Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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NOTHING BUT RARES ... 
The Lot: 23 assorted modern comic books ... find comic cards at BlowoutCards.com
The Price: $43 (shipped)

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There are a lot of things one can collect that aren't cards -- sometimes they can even come in packs and sometimes they don't. Buzz has been exploring the world a little bit in different directions but with many of them still being paper items -- stacking paper but not in that ol' money kind of way. Here's a look at a few items that entered my collection in recent months that can all fall under this department, which will be found here roughly once a month. 

NEARLEY PERFECT FOR WHAT IT IS ...
The Item: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) -- The Sporting News, March 28, 1970
What It Cost Me: $7
What's It Worth: Not sure but it’s so clean I’d think more.
The Buzz: I spotted a dealer with some impressive copies of this sports newspaper of the past -- issues so clean they ultimately don’t even have a light bend from being lightly folded or stacked for storage -- and this one was an easy grab at that price with one of the NBA’s all-time greats front and center in what was his rookie season. My batch of these was so clean and free of the common issues for stuff like this that the lone problem that I only spotted here (but only after buying) was a bummer in comparison to others. See that light white line right by his name? That’s actually a small tear. I didn’t notice it at first or it blended right into the photo, but this is still a very impressive item otherwise that’s 56 years old. I’ve never really worried about anything on newsprint when it comes to collectibles -- they are far too challenging to store and often have lots of condition issues -- but these impressed me and you’ll see more like it in the coming months here as I picked off a decent little stack with legendary names attached. If you have names you collect, you might do some searches for your teams or players in this realm. They can be nice additions without breaking the bank.
Find Cards At: NBA boxes at BlowoutCards.com

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

PERFECTION ON THE DIAMOND
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps Big League -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: One might argue that because this is Ohtani’s most low-end RC that it might not mean as much -- but that’s mostly just because of what the packs cost back in the day. How about now? How easy is it to find Big League packs vs. all of the other options that have his RCs inside? (I didn’t look ... that’s a question for you.) I'd suspect there are a boatload more flagship options to be found (at higher prices now) and a lot more of those cards slabbed vs. these. Why? While Big League was cheaper, I'd think there probably wasn’t as much made considering all of the packaging versions for flagship releases back then compared to this. That was a thought as to why I finally slabbed this one, especially when it looked pretty good.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: There’s a reason this global icon leads off this month. This one checks in as just one of four in that top mark. Just 7.6 percent of those graded have landed this mark ... while a heavy majority does check in at a standard 10. Sure, these are all pop numbers that could change at any time with more subs ... but I’d think that other RCs probably will get graded more than this one.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

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OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN ... 
The Card: Captain Britain 2025 Topps Chrome Marvel Comics Yellow Lava Refractor
The Price: Under $2
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There seems to be an influx of deep-pocketed collectors chasing down Marvel cards hot and heavy in recent years with Precious Metal Gems and Chrome Refractor rarities being gobbled up to the point that almost everything new is seemingly of the flashy variety like this with big box prices attached. This collector doesn’t go uptown without some guaranteed stuff inside -- hits such as autographs, sketch cards or memorabilia guaranteed -- so there’s not been much dabbling for me and I’m OK with that. (Can’t collect everything.) This simple card was my first taste of this release for a character I liked the most back when I was a regular comics dabbler in the early 1990s (when baseball cards got pricey and a bit uninspired at the same time). This modern take on the 1980 Topps MLB design is one that, while I’m familiar with it, doesn’t really resonate with me to chase ‘em all. I also wished that the edges and corners were a little cleaner here ... but I have seen rougher releases with chromium-stock sets from all companies in recent years. If you have the willpower and can dig in not worried about box prices, there are some interesting releases out there in the comics realm. I used to casually dabble more in the non-sports realm when the boxes were cheaper but singles like this might be where I look more often if something strikes me. There’s little doubt that the ceiling for rarer singles is higher than ever if you pull something good, too.
Grab a box right here: Marvel cards are here.

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What's Buzzing: MLB chatter and pulls, inside a Pop Century case, sketch cards and more in this Sunday edition.

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1 -- Talking baseball

2 -- New MLB pulls

3 -- Breaking down a Pop Century case

4 -- Sketch cards

5 -- Talking comics

6 -- Grading is on their minds

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2026 Topps Finest Fantastic Four trading cards
Arrives: April 15
Box basics: One sketch card, autograph or Relic per 10-pack hobby box (eight per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The Finest brand takes on one of Marvel’s biggest teams of the past in a release that meshes the movies with the comics and many of the familiar Finest inclusions all in one as part of its 65th anniversary.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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A MIX OF NEW AND OLD ...  
The Lot: 44 assorted Marvel comic books ... find comic cards at BlowoutCards.com
The Price: $65 (shipped)

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What: 2026 Keepsake Invincible Season 2 Premiere Breaker Edition trading cards
Arrives: June 30
Box basics: Two Relics per four-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Full Product Guide PDF: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: A popular and long-running Image Comics book turned animated series on Amazon Prime gets a second turn on trading cards from Keepsake with a meaty debut release that includes 600 cards with more than 3,000 unique versions and a variety of card types within the product.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2026 Keepsake Battle Beast Spotlight Series 1st Edition trading cards
Arrives: June 22
Box basics: One encased card (/50 max) per box (2o boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This offshoot of Invincible, the popular and long-running Image Comics book turned animated series on Amazon Prime, hits cardboard from Keepsake with an array of possible finds, including creator ink.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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RARE LOOKS & RARER BOOKS ... 
The Lot: 38 assorted modern comic books ... find comic cards at BlowoutCards.com
The Price: $28 (shipped)

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What: 2025 Topps Chrome Deadpool trading cards
Arrives: April 1, 2026
Box basics: One autograph or sketch card per 10-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Marvel’s mouthly but beloved hero gets a standalone Chrome set that looks at the movies, the books and more all in one colorful spot.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMANTE
The Card: Roki Sasaki 2025 Topps Series 2 Diamante -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: In my mind, this parallel that arrived for the Topps flagship sets last year is one of the most-dynamic options in an over-foiled lineup and this one made the cut for a grading sub after I found it in a hanger box. (These parallels are only in hanger boxes -- two at a time, every time.) The textures here can make cards look funky or even mangled to the naked eye on some corners or edges thanks to the texture and pattern, so your best bet for grading these (and other stuff, of course) is to make sure you have a loupe.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Lone copy graded and only one slot on the scale ahead of it that could top it ... works for me. I need to scout these singles more -- that’s how much I like them -- and they are back this year.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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What: 2026 Topps Brooklyn Collection Marvel Captain America trading cards
Arrives: March 6
Box basics: Two numbered parallels per 10-card box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The 85th anniversary of Captain America gets an all-encompassing look at the character and other players within the Marvel universe in both the books and on-screen in this release.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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A LITTLE PRICE, A LOT OF VARIETY ... 
The Lot: 36 assorted modern comic books ... find comic cards here
The Price: $34 (shipped)

Keep reading for more on this one ...

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This new department will be an occasional series that will take a quick look at a game or gaming release with card elements -- essentially a breakdown of what's in a box, but not the typical kind of a Buzz Break. (Buzz isn't a gamer so this will just be what's in a box vs. gameplay analysis.) Maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

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The Game: Casino Askew Hold 'em McNeil poker cards (Graphitti Designs, 2006)
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards 

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery from this one.

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What's Buzzing: Bill Mazeroski, comics, grading, new MLB pulls, 2026 Topps and still waiting on Topps Heritage.

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1 -- Collectors remember Bill Mazeroski

2 -- Grading is on their minds

3 -- Talking comics

4 -- New MLB pulls

5 -- 2026 Topps Heritage reactions

6 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

This new department will be an occasional series that will take a quick look at a game or gaming release with card elements -- essentially a breakdown of what's in a box, but not the typical kind of a Buzz Break. (Buzz isn't a gamer so this will just be what's in a box vs. gameplay analysis.) Maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

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The Game: The Joker: A Diabolical Party Game (Spin Master Games, 2020)
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards 

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery from this one.

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For years now, autographed books coming direct from publishers -- or direct from the authors themselves -- have been an affordable way to collect ink from notable names in all realms of pop culture.

It's not a perfect system with stamped autos, fakes and autopens sometimes in the mix -- a problem for publishers to catch as they are not authenticators -- but thanks to dedicated collectors on the Blowout Cards Forum and elsewhere, those problems often get caught and fixed ... or at least become well-known enough to avoid if it's an issue that goes uncorrected. Getting ink in-person is always best -- book tours still happen, of course -- but landing autographed editions from publishers, online sellers or celebs themselves via their websites or other appearances are common.

Our latest subject and autograph in this ongoing series? Well, this time it's once again something totally different (just like last month) as nothing recently released in the books realm has grabbed my attention. Instead, I turned to something from the comics world -- a category with plenty of signed stuff out there regularly and ink flowing.

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Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block via for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions ... check 'em out.

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A MONSTER HITS THE AUCTION BLOCK
The Item: Honus Wagner 1909 T206 Sweet Caporal back -- "The Garagiola Wagner" (SGC Authentic)
The Price: $1,625,000 after 35 bids (ends Feb. 28)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I’ll spare you the historic lore of this card -- hit the link for Heritage’s full recap of this one’s place in history -- but you should know that this one is already over halfway to its estimated $3M sale price in the wake of some modern cards making big headlines with big prices last year. Sure, this one is a low-grade copy -- but it’s real -- and this particular card was once owned by former MLB player. It was "the prized possession of baseball icon Joe Garagiola, whose nine seasons of Major League play was followed by decades of elite achievement as a broadcaster.” How did he get it? "Garagiola's son informed us that his dad's 1954 Giants uniform was part of the package he traded for this holiest of hobby grails,” Heritage said.

Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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LOADING UP ON LOGAN ... 
The Lot: 29 Wolverine and Uncanny X-Men comic books ... find Marvel cards here
The Price: $42 (shipped)

Keep reading for more on this one ...

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH ...
The Mag: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce -- Mad No 36 (April 2024)
The Reason Graded: With the Grammys set for tonight (Feb. 1), I figured now would be the time to drop one here for the Swifties -- a magazine that I picked off long, long ago with absolute intent to grade but never got around to it until late last year. This duo sold a lot of magazines in the last couple of years but this one was one of few to present itself in a way that would fit in my collection of slabs -- it's one part sports (he's in uniform) and one part comics/satire, a category where I have a few slabs. These were popular -- so much so there was at least a second printing with a green logo -- but actually finding the long-running but off-and-on-title would be a challenge at arrival. Book stores/newsstands? Probably not. Comics shops? Maybe ... but probably not a big priority for many of them. The original Mad ran from 1952 to 2018 before DC Comics took over after a couple months off that year and it's largely been new covers wrapping mostly favorite reprinted stories from the past with occasional new content.
The Grade: CGC 9.6 (Universal)

Reality Check: These mags are super thin and the cover paper is, too. How skinny? The spines of new copies have texture all the way down from the folding -- I suspect they will be the huge problem spots if you find these un-graded with an eye for slabbing. Mine has that -- as do some 9.8s I looked at before slabbing -- so mine probably had one other small issue to kick it down a notch. That was a bummer -- and my latest mags submission didn't have a single 9.8 in it, which was odd -- but I was grading this no matter what as a time capsule kind of slab from the last few years.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. In recent times, I've been picking off bulk lots of comic books -- new stuff and old stuff -- by the box and have decided to make it a monthly drop here. Why? Just for fun ... 

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ALL THAT ... AND SOME MYLARS, TOO
The Lot: 32 assorted modern Marvel Comics & DC Comics titles ... find Marvel & DC cards here
The Price: $46

Keep reading for more on this one ...

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For years now, autographed books coming direct from publishers -- or direct from the authors themselves -- have been an affordable way to collect ink from notable names in all realms of pop culture.

It's not a perfect system with stamped autos, fakes and autopens sometimes in the mix -- a problem for publishers to catch as they are not authenticators -- but thanks to dedicated collectors on the Blowout Cards Forum and elsewhere, those problems often get caught and fixed ... or at least become well-known enough to avoid if it's an issue that goes uncorrected. Getting ink in-person is always best -- book tours still happen, of course -- but landing autographed editions from publishers, online sellers or celebs themselves via their websites or other appearances are common.

Our latest subject and autograph in this ongoing series? Well, this time it's something totally different, actually, as nothing recently released in the books realm has grabbed my attention. Instead, I turned to something from the comics world -- a category with plenty of signed stuff out there regularly and ink flowing.

Continue reading →

Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block via for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions ... check 'em out.

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MODERN-DAY TREASURE OR A SUPER-FLASHY FLIP?
The Item: Shohei Ohtani & Aaron Judge 2025 Topps Chrome Update Dual Gold Logoman MVP Relic (/4)
The Price: $75,000 after 23 bids (ends Jan. 30)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This monster card came out of a pack in recent months -- well, at least its redemption did -- and it's already on the auction block for a cash-in. What is it? It's a card with the gold-threaded MLB logo patch off of game-used jerseys from the reigning MVPs from each league in 2024 as worn last year -- if you look closely at both images on the card you can see them, too. (Enhanced to make sure they stand out more? Not necessarily ... but they sure do pop on those tiny images.) Cards like these -- signed and unsigned as singles and immensely rare finds -- are some of the biggest pulls in the heavily produced brand with long odds. The back of the card has built-in windows for you to see the MLB Authentication stickers for these patches pulled from their jerseys (click to view and go look them up for yourself). Should these be a hold or moved immediately? I bet your answers are all over the place -- but the longer one waits, the more the chances other cards like this might be done over time, giving them more competition if they are all up for grabs at the same time. Ohtani and Judge are two of the game's biggest names of the here and now and figure to be later. How big among the all-timers? We'll find out when they are done ... but they are as safe as it gets right now, too.

Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.

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Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

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BROADWAY JOE
The Item: Joe Namath autographed 16-by-20 Sports Illustrated "Broadway Joe" cover photo (BAS witnessed)
The Price: $249
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't normally include the actual price when I make a bigger buy, but in this case a sale price was too strong for a piece so nice ... so I am. Why? A typical price for an item like this is substantially higher than what I paid (around $400-600) and peak asking prices are sometimes even nuttier than the normal range. This was my big Black Friday buy and I landed it via Mill Creek Sports (this is their scan as I struggled to photograph mine thanks to size/glare on my top-loader) and one reason why I grabbed it (beyond the price) was that I liked this horizontal version of the photo and its autograph placement infinitely more than the vertical version. Atop that, it's also a piece where I had a chance to land one for just $150 long ago at The National but I didn't as I didn't have a way to safely get it home. This is the iconic photo that led to the nickname for the eventual Super Bowl winner and icon who helped change the game forever. He turns 83 this year, too, and I don't think demand will lessen over time.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but NFL cards are here.

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