The latest might be the greatest -- so far -- but there are plenty of past VeeFriends to collect if one decides to go there ... and it appears that quite a few of you do.

This newest release, Topps VeeFriends Chrome 2025, is packed with flashy characters and sets -- we'll get to those later -- and it's been a near-instant sellout at that link. But, there are two previous sets that paved the way for this one that might be worth looking at before exploring this new one.

The O.G. was VeeFriends x zerocool Series 1, a collection that arrived in 2022 with 268 characters and 15 sketches that introduced Series 2 characters. It "was designed to bridge the gap between NFTs and real-world collectibles, allowing collectors to own physical versions of their VeeFriends Series 1 NFTs," per the company.

That first one was in a premium format and a limited release of only 1,000 boxes (250 cases) showcasing characters drawn and created by the guru behind it all, Gary Vaynerchuk, while the second series introduced them as "fully personified and colored characters" in a collection of more than 250 characters and also almost 100 additional other cards. It took on more of a modern gaming trading card game form. Both series have NFT counterparts and include rarer finds among the various tiers and autographed cards from Vaynerchuk. (You also might want to see this box in the Blowout store for a different option.)

What is VeeFriends some might ask? It "combines stories, games, events, collectibles, and technology to build a community around a movement of kindness and accountability," the company said, using their "characters and their attributes to create a better world. These characters foster a sense of community and inspire creativity, self-discovery, accountability, and personal growth."

What kind of interest and demand was there for these sets? Well, anybody who was at the National Sports Collectors Convention in recent years likely remembers their colorful and busy booth -- at a sports card show -- but don't take our word for it. Just click here for a look at eBay sales. There's big interest.

And now, this newest set introduces something into the mix that wasn't there before -- the power of Chrome. Let's take a look at what's in there this time.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: 2024 Topps has its quirks, NBA All-Star Weekend is here, questioning Anthony Richardson's autographs, new pulls and more in this Saturday edition.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

The box: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (retail box)
Where to buy: Will take some hunting BlowoutCards.com for newer non-sports

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Checklist: N/A (base parallels regular A&G but not everything is in here)
Odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.

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What: 2023 TruMystery Edition boxes
Arrives: Oct. 18
Box basics: One card (buyback or Tru), one Tru box & one signed memorabilia piece -- and sometimes more -- per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TruCreator turns its focus to memorabilia for a first mystery box that's packed with pop culture names and more all in one spot along with some of the basics from the company's previous releases.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there's a mix of everything but mostly on the affordable side.

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WAIT, WHAT?
The Card: Brock Lesnar 2004 Leaf Rookies & Stars NFL RC (SGC 9)
The Price: $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't argue with one interesting and unique fact about Brock Lesnar when it comes to cardboard -- he's got Rookie Cards in wrestling, MMA and pro football and that's something that's just not that common. I can think of a lot of two-sport players on cards between various combinations for MLB, NFL, NBA and WWE but, three? Sure, Lesnar never actually played in a real NFL game -- the Vikings cut him before the season started -- but it got him a few cards that do remain popular and a tad pricey these days due to their novelty and relative scarcity. He had 15 cards in three brands -- Rookies & Stars, Playoff Honors and Sweet Spot -- and some can sell for more than this. I grabbed it since I'd never found one and it was slabbed for not much more than a raw copy -- and also purely for the novelty. Some raw copies of this have higher asking prices than this over on eBay, too, while his cards for the other two sports are easy finds.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for NFL, but WWE boxes are here

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 8.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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Legendary actor Tom Hanks, $19.77. Wrestling icon Ric Flair and his WWE star daughter Charlotte, $19.98.

Those are the prices this collector paid for the latest additions to his autograph collection thanks to the signed books section at one major book chain's website -- a new reminder that one of the easiest ways to land autographs from some big names is to watch the new arrival lists.

It's a little oldschool -- you don't have to pay for the autograph just the book?!? -- and a little risky as you have to buy from the right places using some strategy, but it's one way that many collectors have landed ink without forking over big bucks or ripping packs to chase a particular name. (Some names, like Hanks for example, don't even have card appearances.)

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 5.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana (hobby box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 52
Base set completion: 
26 of 73 (36 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Molly Ringwald, Sylvester Stallone, Vanilla Ice, Kevin Hart, Bradley Cooper, Lea Michele, Rev Run, Darryl McDaniels, Aly Raisman, Rose McGowan, Eliza Dusku

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 7.

The packs: Three 2015 Topps Series 2 blister packs (each contains three packs)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 6.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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You won't see any sports card companies selling cardboard during Super Bowl 50, but there will be plenty of collectors watching Super Bowl commercials and Buzz will share some favorites here as they arrive during the game.

Which one is best? Tell Buzz here or on Twitter ...

Super Bowl Commercial: Skittles
Buzz's Take: Marshawn Lynch might have something to say about this one ...

Super Bowl Commercial: Chunky Soup
Buzz's Take: A classy football-related commercial that would make Donovan McNabb's mom proud.

Super Bowl Commercial: X-Men Apocalypse
Buzz's Take: Buzz hadn't seen anything for this one, so it was pretty striking. (Meanwhile, 41 million of you have seen the previous trailer since December on just one YouTube account ... Buzz was apparently in Star Wars mode back then.)

Super Bowl Commercial: Bud Light
Buzz's Take: In what's likely to be a series of commercials, Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer spoof politics. (For the record, neither one has a certified auto ... just saying.)

Super Bowl Commercial: Doritos
Buzz's Take: The leader for the creepiest and funniest commercial in the game so far ...

More to come ... keep reading.

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