Are “Complete Master Sets” still possible? (...and my foolish attempt at one).

[Raymond23]

Has anyone attempted a “True” Master Set (every hit, every parallel, every autograph, every sketch artist, absolutely everything EXCEPT true 1/1’s) for a hobby/retail release Non-Sport set in recent years? Is it even possible anymore?

I was curious how close I was to having a full master set for Star Wars 40th Anniversary (was actually never trying for one, but it’s basically the only cards I have collected since 2017 and it has gotten out of hand). Short answer...not even remotely close. By my count, I have 1127/1446 unique cards (excluding true 1/1’s). That comes out to a disappointing 77.9% completion rate.

To clarify, my definition of a true master set was “Every possible card EXCEPT true 1/1’s”. However, I would still need at lease one example of each type of 1/1 (one base red, one base plate, one auto plate, one red medallion, one sketch from each artist in the set, one of all 50 film cel cards...even though each film cel is a 1/1, etc).

I made a complete checklist and went thru my set. Breakdown below.

Curious if anyone else has tried for a true master set (and what your definition of the term would be) in recent years. Seems to be a dying collecting goal these days. Mini-master sets (no hits, no parallels, no numbered inserts) seem to still have some popularity and I have a few of those. Also, I think “Master Sets” are still possible with most online releases (Star Wars 3D, Living Set, On Demand, Countdown To..., etc) but can be quite the challenge.

Thoughts?


My Star Wars 40th Anniversary True Master Checklist (1127/1446, 77.9% complete).
-602/602 base/parallels (200/200 base, 100/100 green, 100/100 blue, 100/100 purple (xx/100), 100/100 gold (xx/40), 1/1 red, 1/1 plate).
-49/137 autographs (40/40 base, 5/44 purple (xx/40), 5/51 gold (xx/10), 1/1 red, 1/1 plate)
-0/11 (xx/2-6) multi autograph cards
-0/5 (xx/10)auto medallions
-55/175 medallions/patches (43/43 base, 3/43 blue (xx/40), 3/43 purple (xx/25), 4/42 gold (xx/10), 2/3 reds, 0/0 plates)
-96/96 [+178 additional sketches] sketches artists
-235/330 vintage buybacks
-13/14 (known) buyback “hits”
-50/50 film cels
-17/17 stickers
-9/9 promo cards
-0/0 (+1) blank sketch card (not officially part of the set)
-0/0 (+13) Archive Signature (not officially part of the set)

————————————————————————————————————-
***Edit: I finally photographed everything and got them uploaded. Enjoy! ***

200 Card Base Set (only the first 100 cards have parallels):









Green Parallel (1/pack I think)






Blue Parallel (1:4 packs)





Purple Parallels (xx/100)






Gold Parallels (xx/40)





Rainbows. I don’t try for 1/1 sets, but I attempt mega-rainbows (Red 1/1, as many plates as I can find, all parallels).

Card 78 (Red 1/1 + 2 Plates):


Card 97 (Red 1/1 + 1 Plate)



Film Cel Set. 50 Cards. Many unannounced SP and SSP. No parallels, but each film cel is unique and each card is listed as 1/1.



Patch Set (Target Exclusive, 20 cards) and Medallion Set (23 cards, some with Falcon Medallion, others with Death Star Medallion). There are Purple, Blue, Gold, and Red Parallels to patches and medallions (/40, /25, /10, 1/1). I didn’t bother chasing the parallels, so I fall short of a true master set here).


Rainbows of a Death Star and Millennium Falcon Medallion. There are no plates for this set. I am looking for ANY Red 1/1 Patch card so I can rainbow that. I have never seen a pic or any evidence these exist...



Autograph Set: 51 subjects. 40 available in base tier. 4 available in Purple, Gold, Red only. 7 available in Gold, Red only. I am missing 4 subjects...all gold exclusives (Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Bauerfeld). I did not chase the parallels. There are also very rare multi-autograph cards and autographed medallions which I have not chased. Again, falling WAY short of a master set with these...


Auto Rainbow (only missing the Cyan Plate)


Classic “Sticker“ Cards (Promo Cards for the SWCT app. Each numbered to 100).



Promo Cards. 4 cards were distributed at the Topps Booth (each numbered to /200). There is a “Volunteer Edition” given time volunteers at the event. Rumor is that fewer then 30 sets exist (I’ve seen 3 sets surface). One “Loot” card (1:10, promo for the SWCT app):


“Sketch Master Set”

I view this as the crown jewel of this collection. All 96 artists. Sketches could only show characters/scenes from the original Star Wars movie (A New Hope). I tried to get as many unique characters, costumes, ships, planets, props as possible. I have commissioned various artists to fill the more glaring omissions (like, no x-wing fighter currently in the set). I have about 12 sketches pending which should basically fill the gaps. This should result in the most complete single movie/single set sketch set possible. About 275 sketches (and a blank). Enjoy...































Blank Sketch Card:



40th Anniversary has all 5 sets of Vintage cards (excluding stickers) as foil stamped buybacks. I just purchased a huge lot, but on a payment plan so I don’t have them all in hand. Once received, I’ll have 235/330 cards. I have blues, reds and yellows in hand (Series 1-3). Greens and Oranges are incoming (Series 4-5). This set will never be completed. Even the common sets have rare cards, and buybacks were seeded at 1/box.

Here’s the breakdown of what I will have once they are all received.

Blues (Ultra Rare): 31/66
Reds (Common): 60/66
Yellows (Common): 55/66
Greens (Rare): 48/66
Oranges (Rare): 41/66



























I have a few oranges in hand. I’ll post the rest when they arrive...



Topps also included “Buyback Hits”. These were “hits” from more recent sets. Best I can tell, Topps just cleared out old inventory (sketches, plates, etc.). I assume they were held back as replacements for missing/damaged hits and the sets were so old, they were no longer needed. No idea what was included. I have tried for one of each known “type” of card, but the checklist is purely based on what I have found in the wild. I’m likely missing several. 40th stamp is on the back of the card, just to make this chase harder. I am missing an example of the 2013 Jedi Legacy Film Cel. Only type that I know is missing. Some are missing from the photos I believe...

Buyback Sets:
- 1977 Vintage Series 1-5
- 2012 Galactic Files (Autograph)
- 2013 Galactic Files (Sketch, Printing Plate)
- 2013 Jedi Legacy (Printing Plate, Film Cel*)
- 2013 Star Wars Illustrated (Film Cel)
- 2014 Chrome Perspective (Medallion, Sketch)
- 2015 ESB Illustrated (Film Cel)
- 2015 High Tek (Sketch)
- 2015 Masterwork (Film Used Prop, Medallion)
- 2016 Evolution (Sketch)
- 2016 The Force Awakens Series 2 (Sketch)





Star Wars Archives Signatures:
Different set. Base cards from prior sets sent to actors for autograph. Stamped and encapsulated. There were a bunch of cards used from 40th...all SSP. Here are the ones I have tracked down...

[gdelan1]

The only one truly master sets I have is Jericho and Battlestar Galactica season 1

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[arek]

If you were to collect a rittenhouse set and buy an archive box, you could probably complete a master set. Topps and UD non-sport sets would be significantly more expensive and difficult to complete. I’d not be able to justify to myself spending that much on cardboard pictures

[gerry609]

Anything is possible. You just need really deep pockets to buy what you are missing.

[cmixer]

The last true Master set I finished was a Rittenhouse set from 2004. That was before all the crazy rare #rd variants & print plates. A full set of autos is hard enough for most sets.

[VinnyH]

I made a master set of The Orville Season One for the fun of it. Got a lot in breaks here and from friendly member deals.
I have it relatively cheap on eBay but the delays getting Season 3 on the air due to COVID have put it on the back burner in many minds. Hoping once the show is on again it will sell.
I enjoy the process more than keeping everything. My kids do not have a collecting bone in their bodies so I don’t save much anymore.
Best to All,
Vinny

[mjohnatgt]

I would say with Upper Deck epack, comc, and a fat wallet you have a better chance now than you used to on their sets. May have to limit it to pack-pullable cards, unless you want the slog of chasing the Achievements as well.

[cardbooker]

I have master sets of X-Men 1,2, & 3. But with Wolverine Origins, there were sketch artists limited to 25, so I gave up. Great collection by the way. If you exclude all those autograph & medallion parallels, then you’re almost there. The multi-autos and auto-medallions will be tough though.

[BobCollects]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

Curious if anyone else has tried for a true master set (and what your definition of the term would be) in recent years. Seems to be a dying collecting goal these days. Mini-master sets (no hits, no parallels, no numbered inserts) seem to still have some popularity and I have a few of those. Also, I think “Master Sets” are still possible with most online releases (Star Wars 3D, Living Set, On Demand, Countdown To..., etc) but can be quite the challenge.

I've thought about this a lot. In most cases, it's probably impossible to collect a true 100% Master Set that includes 1/1 cards. Some just won't be available for sale and others may sit in sealed packs/boxes/cases for decades.

A master set with everything except all 1/1 cards is probably doable for most recent non-sports sets but as you've discovered not easy or cheap. I guess it depends on how many parallels exist and how low the numbers go.

I don't worry about hits when putting together a set for my personal collection. I'm working on a retail "mini-master" set of Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that includes the following:

Base Set

Parallels
-Green Parallel Set
-Silver Parallel Set
-Red Parallel Set (Target Exclusive)

Insert sets:
-Battle Lines (Walmart Exclusive)
-Character Stickers
-Choose Your Density (Target Exclusive)
-Foil Character Cards
-Illustrated Character Cards
-Kylo Ren Continuity
-Schematics

I still need a ton of parallel cards but they're easy enough to find because they're not numbered. Adding the hobby numbered parallel cards (black, orange, and gold) would be harder.

It wouldn't be too tough to also get a base set of the Jumbo Commemorative Patch cards (value box exclusive) and Commemorative Patch cards, but like I said I don't care about those.

[DontToewsMeBro]

Only master sets I have are Andromeda S01, Babylon 5 Archives, and Grimm S01

[DynaEtch]

I dig the master set thread. I collect Marvel Masterpieces master sets. I try to get everything released for each release, which includes ads, promos, packaging, as well as the cards. I’m a big fan of master set collecting in general- it’s always neat to put together a complete collection.

Here is what I consider to be a master set for the 90s Marvel Masterpieces sets:

-all cards/inserts
-all promos
-all print ads
-dealer promo kits
-all pack wrappers/empty boxes
(there were no official binders released for Marvel Masterpieces for whatever reason, I use custom binders)

The following I don’t necessarily consider part of a master set, but if I come across them I might try to purchase:

-uncut sheets
-unlicensed vending stickers featuring the art
-unopened material from the set
-empty case
-error cards

I pretty much have the 90s MM done with just a couple things missing, and also missing just a few items from the 2007-2008 sets.

The 2016-2020 ones are tricky, and this gets to the thread topic. I think it would be suuuper hard and expensive to put together a master set of, say, 2016 Marvel Masterpieces because of the Jusko autographs (you’d be looking at the numbered to 10 or 15 silver spectrum, what if, and buyback autos, many of which are impossible to find and very pricey) and also the redemption for uncut sheet, red gallery /25, etc.
My plan with the newer MM sets, because of the infeasible nature of the true master, is just very slowly go for completing the purple, orange, speckle, gems, gold gallery, mirage, feasible achievements, and all the regular base/gold/what if and battle spectra/holofoils. But we’ll see.

I think if I were defining a true master for recent releases, I’d go with OP’s definition: everything but the 1/1s, and maybe 1 of each genre of 1/1 (one red spectrum, one plate, etc. I also might say just 1 sketch vs 1 from each artist). But my definition of a true master for a recent set is basically in agreement.

Edit: also some of those Marvel Rittenhouse would be very hard with the diamond/10 and emerald parallels. I had a heck of a time even tracking down some of the ruby/50 cards I needed awhile back. I guess you could just buy a complete ruby set at once since it came in an archives box. Some of those sets also had those cross-product 75th Anniversary inserts which are hard to track down.

[BipolarBear]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I dig the master set thread. I collect Marvel Masterpieces master sets. I try to get everything released for each release, which includes ads, promos, packaging, as well as the cards. I’m a big fan of master set collecting in general- it’s always neat to put together a complete collection.

Here is what I consider to be a master set for the 90s Marvel Masterpieces sets:

-all cards/inserts
-all promos
-all print ads
-dealer promo kits
-all pack wrappers/empty boxes
(there were no official binders released for Marvel Masterpieces for whatever reason, I use custom binders)

The following I don’t necessarily consider part of a master set, but if I come across them I might try to purchase:

-uncut sheets
-unlicensed vending stickers featuring the art
-unopened material from the set
-empty case
-error cards

I pretty much have the 90s MM done with just a couple things missing, and also missing just a few items from the 2007-2008 sets.

The 2016-2020 ones are tricky, and this gets to the thread topic. I think it would be suuuper hard and expensive to put together a master set of, say, 2016 Marvel Masterpieces because of the Jusko autographs (you’d be looking at the numbered to 10 or 15 silver spectrum, what if, and buyback autos, many of which are impossible to find and very pricey) and also the redemption for uncut sheet, red gallery /25, etc.
My plan with the newer MM sets, because of the infeasible nature of the true master, is just very slowly go for completing the purple, orange, speckle, gems, gold gallery, mirage, feasible achievements, and all the regular base/gold/what if and battle spectra/holofoils. But we’ll see.

I think if I were defining a true master for recent releases, I’d go with OP’s definition: everything but the 1/1s, and maybe 1 of each genre of 1/1 (one red spectrum, one plate, etc. I also might say just 1 sketch vs 1 from each artist). But my definition of a true master for a recent set is basically in agreement.

Edit: also some of those Marvel Rittenhouse would be very hard with the diamond/10 and emerald parallels. I had a heck of a time even tracking down some of the ruby/50 cards I needed awhile back. I guess you could just buy a complete ruby set at once since it came in an archives box. Some of those sets also had those cross-product 75th Anniversary inserts which are hard to track down.

I mostly agree with this, but I think common errors, like the unnumbered 1994 Fleer Ultra X-Men Original Team Iceman card, should be included.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by BipolarBear

I mostly agree with this, but I think common errors, like the unnumbered 1994 Fleer Ultra X-Men Original Team Iceman card, should be included.

Oh yes I agree. Another example is the 1995 Fleer Ultra X-men Sauron where Sauron is facing reverse on the back. Or the 1990 Marvel Universe Spidey vs Goblin hologram that has the flipped back.

I meant errors in the above as in printing errors that aren’t really part of a master set, but are still interesting additions to a master set nonetheless. I should have clarified that

[Raymond23]

Originally Posted by BobCollects

I've thought about this a lot. In most cases, it's probably impossible to collect a true 100% Master Set that includes 1/1 cards. Some just won't be available for sale and others may sit in sealed packs/boxes/cases for decades.

A master set with everything except all 1/1 cards is probably doable for most recent non-sports sets but as you've discovered not easy or cheap. I guess it depends on how many parallels exist and how low the numbers go.

Master Set with 1/1’s is impossible, even if you buy the entire print run from Topps (since they always hold some cards back). For 40th anniversary, there were 200 base cards, each with 4 plates and the first 100 had 1/1 parallels as well. That’s 900 1/1’s just for base cards. I know someone who tried for all 100 red 1/1’s. He got to about 40 before cards dried up. That probably a good indicator of the percentage of hits that surface...about 35-40%. There were also 50 Cel cards, but each actual card had a unique cel so all are 1/1. There are thousands of those, and Topps never released a print run so you have no idea how many you would have to track down. Ditto sketch cards. Kind of hard to collect all 1/1’s when you don’t know how many to look for...

Originally Posted by BobCollects

I don't worry about hits when putting together a set for my personal collection. I'm working on a retail "mini-master" set of Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that includes the following:

Base Set

Parallels
-Green Parallel Set
-Silver Parallel Set
-Red Parallel Set (Target Exclusive)

Insert sets:
-Battle Lines (Walmart Exclusive)
-Character Stickers
-Choose Your Density (Target Exclusive)
-Foil Character Cards
-Illustrated Character Cards
-Kylo Ren Continuity
-Schematics

I still need a ton of parallel cards but they're easy enough to find because they're not numbered. Adding the hobby numbered parallel cards (black, orange, and gold) would be harder.

It wouldn't be too tough to also get a base set of the Jumbo Commemorative Patch cards (value box exclusive) and Commemorative Patch cards, but like I said I don't care about those.

Mini-master sets have a pretty clear definition in my mind...all base and unnumbered inserts. No hits. No parallels. No numbered inserts. Adding parallels or patches goes a little above and beyond, but can add a challenge. Mini masters are really easy to build these days...just let the case rippers try for the big hits and buy a set from them. I usually go this route for sets that I am sorta interested in, but I don’t want to spend the time/money chasing it. It was way more challenging (and rewarding) doing this 20 years ago.

Good luck with your chase!

[Raymond23]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I dig the master set thread. I collect Marvel Masterpieces master sets. I try to get everything released for each release, which includes ads, promos, packaging, as well as the cards. I’m a big fan of master set collecting in general- it’s always neat to put together a complete collection.

Here is what I consider to be a master set for the 90s Marvel Masterpieces sets:

-all cards/inserts
-all promos
-all print ads
-dealer promo kits
-all pack wrappers/empty boxes
(there were no official binders released for Marvel Masterpieces for whatever reason, I use custom binders)

The following I don’t necessarily consider part of a master set, but if I come across them I might try to purchase:

-uncut sheets
-unlicensed vending stickers featuring the art
-unopened material from the set
-empty case
-error cards

I pretty much have the 90s MM done with just a couple things missing, and also missing just a few items from the 2007-2008 sets.

Dude! That’s insane! (Really cool, but dang...that would be tough to finish off). I consider base/inserts and all promo cards to be complete, and everything else to be a bonus. Promos are always the tough cards in there sets. Even getting an accurate checklist to be a challenge. I frequently think I’m done and I come across something I never heard of before. I admire your commitment!

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

The 2016-2020 ones are tricky, and this gets to the thread topic. I think it would be suuuper hard and expensive to put together a master set of, say, 2016 Marvel Masterpieces because of the Jusko autographs (you’d be looking at the numbered to 10 or 15 silver spectrum, what if, and buyback autos, many of which are impossible to find and very pricey) and also the redemption for uncut sheet, red gallery /25, etc.
My plan with the newer MM sets, because of the infeasible nature of the true master, is just very slowly go for completing the purple, orange, speckle, gems, gold gallery, mirage, feasible achievements, and all the regular base/gold/what if and battle spectra/holofoils. But we’ll see.

I think if I were defining a true master for recent releases, I’d go with OP’s definition: everything but the 1/1s, and maybe 1 of each genre of 1/1 (one red spectrum, one plate, etc. I also might say just 1 sketch vs 1 from each artist). But my definition of a true master for a recent set is basically in agreement.

I disagree about the sketch cards. Need to have one of each artist on the checklist. I’m not very familiar with marvel, but I think I heard that some releases have used subjects instead of artists on the checklist, so one could go that route if there are only 60 characters used in a release. I might have misunderstood that information...

[glorbgorb]

The only master sets I have are TV-based from Inkworks and Rittenhouse. Even then I had my own definition--for example, I would get the official binders, but not bother with the uncut sheets.

I have never tried a master set with sketch cards. I don't want to look for the cheapest from an artist to just cross it off the list. And some of those earlier sketch sets could have more artists than base cards to chase.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

Dude! That’s insane! (Really cool, but dang...that would be tough to finish off). I consider base/inserts and all promo cards to be complete, and everything else to be a bonus. Promos are always the tough cards in there sets. Even getting an accurate checklist to be a challenge. I frequently think I’m done and I come across something I never heard of before. I admire your commitment!

Yea it’s definitely dependent on definition. For 90s era, I usually call all the cards: base, inserts, and promos a “master set”. And then a set that goes above and beyond with all the extras- print ads, wrappers, etc a “true master set”. I like the motto “everything officially released” plus any mainstream unofficially released material
for the term true master. Something I have learned while collecting 90s marvel master sets though: no matter how much you have from a set, no matter how complete you think it is, there is always something else out there.

You make a good point about the checklist. It’s hard to know in some cases, really. Some classic sites online I use as a starting point for Marvel sets are Jeff Allendar and abs-cards. But there will be plenty that is not listed in those either. The best way imo to know what’s out there are just years spent on eBay and seeing what comes along. If I get time I will post pics of some of the Marvel Masterpieces examples.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

The only master sets I have are TV-based from Inkworks and Rittenhouse. Even then I had my own definition--for example, I would get the official binders, but not bother with the uncut sheets.

I have never tried a master set with sketch cards. I don't want to look for the cheapest from an artist to just cross it off the list. And some of those earlier sketch sets could have more artists than base cards to chase.

I agree with this about the sketch cards, some of these sets have a ton or artists and it’s more tedious than anything in some cases. I do see the perspective of the opposite side and the completist attitude for sure, but it’s just not for me. The newer Marvel Masterpieces sets have not just some popular artists such as the Glebe’s etc, but also sketches from the set artist (Jusko, Bianchi, Palumbo) that will be expensive to add, not to mention the list of artists is huge. But I’m sure there are people who have done it.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I agree with this about the sketch cards, some of these sets have a ton or artists and it’s more tedious than anything in some cases. I do see the perspective of the opposite side and the completist attitude for sure, but it’s just not for me. The newer Marvel Masterpieces sets have not just some popular artists such as the Glebe’s etc, but also sketches from the set artist (Jusko, Bianchi, Palumbo) that will be expensive to add, not to mention the list of artists is huge. But I’m sure there are people who have done it.

Agreed. Though I will say in this day and age of ePack, COMC, Instagram, eBay, and breakers, it is easier than ever to find a sketch by any given artist from a current release. Of course you have to deal with the boneheads on COMC who list at dumb prices, but that's with any area and not just sketchcards!

[BobCollects]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

Mini-master sets have a pretty clear definition in my mind...all base and unnumbered inserts. No hits. No parallels. No numbered inserts. Adding parallels or patches goes a little above and beyond, but can add a challenge. Mini masters are really easy to build these days...just let the case rippers try for the big hits and buy a set from them. I usually go this route for sets that I am sorta interested in, but I don’t want to spend the time/money chasing it. It was way more challenging (and rewarding) doing this 20 years ago.

Good luck with your chase!

That's generally the same definition of mini-master I use. The only reason I added the retail parallels to the Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker set I'm building is because I bought a case and a bunch of blaster boxes and have most of the green and silver parallels already plus half of the red parallels.

I'm just about finished with my 1992 Marvel Masterpieces master set. It's not as expansive as DynaEtch's but I do have the five promo cards and the three prototype cards plus the lost cards from the tin. The Captain America promo was the hardest to find. I'm not chasing the Jusko signed cards, though.

My 1995 Marvel Metal master set includes the promo card, 4-up promo panel, the official binder, and the poster. I still need to get a few dozen of the flasher parallel cards. I do have empty wrappers, including the jumbo pack.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

Agreed. Though I will say in this day and age of ePack, COMC, Instagram, eBay, and breakers, it is easier than ever to find a sketch by any given artist from a current release. Of course you have to deal with the boneheads on COMC who list at dumb prices, but that's with any area and not just sketchcards!

That’s a good point about it being much easier now with COMC etc. Also nice how COMC lists the artist’s name, so not as much guessing. I have always been about quality over quantity with sketches. I’d much rather have a few very nice sketches to attach to my 2016-2020 Masterpieces master sets than one sketch each from the entire catalogue of artists.

Originally Posted by BobCollects

That's generally the same definition of mini-master I use. The only reason I added the retail parallels to the Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker set I'm building is because I bought a case and a bunch of blaster boxes and have most of the green and silver parallels already plus half of the red parallels.

I'm just about finished with my 1992 Marvel Masterpieces master set. It's not as expansive as DynaEtch's but I do have the five promo cards and the three prototype cards plus the lost cards from the tin. The Captain America promo was the hardest to find. I'm not chasing the Jusko signed cards, though.

My 1995 Marvel Metal master set includes the promo card, 4-up promo panel, the official binder, and the poster. I still need to get a few dozen of the flasher parallel cards. I do have empty wrappers, including the jumbo pack.

Good stuff. Doesn’t get much better 1992 MM and 1995 Marvel Metal for choices to master collect. As for 1992 MM, there are 6 promos along with the 3 prototypes...most people think the Wolverine promo is hardest (and it is indeed the most valuable), but I don’t think people realize just how hard the Capt America promo is to find also. I personally don’t consider the 2016 MM 1992 buybacks or Jusko autos to be a part of the 1992 MM master set (they are part of the 2016 master set), but it is true that some people would still try to collect an uncertified Jusko auto on a raw 1992 MM card for each card of the set....I just don’t consider that part of the master set either, since they aren’t released material dealing with the set.

The marvel metal silver flashers are going up a lot lately, and some are getting harder to track down. With the prices of boxes $1000+, it’s no wonder Metal cards are going up. The next things I might consider with 1995 Metal would be the set of 10 prints and the dealer kit, but of course your definition of master set can be different than mine.

[DynaEtch]

Here is the 1993 Marvel Masterpieces master set I have put together. I won’t call it a true master, because as mentioned....there is always something else.




















The second to last pic is what I meant above about adding errors to a master set. The Omega Red, Cyber, and Long Shot are missing foil for the names, and the colossus is missing foil on the whole card. The Krystalin dyna etch is also missing all foil on the entire card front. They are just interesting production curiosities (which although rare, were probably more common in 1993 MM than any other MM of the 90s).

[Raymond23]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I agree with this about the sketch cards, some of these sets have a ton or artists and it’s more tedious than anything in some cases. I do see the perspective of the opposite side and the completist attitude for sure, but it’s just not for me. The newer Marvel Masterpieces sets have not just some popular artists such as the Glebe’s etc, but also sketches from the set artist (Jusko, Bianchi, Palumbo) that will be expensive to add, not to mention the list of artists is huge. But I’m sure there are people who have done it.

I did do it (and more) for Star Wars 40th Anniversary. I liked most artists on the list and (like parallels), it would a fun thing to tackle once (it also made me look at a lot of artists that I was unfamiliar with, and I like much of their work). Sketches from 40th are only from the original Star Wars Film (A New Hope), which is my favorite film. At first, I noticed a lot of repetition of the same characters and scenes, but it also allowed for a really deep dive into some really obscure characters. I eventually moved from “one of every artist” to “one of every character, alien, droid, ship, planet, and prop” (or, every one of those that “I” felt important enough to own in sketch form. Over 250 sketches and close to 120 different subjects, it’s become a labor of love. I finally did a checklist of every character I wanted and didn’t own, and tried to track down artists with blacks for the final push. The whole Cantina is basically accounted for...

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

I did do it (and more) for Star Wars 40th Anniversary. I liked most artists on the list and (like parallels), it would a fun thing to tackle once (it also made me look at a lot of artists that I was unfamiliar with, and I like much of their work). Sketches from 40th are only from the original Star Wars Film (A New Hope), which is my favorite film. At first, I noticed a lot of repetition of the same characters and scenes, but it also allowed for a really deep dive into some really obscure characters. I eventually moved from “one of every artist” to “one of every character, alien, droid, ship, planet, and prop” (or, every one of those that “I” felt important enough to own in sketch form. Over 250 sketches and close to 120 different subjects, it’s become a labor of love. I finally did a checklist of every character I wanted and didn’t own, and tried to track down artists with blacks for the final push. The whole Cantina is basically accounted for...

That’s an incredible sized sketch collection for one set. I bet that looks amazing! I wonder how one goes about storing/displaying that. I just have my sketches (I don’t have a ton) in toploaders, but if I had such a complete collection I might consider a binder or something.

I like the idea of getting a closer look at some of the more obscure characters. I have to agree of all the films, A New Hope is a nice one to do it with- the most classic film.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

I eventually moved from “one of every artist” to “one of every character, alien, droid, ship, planet, and prop” (or, every one of those that “I” felt important enough to own in sketch form.

The hard part about that? The artist list is easily obtainable. Character/droid/ship/planet/prop, though, you have to know every card produced by every artist to see what fits your criteria.

Do you just look through your daily eBay search email and go "Got it, got it, got it, might need it, have to look that one up"?

Admirable nonetheless.