Agents of Shield Season Two Box

2015 Agents of Shield Season Two Trading Cards

Base Set: 72 Cards
Set Completion: 100% (72 out of 72)
Base Set Duplicate Cards: 58% (40 out of 72)

Base Set Card

Parallel Cards: Gold #/100
Parallel Set Completion: 1% (1 out of 72)

Insert Sets:
Autographs: 43 Cards
Autographs Set Completion: 5% (Ming-Na Wen, Ric Sarabia) Both Bordered

Archives Box Exclusive Autographs: 9 Cards
Archives Box Exclusive Autographs Set Completion: 0%

Agents of Shield (1:24 Packs): 9 Cards
Agents of Shield Set Completion:  11% (Bobbi Morse)

Art of Evolution (1:24 Packs) 12 Cards
Art of Evolution Set Completion: 8% (The Dirty Half Dozen)

Costume Set (1:24 Packs): 17 Cards
Costume Set Completion: 6% (Agent Skye Tactical Uniform Cowl #/425)

Gifted Index (1:24 Packs): 18 Cards
Gifted Index Set Completion: 6% (Jiaying)

Bobbi Morse Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Insert Card

Sketch (1:864 Packs)
Sketch Card Pulled: 0

Review:

I liked the base set. The card set is broken down into three card subsets. The first three cards of the set break down the episode titles and what date they aired. Almost the rest of the base set are synopsis for each episode. Each episode gets 3 cards with pictures on the front and the breakdown of the episode on the back. The last three cards form a cast shot with the checklist on the back. The formula isn't anything special, but for me, it does the job of telling the story of the season real well.

For the inserts, I am happy with what I received. 2 autos and a piece card is what I expect. The Autographs have different levels. Scarce, Extremely Limited, and Very Limited. Although actual print runs are not known, the Scarce autos are under 100 cards, Extremely Limited are 100 to 200, and Very Limited are 200 to 300 cards. They are on card autographs as well., There are bordered and full-bleed autographs for almost all the actors that signed. The piece of costume is a small circular piece of cloth which is normal. The Agents of Shield insert set cards look like publicity photos, so that is a little disappointing.

Overall, I would get another box of these cards if the price was right. A good card set that captures what the TV show does.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

Ming-Na Wen Autograph Card

2014 UFC Champions Box Break

What We Pulled:

Cards Per Pack: 10
Packs Per Box: 24
Cards Expected: 200
Cards Received: 190

Base Set Completion: 76% (152 out of 200)
Duplicates: 8

Inserts:
Fight Night Highlights: (7) Lesnar vs. Carwin, Garcia vs. Jung, Liddell vs. Silva, Mir vs. Lesnar, Guillard vs. Miller, Silva vs. Franklin, Whittaker vs. Thompson
Octagon Greats: (6) Chuck Liddell, Demetrious Johnson, Jose Aldo, Johny Hendricks, Renan Barao, Rich Franklin
Topps Parallel Black #/188: (6) Jake Ellenberger, Jason High, Liz Carmouche, Issac Vallie-Flagg, Rodrigo Damm, Ross Pearson
Topps Parallel Blue #/88: (4) Francis Carmont, Bobby Green, Alex White, Raquel Pennington

Topps Gold Champions Predictor #/25: (1) Brandon Thatch
Topps Parallel Platinum #1/1: (1) Ricardo Lamas
Topps Autograph Red Ink #/15: (1) Stipe Miocic
Topps Autograph Relics: (1) Zach Maxovsky
Topps Relics: (2) Cain Velazquez, Rafael Dos Anjos
Topps Mat Relics: (1) Chris Weidman

Opening Thought:

I like the design of the front of the cards. The name of the fighter is close to the edge of the card, the Champions logo is in the corner and the pictures are of the fighters in the octagon. Some during the fight, some before or after a fight. The fighters that have been newly signed to the UFC are also annotated on the front of the cards. The back of the cards have basic personal stats for the fighter, their twitter handle, and a blurb about the fighter.

The value from this box is there. Getting over 70% of the base set is a pleasant surprise. There are at least 10 parallels in each box. I don't like runaway parallels, but they weren't a distraction in this set. The mat cards are good, and I hope there are some out there that show actual use. The material cards aren't worth much, and Topps might want to put some multi-colored swatches in for more variety. If I were in charge of the product, there would be more autographs. If you have 200 fighters, you can get more fighters than 49 to sign cards. The rest of the inserts are more of the garden variety type.






Even though I know that I will not get all my money back from selling these cards, I feel like it was a good product. I didn't pull the big hits and that is part of card collecting.

Overall Judgment:

If Topps and the UFC continue to produce products like this, it will help with the popularity of UFC. The monetary value isn't there, but the 5 pulls that you receive in each box, combined with the parallels will make you want to see what else is in the box. You want to build a set of base cards, then two boxes is probably what you will need. The small amount of duplicates helps me with feeling good with this product. The inserts are OK. you might need to do more hunting than hoping you can pull the ones you need in a box to complete those insert sets. I would make the parallels stand out a little more than they do but that is a minor thing. I would say get yourself a box and see if you can get that big hit and also enjoy these cards.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Retro Box Break: 2013 Rookies and Stars Longevity

What We Pulled:

Cards Per Pack: 5
Packs Per Box: 10
Cards Expected: 50
Cards Received: 54

Base Set Completion: 35% (35 out of 100)
Rookies: 10 (1 per pack) Dion Jordan, Mike Glennon, Christine Michael, Tyrann Mathieu, Bjoern Werner, Jawan Jamison, Onterio McCalebb, Denard Robinson, Matt Elam, Kenny Stills

Inserts:

Freshman Orientation Materials: (3) Geno Smith, Denard Robinson,Robert Woods
Cross Training Materials: (1) Markus Wheaton
Longevity Ruby: (4) Josh Freeman, Jordan Poyer, Santonio Holmes, Steadman Bailey
Longevity Emerald: (1) A.J. Green #/5

Opening Thought:

I do like the design of the front of the cards. The team logo and Last Name of the player on the team color down the left side of the card sets it apart from other cards. The veteran cards have action photos while the Rookies do have some shots of the players during training camp. The back of the cards are nothing too special. The last year stats, the career stats, and a blurb about the player.

The value from this box wasn't there. The material cards aren't worth much, although all 4 were colored, not white. The Emerald card helps because it is semi-star. The rookies didn't pan out.

Best card pulled: A.J. Green #/5
Worst Pull of the Box: Longevity Ruby of Josh Freeman

There are 21 parallels and insert sets in this release. You have Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and Signature parallels for lots of the cards. That is too many for a release like this. But all the parallels are a staple of Panini products.

Overall Judgment:

I understand that each and every box that you buy is a crapshoot. There are boxes that will wow you and there are boxes that leave you feeling ripped off. Amazingly, this box was somewhere in the middle. If you go by value only, you would be the latter. But I like the design of the cards, there is a rookie in every pack, and there are 4 hits in each and every box. It would have been better if there was 1 guaranteed Auto in each box, but it was not meant to be. This isn't for a set builder, but for those that feel lucky. If you spend more than $50 on a box, you have overspent. But enjoy the cards and hopefully the pack gods smile upon you.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Retro Box Break - 2012-13 Panini Certified Hockey

What We Pulled:

Packs: 10
Cards Per Pack: 5
Cards Expected: 50
Cards Received: 51

Base Set Completion: 41% (41 out of 100 Base Cards)
Duplicates: 0

Inserts:
Masked Marvels: 1 - Cam Ward #/999
Base Set Blue Parallel: 1- Nicklas Lidstrom #/99
Immortals: 1 - Mario Lemieux #/999
Immortals Mirror Hot Box: 1 - Gordie Howe #/75
Path To The Cup Conference Semifinals: 1 - Shea Weber/Mike Smith #/299
Fabrics of the Game: 1 - Simon Gagne #/299
Fabrics of the Game Mirror Hot Box: 2 - Scott Clemmensen, Frans Nielsen #/75
Freshman Signature Rookies: 1 - Chay Genoway #/999
Certified Redemption Rookie: 1 - R3 #/499

Our Thoughts:

Design

Nothing spectacular. A simple design with the name across the bottom woth the Certified logo in the lower right hand corner with an arc of color in the background. The player is featured on the rest of the card with the background foiled out for the base set. The back has a blurb about the player, the last 4 years of stats and career totals. The inserts are about the same excitement. Not much to differentiate them from other releases that Panini puts out.

Player Selection

The base 100 card selection is for the larger hyped players. The insert sets do a good job of highlighting different players and some past greats. This is satisfactory.

Inserts

I like that there isn't tons of insert sets that you might want to chase. In each insert set though, they have usually put in at least 20 cards which means hunting around to find that elusive single card to complete the subset. The parallels are held to 5 of each card.

Price

I found this box for around $40 without hunting too hard. For the price, I might think about purchasing another box. In this box, I did receive a redemption for a Certified Rookie Redemption of R3. Jonathan Huberdeau from the Florida Panthers. The redemption date has expired. For what I received, a $35-$40 price range is about right.

Final Thoughts:

I did receive the Rookie Redemption of  R3. Jonathan Huberdeau from the Florida Panthers but it expired a year ago. I hate redemption cards. If you want to include rookies, then hold off releasing the sets until they have signed and you can produce the cards. Otherwise, it is a solid but unspectacular release. If the big hit out of the packs is a Simon Gagne piece of jersey and you can still halfways like the product, then you know that it is a good thing. I am thinking about completing the base set just because.

Box Value: 3 out of 5.

2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey

What We Pulled:

Packs: 5
Cards Per Pack: 4
Cards Expected: 20
Cards Received: 20

Base Set Completion: 14% (14 out of 100 cards)
Duplicates: 0

Inserts:
Commons Hobby Jersey Number Parallel: 1 - Sergei Bobrovsky #/72
Titanium Reserve Autograph: 1- Ryan Hamilton
Game Worn Gear: 1 - Kaspars Daugavins
Game Worn Gear Dual: 1 - MacInnis/Shattenkirk #/300
Game Worn Gear Prime: 1 - Steven Stamkos #/50
Game Worm Gear Patch: 1 - Pat Falloon #/25

Our Thoughts:

Design

Simple design of the base set cards. The name and team are on one side with the Titanium logo overlapping into the picture of the player. The backs have the last year and career totals along with a little blurb about the player. Standard stuff here.

Player Checklist

With only 100 cards, the more hyped players are in the base set. The Rookie Cards being serial numbered to their Jersey number and basically being inserted 1 per case makes them a find if you do get one, which I did not. A satisfactory product from this perspective.

Inserts

Way too many for a product like this. 44 insert sets or parallels, with another 4 if you include the printing plates. The designs for the inserts that I have seen are lack luster and don't do anything much for me.

Price

This product came out with much fanfare and way over priced. I purchased this box at around $50. I still believe that it was not worth that amount. If I am going to get hockey cards, I want legends and today's players, not borderline players from a decade ago. Pat f'n Falloon in a Penguins jersey?! Makes me shake my head.

Final Thoughts:

Ugh. This was tough to stomach. The One Memorabilia/Autograph per pack is a lure but that is all there is here. There wasn't much thought put into the design. The 1 rookie per case on average is going to scare off collectors. Way too many inserts that you will never collect the entire subset. Panini did not do a good job with this release. If you can find boxes cheap, it might give you a little bit of satisfaction, but otherwise find something else.

Box Value: 1.5 out of 5.

2013 SPx Football

What We Pulled:

Packs: 10
Cards Per Pack:  5
Total Cards Expected: 50
Total Cards Received: 50

Base Set Completion: 80% (40 out of 50 Cards)
Duplicates: 0

1997 SPx Subset Card

Inserts:
SPx Rookie Auto Jersey (1:10 Packs): 1 - Tyler Eifert #/30 (Autograph Patch)
Autographs (1:5 Packs): 2 - Rookie Signatures Cierre Wood #/299, Redemption of a Rookie Signatures of Sheldon Richardson #/299
SP Finite Rookies (3:10 Packs): 2 - Mike Gillespie #/899 Marcus Lattimore #/10 (Spectrum)
SP Finite Legends: 1 - Barry Sanders #/899
1996 SPx Subset:  2 - Earl Campbell, Aaron Dobson
1997 SPx Subset: 1 - Joseph Randle
SPx Shadow Box: 0
Memorabilia Cards (1:10): 1 - Eddie Lacy #/250

Our Thoughts:

Design - This is a simple design for the cards. The main team color on top and an arrow on the bottom with gold outline for the different aspects of the card and the picture in the middle. The pictures are basically only of the player which is refreshing. There are some black and white pictures which only enhances the set.

Player Selection - You know most if not all the players in the base set. It is nice to see some of the players you might forget like Steve Owens. Also included are players that did not go on to have stellar pro careers like Charlie Ward and Tommie Frazier.  I would like to see some more players that did not have stellar pro careers included in future sets. Use the set as a way to reach those people that don't necessarily know the history of college football to expand what they know.

Inserts - Too many insert subsets. Auto Rookie Jerseys, 1996 SPx, 1997 SPx, Rookie Auto Jerseys: Tier 1, Rookie Auto Jerseys: Tier 2, Rookie Signatures, SPx Finite Legends, SPx Finite Rookies, Shadow Box, Shadow Box Signatures, Shadow Box Dual, Shadow Box Dual Signatures, SPx Signatures, Super Scripts Autographs, UD Rookie Premier Auto Jersey: Tier 1, UD Rookie Premier Auto Jersey: Tier 2, UD Premier Auto Jersey, Winning Big Materials, Winning Big Materials Patch Auto, Winning Materials Combos, Winning Materials Combos Patch Auto, Winning Materials Trios

That is 22 insert sets. That does not all the parallel sets. That is just too many subsets to even think about collecting. And some of the subsets are at least 30 cards big. I believe that Upper Deck would do themselves a favor to cut back on the inserts and expand the base set.

Price:  At $70.00 for the box, I thought that the value wasn't there. I believe the biggest reason for that is the redemption for the autograph that I received. If you are going to have a large batch of autographs which is your call, then have the cards that need autographs ready to go before the redemptions need to be packed. I will need to wait between 12 and 16 weeks before I can expect that card. That is unacceptable.

Final Thoughts: Upper Deck used to be the king of cards last decade. You would open an Upper Deck product and be in amazement at what you had. It isn't like that any more. This release shows how far they have fallen. They need the NFL license. I like Barry Sanders and others that have retired, but not featured year after year. Expand the base set to 100 and have 7 cards per pack with the same amount of inserts (3 Autos and 1 piece) for a $70.00 price tag and I think most people could stomach it. That is $7.00 per pack.  The card companies are losing collectors. And unless they can figure out how to bring good value to their product, they will continue to lose them.

Box Value 2.5 out of 5.

2014 Marvel Universe Cards Box Break

Cards Per Pack: 5
Packs Per Box: 24
Total Cards Expected: 120
Total Cards Received: 116

Total Base Set w/o SP Cards: 90
Total Base Set Completion: 100%
Duplicates: 10

Inserts and Parallels

Sapphire Parallel (1:3 Packs): (8) Angel, Cyclops, Speedball, Giant-Man, Deathbird, X-Man, Layla Miller, Ultron
Emerald Parallel (1:25 Packs): (1) The Captain #023/100
Diamond Parallel (1:288 Packs): (0)
Artist Drafts (1:12 Packs): (2) House of M #1, Dark Avengers #11
MGB Thor Expansion (1:24 Packs): (1) Thor vs. Gorr
MGB Thor Expansion Red Parallel (1:144 Packs): (0)
MGB Thor Expansion Gold Parallel (1:288 Packs): (0)
MGB Captain America Expansion (1:24 Packs): (1) Captain America vs. Captain America
MGB Captain America Red Parallel (1:144 Packs): (0)
MGB Captain America Gold Parallel (1:288 Packs): (0)

Marvel 75th Anniversary (1:144 Packs): (0)
Shadowbox Cards (1:48 Packs): (1) Wolverine
Avengers Origins (1:48 Packs): (1) Ant-Man & The Wasp
Heroes and Villians Expansion (1:48 Packs): (0)
Sketch Card (1:24 Packs): (1) Magneto & Quicksilver

Our Thoughts:

The base set cards are a good design. On the front of the card, the background has a cover of the comic book that the character is being taken from to be talked about. The character is then in full color in the middle of the card. The back has a picture of the comic that the character was in. It lists the issue and issue date. It also gives a synapses of the comic book.

The bad of the base cards? We are going back to comics that were published in the 70's. The base cards are set within 10 of the biggest events of the Marvel Universe. If the set is 2014 Marvel Universe, why are we going back in time to look at the past storylines?  And not all of your favorite characters made the cut from these storylines. Wolverine has 4 cards, while Nightcrawler has none. It seems like the major heroes of the universe get almost all of the attention. There are a couple of notable exceptions. The Swordsman, Scalphunter, Giant-Man, and Amadeus Cho all received cards in this set, which is good. But if Marvel wants to portray some of their heroes as being back burner heroes because they aren't in this set, then say hello to the back burner Daredevil, Moon Knight, Iron Fist, Beast and others.

The parallels are something that Marvel is having fun with. 8 Sapphire parallels just gives something that isn't the bast set cards. The Emerald card that is numbered to 100 is there for a hit in the box. The Artist drafts aren't real cool. While I like the sketch look on the front, I would have rather had an alternate vision from the artist and then have a colorized version of the original on the back. I do not like the Marvel's Greatest Battles expansion here. You could do 4 sets of those cards by themselves and not do a duplicate battle. So putting them in here seems like a waste.

The rest of the inserts are good to have, it allows collectors to try and find the singles that they want or need. The Shadowbox Cards are a good idea that the execution needs a little bit more work on. I would expect that the three thick pieces to make the card would be cut in the same dimensions. But they are not.

The Final Say:

I was disappointed in this set. The base set is where it went wrong. I liked the House of M as much as the next guy, but if this is 2014 Marvel Universe, I expect the 2014 Marvel Universe. Instead of doing 3 or 4 Avengers and X-Men storylines, why not do something like Shadowland. A under the radar story that would allow more characters to be spotlighted. The sketch cards are here like usual and I do like the Shadowbox cards idea. I don't believe that a lot of thought was put into this set. I am hopeful that the next release will be something that make up for this one.

Box Value 1.5 out of 5