An Insane Fact about Spider-Man/Marvel Cards and Why They Are Going Much Higher

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by webjon

They have been making Spider-Man solo sets for at least 30 years. The same comic characters we get movies of today have been appearing on cards for 80+ years.

The nonsports releases have been much, much more sporadic than what you see in sports. And with something like Spiderman, serial numbers not even on the scene until about 2013.

It makes more sense to consider 90s vs current Marvel as two fundamentally different eras. I also don’t think the single, random 1966 release changes anything here. Whereas with Brady (not sure why we are still comparing these two), going back to 2000, you still had serial numbers, autos, etc. much as today. The key is also many more sets a year. I do think Spiderman wins the limited battle.

[TheDude1138]

Originally Posted by webjon

They have been making Spider-Man solo sets for at least 30 years. The same comic characters we get movies of today have been appearing on cards for 80+ years.

There are still far less Marvel or DC sets produced than Football, Basketball or Baseball. Not to mention Marvel and DC characters are generally represented by outside influences which change the intent of the card manufacturer. Toby, Andrew and Tom are separate representations just like Silver, Bronze and Modern Age lay out different versions.

[DynaEtch]

As a fun little exercise, I compared total unique cards of Spiderman vs Brady on Beckett's player checklist search.

While a superficial glance shows Spiderman having nearly the same amount of different cards out there (Brady: 18911, Spidey: 16756), that's not really the story.

First have to take off the action figures/ funko pops etc, brings it down to about 15000. But there's page after page of panini stickers (full sets of Spiderman stickers). When talking about Spiderman cards in the non-sports, that's not really included. If you take away the panini hits, it's down to like 10,000.

That's still not accurate. I (and many others) do not lump the art based cards with MCU live action releases, again a fundamentally different type of card, each with its own collectors- and looks like OP is referring to art based Spiderman cards. So that would take a lot more off that 10,000 number (full MCU sets with spiderman exist), but dont know the exact number. I wouldnt be surprised if the total unique spiderman art cards is like 3000 or less. And that's with multiple full-Spiderman sets in the 90s, a different and cheap era. (not sure if there are multiple full Tom Brady-centric releases). But when it comes to serial numbers, it's no question many more unique cards exist for Brady.

[webjon]

This is my point exactly -- entertainment cards and sports cards are fundamentally different hobbies.

[gatorDS]

I'll add my two cents here, while I do think the general population that collects sports cards is much larger than comic cards, comic cards has the opportunity to attract non-US collectors. Football and baseball are primarily US sports (and even basketball to an extent) and I can't imagine many European/Asian collectors out there unless they're ex-pats, maybe some Canadian fans. What I've seen, and this is coming from mainly a sketch card point of view, there's a lot of International sellers from the UK, Australia, Japan, China, and even the Philippines. While I imagine sports cards will always rule in the US, maybe comic cards can pick up some market share by attracting more global collectors.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by gatorDS

I'll add my two cents here, while I do think the general population that collects sports cards is much larger than comic cards, comic cards has the opportunity to attract non-US collectors. Football and baseball are primarily US sports (and even basketball to an extent) and I can't imagine many European/Asian collectors out there unless they're ex-pats, maybe some Canadian fans. What I've seen, and this is coming from mainly a sketch card point of view, there's a lot of International sellers from the UK, Australia, Japan, China, and even the Philippines. While I imagine sports cards will always rule in the US, maybe comic cards can pick up some market share by attracting more global collectors.

Basketball trading card sales are HUGE globally fyi.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I also don’t think the single, random 1966 release changes anything here.

You missed the point. I was responding to the comment that a sports star can appear on a card for 30-40 years.

Superman has appeared in sets since 1941.

Marvel has had sets in the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. The same characters appear throughout these sets.

Now, of course the argument is that set contains the 'wrong' Spider-man, but that's the trouble with the comparison in general.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by webjon

You missed the point. I was responding to the comment that a sports star can appear on a card for 30-40 years.

Superman has appeared in sets since 1941.

Marvel has had sets in the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. The same characters appear throughout these sets.

Now, of course the argument is that set contains the 'wrong' Spider-man, but that's the trouble with the comparison in general.

I know what you are saying, but again there is huge difference between one set a decade or so, some being a sticker set, and what is going on with a sports star who is in card sets for 30 years.

For Marvel art cards there is essentially the late 80s/90s as one era, and then there is the 2007-current era. That there was a 1966 Donruss one-off set or 1970s Topps one-off sticker set, is not really impactful or relevant to people concerned about number of sets/cards Spiderman is appearing in and value. A lot of people collecting Marvel cards barely even know those exist. In fact the only era relevant to the OP is the 2007-present, particularly 2013 and after.

Sure spiderman did appear in one-offs like 1966 Donruss and 1967 Philadelphia gum stickers, but I just think it’s misleading to say flatly state Spider-Man has been in 60s,70s,80s,90s sets without much context. Those first 3 decades barely affect anything in terms of the point of the OP.

Will spider-man (or for that matter Tom Brady) continue to be on cards many decades from now? Time will tell, the landscape, medium, manufacturers could be much different, we just don’t know.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I know what you are saying, but again there is huge difference between one set a decade or so, some being a sticker set, and what is going on with a sports star who is in card sets for 30 years.

For Marvel art cards there is essentially the late 80s/90s as one era, and then there is the 2007-current era. That there was a 1966 Donruss one-off set or 1970s Topps one-off sticker set, is not really impactful or relevant to people concerned about number of sets/cards Spiderman is appearing in and value. A lot of people collecting Marvel cards barely even know those exist. In fact the only era relevant to the OP is the 2007-present, particularly 2013 and after.

You do realize 1990 is over 30 years ago, right?

And the guy said that sports stars can appear on cards for 30-40 years. . .

My point was that so can Marvel cards -- 30-40 years and more.

1990-present is more than 30 years.

[Cardboardalstar]

The 2012 Ultimate Spider-Man rookie cards seem undervalued.

The 2012 Marvel's Greatest Heroes UH16 is a short print card with less than 600 prints, something like 578 or something (someone can chime in).

The 2012 Marvel Beginnings MicroMotion is nice also since it has the same image as the 2015 Vibranium Ultimate Spider-Man card. I have no idea what the print run is for that card.

Both seem condition-sensitive, so high-grade versions should be rare.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by webjon

You do realize 1990 is over 30 years ago, right?

And the guy said that sports stars can appear on cards for 30-40 years. . .

My point was that so can Marvel cards -- 30-40 years and more.

1990-present is more than 30 years.

Here again is the original post I was commenting on, mentioning 80+ years

Originally Posted by webjon

They have been making Spider-Man solo sets for at least 30 years. The same comic characters we get movies of today have been appearing on cards for 80+ years.

In the post I quoted in my previous reply, it mentioned 60s, 70s, 80s.

Those are the posts I was replying to. Hence my responses about one-off sets in those decades not being important for the points brought up in this thread.

If you want to claim now it’s just about the 30 years since the early 90s, then I still don’t agree that has much relevance to the OP, as 90s marvel isn’t serial numbered, is almost a separate hobby with different buyers/collectors than present marvel. There are people who collect both (I do), but there are also many who stick to newer Marvel and don’t get involved in the 90s mass produced stuff. The fact there were tons and tons of 1994 Fleer Amazing Spiderman produced really doesn’t have bearing on the current marvel Spiderman card market. One thing that might affect it is if UD starts putting out lots of PMGs with Spiderman like every year- that sort of thing.

I don’t know much about Tom Brady cards, but I’m assuming in the 20+years, it’s been pretty much autos, limited inserts, etc for most of those years (different from the 2-era distinction of Marvel going back to 1990), and as I already posted above: Brady clearly has been on way more cards than Spidey art cards, with serial numbered not even close.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Cardboardalstar

The 2012 Ultimate Spider-Man rookie cards seem undervalued.

The 2012 Marvel's Greatest Heroes UH16 is a short print card with less than 600 prints, something like 578 or something (someone can chime in).

The 2012 Marvel Beginnings MicroMotion is nice also since it has the same image as the 2015 Vibranium Ultimate Spider-Man card. I have no idea what the print run is for that card.

Both seem condition-sensitive, so high-grade versions should be rare.

I don’t really like the term rookie card in nonsports, but would the 2012 Marvel Beginnings 3 #535 base Ultimate Spider-Man be called Miles Morales’ “rookie card” since it is his first base? Depends how you define RC I guess.

[aces]

Originally Posted by One more set

Spider-Man is 10 times the man Brady will ever be.������

With great passing comes great responsibility.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by TheDude1138

To say that Brady has signed many many more cards than any non sports celebrity is probably true.

There are actors that have signed A LOT more than anything Tom Brady has signed when it comes to pack pulled cards. But again, the demand makes an impact. If I had to compare demand it would probably be similar to Stan Lee

[Archangel1775]

Basketball has a huge worldwide market. There is a reason you see artist renditions of Spider-Man on Michael Jordan inspired designs. PMGs are designed after the 1997 basketball set. Same with current insert sets, designed after basketball sets. A PMG green Jordan is a million dollar card. If a Metal basketball box COULD be produced with logos…it would probably be a $3k box out the gate. If MJ and LeBron were in it, $5k to $8k. Let’s not be silly with these comparisons.

[webjon]

Any idea roughly how many autograph cards Tom Brady has?

There are some celebs who sign cards a lot -- Stan Lee, and William Shatner come to mind, but there are also quite a few who only sign for one or two sets.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

If you want to claim now

I'm not 'claiming' anything, I said what I said. If you disagree that's cool.

Personally -- I don't see a huge difference generally in the types of cards produced in a given era regardless if they are sports cards or non-sports cards.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by webjon

I'm not 'claiming' anything, I said what I said. If you disagree that's cool.

Personally -- I don't see a huge difference generally in the types of cards produced in a given era regardless if they are sports cards or non-sports cards.

The type of cards is important to the premise of the OP. Specifically he is talking about limited (serial numbered cards). Spiderman numbered cards only go back to 2013, along with less sets per year = a lot less Spiderman cards produced. OP is right about this basic fact. He doesnt have a comprehensive list, but the gist is correct.

[webjon]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

The type of cards is important to the premise of the OP. Specifically he is talking about limited (serial numbered cards). Spiderman numbered cards only go back to 2013, along with less sets per year = a lot less Spiderman cards produced. OP is right about this basic fact. He doesnt have a comprehensive list, but the gist is correct.

Ahh, I see the confusion.

I was replying to the guy I quoted -- not the OP.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by webjon

Ahh, I see the confusion.

I was replying to the guy I quoted -- not the OP.

Yea I guess it was two separate topics really

[Kobefan]

Originally Posted by One more set

Spider-Man is 10 times the man Brady will ever be.������

Not really. Spiderman has been in publication for a long time, so if Captain America can now become an agent of Hydra, I'm sure Spiderman has his douche moments.

[HiltonL]

Originally Posted by Kobefan

Not really. Spiderman has been in publication for a long time, so if Captain America can now become an agent of Hydra, I'm sure Spiderman has his douche moments.

"One More Day" comes to mind, along with his origin story of not stopping that bandit. Let's not get into Gwen Stacy. Peter's closest always pay the price of his douchery.

[PurplesaurusRex]

And that's a perfect example of why superheroes are not like sports stars. You just can't compare the two. How many people has Wolverine killed? Or Deadpool? If an athlete was pulling those numbers their stock would drop like a rock.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by webjon

Any idea roughly how many autograph cards Tom Brady has?

There are some celebs who sign cards a lot -- Stan Lee, and William Shatner come to mind, but there are also quite a few who only sign for one or two sets.

Tom Brady hasn't signed very much his entire career. I don't recall him ever being a spokesperson for Topps, Upper Deck, Panini or any defunct brands. Anything that has come out recently is usually in the high end sets ($5000 boxes plus) and in very limited numbers, serial numbered to /25 or less. If they were in mid-brand sets, they are usually /10 or less the last I checked.

[Archangel1775]

Doing some research on Tom Brady Autos

Entry Level Pack-pulled are about $2000
Most look to average $3500-$5500
Lower end Patch Autos are about $6500
I would imagine a Flawless Patch Auto is $10,000 plus

But I reiterate, comparing a comic book character's card sales to a GOAT sport player is silly.

Here are the latest Goldin Auctions results for Tom Brady items

https://goldin.co/buy?Category=Sport...t=Highest_Bids