Marvel Comic Book Trading Card Variant Covers

[finfangfan]

I’m surprised these aren’t more popular. I would think there would be a healthy crossover between comic and card collectors. Love how the back covers also have a trading card back. This Wolverine cover (and back) is A++

[exotechktx]

When I found out (late) of Joe Jusko's cover sets, and Jim Lee's cover sets, I immediately jumped on board to get them despite not being a comic collector at all. I intend to do so similarly for the upcoming Hildebrandt set. However, I'm relegated to the 90s era card sets so this Wolverine one is foreign to me. Is that from Fleer Retro or FUXM18?

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by exotechktx

When I found out (late) of Joe Jusko's cover sets, and Jim Lee's cover sets, I immediately jumped on board to get them despite not being a comic collector at all. I intend to do so similarly for the upcoming Hildebrandt set. However, I'm relegated to the 90s era card sets so this Wolverine one is foreign to me. Is that from Fleer Retro or FUXM18?

I think they just re-used the '92 X-Men design and card bio information and inserted different Wolverine artwork -- it's not the same as the Retro Fleer version of his card.

[finfangfan]

Yeah… cover artist is listed on back of slab… Russell Dauterman who has done a lot of nice covers. I also like the John Tyler Christopher action figure covers. A lot of cool variant covers floating around if you browse around.

[exotechktx]

Ahhh, so more a homage than a direct re-use of the older card sets! Def not for me then hehehe

[finfangfan]

Yeah… it’s definitely an homage to the old card set not a reprint. Dauterman is doing a wide variety of characters even some modern ones like this character who first appeared in 2019…

[exotechktx]

That's a really nifty idea, and seems to be very well executed!

[DynaEtch]

These are pretty awesome

[DynaEtch]

I notice there isnt any Fleer logo (or Impel, which this original set was, now built into the Fleer brand) anywhere on it. Nor UD logo. Same with the Masterpieces covers- they dont appear to have any MM logo or Fleer logo on it. Interesting...I guess they can use what looks like a carbon copy of the design (and the with MM ones, even the card art), yet the Fleer brand doesnt seem to be attached.

[DynaEtch]

A Mark Bagley series of variants was done on the Heroes Reborn series, featuring 1993 Marvel Universe series 4

[finfangfan]

I initially noted Dauterman as the artist for the X-covers but looks like the Villain covers in the ongoing set are done by a different artist Giuseppe Camuncoli






There have also been trading card covers for other series… like Thunderbolts with the card backs on the back covers, but other similar trading card variants… like the ones in Tiger Division and Strange Academy are front cover only. I think the ones with the card backs on back cover are the best execution of the variant.

[DynaEtch]

That 1990 MU design is sharp. Neat to see the trading card designs large size. I agree about the back covers- very cool addition. I think my favs are the 92 impel x-men’s because of that reason.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I’m surprised these aren’t more popular. I would think there would be a healthy crossover between comic and card collectors. Love how the back covers also have a trading card back. This Wolverine cover (and back) is A++

Comic Spec can be weird. FWIW, it took the Hip Hop Covers a good bit of time to take off and now even the common ones seem to go for more than they should

[PurplesaurusRex]

I remember seeing these at the comic shop a year ago, good to know they're still doing them. These are the ones I picked up. Impulse buy no doubt.

[Rictor]

I think they have a strong following, just like the action figure variant covers, or Marvel wouldn't keep putting them out.

[finfangfan]

This one went live on ePack this week. Not really a fan of horizontal cover comics (or cards for that matter) but this one didn’t turn out too bad.





And the Hildebrandt MMIII cover variants mentioned in the MM thread are fantastic. Here’s the ones I have on ePack so far…

[BobCollects]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

A Mark Bagley series of variants was done on the Heroes Reborn series, featuring 1993 Marvel Universe series 4

There was also a promotional set of Heroes Reborn trading cards released as a tie-in to the comics.

[finfangfan]

Here is some upcoming ones.. Emma Frost and then Iron Man with an “Allies” designation…





And here is a Thunderbolts one I traded for that also has a card back…

[finfangfan]

This Virgin variant popped up today on ePack…



As well as the regular edition…,



And these two also hit…

[DynaEtch]

These Hildebrandts really turned out nice. Carnage is great.

Saw a preview of the FF 18 with Human Torch,

[finfangfan]

Wow… that’s a nice one!

[finfangfan]

And just successfully traded for this guy… so now between preorders and live slabs I think I have the full set of regular covers.

[finfangfan]

A few more trading card covers went live today on ePack… love this stuff!

[finfangfan]

EDIT: ONE more of mine dropped today…

[finfangfan]

And somehow I missed this one in the preorder process but just traded for it. Not a fan of the landscape style… kind of an oddball one but the completist in me needed it.