Blasters or Hobby? The Great Debate (or, WTF Topps?)

 Lets talk about the sizes and types of non sports entertainment cards.

It has evolved over the years. It used to be back in the 90s you'd go to a hobby shop and grab a pack (and to some degree still can today, but not all shops will have open boxes with packs available, definitely check with your LCS.)

Let me explain the differences of these product sizes before I spill some tea.

Blaster Box: A smaller, more affordable option for a set. Most difficult odds of pulling something good, sometimes bigger hits excluded, but that varies by product. Sometimes contains blaster exclusive incentives. Usually MSRP ~ $30. 

Hobby Box: The more expensive but "better" option if you'd like to ensure you hit something (unless you're Upper Deck's Spider-Man Metal, that deserves its own separate blurb.) Usually has #'d hits and chances for the best cards in a set that could be autos, sketches, special memorabilia, etc. MSRP can vary by product but these days I'm going to eyeball it around $200 per box, but secondary market averaging around $300 per box. Upper Deck had great value with a lot of boxes still hovering around $100 (Annual, Beginnings, Anime Vol 2, AvX, Infinity Trilogy, Secret Wars) with the more premium stuff topping out around $1200 like 2022 Marvel Masterpieces, thanks to an aggressive secondary market. 

Mega Box: This abomination falls somewhere between a Blaster and a Hobby. Correct me if I am wrong, but I feel this was most often a sports thing via Topps and Panini. Though recently Upper Deck applied the Megabox to its Fleer Superman set that came out in 2025. Prices fall somewhere between blaster and hobby as well. I've usually seen them somewhere in the $50-$70ish range at retail stores like Target and GameStop.

Breaker's Delight: This shit stain should be called Topps Bank Account Delight. Marketed as, and I'm paraphrasing, "Don't care about all the base just get the hits. But we'll make our own parallel base set to put in it anyway, just to annoy you." Typically a single pack of cards with all of a hobby's worth of hits and a few exclusive parallels. You'd think with the odds they publish for this set you'd get really good stuff, but every Marvel and Star Wars product I've seen in the last year, this looks like a W (win) for Fanatics contracted breakers and no one else with hits not meeting expectation and hobby cases being cheaper. 

Okay now that you understand what these all are, let me provide my highly opinionated view on them sprinkled with some historical context.

It constantly amazes me how card companies seem to occasionally struggle to release a product. They make cards year after year, constantly. One would think by now the process is a well oiled machine. There are a few variables that can throw it off. Printing quality, Autograph acquisition, and Sketch turn ins from the amazing (underpaid) artists who contribute to the sets we love to collect. 

There's 2-3 Marvel scenarios I can think of where you actually want Marvel blasters and serve as the exception to the rule: Don't waste your time with Blasters. You should expect to basically get base cards mostly jack shit out of them. 

Spider-Man Metal: the very first print run of the blasters apparently included numbered Precious Metal Gem (PMGs) hits that should have been in the hobby boxes. Unfortuantely this means there's still a fuckton of Spider-Man Metal boxes out there missing hits. I fell victim to one for my birthday just this last year. Do you know how painful a $300 box with bupkiss inside of it is? Hurts my heart. That was the first time opening that product. Okay, so how do you know if a case of blasters was first off the line so far from its circa 2021 release? Ummm, you don't. So that's just a thing.

Marvel Platinum: The 2023 hit actually has really cool teal wave blaster exclusive cards, but can have hobby hits inside as well, too. People have pulled 1/1s and think there's still some awesome stuff out there. Wolverine? Maybe? I saw Justin, aka Spidey Hits, now aka Hobby Hits pull a cosmic Wolverine from one. Wild. These used to be like $20 at Walmart back in the day? Now are ~$70 a box on eBay.

2025 Marvel Studios Chrome: Okay realistically this is mostly dogshit, however this brings me to the first part of  WTF Topps?! Peep this video of an employee talking about the logistics of getting the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman dual auto cards completed JUST before the product rolled out. So far the only dual auto's including the 1/1 have been pulled out of Blaster boxes. One might surmise that in the last minute rush to get it all done, that ultimately the blasters were the last thing they were printing so they got chucked in there. Odds are steep, may they ever be in your favor. This has actually angered collectors because there were a ton of people ON release day, and even still, who don't know, are chasing this card in hobby and breakers delight boxes and likely its not even possible to hit it. I wonder if that isn't some kind of false advertising, despite the small print that goes with the published odds on these boxes.

The second part of WTF Topps for the purpose of this article is a new "hobby box" releasing on Feb 4th. The Collector will likely have a checklist released the day after I write this closer to its release. The highlights and sell sheets from the secondary market stores show this as a 3 card hobby box. A case of boxes is just 4 boxes. Marvel Mint was sparse (6 cards? with 1 encased? its been a minute) but this comes in at an incredibly affordable $800 on the secondary market. I expect we'll see MSRP somewhere around $550? That, too, will be listed with the checklist or simply on release day. I'll paste the details that I have below, but FUCKING YIKES. Why not call it the Fuck You, Collector box instead. I can imagine in my head a zoom call with Topps, its distributors, and Dave and Adam's where they're cackling like maniacal supervillains at how much money they plan to make from this money grab.

The previews of the cards I see don't look that original. They seem a little bit like Kakawow (officially licensed from China, parent company Suplay) or Finding Unicorn (also officially licensed from China). For this price I would want those cards to fold my laundry and wipe my bum. 

The sketches Topps has commissioned to be in its latest sets are indeed high quality due to hiring great artists and implementing standards for their sets, but...

Imagine an artist getting paid $15 or $30 for a sketch (I don't know for sure but I know its somewhere in here, perhaps more for better artists), then you put it in what will ultimately be a $1000 box on the secondary market as people hunt for top notch artists and characters in sketch form. At this point, my unsolicited advice is go find your favorite artist and pay for a commission. It'll be cheaper than gambling on this. Holy BUCKETS it makes me mad. 

Okay so here's the detail of what I'm talking about - you be the judge and comment below your thoughts.

Step inside The Collector's cosmic gallery, where the ultimate Marvel collection comes to life across three one-card premium packs. In the Perfection Pack, fans will discover elegantly crafted Marvel Perfection cards that feature an expansive list of Marvel Studios' most iconic heroes and villains. Next, the Mystery Pack expands the experience with a diverse lineup of premium inserts. Spotlight the next generation of heroes in Marvel Tomorrow, relive the most unforgettable moments with Show Stoppers, uncover hand-drawn artistry in Marvel Arthouse, chase ultra-rare Frank Miller sketches in Miller Magnificence, or wield the full power of Marvel Studios' iconic villain in The Infinity Gauntlet. Finally, elevate your collection even further in the Golden Pack, featuring autographs from Marvel's biggest stars, including Michael B. Jordan, Kathryn Hahn, Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, and more.

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN:

Perfection Pack:
Marvel Perfection lives up to its name, uniting Marvel's most iconic heroes and villains in a sleek, high-end design. Find legendary figures like Iron Man alongside exciting new additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe such as Red Hulk and Mister Fantastic.

Marvel Perfection Parallels:
- Base: #'d to 100
- Orange Parallel: #'d to 25
- Purple Parallel: #'d to 15
- Black Parallel: #'d to 10
- Red Parallel: #'d to 5
- Gold Parallel: #'d to 1

Mystery Pack:

Marvel Tomorrow looks ahead to the next generation of heroes shaping the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This premium insert spotlights rising stars, newly introduced icons, and the characters destined to define what's next. With striking high-end designs and a forward-looking vision, Marvel Tomorrow captures the excitement of today's collectors holding tomorrow's legends.

Villainy celebrates the dark side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This insert highlights the most infamous and unforgettable foes who've challenged Marvel's greatest heroes. With striking designs that capture their danger and charm, Villainy brings each villain's menace and allure to life.

Showstoppers spotlights the unforgettable moments that define Marvel Studios. This premium insert captures the cinematic magic, emotion, and spectacle of Marvel's most iconic sequences in stunning detail. From heroic feats to climactic battles, this insert celebrates the moments that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe a global phenomenon.

Above Mystery Pack Parallels:
- Base: #'d to 100
- Orange Parallel: #'d to 25
- Purple Parallel: #'d to 15
- Black Parallel: #'d to 10
- Red Parallel: #'d to 5
- Gold Parallel: #'d to 1

Infinity Gauntlet
Infinity Gauntlet puts the ultimate power in your hands. Each card features an image of the Gauntlet on the back and is numbered 6 or lower. As the parallels grow rarer, the Infinity Stone images gradually fill in, culminating in a fully realized 1-of-1 Gauntlet card.

Infinity Gauntlet Autograph Edition
Collect autographs versions of The Infinity Gauntlet that feature signatures of Thanos himself, Josh Brolin. This insert is a must-have for any collector seeking the ultimate Marvel artifact.

Above Card Parallels:
- Power Stone: #'d to 6
- Space Stone: #'d to 5
- Reality Stone: #'d to 4
- Soul Stone: #'d to 3
- Time Stone: #'d to 2
- Mind Stone: #'d to 1

Marvel Arthouse showcases a stunning collection of hand-drawn sketch cards, each one-of-a-kind piece capturing the essence of Marvel's iconic heroes and villains through the eyes of talented artists.

Miller Magnificence honors the legendary Frank Miller with an ultra-rare collection of hand-drawn sketch cards. Limited to just 20 individually numbered 1-of-1 pieces, each showcases Miller's unmistakable style and storytelling brilliance.

Golden Pack:

Marvel Perfection Autograph Edition
Collect autographed versions of Marvel Perfection that combine an elegant design with the prestige of signatures from the stars who bring Marvel's icons to life. Look for autographs of Paul Rudd, Charlize Theron, Brie Larson, Jeremy Renner and more!

The Collector's Museum
The Collector's Museum invites fans inside the lavish halls of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most eccentric curator. Each card is designed as a prized exhibit, showcasing iconic Marvel characters as if displayed within The Collector's own cosmic museum. With gallery-inspired visuals, talent autographs, and a premium presentation, The Collector's Museum transforms every hero and villain into a showpiece worthy of preservation among the universe's rarest treasures. Find autographs of Benico del Toro, Emilia Clarke, Angela Bassett, Hayley Atwell and more!

Above Card Parallels:
- Base: #'d to 100
- Orange Parallel: #'d to 25
- Purple Parallel: #'d to 15
- Black Parallel: #'d to 10
- Red Parallel: #'d to 5
- Gold Parallel: #'d to 1

Dual Autographs
Dual Autographs brings together the stars behind your favorite heroes and villains in one collectible card. Each card features authentic signatures from two Marvel actors or actresses, creating a unique pairing that celebrates the dynamic performances of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Find pairings such as Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby or Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen!

Treasures of Asgard
Treasures of Asgard showcases autographs from celebrated Marvel Studios stars, each set against a breathtaking Asgardian-inspired design. Legendary talent combined with striking visuals, creates a collection that feels truly worthy of the realm of the gods. Look out for autographs of Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett and more!

Above Card Parallels:
- Orange Parallel: #'d to 25
- Purple Parallel: #'d to 15
- Black Parallel: #'d to 10
- Red Parallel: #'d to 5
- Gold Parallel: #'d to 1

Configuration: 4 Boxes Per Case, 3 Packs Per Box, 1 Card Per Pack