Surprised this hasn't hit the news yet. My suppliers have started taking orders on the Avengers movie set already, for a late March release...
quote:
Marvel Avengers Assemble Movie Cards (SRP-$3.99 pack, $95.76 box) 12(2 inner cases) boxes per case /24 Packs per box /7 Cards per pack Orders Due: 12-5-11 Release Date: 3-27-12
Key Selling Points: Every box delivers a hand drawn one of one sketch card, on average! Look for actor autographs and pieces of memorabilia that came directly from costumes shown in the movie! One Hobby Exclusive Insert in every pack, on average! The 180 card base set and insert sets highlight the critical moments from Iron Man 1 & 2, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America as well as detailing the Avengers storyline.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS: • Avengers Assemble chronicles all the movies and events that lead up to the Avengers movie and includes your first look at the Avengers movie itself. o Get 7 cards in every pack that features images and scenes from the movie! o Cast includes top actors like: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) Chris Evans (Captain America) Chris Hemsworth (Thor) Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner) And more! • ONE SKETCH CARD PER BOX! • Look for actor autographs and pieces of memorabilia that came directly from costumes shown in the movie!
PRODUCT BREAKDOWN: • Avengers Movie Memorabilia and Autograph Cards! o Avengers Assemble Memorabilia Cards o Autograph Cards • Unique Marvel Sketch Cards! o Artist Sketch Cards - inserted 1 per box, on average • Insert Cards! (Hobby Exclusive) o 36 Classic Covers inserted 1:2.5 o 60 Heroes and Villains inserted 1:2 o 9 Concept Series inserted 1:10 • Regular Cards o 180 Regular Cards
24 packs of 7 cards per box
Now, I believe they are pulling the same bait and switch by telling you there will be autographs from actors and then listing the actors in the movie. Even though those statements are not in any way connected. There was this image in the solicitation:
Another thing I felt was a little out of whack was the SRP. I know nobody pays SRP, but my cost is $10 a box more than Thor and Captain America which means real retail will be higher too. Now, if they are guaranteeing a sketch per box... Maybe it's worth it, but still that's a big jump in price for a set that will take at least 2 boxes to make a base set.
Is the higher price a direct relationship to the content, or is it possibly a result of less competition by having only authorized dealers able to buy it in the first place? Curious to see what others think.
It's great to tell us the cast, but how about they tell us exactly who've they've got autographs from. What's that you say, "Fat chance." I'm definitely going to need more info before laying down more hard earned cash for a UD product.
Meh. Knowing that even if they do get decent signers they will be stickers puts me off of buying boxes. I will, however, pick up a Cobie Smulders auto if there is one.
____________________ "Man muss entweder der Hammer oder der Amboss sein" (you must be the hammer or the anvil)
-Goethe
Ad pulchritudinem tria requiruntur: integritas, consonantia, claritas. (Three things are required for beauty: wholeness, harmony, radiance.)
Posts: 5142 | Location: Vancouver/B.C./Canada | Registered: October 13, 2001
My attention was immediately drawn to two statements in the release:
Every box delivers a hand drawn one of one sketch card, on average!
and
One Hobby Exclusive Insert in every pack, on average!
The 'on average' qualifier suggests to me that there are going to be quite a lot of dud boxes and packs for which there will be no comeback as the content is not guaranteed. That's definitely a bit of bait and switch
Posts: 1553 | Location: Warrington, UK | Registered: January 10, 2009
I do like the design of the autos if that's what they look like, but at 1:5 cases you know they are going to be crazy expensive. If they get most of the main cast I'll probably try to put together the auto set anyway.
Posts: 860 | Location: Alaska | Registered: May 28, 2009
Originally posted by tangent: Bumping up the sketch ratio is a clear sign that their much vaunted Marvel Beginnings was a bit of a flop
I think you're being too kind, Thor, Marvel Beginnings 1, Captain America and especially Kree Skrull War have been disappointing releases. Yes it's debatable and there have been some good points to these sets (MB I thought had a good base and chase set but the big hits were lacking).
If this product isn't loaded for the increased price just how long can Upperdeck keep pumping the market?
Posts: 121 | Location: London | Registered: July 12, 2007
Originally posted by DeathStorm: I think you're being too kind, Thor, Marvel Beginnings 1, Captain America and especially Kree Skrull War have been disappointing releases.
I'll go you one better and say that calling them disappointing is kind.
UD has squandered its chance to do something good with the Marvel license in every set this year. I expect nothing more from this one.
Posts: 10529 | Location: New York | Registered: November 20, 2007
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