Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1983 Topps ‘Superman III’ wax pack (Hour 12)

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 our finale for today.

12in12-logo-smallerThe pack: 1983 Topps Superman III
The cost now: 
$1
The cost then: 25 cents

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

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Buzz Break: 2017 Cryptozoic DC Comics Bombshells trading cards

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: 2017 Cryptozoic DC Comics Bombshells
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 

Packs per box:
 24 plus one Golden Goddess vinyl figure
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 120
Base set completion: 
64 of 64 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 3

 

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Take my money, hold my candy: Bowl holders are kind of a big deal

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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Gallery: 2017 Cryptozoic DC Comics Bombshells trading cards

We’re less than a month away from a new arrival from Cryptozoic — one that combines cardboard with even more.

It’s 2017 Cryptozoic DC Comics Bombshells, which celebrates DC Comics‘ stars with 1940s pinup-propaganda poster stylings and includes one Golden Goddess vinyl figure variant in every box.

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Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1981 Topps Superman II rack pack (Hour 10)

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 10.

12in12-logo-smallerThe pack: 1981 Topps Superman II rack pack
The cost now: 
$4
The cost then: Less than $1

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

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Celebrity autographs just might be easier to find than you think

When it comes to autographs in the sports world, there are plenty of ways that collectors and the autograph industry itself has helped commodify ink.

In other words, there are a number of common items that are commonly signed that help us all figure a common value that we’d expect to pay or expect to get if we have to sell something we own. Jerseys, balls, helmets, cards, photos — there are a lot of ways to collect sports autographs.

But for celebrity autographs, it’s a lot less complicated as the 8-by-10 photo is arguably the most-commonly solid piece across the whole spectrum of television, movies and others of note who we might find, say, at a comic book convention or other similarly organized signing session. Not all films have massive toy lines, not all celebs have book deals and TV shows often don’t have posters you can find all that easily.

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Norman Dale autographs add some ‘Hoosiers’ flair to 2017 Topps Series 1

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It’s not baseball but it’s the first surprise in packs of 2017 Topps Series 1.

What you see here is an autograph of “Norman Dale” aka Gene Hackman, who was the coach of the Hickory High School basketball team in Hoosiers.

How rare will this autograph turn out to be? It’s probably one of the toughest ones, though it was on the announced checklist for those who looked closely enough to spot the name. The card has parallels and a 1/1 Birch version just like others in the set — but those aren’t on peoples’ minds just yet. Why? The first copy to hit eBay already has an impressive asking price.

Hackman had never signed a certified autograph before despite appearing on plenty of Topps Superman cards from his time bringing Lex Luthor to life.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Dec. 26)

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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 five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Big NFL breaks, a retro MLB case break and … who are Superman’s top villains?

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Heritage comic book auction includes several six-figure gems

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Update: The book above sold for $358,500, which is a new record.

The newest Heritage Auctions comic book sale going on now includes some downright super books in CGC slabs.

How super? Six-figure super for three books with plenty of time remaining before they close.

The leader so far is one of three CGC 4.5 copies of Superman No. 1 in existence. There are just three copies of the 1939 book that have graded a CGC 6 and only two CGC 8s exist. Earlier this year, a CGC 4.0 sold for $299,000. Those are the kind of numbers that matter for such an iconic issue for an iconic star — and Heritage hasn’t sold a CGC 5 or higher since 2007.

The number that matters most here? You know … the price?

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Funko readies hefty lineup of Batman: The Animated Series & DC Comics toys coming next month

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The iconic stars of the DC Comics universe are coming to the toy aisles once again with additions to three lines from Funko arriving next month.

There will be new Funko Pop! toys, a new line of Mystery Minis and new Dorbz — some with glow-in-the-dark capabilities — on shelves very soon.

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Funko readies dozens of exclusives for San Diego Comic-Con

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San Diego Comic-Con is almost here and the crew at Funko has prepared more than 70 different toys, T-shirts and more that will only initially be available at the show this week.

There will be pieces from Star Wars, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney, The Walking Dead and so much more in the company’s Pop! line, Dorbz and, well, so much more.

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Rare copy of Superman’s debut hits market via Heritage Auctions

Action-Comics-1-supermanSan Diego Comic-con will undoubtedly generate some buzz for fans and collectors when it kicks off this week, but Heritage Auctions has some big books on the auction block that could spark some discussions, too.

One of them is a copy of Action Comics No. 1.  

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First Lois Lane, Noel Neill, dies at 95

Noel-NeillWhen Superman first came to the big screen in 1948, Lois Lane was played by Noel Neill, a Minnesota-born actress whose father was a newspaper editor.

It tuned out to be a role that helped define a career.

Neill went on to appear in 78 episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series that lasted six seasons and then have cameos in other Superman films as part of a career that spanned seven decades. She died on Monday at age 95 after a long illness.

“Brave, smart, and witty. She embodied the very best qualities of Lois Lane. RIP Noel Neill,” read a message on the DC Comics Twitter account.

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Buzz Break: 2016 Cryptozoic Justice League trading cards

2016-justice-leagueFrom 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.

2016-justice-league-1The box: 2016 Cryptozoic Justice League trading cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 

Packs per box:
 24
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 121
Base set completion: 
63 of 63 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 9

 

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Gallery: Pop culture icons plentiful in this week’s Profiles in History sale

Lot 1291: Michael J. Fox "Marty McFly" hero Mattel Hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

Marty McFly‘s Hoverboard. The Beatles‘ controversial butcher album cover. Superman‘s cape. Bettie Page‘s pumps. Steve McQueen‘s racing jacket. Wolverine‘s claws. The Death Star.

The latest Profiles in History Hollywood Auction begins on Wednesday with more than 1,700 lots of everything you’d expect to see — and plenty more.

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Gallery: DC Comics Justice League sketch cards

topimagesWe’re less than a month away from the arrival of Cryptozoic‘s DC Comics Justice League cards and the company has been busy teasing the sketch cards to be found in the product.

There will be two types of sketches to be found — standard and diecut cards cut to look like the Hall of Justice.

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Board Buzz Gallery: Impressive and favorite non-sports autographs

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Is there one non-sports autograph you’d want to own? If you’re a fan of anything beyond the sports world, there’s probably one name that comes to mind first.

In some cases — Star Wars and Star Trek, for example — a personality may have plenty of autographs, but in others there may be just one.

Or none at all.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (March 29)

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

What’s Buzzing Today: Superfractors in blaster boxes, priceless cards, dream cards, big losses … and Arnold.

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Batman vs. Superman Character Armor caps from New Era … do you wear them or collect them?

Batman-v-Superman1The merchandising of “geek films” has been as massive as the box office the box office for sci-fi, comic and other franchises in the last decade and beyond and the latest in New Era Caps are perhaps a perfect example of the eternal dilemma.

Do you use them or collect them?

In the case of the Batman vs. Superman Character Armor 59FIFTY caps from New Era, they’re unique and pricey, which might add to that debate even though they are hats with no packaging to worry about.

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Batman vs. Superman will make its way onto NASCAR track & diecasts

C48682XL4JJ_18-1If you don’t remember seeing anything about Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice on TV or anywhere else, you might need to check your pulse.

One more place you’re going to be seeing more of the DC Comics powers before the movie arrives is on the NASCAR track and on diecast cars from Lionel Racing, which teased the forthcoming cars this week. The No. 48 Chevy of six-time champ and NASCAR’s Clark Kent, Jimmie Johnson, will take on the role of Superman.

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Funko reveals Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice toy lineups

jpeg-5With the blockbuster Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice less than three months away, we’re just getting warmed up when it comes to the marketing and merchandising — and the latest reveal for the DC franchise is here with a full line of vinyl from Funko.

That means you can get Batfleck and Supes in a few ways — and none of them bleed.

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