What: 2022 Bowman University football cards
Arrives: April
Box basics: Two autographs in every 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Topps enters the NCAA prospects ranks in pack form with Bowman University, a Chromed line that will showcase current college stars thanks to the NIL rules that allow them to appear on cardboard before they are professionals.

Keep reading for more 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: 2021 Wild Card Alumination football cards (retail hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

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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 ... another super-sized edition with some new inclusions like comic books and magazines.

FRESH OFF THE TRUCK
The Book: Captain Britain No. 1 (1976 Marvel UK magazine, with mask) -- first appearance of the character
The Reason Graded: This one arrived back in my hands from CGC on Sunday, so I'll have it lead off here as it's as fresh as it gets in my stash of slabs -- and it actually presents a question for people familiar with pressing. (Help a newb out!) First, the back story ... I picked this up probably 30 years ago via Mile High Comics for more than I would have normally spent back then -- probably around $20 -- for a NM-MT copy. For all these years, it was in its magazine bag with one of their old round condition stickers still attached before I recently decided to dig it out for slabbing. Why? It's obscure -- it's a newsprint-style, magazine-size book released only in the UK -- and it's pricey when it's in elite grade. (We'll get to that.) This debuting character is one that had evolved a lot by the time I had gotten into comics (around 1990) and he was the leader of the British X-Men group, Excalibur, which launched as a standalone title in 1988. As part of collecting key issues and artist favorites back then, I tracked down this debut that was mentioned on the back of his 1990 Impel Marvel Universe card. (That set is what drew me into comics.) I knew this copy wasn't perfect, but it was close and I figured it was best to get it slabbed despite some paper-texture funk (the vertical black lines in white areas around the nameplate and corner box). I assumed some of that might lighten up as part of CGC's pressing/cleaning process. If it helped at all, I had figured it might get it closer to one of those top grades.
The Grade: CGC 9.4 (Universal)

Click for a closer look

Reality Check: This one checked in lower than I had hoped for as I had thought a 9.6 might be realistic -- but the only dramatic difference here vs. higher marks is the dollar signs and probably some of that funk. (My back cover wasn't as clean as I remembered so my gut feeling may be moot.) A 9.8 copy of this has topped $5,000 on eBay while ones in my condition have been around $1,500 ... so it's still a good slab. (I'm sitting on it like everything else in my stash.) ... Here's where I can use some help from the pressers/slabbers out there, though. It seems like pressing may have actually added to the funk or emphasized it in spots. Some of the white areas definitely have more of that showing now, not less, particularly around the right side of the No. 1 box and the "free inside" mask circle where there's plenty of white paper. It's absolutely the same book (minor pulp spots are there as they were when I sent it) but I was surprised by the paper texture seemingly being emphasized (or not as clean) after pressing. (Click on the image above right -- ignore the color difference as that is likely due to my photography skills.) You can see more dark spots/texture of the paper visible -- perhaps it's from ink on the inside page showing through? I assume I'm not the first to press one of these -- or that they wouldn't press these if it would make its condition worse. I didn't have this on my mental list of outcomes, and naturally, I wondered whether this dropped me a grade and it will always bug me now. Perhaps this happened because the cover is newsprint and not white paper? The time it takes for pressing has had me not doing that on nearly all other submissions but this one -- my first sub I had pressed -- left me wondering if it helped at all. (If I could do this one all over again ... I would not have.) By the way, the color you see peeking out the right side? That's a perfect mask tucked inside the issue just like the cover promises from almost 50 years ago. All in all, I'm glad I graded this one and I think it's the priciest comic book in my stash ... but it definitely prompted some questions.

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

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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: New releases, new breaks, new pulls, showing off color-match cards and pondering the NFL's most-athletic player.

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What: 2022 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets
Arrives: March 23
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line arrives for the first time this year with a new assortment of NFL and college stars -- active college stars -- along with throwback and alternative-design helmets that can add some extra variety within the chase.

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What: 2022 Panini Prizm Draft Picks football cards
Arrives: This product has been canceled by Panini America. (Updated Oct. 31.)
Box basics: Four autographs per four-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: This product has been canceled.

What's buzz-worthy: Panini opens its 2022 football card season with new college stars and past greats in their school colors, an autograph in every pack and some other inclusions that fans of the brand have come to expect.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

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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: 2021 Wild Card Alumination football cards (retail hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

Continue reading →

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: Don Maynard, Wander Franco, new breaks and more in today's edition.

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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: 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

Continue reading →

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: Pondering the Heisman Trophy winner, talking Hall of Famers, the Raiders, new pulls, 1/1 locations and new MLB chatter today.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL rookies who are impressing Buzz this season (on offense).

THE TOP QB
Mac Jones -- QB, Patriots (Rookie Cards in 2021 boxes)
Trevor Lawrence got all the attention heading into the season -- especially on cardboard with his own standalone crd sets -- but while the yardage is there for him pretty much nothing else is impressive on the NFL rookie stat sheet this year or in the standings. Mac Jones, though? The numbers are there as him being the top rookie QB of the year so far with 245 of 349 passes completed for 2,540 yards and 14 TDs with just eight picks in 11 games. He's 399 yards ahead of Lawrence (who has only played 10 games and only has eight TDs). Jones isn't as mobile as, say, Lawrence or Justin Fields but the numbers are there and his team is atop the AFC East, too. Are the stats freakish like, say, Justin Herbert last year? Nope, but they don't seem to be unrealistic to show that he's done well and could be around for some time. He's expensive as an Alabama title-winner -- he'll always be popular in that regard -- so I'd be selective with grabs, but all those pricey cards could still have a big up-side if he's the franchise guy like people hope.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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: Shohei Ohtani's MVP season, new pulls, Zion Williamson and the PSA pop report, Wander Franco, NFL busts and more.

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmet Platinum Edition Series 2
Arrives: Dec. 15
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: A second batch of Hidden Treasures autographed minis is the finale for TRISTAR's year with every box including either a Hall of Famer or an active player.

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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: New pulls, a new NBA season, ripping some Pro Set and two 1/1s in a single Prizm box? (Yep.)

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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: World Series chatter, Heritage MiLB arrives, pondering the NBA Rookie of the Year (already), a college football question, WWE and NFL Week 8 all in this one.

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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: Two autos in one blaster, pondering the 2022 Topps print run, a big day of college football drama, the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury fight chatter and more.

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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: 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats Football Jersey Edition Series 2
Arrives: Nov. 19
Box basics: One autographed football jersey per box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line takes the field for a second time this year with its familiar format from the past but with some new stars (past and present) included in this one.

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Fast Five is a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's something to think about.

This time? Five boxes Buzz would be ripping right now ... all from the bargain section.

BACK TO SCHOOL ... RIGHT NOW
2021 Onyx Vintage Collection College Football box
These aren't actually out yet -- it's merely in pre-order mode for a November release -- but this one is Onyx's take on the new NCAA NIL rules that allow current athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness right now rather than when they are done with their college days. College football and college basketball figure to be the biggest deals on this front and this one includes a pair of autos in a box along with two other cards. Bryce Young's start has the word "Heisman" attached already and the other certified autos of his all have had pro-type dollar signs attached, not mere college award-winner prices. These boxes figure to be a bit hit and miss -- the big names will pay for a few boxes, others probably won't -- but at their present price I think they are worth the risk moreso than a lot of other releases out there. College NIL autos will have a longer shelf life than your typical draft picks cards as the booster crowd will be interested as well as the school fans -- and they won't have NFL cardboard to trump them until further down the line. I'm sure more stuff is coming but the other other one of these releases on the tarmac is a multi-sport approach. This one is solely football so that gives it the edge for me. Once Panini America's fully licensed NIL stuff starts, those will be the first-look but these are not far off.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets Series 2
Arrives: Oct. 13
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures hits the gridiron for a second time this year with mini helmets -- this time with new NFL names, all-time greats and some top 2021 NFL Draft prospects all in one place.

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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: 2021 Wild Card Matte Black football cards (retail hanger)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

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What: 2021 Onyx Vintage College Football cards
Arrives: Feb. 4
Box basics: Two on-card autographs per four-card box (24 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The new NCAA NIL landscape that allows players to make money on their name, image and likeness means a whole new world for cardboard -- and Onyx is in on it with its Vintage line going back to school to present new Amateur Rookie Cards and autographs.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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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: New NFL, MLB and NXT breaks lead the way here with Shohei Ohtani and some other basics.

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The new New England Patriots starting quarterback has a bunch of new cardboard.

And that's thanks to Super Glow, the new card line that will introduce new college stars who aren't yet pros to the collecting masses soon via packs and introduce some others, like national championship-winning QB and first-round pick Mac Jones, on cardboard right now via online offerings.

The company's mission is to introduce "the next generation of sports cards" and its online offerings for Jones include some non-traditional photos, too.

Keep reading to see that one and the lineup of nearly 50 cards up for grabs while they last.

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What: 2021 Panini Flawless College Football cards
Arrives: Oct. 20
Box basics: Six autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless' college football edition drops for a new season with the latest draft picks all in one high-end spot.

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

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