Marvel Card Prices are Tanking

[orion9578]

Originally Posted by astroshane

and go.....

Having spent a great deal time and money collecting Marvel Cards between 2019 and 2024 I have found the prices have dropped significantly and continue to decline heavily in 2024. This has applied across the board in all areas including; 2016 Marvel Masterpieces, PSA 10 Marvel MU, Marvel PMGs, etc.

I still collect but am seriously wondering if we have yet to hit the bottom? In my opinion, this creates an atmosphere where collectors (including myself) are reluctant to pay certain prices for cards of interest. The current landscape feels like a bit of a race to the bottom.

It all depends when you bought in. Marvel cards are in fact not way down on a lot of the older stuff, but way, way up. While they are down from Covid heights, they are up by many multiples from their original prices. If you happened to buy in in 2021/2022, you just got unlucky on your timing. A few examples of pre-Covid prices on nice(r) stuff(and these weren't really cherry picked because I bought them cheap, but a decent example of what stuff cost at the time):

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

You people who pay hundreds of dollars more on Marvel Platinum cards are idiots -- I mean that sincerely.

Quoted for future use. I like Platinum. I do not like Topps Chrome because of how Topps will do it. IMO, after they make Topps Chrome for the 15th time, people will look back at Platinum. Most of the art is nice. Card stock is nice. Shiny. Easier graders. Levels for ALL collector types. You want a $5 numbered Spidey, there's a card for you. You want to pony up for a Gold Spidey /10, there's a card for you. Not a fan of people calling anyone an idiot for buying what they like .


As far as the current market goes(on new stuff), there are plenty of good buys out there. Buy quality cards of quality characters and you'll probably be alright.

[notoriousrmb]

I'm paying less for Marvel I buy these days for two reasons:

1. New stuff costs too much, if I want to open new product, got to save elsewhere and that means buying less overall. Things I would have normally thrown random bids/offers at before just because I "liked the card" now gets passed over.

2. New art is what people want. Re-using the same images is incredibly boring, I'm interested in new drawings, new concepts. These are comic cards and comics are all about the art! I get cards showing classic covers or a familiar image, but when all new stuff is just cut and paste of previous images I lose interest.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by orion9578

It all depends when you bought in. Marvel cards are in fact not way down on a lot of the older stuff, but way, way up. While they are down from Covid heights, they are up by many multiples from their original prices. If you happened to buy in in 2021/2022, you just got unlucky on your timing. A few examples of pre-Covid prices on nice(r) stuff(and these weren't really cherry picked because I bought them cheap, but a decent example of what stuff cost at the time):





Quoted for future use. I like Platinum. I do not like Topps Chrome because of how Topps will do it. IMO, after they make Topps Chrome for the 15th time, people will look back at Platinum. Most of the art is nice. Card stock is nice. Shiny. Easier graders. Levels for ALL collector types. You want a $5 numbered Spidey, there's a card for you. You want to pony up for a Gold Spidey /10, there's a card for you. Not a fan of people calling anyone an idiot for buying what they like .


As far as the current market goes(on new stuff), there are plenty of good buys out there. Buy quality cards of quality characters and you'll probably be alright.

You're taking my quote out of context. I didn't say you're an idiot for collecting Platinum cards -- collect what you like. I was saying paying hundreds more for Platinum cards over MM16 cards makes you an idiot. MM16 was a very limited set with top tier artwork. Platinum, which is mainly a generic chrome set that Topps will likely replicate, should not outprice it.

$80.25 for a green PMG Spider Gwen in 2017 is proof that PMGs have been pumped and manipulated to insane levels. At its peak a few years ago, what would that same card have gone for? At least 100x, right? Maybe 200x? Prices shot up practically overnight -- total nonsense.

[comicbooksgo]

You know the first 100 cards of Platinum are OA, right? Plus there are OA variants to add to that number. It's the best of both worlds.

[ATLOTP]

I was watching some superfractor oversized box toppers from 2024 Marvel Chrome. The Giant-Size Man-Thing #3 sold for a grand and change, the Giant-Size Avengers #4 sold for two grand and change. I really would have liked to own either of them, but I didn't want to pay a grand.

[DynaEtch]

There is something silly about a reprinted card of a cover of Giant Size Avengers #4 going for more than a solid (CGG 5.0) copy of the real Avengers #4 comic with Caps 1st silver age appearance.

I am taking lots of Marvel Chrome sales with a grain of salt. How about this from the same seller out of China as those:

https://ebay.com/itm/156415330395

So we’re supposed to believe that someone is paying $14,900 for that Wolverine gold refractor. And not a green pmg /10, but a card /50? 15 grand? I guess I shouldnt be surprised it’s not appearing on terapeak so far (not paid for). While another just ‘sold’ for $5000, if that’s even legit. And I guess we’re supposed to believe a red ref Wolverine just sold for like $17,000+. I see another that ‘went’ for like $9000+.

Note I’m using quotes on the term sold in these cases, because who even knows. I will guess it’s either two things: 1. Blatant fake sales from shills winning auctions, or 2. A concerted effort to manipulate these prices, sort of like what went on with PMGs. Marvel Chrome is an obvious target, with Chrome and shininess the premise….it won’t be super different from Disney.

All these $9000, $14k, $17k numbers thrown around….we are farrrrrrrrr removed from collectors in the hobby. It’s a game of price manipulation where Marvel Chrome is the pawn. That’s what a lot of this release will be imo. We are barely even talking about a hobby, I’m not convinced a Wolverine character collector is dropping fourteen thousand dollars on a refractor of Wolverine /50. This is a separate game, in its own world mostly removed from the hobby. If this is direction the “hobby” is moving towards I’m glad to constrain myself to old sets, mainly cool 90s stuff but some of the UD stuff too (earlier UD before parallel galore sets). If anything most collectors I’ve interacted with don’t care so much for Marvel chrome.

Not even getting into there are how many /50 gold versions of Wolverine in this set itself- regular gold ref, gold wave ref, gold auto ref…..and that’s just gold. I have no idea what happened to marvel cards.

[ATLOTP]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

So we’re supposed to believe that someone is paying $14,900 for that Wolverine gold refractor. And not a green pmg /10, but a card /50? 15 grand? I guess I shouldnt be surprised it’s not appearing on terapeak so far (not paid for). While another just ‘sold’ for $5000, if that’s even legit. And I guess we’re supposed to believe a red ref Wolverine just sold for like $17,000+. I see another that ‘went’ for like $9000+.

I never pointed to that sale. I don't think that's a real sale. The existence of false sales does not mean there are no valid sales.

You may find it silly that someone is willing to pay more for a superfractor box topper reprint than an issue, but they're different items.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by ATLOTP

I never pointed to that sale. I don't think that's a real sale. The existence of false sales does not mean there are no valid sales.

You may find it silly that someone is willing to pay more for a superfractor box topper reprint than an issue, but they're different items.

No but considering it’s the same seller out of China, and several of their sales seem to be questionable, it’s not out of the realm to be cautious when looking at their completed sale prices. These are also auctions and im pretty sure I’m seeing shilling in the bid histories.

I mean it’s possible a superfractor topper would go for a good chunk. But you can never know with this stuff.

Also looks like tons of high end sports cards looking at sellers other items….this is the crowd that seems to be dominating marvel chrome, not really a surprise.

[PurplesaurusRex]

If you think Marvel Chrome will be immune from falling card prices, you're fooling yourself. This stuff is a step below Upper Deck.

[comicbooksgo]

I've watched several breaks of Topps Chrome. It just doesn't compare to MP, and looks really generic to me. Maybe at some point Topps will make one that I do like, but this one isn't it. MPFL

[HiltonL]

Based on what little attention I've paid to the Chrome release, it's silly season all over again.

I'm with comicbooksgo, MPFL

[Xiarmadillo]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

There is something silly about a reprinted card of a cover of Giant Size Avengers #4 going for more than a solid (CGG 5.0) copy of the real Avengers #4 comic with Caps 1st silver age appearance.

I am taking lots of Marvel Chrome sales with a grain of salt. How about this from the same seller out of China as those:

https://ebay.com/itm/156415330395

So we’re supposed to believe that someone is paying $14,900 for that Wolverine gold refractor. And not a green pmg /10, but a card /50? 15 grand? I guess I shouldnt be surprised it’s not appearing on terapeak so far (not paid for). While another just ‘sold’ for $5000, if that’s even legit. And I guess we’re supposed to believe a red ref Wolverine just sold for like $17,000+. I see another that ‘went’ for like $9000+.

Note I’m using quotes on the term sold in these cases, because who even knows. I will guess it’s either two things: 1. Blatant fake sales from shills winning auctions, or 2. A concerted effort to manipulate these prices, sort of like what went on with PMGs. Marvel Chrome is an obvious target, with Chrome and shininess the premise….it won’t be super different from Disney.

All these $9000, $14k, $17k numbers thrown around….we are farrrrrrrrr removed from collectors in the hobby. It’s a game of price manipulation where Marvel Chrome is the pawn. That’s what a lot of this release will be imo. We are barely even talking about a hobby, I’m not convinced a Wolverine character collector is dropping fourteen thousand dollars on a refractor of Wolverine /50. This is a separate game, in its own world mostly removed from the hobby. If this is direction the “hobby” is moving towards I’m glad to constrain myself to old sets, mainly cool 90s stuff but some of the UD stuff too (earlier UD before parallel galore sets). If anything most collectors I’ve interacted with don’t care so much for Marvel chrome.

Not even getting into there are how many /50 gold versions of Wolverine in this set itself- regular gold ref, gold wave ref, gold auto ref…..and that’s just gold. I have no idea what happened to marvel cards.

Ebay is peppered with fake sales with ulterior motives since at least mid 2000 and in this day and age of influencers and social media its dialled up to a 11.
Plus it used to be you bust boxes to pull cards and collect a set and hope to pull some of the hits, and most people busting keep most of the cards they open.
It has devolved to most people bust boxes to try to pull the hits (which are more lottery than usual and sometimes not even nice) and try to recoup by selling everything else for whatever they can get. Hence you will see alot of shenanigan with bounties (real and fake) and fake sales to try to prop up the hit cards in order to cajole gamblers to dive all in

The crowd has changed and the whole industry is catered to being a lottery to the max (and also extracting/milk the maximum RC option time value as possible, I mean top RCs have like over 2000+ cards!)

[finfangfan]

I think with Topps getting the Marvel license you will see more Marvel breaks from unconventional sellers (I.e. the sports guys) and probably even more weirdness. Get ready for countless streams of a breaker that has no idea what they are breaking oohing and ahhing over pulling a Toad sketch drawn by a 5th grader.

[HiltonL]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I think with Topps getting the Marvel license you will see more Marvel breaks from unconventional sellers (I.e. the sports guys) and probably even more weirdness. Get ready for countless streams of a breaker that has no idea what they are breaking oohing and ahhing over pulling a Toad sketch drawn by a 5th grader.

Isn't that what Whatnot already is?

[finfangfan]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

Isn't that what Whatnot already is?

It’s about to get ramped up to 11!

[Xiarmadillo]

well they have special 'breaker only products' that have better odds than hobby in sports and star wars?
get ready!

[Kobefan]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

Based on what little attention I've paid to the Chrome release, it's silly season all over again.

I'm with comicbooksgo, MPFL

I agree, Platinum is much better, none of the nonsense with the fake autos, and better original arts as well. It's unbelievable that Ebay tries to fix shilling with auto payment for buy it now, but is not willing to do something even more effective and targets auction shilling by removing unpaid and refunded auctions from their completed sales database; If those guys can't manipulate sales data, there's less incentive to shill.

[DynaEtch]

Wolverine gold ref #03/50 from the $14,900 ‘sale’ linked above already relisted by the seller at auction. Hopefully no one is using any of these high dollar supposed sales on eBay for comps.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Wolverine gold ref #03/50 from the $14,900 ‘sale’ linked above already relisted by the seller at auction. Hopefully no one is using any of these high dollar supposed sales on eBay for comps.

Oh, that seller. Yeah, that checks out. They are one of a handful of sellers from China that always makes my Spidey-sense tingle when something from them shows up in my searches.

Of course, it looks like someone took that fake sell to heart. The 24/50 is up for BIN of $14,999 (with a charitable BO of course).

[davis20009]

I've been collecting Black Diamond pretty heavily. Cards from the set don't really look like they have come down in price. Anything that I want does not seem to be getting cheaper and in many cases are selling for more than they did 2 years ago. I'd like them to come off a bit so I can add to the collection more economically.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by davis20009

I've been collecting Black Diamond pretty heavily. Cards from the set don't really look like they have come down in price. Anything that I want does not seem to be getting cheaper and in many cases are selling for more than they did 2 years ago. I'd like them to come off a bit so I can add to the collection more economically.

I think MCU is in its own realm since it’s largely auto based. Autos and sketches are a little more impervious to plummeting. Like I bet singles have come down a bit from pandemic peak but not super much. Also helps there was just 1 Black Diamond set.

[fabiani12333]

Black Diamond was a limited, ultra premium brand. Most other UD Marvel products were lower quality and repetitive.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

I think with Topps getting the Marvel license you will see more Marvel breaks from unconventional sellers (I.e. the sports guys) and probably even more weirdness. Get ready for countless streams of a breaker that has no idea what they are breaking oohing and ahhing over pulling a Toad sketch drawn by a 5th grader.

Not gonna lie, rather buy 10 cases of Wolverine and X-23 than a case for myself. It different from sports because I'd be happy to have a 100 count base lot of each of them.

[fabiani12333]

Topps will target the sports card gamblers with their Marvel products -- probably at the expense of traditional collectors. We'll just have to see how it works out. I have a feeling the market will be too saturated with Topps sports products to support all the high-priced niche non-sports products as well, but we'll see.

[sluggerwx]

Outside of eBay, can you guys point me to where it's possible to buy vintage (1990-1995) sealed Marvel/X-Men cards? I've tried a few comic shops and they mostly have comic books only and Pokemon/Lorcana stuff.
Are there shows you can attend to buy boxes? Looking for any feedback - I don't really know where to go outside of eBay. Thanks!