Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

A HIGH-GRADE DOMINATOR
The Card: Paul Skenes 2025 Topps Heritage
The Reason Bought: I'll fully admit I'm a sucker for high-grade Heritage Rookie Cards and, while this isn't an RC, this one captured my attention just like one as I've ripped my fair share of Heritage this year and, well, not much of the cards that matter that I pulled could have checked in at a perfect grade. All that perfection, the clean photo and the color scheme here got me to bite.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: I didn't check the pop report before grabbing it, so it was an extra bonus to see that it's the lone card in the top slot with a decent number of cards below it -- and that goes as low as a CGC 7. That reinforces that Heritage isn't the easiest grade. That makes this one even more of a win in my book.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Topps Marvel Comic Book Heroes trading cards
Arrives: TBD
Box basics: 32 cards per box (eight four-card packs)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when live)

What's buzz-worthy: Another Chromed Marvel release from Topps is on the way with a mix of past and present looks for its stars in play for the 50th anniversary of the original stickers.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Topps Mint Marvel trading cards
Arrives: Aug. 13
Box basics: One encased card per 11-card box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: A new release debuted at San Diego Comic-Con and it's one with just the basics for the iconic characters of the comics and movies empire.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Old NBA boxes, Caitlin Clark cards, MLB chatter, The National and a pair of comic book topics.

-

1 -- Still sitting on old NBA boxes?

2 -- All your MLB matters

3 -- Talking Caitlin Clark cards

4 -- Collecting Rogue & Gambit covers

5 -- What about the back covers of comics?

6 -- All your National chatter

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

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 pack: Giant-size Box of Mystery comics repack box
Where to buy: Check the story for the chain ... hit BlowoutCards.com for non-sports cards

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

Continue reading →

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 ... and it might be the biggest edition ever.

BIG SEASON AHEAD?
The Card: Josh Allen 2018 Donruss Optic #154 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I pulled a pair of these from a number of rips -- probably deep in the archives here if you poke around -- but I never slabbed any of them back then, instead grading guys like Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and maybe a Nick Chubb. Meanwhile, it turns out this guy might be The One over the long term from this rookie class. After this past season's successes and close finish at the end, I figured it was time to grade a pair of these and I'm still working through some of my past pulls to see if I need to grade more for this franchise QB.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I was happy with this one (and I'll drop my other one here at some point later this season) as Optic stock can be hit and miss, particularly on the backs. Sometimes it's dents and wrinkles or minor dents but this one was clean. It looks like these do grade pretty well with nearly half of them getting this mark. An interesting comparison to make here? PSA has graded more than 2,500 of these with more than half being 10s, while BGS has graded only 160 and SGC has slabbed 320.

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

Continue reading →

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 ...

THIS IS WHY YOU GRADE ...
The Book: The Amazing Spider-Man #361 -- first full appearance of Carnage (Marvel cards here)
The Reason Graded: As you probably read in a past piece where I previously graded my other newsstand copy of this iconic issue, I have a stash of early 1990s books that are all quite clean as I was picking off stuff from a bookstore without rack damage. I was more of an art fan/collector than a reader -- it was all about art and condition -- and this cover-price pickup came at a time where cards were starting to get too expensive to me in 1992 so I dabbled. I have had this stashed all this time and while the pop report here is heavy for sure ... how many of them can be newsstand 9.8s? I suspect it's a definite minority of that 5,000-some books.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: When I graded my other copy of this its pop was at 20,179 and there have been big gains at 9.4, 9.6 and 9.8. The eBay asking prices on this one for newsstand include $6,999 (not getting hit), $2,500 for a pair, just under $2,200, $2,000 and a bunch down to $750. Not that helpful. Actual eBay sales? Highs around $1,200 down to around $600 ... so definitely still a little all over the place. Recent sales are also still in that range for this key issue. No matter the timing or the price paid ... this is an example of why you grade good stuff. All it cost me $1.25 and grading fees.

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

Continue reading →

Hollywood news can have an impact on the collectibles world and comic book movies are the perfect example of what an influx of mainstream pop culture focus can do.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a Gambit film starring Channing Tatum is a go for Valentine's Day 2019, bringing the card-throwing, slick-talking member of the X-Men to the screen solo for the first time.

Just like Deadpool, certain characters pick up steam with fans and news like this prompts added interest in first appearances of the characters and the one-of-a-kind original comic art that helped bring those books to life. A movie with Tatum in the main role? With apologies to Yogi Berra, it could be déjà vu all over again.

Continue reading →