2023 Upper Deck Marvel Masterpieces - Dan dos Santos

[DynaEtch]

Anyone actually collecting this set? Or has the price point all but turned off most collectors from the set?

If you are collecting, what are you going for? What is your strategy? It seems the cheapest way to get a normal base set of the art is to go for the gold sigs. They are cheapest, particularly the tier 4s, being only 1:72 now vs 1:288 from previous sets. There are more tier 4 gold sigs than even epic purples. Some are going for less than 100.

[DynaEtch]

Im trying to collect the set, some random things of note:

-Staying away from wax for the most part. This is not the way to go about collecting the set.

-I am mostly waiting for the epack/comc dump before really making an attempt at this set. That includes the regular base/gold sigs/what if (most of the set). I did make a few exceptions including picking up mirage and tier 4 base early (dumb...since these prices will fall), but in general my view is that anything /99 or more should be totally fine waiting for epack, prices will be less.

-Since there is no /99 gallery in this and consistency from previous sets is impossible, I decided I will go for reds /149 rather than blues /49, if for no reason other than way too dang expensive going for blues.

-Tier 4 what ifs appear to be the *hot* item in the set...similar to old MM sets...not gonna get near them at the prices Im seeing.

-I collect masterpieces sketches. Maybe a good thing for my wallet, but I have not seen many sketches from this set that really catch my eye, and have largely not been buying them.

-Not going to make efforts with the Preserved Ambers or Metallurgys. You basically cant set collect these sets within any reasonable budget with the most common being /50 and a set of 90.

[kakarot12]

I found someone selling a Professor X “The New Mutants” tier 4 variant cover /50 on Mercari for $300….something told me that was a steal because the sales I’ve seen on eBay for those variants have been very good so I said screw it and bought it. Delivered today. Just listed it on eBay and within 10 minutes, I sold it for $1000.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by kakarot12

I found someone selling a Professor X “The New Mutants” tier 4 variant cover /50 on Mercari for $300….something told me that was a steal because the sales I’ve seen on eBay for those variants have been very good so I said screw it and bought it. Delivered today. Just listed it on eBay and within 10 minutes, I sold it for $1000.

That is a heck of a deal. The regular Professor X base itself would go for 300+.

What if tier 4s in this set are just on another level. There are hardcore high end Marvel collectors that put together these MM tier 4 what if sets going back to 2016. I keeping track of a lot that's been on the market, and something helping your Professor X is I dont think I've seen it on ebay to this point. If you take a character like Wasp, a few have already been for sale now. Being that first or close to the first is huge.

Biggest deal I've seen so far is a seller sold a true base tier 4 Dr Strange for $99 on ebay, sold in like 10 seconds from being listed. That is insanely low, especially considering his tier 4 base has barely shown up yet, compared to some others. (no I was not the lucky buyer who got that one)

[PurplesaurusRex]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Anyone actually collecting this set? Or has the price point all but turned off most collectors from the set?

If you are collecting, what are you going for? What is your strategy? It seems the cheapest way to get a normal base set of the art is to go for the gold sigs. They are cheapest, particularly the tier 4s, being only 1:72 now vs 1:288 from previous sets. There are more tier 4 gold sigs than even epic purples. Some are going for less than 100.

I had a feeling those gold sigs were being used to pad out these packs. It's a shame the sig is so large, it's the best option for people wanting to collect the set.

[DynaEtch]

In previous MMs the go-to thing was to make a frankenstein set of 1-81 base + tier 4 epic purple.

I do think going the gold sig route will be cheaper in the long run (estimated 250 of each tier 4 gold sig vs 199 purple, plus gold sigs aren’t hard numbered), plus it comes with the added benefit the whole 1-90 is the same, in gold sig.

But I also get your point of the sigs cluttering the art, which purples don’t do.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Anyone actually collecting this set? Or has the price point all but turned off most collectors from the set?

I pc two characters. The last time one of them was in MM was 2018. And now that I no longer collect sketchcards, MM22 just doesn't interest me. The price points don't make sense for me even if I happened to love a specific card's art. To be honest, I haven't even looked at all the base card art. I know that's terrible to say for a Marvel card collector, but I have to have some self-discipline (if I buy one, my OCD compels me to go for the rainbow no matter what).

That said, I don't plan on partaking in MM22 on ePack.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

I pc two characters. The last time one of them was in MM was 2018. And now that I no longer collect sketchcards, MM22 just doesn't interest me. The price points don't make sense for me even if I happened to love a specific card's art.

It was so bone-headed for online retailers to have these come out of the gate at inflated prices. I was ready to pay $500/box but $1000? No way. The only ones that can keep buying at these prices are the Youtube influencers. And how long will they keep buying? I saw one guy on Youtube who was absolutely terrified to open his last sealed box. UD scammed him out of a green parallel hit and won't even offer a replacement.

[MMguy]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Anyone actually collecting this set? Or has the price point all but turned off most collectors from the set?

If you are collecting, what are you going for? What is your strategy? It seems the cheapest way to get a normal base set of the art is to go for the gold sigs. They are cheapest, particularly the tier 4s, being only 1:72 now vs 1:288 from previous sets. There are more tier 4 gold sigs than even epic purples. Some are going for less than 100.

I am; after buying 2 boxes and making 90% of my $ back (thanks in part to some 2016 MM cards I had stored away) I caved and started bargain hunting for singles. I just can't stay away and the art is beautiful in comparison to the last 2 MM sets.

So far my strategy was to go for the lower tiers first, 1 - 3, and if I find epic purple tier 4's I go for those as long as the price is "right" (I am "Watching" a few Tier 4 Epic Purple Venoms but they're way too expensive). I was lucky enough to find someone on eBay who made me a great deal on a complete base set of Tier's 1 and 2 + 8 canvas cards.

For the Holofoils, I pulled 3 that were reused art from Tier 4 (Captain America, Spider-Man, and Thor), and once I realized most of the Holofoils were reused art, I decided to only go for unused / new art (Morbius, Silver Surfer, Sauron, Fisk, Iron-Man).

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by MMguy

I am; after buying 2 boxes and making 90% of my $ back (thanks in part to some 2016 MM cards I had stored away) I caved and started bargain hunting for singles. I just can't stay away and the art is beautiful in comparison to the last 2 MM sets.

So far my strategy was to go for the lower tiers first, 1 - 3, and if I find epic purple tier 4's I go for those as long as the price is "right" (I am "Watching" a few Tier 4 Epic Purple Venoms but they're way too expensive). I was lucky enough to find someone on eBay who made me a great deal on a complete base set of Tier's 1 and 2 + 8 canvas cards.

For the Holofoils, I pulled 3 that were reused art from Tier 4 (Captain America, Spider-Man, and Thor), and once I realized most of the Holofoils were reused art, I decided to only go for unused / new art (Morbius, Silver Surfer, Sauron, Fisk, Iron-Man).

Solid strategy to go for the base and purple tier 4s, and going for lots. Unlike previous MMs which I would piece together during the window when only physical existed, I have decided for the regular base/canvas/battle spectras/gold sig/what if to basically completely wait for the COMC flood. So at this point I have next to nothing of this set complete (excepting all my efforts going for the Mirage and tier 4 base). Your approach to the holofoils just going for the new art ones makes a lot of sense...my OCD would not let me complete just part of that set though, as silly as the repeated art is.

I do think if you wait for epack....a tier 4 purple like that Venom will be significantly cheaper. Really all the cards will be, but particularly ones up into the /199s. The only thing is the waiting, I could see it taking as long as into next year. Collecting Marvel sets is just kinda weird now with this two-phase thing. Part of me almost wishes it was all just on epack at once without physical so a set releases, ready to be collected, and that's that. Instead of this collecting limbo thing. On the other hand, I do like the physical box and opening packs.

Edit: I have the binders ready to go…just theyre basically empty The complete ‘basic’ (non-hit) set will fit into 2 binders like this: base,gold,what if 1-81, canvas, battle spectra, holofoil, and checker holofoil

[Xazark]

I will try to pick up some stuff on comc but the prices are just absurd at the moment so I have stayed away, I am a set collector so would prefer to pick up a set of everything, as you say I'll likely look at the gold foil sigs or purples would love to get a true base set but that seems very unlikely. Not sure what I am going to do with the insert sets, I dont like the canvas galley look so probably go the /149 but even thats going to be steep I suspect. Very disappointed in the pricing on this as I was looking forward to a bright, vibrant MM set after the last 2 sets being too dark for me but I guess thats the hobby these days unfortunately.

[MMguy]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Solid strategy to go for the base and purple tier 4s, and going for lots. Unlike previous MMs which I would piece together during the window when only physical existed, I have decided for the regular base/canvas/battle spectras/gold sig/what if to basically completely wait for the COMC flood. So at this point I have next to nothing of this set complete (excepting all my efforts going for the Mirage and tier 4 base). Your approach to the holofoils just going for the new art ones makes a lot of sense...my OCD would not let me complete just part of that set though, as silly as the repeated art is.

I do think if you wait for epack....a tier 4 purple like that Venom will be significantly cheaper. Really all the cards will be, but particularly ones up into the /199s. The only thing is the waiting, I could see it taking as long as into next year. Collecting Marvel sets is just kinda weird now with this two-phase thing. Part of me almost wishes it was all just on epack at once without physical so a set releases, ready to be collected, and that's that. Instead of this collecting limbo thing. On the other hand, I do like the physical box and opening packs.

Edit: I have the binders ready to go…just theyre basically empty The complete ‘basic’ (non-hit) set will fit into 2 binders like this: base,gold,what if 1-81, canvas, battle spectra, holofoil, and checker holofoil

Thanks; my other strategy was to find sellers who obviously opened multiple boxes and make offers on a lot of cards in hopes they would sell them for a lot less than what they had them up, so far it's worked 50% of the time.

Regarding ePack and COMC, I'll probably buy some Tier 4's from there if they are less expensive, but I'm itching to buy another box because the thrill of opening a fresh pack and pulling a Tier 4 (let's say Venom) is indescribable. I actually pulled a Tier 4 Spider-Man from the 2016 set (I bought a whole case in 2016) and naive me, new to "Tiers", sold it for next to nothing (compared to what they are going for nowadays).

Love your folders; what size are they? I always buy the wrong size and I dislike the extra space in my folders (2" D-ring folders).

[MMguy]

Originally Posted by kakarot12

I found someone selling a Professor X “The New Mutants” tier 4 variant cover /50 on Mercari for $300….something told me that was a steal because the sales I’ve seen on eBay for those variants have been very good so I said screw it and bought it. Delivered today. Just listed it on eBay and within 10 minutes, I sold it for $1000.

Whoa! This might be the first set I try to obtain the variant covers for but if that's what Tier 4's are going for...maybe not.

[DynaEtch]

My collecting motto for MM going back to 2016 has been '/99 or more'...as in going for the sets that are at least /99 or more, including true base, battle spectra gems, gold gallery, speckle, and mirage. /99 sets are in that sweet spot of being fun to track down bit by bit, possible to complete with effort, and not outrageously expensive. Anything less.../25 gallery, kaliedoscope holofoil, tier 4 what ifs....no way. Not putting 10k into a set of /25 gallery's for example. Not that Im looking to resell in the near future, but it would also be difficult to sell a 10k+ set like that, the value isnt there....not enough high end marvel card collectors out there who would put that much into a set- would have to break it up.

This 2022 set is pushing things to the absolute brink in terms of how expensive things are though. Im curious just how much an adjustment we'll see with comc prices.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by MMguy

Thanks; my other strategy was to find sellers who obviously opened multiple boxes and make offers on a lot of cards in hopes they would sell them for a lot less than what they had them up, so far it's worked 50% of the time.

Regarding ePack and COMC, I'll probably buy some Tier 4's from there if they are less expensive, but I'm itching to buy another box because the thrill of opening a fresh pack and pulling a Tier 4 (let's say Venom) is indescribable. I actually pulled a Tier 4 Spider-Man from the 2016 set (I bought a whole case in 2016) and naive me, new to "Tiers", sold it for next to nothing (compared to what they are going for nowadays).

Love your folders; what size are they? I always buy the wrong size and I dislike the extra space in my folders (2" D-ring folders).

Phew a whole case of 2016MM. If only we could be back in those days of buying an entire case. I feel like if someone is opening a case of this, which is what, 10-12k, they are an influencer or dealer. Not many collectors doing that.

The folders are listed as 2" D-ring. I use two of them for each modern MM set, and it will contain all the non-hits easily (again this is the 3 1-81 sets + regular insert sets). You are right about there might be extra space, but I use the black sideloading pages, the extra space doesnt affect things much. Plus I put things on top of the pages like pack wrappers and sell sheets. Might be able to get away with 1.5"'s.

[MMguy]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Phew a whole case of 2016MM. If only we could be back in those days of buying an entire case. I feel like if someone is opening a case of this, which is what, 10-12k, they are an influencer or dealer. Not many collectors doing that.

The folders are listed as 2" D-ring. I use two of them for each modern MM set, and it will contain all the non-hits easily (again this is the 3 1-81 sets + regular insert sets). You are right about there might be extra space, but I use the black sideloading pages, the extra space doesnt affect things much. Plus I put things on top of the pages like pack wrappers and sell sheets. Might be able to get away with 1.5"'s.

Yeah, no way I was buying an entire case of 2022 MM. It's funny, since 2016, my purchases have dwindled in terms of cases/boxes. 2016: full case, 2018: 1/2 case, 2020: 4 boxes, 2022/2023: 2 boxes...

Sideloading pages, interesting, I'll have to look into those.

[MMguy]

A Venom Variant Cover sold for $99 on 9/4, that can't be right, can it? Is there anyway to check?

[JERAF]

Originally Posted by MMguy

A Venom Variant Cover sold for $99 on 9/4, that can't be right, can it? Is there anyway to check?

Where is this info coming from?

[MMguy]

Originally Posted by JERAF

Where is this info coming from?

Oops, my mistake, I saw this on "Sold Listings" from eBay.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by MMguy

A Venom Variant Cover sold for $99 on 9/4, that can't be right, can it? Is there anyway to check?

It did not sell for $99. On ebay it says $99 with best offer accepted...it was an auction starting at $99 with offers enabled, and someone offered ant it was accepted.

You can check the listing on 130pt, which has ebay best offer accepted info, and this particular one on Sept 4 sold for a staggering $2,000

[DynaEtch]

I say staggering amount of $2,000....
....but then when you think about it and that's the price of like 2 boxes

This set is just crazy with how much boxes cost. Not many cards will go for even 5x box price. Likely not even a Dan Dos Santos sketch.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Nice binder! I can't wait for the art book to come out. I have the Jusko and Hildebrandt books and Dan's work would look great on the shelf with those.

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by PurplesaurusRex

Nice binder! I can't wait for the art book to come out. I have the Jusko and Hildebrandt books and Dan's work would look great on the shelf with those.

Thanks- it's custom done (graphics designer, not by me) since they just dont do official binders like they used to.

I agree a book of this would be sweet....and much more affordable I take it you mean the IDW Jusko (MM16) and Hildebrandt book. Gotta add Juskos 1992 book to that as well! (if it ever finally ships from the kickstarter and comes to market).

They should do a complete library of all the classic Marvel sets, including all the 90s sets. How cool would that bookshelf be...Im more a card person, but I think that would be a great way to chronicle the sets, with historic info included in each book along with the card art.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

I agree a book of this would be sweet....and much more affordable I take it you mean the IDW Jusko (MM16) and Hildebrandt book. Gotta add Juskos 1992 book to that as well! (if it ever finally ships from the kickstarter and comes to market).

Yep!

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

They should do a complete library of all the classic Marvel sets, including all the 90s sets. How cool would that bookshelf be...Im more a card person, but I think that would be a great way to chronicle the sets, with historic info included in each book along with the card art.

I know this book has some MM Artwork but I don't think it's complete:

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by PurplesaurusRex

I know this book has some MM Artwork but I don't think it's complete:

I wonder if it’s the same as this book? Looks the same just title is different for some reason. I can confirm the below has a lot of the 96MM set.



Bianchi does have an artbook for 2018MM but there is like no set background info/commentary on the artwork.

Still waiting for Palumbo to do anything for 2020MM?

What would be too awesome would be a ‘Dare to Compare’ MM95 book with all that art and commentary. Cover of the book should be in the classic Dare to Compare advertising graphics. So much untapped potential out there with this stuff.