Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

A MONSTER YEAR ...
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps Heritage High Number -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Ohtani had a monster season without even pitching -- first 50-50 Club member for starters and just short of the National League Triple Crown -- and his big-time potential had me submitting some of my RCs for him earlier this year. Did people expect this kind of showing, though? Probably not -- I know I didn't -- but I know Heritage RCs are my preference, so this one made the cut. The bottom corners seem to be the most-common issue with these cards, but this one was clean and so it made my sub -- and I will have two more on the way to grading, too, so you'll see more of this card during the off-season or by next spring.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: The graded volume is high here but perhaps still modest vs. PSA volumes -- I'm good with that -- and this one has only been topped three times. I dig that. This mark isn't that rare but it is one that would be in demand with the two slots below also where many will look.

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

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

GRADE LIKE A BUTTERFLY ...
The Card: Muhammad Ali 2021 Topps Muhammad Ali The People's Champ Collection Black parallel (/56)
The Reason Graded: When I spotted this card (ungraded) at about the price of a blaster, I bit as that was a good number for a parallel from this set that was released week by week for a year on Topps' site. Since it was both a rarer parallel and, if you ask me, one of the better-looking cards in this retro-styled set with that exposure photo, I also opted to slab it. Why? Well that stock and color is a grading challenge -- but it was one I was willing to take as this one looked strong.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I was right and it graded actually better than I had hoped (I figured a 9.5)  making this a win atop of a win.

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

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What: 2023 Pieces of the Past Art & Music Edition
Arrives: January 2023
Box basics: Two hits per four-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Pieces of the Past once focuses on pop culture with a celebration of artwork from the past and then the names and faces of music and more among more recent years in both cuts, original artwork and more.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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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 pack: Giant-size Box of Mystery comics repack box
Where to buy: Check the story for the chain ... hit BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards

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

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What: 2022 Historic Autographs Supreme Rewind
Arrives: March 23
Box basics: One slabbed and authenticated autograph and six 10-card packs per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs meshes buybacks, slabs and autos for both baseball and some iconic non-sports franchises all into one with this release that will be limited to only 87 cases.

Keep reading for more information.

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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 Today: Big pulls, KISS, which autograph pens to use, a card shop closing and not a bad day at the garage sale.

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What: 2018 Leaf Metal Pop Century trading cards
Arrives: Aug. 1
Box basics: Four autograph or memorabilia cards per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf's annual celebrity release returns but with some new touches that help widen its scope of inclusions as well as cut autos and memorabilia cards -- all with a Metal finish.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images.

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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: 2010 Press Pass The Legend of KISS (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
56 of 100 (56 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Eric Carr

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Perhaps it's just the countdown clock to Halloween ticking more loudly, but there's something I've noticed more and more lately out and about and in the world of comic book and movies merchandise.

Candy bowl holders.

They're apparently a thing -- and they're available for quite a few iconic characters in the comics and movies worlds. The Groot you see here? He's not cheap -- $68.96 at Amazon -- and he's not alone.

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KISS and Vampirella -- seems like an unusual yet still natural crossover, right?

That's just one of the comic books arriving this month -- this one specifically today -- via Dynamite Entertainment, a Mt. Laurel, N.J.-based publisher that has a tie to something beyond the typical realm of comic book characters.

KISS/Vampirella arrives with six different covers for issue No. 1 -- all seen in a gallery below along with a sketch cover -- and that's a common trait for other series from Dynamite, many of which come with ties to movies, video games, famous book and comic strip characters, Internet stars and more.

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Fanatics Authentic has a few unique autographs available now that come with no strings attached.

Nevermind, that won't work ... there are actually six.

A series of autographed guitars -- items that are officially licensed musical instruments on their own -- have been enhanced with autographs that offer a colorful higher-end option for a sports fan who's big on music, too.

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