2023 Zerocool Stranger Things Season 4 Blaster

Stranger Things 4: Zerocool picked up the license for this franchise and I saw this blaster on Fanatics.  Fanatics owns both Zerocool and Topps who previously owned the rights.  I like Stranger Things and try to grab at least a blaster of these when for each season.  Winona Ryder as Joyce is one of the things that makes the series so good.

 Season 4 is set in 1986 and this design puts off an appropriate 80s vibe.  I'm okay with it though I think they could do a bit more with the border.  That Will card is a one per pack Surfer Boy Pizza Yellow Parallels.  The vertical cards are what I call character cards and are the first 30 of the base set.

The next 70 cards are these horizontal offerings.

Three of my insert pulls.  I like the Coming Soon! Video Store Ads inserts.  Two of them here with The Rainbow room really looking nice while The Nina Project didn't have the same cool look to it.  The Vecna's Curse Lenticulars cards have that 3D card feel and are good looking cards as well.  

Actually didn't see much of 11 in my pull.

The backs are nice.  They have a smaller duplicate of the front photo and nice write-up with some details about what is going on.  The bottom border graphics have an eerie/cool look I like.  I like them.

Gotta have a bad guy right and this guy is bad.

These are my Quotes inserts.  A bit underwhelming to me but I'm not complaining.

This Upside Down insert of Eddie is my favorite card.  Upside Down is a layered acetate inserts set and the colors and this photo work for me.  I love Eddie and this scene is classic.  Fun box.  Some good cards.  I like the series and I'm looking forward to the final season.  I probably won't search out more of these but you never know if they end up being discounted.

BREAKDOWN:
42 – Total Cards
7 - Surfer Boy Pizza Yellow Parallels
3 – Quotes
2 – Coming Soon! Video Store Ads
1 – Upside Down
1 - Vecna's Curse Lenticulars

 

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Haunted Mansion: This updated version of the movie Haunted Mansion was a good watch.  It was funny and interesting.  The characters were good and I like the story.  Really good casting here and some fun moments.  I will say it could have been tightened up some.  I also wish the ghosts would have played a much more active role in the story.  Believe me they were key but I thought they could have more interactions / a relationship with the main characters.  No reason to have hide them as much as they did.  It's PG-13 and I'm not sure younger kids would be that interested but you never know.  Also why wasn't this in theaters this month?  Just curious.  I recommend it if you're looking for something lighthearted and spooky to watch this month.

Random Wax: 2019 Score Football Hanger Box

2019 Score:  This is my twelfth post on this set.  Do I like it?  Yes.  A lot.  I really think Panini nailed it in their homage to 1989 Score Football.  Nice pull from this hanger box even if it is of an OSU alum.

I'm a big fan of almost all things this set does.  I really like the design and the photography. A couple of PC guys here in Luke Kuechly and Larry Fitzgerald.

Some decent rookies in my pull.  There are a ton of rookies in the set so your pull can be hit or miss.

Epix is always a favorite with collectors.

Signal-Callers' horizontal look gives us another look at QBs from the league.

I like the Fantasy Stars and Throwbacks inserts.

Nice jump shot.

NFL Draft inserts give us another look at rookies including the current star receiver for the Eagles, A.J. Brown.

Great photos here highlighting nice catches.

Consistently the photos shine.  I found these boxes over at Blowout Cards for $12 a piece.  Felt like a good price so I didn't hesitate when I saw them.  This isn't the easiest set to find at a good price so I jumped.

Another insert I like.  PC guy Todd Gurley really looks good in that old school Rams uni.

Huddle Up is a solid insert even though there isn't a lot of pizazz to it.

I have three more of these hanger boxes to show off over time.  It really was fun opening these up and remembering how much I like the set as well as just looking back at the different stars at the time.  Great set and plenty of variety here to enjoy.

BREAKDOWN:

60 – Total Cards

12 – RC

4 - Captains

4 – Purple Parallel

3 – Epix

3 – NFL Draft

3 – Signal-Callers

2 – Throwbacks

2 – Fantasy Stars

2 – All-Hands Team

1 – Huddle Up

1 - Celebration

1 – College Jerseys

Monkeewrench Book

Monkeewrench by PJ Tracy is a book I really enjoyed.  I have plenty of reading to catch up on but I wanted something different and read it over a business trip.  Plot: A killer duplicates the killings from a video game which causes the police and game developers to scramble.  I liked it.  I found it an easy read that had good characters, humor, suspense and a plot that moved well.  I'll read more in the series but I'm bad at prioritizing reading.  Still I recommend this one to anyone who thinks it might be something they might like.

Random Wax: 2022 Stadium Club Blaster

2023 Stadium Club:  Fernando Tatis, back this season after injuries and a suspension took away his 2022 season, he had an ok year but like the Padres as a whole had a disappointing season.

These Master Photos inserts aren't something I care much for.  Odd ball size and just doesn't do it for me.

The fun with this set is all about the photos and this design lets them shine.  

Again, consistently good photography.  And retired greats which are always fun.

Team of the Future cards don't resonate with me.  Seem out of place in this brand.  Love that emotion from Chris Sale.

The die-cut Triumvirates insert isn't a bad looking card if you like due cuts. 

Torkelson had a breakout season with 31 homers and 94 runs batted in even if he did hit .233.

Fun photo of The Kid and his pop.

Retired greats shine in this set as well.

Plenty of horizontal offerings.

The Sepia Parallel on that Ryan card.

Fun cards and a good design are always a good thing.  Nice box of cards.

BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards

11 – RC

7 – Retired Greats

2 – Red Foil Parallel

1 - Triumvirates

1 – Power Zone

1 – Sepia Parallel

1 – Master Photo

1 – Black Foil Parallel

1 – Team of the Future

1 – Blue Foil Parallel #/50

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Hoops Blaster

21-22 Hoops:  Kick off today with some basketball and a set I like.  I also like Giannis though he and the Bucks "stole" Dame from my Blazers.  Ugh.  That said, I'm curious what the Bucks look like.  Khris Middlton needs to be healthy and find his long range shot again but otherwise Milwaukee really is set to make a deep run into the playoffs.

I like this set's design sand I've opened plenty of the set and showed it off here and have plenty more to show off over time.  Some good star power in the box and some personal collection guys like DeMar DeRozan.

None of these three have stamped their mark on the league.

Slam inserts are always a favorite of mine and we get to see retired greats as well as current league greats.  That Payton cover looks really good.  Nice LeBron photo on that Frequent Flyers insert as well.

Never thought of Franz Wagner as a guard unitl I saw this insert.  Probably more of a 3 but no matter where you play him the man has skills. Corey Kispert has had a solid two seasons with the Wizards.  And KAT is maybe the best shooting big man in the league.

Lights Camera Action is always a favorite of mine.  Kyrie is no longer in Brooklyn and Mavericks fans are really hoping he and Luka can figure it out in Dallas after Irving signed a new deal.

Loe that photo of Clint Capela.  Nurkic recently packed his bags for Phoenix as part of the Lillard three-team trade.

What happens with James Harden is the big story left of the preseason.  Philly is in a no-win situation.  Harden, though still a star, is looked at much differently than Lillard is and won't be easy to trade for value.

Everyone loves Boban Marjanovic even if he's not a star on the court.  Embiid probably can't wait for the Harden situation to play out and find out what the 76ers will look like come opening day.

BREAKDOWN:

88 – Total Cards

11 – RC

2 - Slam

2 – Blue Parallel

2 – Purple Parallel

1 - Skyview

1 – Arriving Now

1 – Class of 2021

1 – Frequent Flyers

1 – Lights Camera Action