2023 Upper Deck Marvel Masterpieces - Dan dos Santos

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Sushiyoshi

From the breaks I've seen, yes the holofoil and base use same art.

It does look like some of the holofoils do not appear in the base set- Silver Surfer, Sauron, Morbius, Kingpin, and there could be others (trying to piece it together with Cardboard Connection's holofoil checklist being totally out of whack).

But have to say, not a fan of repeating the base as a holofoil- I guess Dos Santos must have done less total paintings....but then make the holofoil set smaller UD...can you imagine if in the Hildebrandt masterpieces set Fleer just repeated base as the holofoil inserts- would be unheard of. Lazy if anything.

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet -- some of the base cards form a triptych:

--Longshot, Mojo and Dazzler fighting inside Mojoworld arena

--Iceman, Archangel and Gambit fighting a sentinel

I know Dyna would like this.

I didnt see that, this is great! Some 90s nostalgia....havent seen in masterpieces really outside of the classic Steranko triptych in MM93.

As for the Venom, yea there are plenty cards in the set I think are amazing, and some that arent my taste like the Venoms and some others as well. I think Dos Santos's art in closeups is the best, and some of the female characters in particular look the best to me. I think that's normal to have a spectrum.

Another thing I noticed there are a lot characters in vacuum or near vacuum (no environments or very bare environments). That can make help accentuate the character of a painting, but I wish we could have seen a bigger amount of cards with elaborate environmental backings. Look at the Battle Spectras. There are almost no environments on any of them. It's possible this had to be the case because the parallels. Going back to MM92 and the classic battle spectras, with the one exception of the Wolvie/Sabretooth, the environments really enhance and provide the backdrop for the battle. It is what it is...Im very happy with how the set looks in general, they really needed to go away from the dark masterpieces art for a little while, and Im so glad this set looks brighter for the most part.

[DynaEtch]

Also I’m definitely not seeing the same volume of this stuff hit eBay as the prior few MM sets. To be expected I suppose.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Boxes back up at DA, $100 more than yesterday.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

As for the Venom, yea there are plenty cards in the set I think are amazing, and some that arent my taste like the Venoms and some others as well. I think Dos Santos's art in closeups is the best, and some of the female characters in particular look the best to me. I think that's normal to have a spectrum.

Another thing I noticed there are a lot characters in vacuum or near vacuum (no environments or very bare environments). That can make help accentuate the character of a painting, but I wish we could have seen a bigger amount of cards with elaborate environmental backings. It is what it is...Im very happy with how the set looks in general, they really needed to go away from the dark masterpieces art for a little while, and Im so glad this set looks brighter for the most part.

Yes, I noticed that too about the closeup artwork -- they have more detail. The X-Men characters in particularly seem to have the highest quality of artwork -- just look at the base artwork for Storm and Kitty Pride. But the canvas portraits seem to be lacking in fine detail, almost like they were blown up and cropped out from a more expansive painting.

And yeah, the lack of background detail is noticeable. I think it's a way to cut time spent on each piece, but it may also be because the media that it's being printed on is so small. Foreground images get more emphasized on trading cards, with background details being harder for the viewer to make out -- too much detail can also make a small trading card look too busy. But full-size paintings do a better job of emphasizing smaller background details -- especially landscape paintings.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Yes, I noticed that too about the closeup artwork -- they have more detail. The X-Men characters in particularly seem to have the highest quality of artwork -- just look at the base artwork for Storm and Kitty Pride. But the canvas portraits seem to be lacking in fine detail, almost like they were blown up and cropped out from a more expansive painting.

And yeah, the lack of background detail is noticeable. I think it's a way to cut time spent on each piece, but it may also be because the media that it's being printed on is so small. Foreground images get more emphasized on trading cards, with background details being harder for the viewer to make out -- too much detail can also make a small trading card look too busy. But full-size paintings do a better job of emphasizing smaller background details -- especially landscape paintings.

You are right about the time saving aspect, and also the trading card medium being less conducive. It's especially noticeable in the Battle Spectras which have almost no environments in these. Btw this isnt particular to 2023, but also in prior masterpieces like 2018 and 2020- it's likely not even Dos Santos's choice but UD needs them to have nearly blank backgrounds for the battle spectra gem parallels.

The 92 battle spectras utilized environments quite effectively (but I dont think it'd be easy to make the below into blue, red, green variants by just coloring the background)



I just noticed the Spider-man vs Venom battle spectra is essentially opposite the 92...this time it's Spiderman attacking Venom from above





A nitpik, the modern Battle Spectras are decidedly not spectra etch cards. UD doesnt seem to know how to make a proper spectra etch card like Skybox did, which had only certain parts of the characters and backgrounds in etched foil. The new ones are generally a generic foil behind the unfoiled character art.

[DynaEtch]

Since cardboard connection checklist for holofoils is all wrong, trying to put together a list of the holofoils. Sourced from ebay...let me know if you see the others

1. Captain America
2.
3. Wolverine
4. Thor
5. Hope Summers
6. Ant-Man
7. Wasp
8. Thanos
9.
10.
11. Quicksilver
12. Scarlet Witch
13. Captain Marvel
14. Morbius
15. Groot
16. Kingpin
17. Daredevil
18. Omega Red
19. Silver Surfer
20. Sauron

[exotechktx]

I really should not have been following this. But DDS's artwork completely overwhelmed me, it's almost too beautiful. I bought 2 boxes @ 900.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by exotechktx

I really should not have been following this. But DDS's artwork completely overwhelmed me, it's almost too beautiful. I bought 2 boxes @ 900.

Man, good luck if opening! I agree the set looks real nice and I’m trying to resist FOMO, but I’m sure I’ll cave in. Was really trying to wait for epack, but I don’t know how long a wait that will be.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Since cardboard connection checklist for holofoils is all wrong, trying to put together a list of the holofoils. Sourced from ebay...let me know if you see the others

1. Captain America
2. Spidey
3. Wolverine
4. Thor
5. Hope Summers
6. Ant-Man
7. Wasp
8. Thanos
9.Iron Man
10. Vision
11. Quicksilver
12. Scarlet Witch
13. Captain Marvel
14. Morbius
15. Groot
16. Kingpin
17. Daredevil
18. Omega Red
19. Silver Surfer
20. Sauron

Filled in the remaining ones.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by PurplesaurusRex

Filled in the remaining ones.

Good stuff, thanks

[hottoys2012]

Originally Posted by Fenian95

1/1 Shatterstar pulled in a Facebook group. Red spectrums look great, as do most of the cards. Will have to try and grab a few of my characters base after EPack

which fb group ?

[hychang5]

Should we start a separate thread for Red 1/1’s pulled?

I have seen a Namor and somebody said Shatterstar was pulled

[TimBuckTwo]

Found another LCS selling boxes for $700 and will ship. I am going in for two more.

[TimBuckTwo]

I think this set is going to be very costly to put together even for a mini-master set. There was an open box sale on ebay and it looked like they got 5-6 base in the box, handful of gold and a bit of What if. Also looked like the characters fell out in rainbow fashion (Shuri AP and What if, Multiple Man base and What if etc).

[smanzari]

Was at the LCS again this morning and were having the discussion there should still be a "case hit" in the final box as the "Metalurgy" had yet to be seen, so I figured I would try again. We were right, was still there - along with another decent hit.

[TimBuckTwo]

Originally Posted by smanzari

Was at the LCS again this morning and were having the discussion there should still be a "case hit" in the final box as the "Metalurgy" had yet to be seen, so I figured I would try again. We were right, was still there - along with another decent hit.

Well I would say those are two great pulls!

[BobCollects]

Anyone know what Blowout is selling boxes for? Or if they’ve sold any? They’re marked sold out right now and every other time I’ve checked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KidKards101]

Originally Posted by BobCollects

Anyone know what Blowout is selling boxes for? Or if they’ve sold any? They’re marked sold out right now and every other time I’ve checked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They were asking $900

[TimBuckTwo]

Guesses for when this stuff shows up on epack? 2 months?

[BobCollects]

I called my local card shop. They’re selling boxes for $800.

Did anyone here manage to preorder boxes from DA for $500? Will you be opening, selling sealed, or tucking away for a few years?

I’m sure anyone able to preorder at $500 must be over the moon right now. And whoever priced those two brief preorder windows must be kicking themselves for setting such a low price. They should also be congratulated for allowing a few people to get boxes at a wildly inflated price instead of an insanely inflated price.

I can’t blame any retailers for selling these boxes for crazy prices. The only people to blame are the people willing to pay the crazy prices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kobefan]

I'm disappointed in the silver surfer art as well. First time in a long time that the character is back in Marvel cards and the card depicts a closeup of silver surfer, instead of him surfing around and shooting his cosmic blast. I was thinking of picking up some silver surfer cards from the set, but so far, I'll pass on the holofoil.

[TimBuckTwo]

Originally Posted by Kobefan

I'm disappointed in the silver surfer art as well. First time in a long time that the character is back in Marvel cards and the card depicts a closeup of silver surfer, instead of him surfing around and shooting his cosmic blast. I was thinking of picking up some silver surfer cards from the set, but so far, I'll pass on the holofoil.

Charlie don't surf !

Oops wrong movie...

[glorbgorb]

The problem with Surfer is that if he's not surfing or there aren't stars behind him, he basically looks like Iceman.

[KidKards101]

Damn someone pulled a 1/1 preserved in Amber Ghost Rider!! The background for that card is perfect for the character, like what the guy who pulled it said.

Such a beautiful card!

[Kobefan]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

The problem with Surfer is that if he's not surfing or there aren't stars behind him, he basically looks like Iceman.

And shooting cosmic beams.