Godzilla: King of the Monsters

I finally got the chance to see Godzilla: King of the Monsters and I really enjoyed it.  The first movie in this latest reboot of Godzilla was not a movie I liked.  It was just boring.  This movie didn't have that issue.  Plenty of action and we get to see Godzilla face off with some of the big baddies of the Godzilla universe.  I was really entertained which is all you can ask.   There are some things folks will take issue with I'm sure in concerns to the plot but you are always having to stretch a little when you walk into a theater.  This sets up the upcoming Godzilla vs King Kong movie.  I'll be curious to see how that one plays out but I can definitely see those two having to face off against a greater threat.  After the prerequisite fight against each other of course.  Happy Halloween!

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Comic Book Vol 1 by Archie Comics

While I love the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina I just now finished Volume one of the comic Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.  And I'm so glad it worked out that way.  The comic is much darker than the Netflix series.  If I'd read this first I doubt I would have watched the series.  The comic really didn't do it for me.  The basic plot points are similar to the Netflix series but the characters here are just not as likable to me and again that goes to how they treat the story.  It is dark, maybe macrbe and definitely something that falls into the horror genre.  If they come out with volume 2 of this I won't read it.  I'm not saying this is bad I'm just saying it isn't for me.  I really like Netflix's take and I'm looking forward to season three next year.  If you are looking for a horror comic and would like a different take on the Sabrina story give this a look.  

The Fog (1980)

The Fog (1980) is a movie we make sure to watch every year and it keeps moving up my list of all-time favorite horror flicks.  This movie Stars Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook and Janet Leigh.  An eerie fog rolls into the town of Antonio Bay, California and with it comes a horror the town isn't ready for while a discovery shows the towns forefathers are to blame.  I think the story and actors really do a great job.  Barbeau and Atkins are the stars here.  Again this is an all-time favorite and just wanted to put it out there.  I feel compelled to point out Adrienne Barbeau and and Jamie Lee Curtis would have made any young boy, no matter how scared, want to watch this movie over and over.  Though it being Rated R would have put a stop to that for many.  

2019 - 2020 Contenders Basketball Draft Picks Blaster

2019-2020 Contenders Draft Picks Basketball:  I got Zion in this blaster but not the auto everyone is chasing.  Still it is a Zion and I'll be happy with that.  I'm really disappointed that he is injured to start his career but in preseason games he showed he may be able to live up to the hype.  Only time will tell.  No auto in this box as Panini game me dreaded Panini points (150).  Booooo Panini.

  Trae Young is off to a terrific start with the Hawks this year.  Atlanta has a ton of young talent led by Young and it is great to see him taking it to the next level.  Durant and George are OK too...

Plenty more star power in this pack.  With the small size of this set the one thing you are assured of is pulling plenty of stars.

R.J Barrett has looked great so far for the Knicks.  Coby White is also looking real good as a rookie for the Chicago Bulls.  I like these Legacy inserts allowing us to see players in their pro and college unis.

A good box and I did pull a Zion.  I still have two of these blasters to show off so keep an eye out.  This Kemba Walker is a Draft Ticket parallel. 

BREAKDOWN:

42 – Total Cards
7 – Legacy (1 – Duplicate)
7 – School Colors
7 – Game Day Ticket
2 – Draft Ticket Parallels
1 – Panini Points (150)

Random Wax: 2019 Donruss Football

2019 Donruss Football:  Another pack of  this set that I like.  Pretty simple design with some good photos.  McCaffrey is nothing short of a stud and the anchor my fantasy team.  

Some nice star power here.

The backs on these cards are pretty blah.  Matty Ice and the Falcons are struggling so much this year.  It's hard to watch.  This team was breaking my heart in the Super Bowl just two years ago.

Retired greats are good.  

I like the retro logos for the Bengals and Eagles on these cards.  Another fun pack of cards.  I can definitely see me picking up more of these in the future.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards
7 – Retired Greats
4 – RC
4 – Blue Parallel
1 – Highlights

2019 Topps Stadium Club Hobby Box - A Few More to Enjoy

2019 Topps Stadium Club:  Just want to show off more of these cards.  This was a great box and a lot of fun.  If you didn't see my first post on this box you can check it out here.

 These two guys.  Love them both.  Did Gwynn just turn the light switch on and is looking up to see if they came on?

Some retired greats on these cards are always fun.

Celebrations are always a good time.

I like all three of these cards.  McCutchen and his smile, that catch and a recognizable look for a future hall of famer.

This was my box topper.  Cool photo that I believe is from the homerun derby held in D.C. last year.  Bryce Harper won it in front of the hometown crowd and was very fun to watch.

BREAKDOWN:

128 – Total Cards
29 – Retired Greats
10 - RC
6 – Red Parallel
2 – Chrome
2 – Warp Speed
2 – Power Zone
2 – Black Foil
2 – Emperors of the Zone
1 – Variation
1 – Box Topper
1 – Beam Team
1 - Rainbow Foilboard #/25

2019 Stadium Club Hobby Box w/auto and 1/1

2019 Topps Stadium Club:  I didn't have a plan when I attended the Sports Collectibles Show in St. Louis Sunday but did have the thought of picking up a Stadium Club hobby box in the back of mind since they were first released.  Sure enough there was a dealer with two boxes so I grabbed one at $85.  While the autos aren't anything to write home about I did pull a big hit in this Khris Davis Chrome Chrome SuperFractor 1/1.  I didn't even know there were Stadium Club Chrome cards.  I'm a big fan of Davis so this is an awesome pull.   These fall 1:5,976 hobby packs.  I did put it up on eBay.  I sell very few cards but knew there would be a market for this card.  I'm not in this for the money but on those rare occasions I get something decent these help fuel the hobby budget.  Definitely stoked about this pull.

  Neither of my two autographs really move the needle though Richards did pitch to a 1.93 ERA in 23 innings for Tampa Bay this year.

That Bader card is one of my favorite photos.  That emotion right after a play is awesome when caught in a picture.

I love me some retired greats and there were 29 in this box.  That Bagwell is my favorite for some reason.  Probably the beard and that Astros jacket which isn't a Houston color and design you see often.

  I like the Power Zone design and really liked pulling these two PC guys.

That Hosmer is a Red Parallel.  The Beam Team doesn't do much for me.

This Christian Yelich is the one variation I pulled.  Most variations seem to be a bit more of a special photo but hey a variation is a variation.

More nice photos.  Alex Bregman is hoping he and he Astros can turn things around tonight against the Nationals.

Some horizontal love.

This was a really fun box.  I love the photos of which retired greats are a big part of.  I rarely pick up hobby boxes and this one didn't disappoint.  Tomorrow I'll show off more cards from this box.  

BREAKDOWN:

128 – Total Cards
29 – Retired Greats
10 - RC
6 – Red Parallel
2 – Chrome
2 – Warp Speed
2 – Power Zone
2 – Black Foil
2 – Emperors of the Zone
1 – Variation
1 – Box Topper
1 – Beam Team
1 - Rainbow Foilboard #/25

2019 Topps Update Carl Yastrzemski (Variation) and Mike Yastrzemski

2019 Topps Update:  Game 2 of the World Series is tonight so a couple of Yastrzemski's seems appropriate.  I picked these up from someone who works down the hall and I couldn't be happier.  One I didn't even know Yaz was a variation on his grandson's base card (US245).  Two, he mentioned Monday he had pulled the Yaz variation and he was going to sell it while throwing in Mike Yastrzemski - SOLD.  I'm real happy to have both these cards.  As always seeing my favorite all-time player in Yaz on new cardboard is great.  Yaz running isn't something I see a lot of either.  I also collect his grandson and this is one of his first.  Good day for this fan.

  

2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Basketball Blaster w/Auto

2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Basketball:  The NBA season starts tonight and this is a great way to kick it off...chasing Zion.  He wasn't found in this blaster but it was still fun and I pulled a Ky Bowman autograph.  He's a developmental guy with the Warriors.  So not the Zion I was looking for.  But don't fear I have three more blasters to open thanks to my wife buying me two and me picking up a couple more.  We kick this one off with other worldly basketball player, World Champion and PC guy Kawhi Leonard. 

As some have said before the Contenders is locked in some with their design and it can get tiresome.  I'm a Contenders guy and I'm mostly good with this year's offering though the photo seems awful small.  The backs are fine.  Colorful and provide a cropped version of the front photo.  The inclusion of retired greats is always a good thing.

  There are 50 cards in the base set and each has a variation.  Not sure why they didn't make it a 100 card set with two photos for each player.  As a reminder the numbers are their weight, height and uni number.  

The inserts is where you'll finally get to see the draft picks, undrafted players and current and retired greats in their pro/college unis.  I'm good with these inserts.  College basketball unis aren't quite the fun that they are in football though.  Not knowing all the college guys definitely makes sorting a challenge.  

Overall I'm happy with these cards but they are probably not my favorite in the Contenders family.  I'll show off more in the future as I look at the remaining blasters I busted.

  

BREAKDOWN:

42 – Total Cards
7 – Legacy (1 – Duplicate)
7 – School Colors
7 – Game Day Ticket
2 – Draft Ticket Parallels
1 – Draft Blue Foil College Ticket Autograph Parallel

2019 Topps Update w/Relic

2019 Topps Baseball Update:  The World Series starts tonight so why not some baseball?  The appeal of the Update cards for me are teh All-Star Game cards but it also features young players, players in their new team's unis, and insert sets.  Gleyber Torres who had a great October starts us off here.

The big surprise for me in this set was this Josh Hader relic.  He had another good year for the Brewers but gave up a few more homeruns than the Brewers would like and struggled mightily in Milwaukee's Wild Card game loss to the Nats.

The All-Star Game cards.  Using "ASG" for these cards don't thrill me.  I'd appreciate something along a logo or even the National and American League logo designating these players as all-stars.

Perennial All-Stars has a nice checklist of current and former greats.  I like that card.  The Harper and Baez are the other two inserts I pulled.  I wish the Greatest Seasons cards had something else on the front like the year that is being focused on.

The youngsters are of course key in this release each year.

A little horizontal All-Star game love.

Players in their new team's unis like Robertson and Lynn are a big part of this set and that Dietrich is a Topps 150th Anniversary.  The design for this year is good and the Update didn't disappoint though there is something about the All-Star Game cards that is lacking.  I'll probably grab more of these but at my leisure.

Cavan Biggio is one of two sons of MLB Hall of Famers on Toronto Blue Jays and is expected to be a big part of Toronto's hopes for contending in years to come.  

BREAKDOWN:

34 – Total Cards
11 – RC
8 – All-Star Game
1 – Relic
1 – 150th Anniversary
1 – Greatest Seasons
1 –Perennial All-Stars
1 – Topps All-Star Rookie
1 – Bryce Harper Highlights