't launched something similar to Epack/COMC.

It would definitely hurt card shops/breakers if they did though, considering they have all the major sports licenses. Hockey is a drop in the bucket compared to the big 3.

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by Rictor

They already have the Fanatics Vault, but it's mostly for high-end stuff.

https://www.fanaticscollect.com/vault-marketplace

I don't think they're interested in storing millions of commons, which is probably why they haven't launched something similar to Epack/COMC.

It would definitely hurt card shops/breakers if they did though, considering they have all the major sports licenses. Hockey is a drop in the bucket compared to the big 3.

I agree that standard base cards and cheap inserts probably could be ignored if Topps wanted to do its own take on ePack. EPack/COMC is now flooded with penny commons years later. So maybe more hit pack type products to limit the scanning/storage of cheap cards.

It could also be fun to buy and trade boxes that were “case fresh” directly from Topps.

[glorbgorb]

I'll bet someone somewhere has already held conversations between Topps/Fanatics and COMC. Why does UD get to be an exclusive partner? Fanatics throws money around like crazy. I would be surprised if they didn't already at least think about it.

[Angus Con]

�� The FIRST EVER Topps Marvel Chrome is OUT NOW! ��
Entries via EQL are open for 24 hours! ⏱️

150 Base Card Set

14 different parallels to chase including: Spider-Web refractor, a Human Torch refractor, and the iconic 1/1 Superfractors.

Special inserts such as Spider-Man Gold, Marvel Icons, Daredevil 60th Anniversary and Marvel 90s.

Character autographs in lucky packs, including dual autographs and the ultra-rare quad autograph card!

Plus, we’re proud to announce an exclusive deal with iconic comic book artist, Frank Miller, who has done 30 exclusive sketch cards for Marvel Chrome

[finfangfan]

Frank Miller sketch cards could be cool. Having this set really adds to the Marvel glut of cards tho. Will this set take some of the attention away from Upper Deck’s just released Metal set?

Originally Posted by Angus Con

�� The FIRST EVER Topps Marvel Chrome is OUT NOW! ��
Entries via EQL are open for 24 hours! ⏱️

150 Base Card Set

14 different parallels to chase including: Spider-Web refractor, a Human Torch refractor, and the iconic 1/1 Superfractors.

Special inserts such as Spider-Man Gold, Marvel Icons, Daredevil 60th Anniversary and Marvel 90s.

Character autographs in lucky packs, including dual autographs and the ultra-rare quad autograph card!

Plus, we’re proud to announce an exclusive deal with iconic comic book artist, Frank Miller, who has done 30 exclusive sketch cards for Marvel Chrome

[Tim]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Will this set take some of the attention away from Upper Deck’s just released Metal set?

Yes......

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Frank Miller sketch cards could be cool. Having this set really adds to the Marvel glut of cards tho. Will this set take some of the attention away from Upper Deck’s just released Metal set?

I think this will be kinda set apart from the glut since it’s a brand new Topps thing. Chrome has its own followers like people who were into Disney Chrome.

UD marvel cards are currently in glut overdrive: FU Wolvie, Platinum, Metal, Flair on epack. I do wonder if people are PMG’d out at this point. This is sufficiently different and marvel card hobby needs this infusion of something fresh imo.

The more I think about it, I don’t think the license staying with UD for several more years would bode that well…it’d be the same PMGs, Jamba’s, mirages, canvas gallery etc ad infinitum. The hobby has been in a bit of a lull recently this summer imo. You’d think with all these sets, many with original art, it would be thriving, but it’s all running together to me, too much out there. Besides arguably platinum, just don’t have much desire to buy into another fleer ultra or beginnings set. Maybe I’m different, idk.

This marvel chrome set will do super well.

[finfangfan]

I don’t think anyone can afford to be a character completist anymore. I’m glad I gave that up years ago. I will pick up some cool singles.

[Angus Con]

I'm big into soccer and Topps Europe is a painful experience for Americans for the most part. Most of the product goes to Europe and Asia as it is. So then you're held hostage to an extent trying to find a way to get the cards you want for anything resembling a reasonable price. I equate this release to giving overseas flippers/sellers the upper hand on American collectors.

[Angus Con]

I think this is the worst case scenario and I'm a very casual Marvel collector. Having both companies in the marketplace where each one can release to an exclusive geographic area is more likely going to result in more gouging of the collectors. I don't care for Topps/Fanatics for most everything they've done with women's football (minus the exposure of the game and slowly growing out its place in the hobby, which has been welcomed). But from distribution all the way down to how they handle missing hits (frequently they don't even bother), I'd rather have the devil we know in UD.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by Angus Con

I'm big into soccer and Topps Europe is a painful experience for Americans for the most part. Most of the product goes to Europe and Asia as it is. So then you're held hostage to an extent trying to find a way to get the cards you want for anything resembling a reasonable price.

One of my pc characters is in the Chrome set. So basically I have to chase a base and 30 parallels (not literally). That's ok, there are cards that have been on my want list for years. There will just be several more. With the same pic. Parallels. Yay.

[dd316]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I don’t think anyone can afford to be a character completist anymore. I’m glad I gave that up years ago. I will pick up some cool singles.

Depends on the character, same as sports players.

[Rictor]

Originally Posted by Angus Con

�� The FIRST EVER Topps Marvel Chrome is OUT NOW! ��
Entries via EQL are open for 24 hours! ⏱️

150 Base Card Set

14 different parallels to chase including: Spider-Web refractor, a Human Torch refractor, and the iconic 1/1 Superfractors.

Special inserts such as Spider-Man Gold, Marvel Icons, Daredevil 60th Anniversary and Marvel 90s.

Character autographs in lucky packs, including dual autographs and the ultra-rare quad autograph card!

Plus, we’re proud to announce an exclusive deal with iconic comic book artist, Frank Miller, who has done 30 exclusive sketch cards for Marvel Chrome

30 cards out of a print run of millions...1 in 100,000 odds of pulling a Miller sketch? It's kind of like the odds of pulling a Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle cut auto out of Topps baseball when they throw a couple in there.

Also, those super hero autograph cards are super lame.

[GFD18]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

I'll bet someone somewhere has already held conversations between Topps/Fanatics and COMC. Why does UD get to be an exclusive partner? Fanatics throws money around like crazy. I would be surprised if they didn't already at least think about it.

COMC doesnt have the staff required to take on another relationship like that. Shipping times are still atrocious. and they recently got a partnership with ebay doing "live auctions"

[fabiani12333]

Fanatics will eventually have their own version of ePack -- it's the natural progression of the direct-to-consumer model that they are striving for. When they eventually do, they won't be dealing with anywhere near the level of volume that Comc does. It'll likely be hit-based service, with base and other types of cards being used for achievements.

The fact that we're multiple years into the Fanatics trading card regime and they still don't have an online virtual breaking service, shows how in-over-their heads they are. They talked early on about a one-stop, direct-to-consumer model and they have hardly made any strides towards it.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by GFD18

COMC doesnt have the staff required to take on another relationship like that. Shipping times are still atrocious. and they recently got a partnership with ebay doing "live auctions"

There is a very simple fix to that.

[finfangfan]

I think Fanatics has the funds where it could buy out COMC. I also think that potential scenario is why Upper Deck started up Collect Forever to serve as a Plan B for ePack if the arrangement with COMC ever goes sour.