Randy Green Transcends.

Certain artists are able to capture sublime states of being with their unique line. Randy Green is one of those.

This series of original art sketch cards seems to tell a story that cannot be expressed in words. Truly transcendent.

Marvel Hockey Cards!

(You can find more sketch cards in the Saloon: http://sketchcardsaloon.wordpress.com/ )

That is not an illusion. Kate “Red” Bradley actually created a series of one-of-a-kind original art sketch cards that featured Marvel characters playing hockey in their signature colors. The cards were approved by Marvel and inserted into Upper Deck’s Marvel Masterpieces packs. They now fetch prices in the neighborhood of $200 – $300… IF you can ever find one available for sale.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Doreen Green is a Masterpiece.

That poignant portrait is by Taki Soma. It is owned by a collector named Guillaume, residing in France. Thanks to Marvel Masterpieces, Squirrel Girl really gets around.

Check. This. Art.

Those are one-of-a-kind sketch cards that were included in the Marvel Masterpieces 3 packs at random. The artist is Meghan Hetrick, and she is our new hero.

Click here for more. Spectacular stuff.

Monday Masterpiece Memories: Madelyne Pryor and Master Mold.

     

They are both 6-drops. They are both extremely powerful in the comic books and on cardboard. That is, however, where the similarities end.

Happy Monday!

Upper Deck And Marvel Comics Are Joining Forces Again!

  

It is the news we have all been waiting for, and it is official. Upper Deck will continue to produce the highest quality trading card games in the world using the most spectacular characters in the universe.

“We are extremely excited about the possibilities that this newest partnership opens up for us,” said Scott Gaeta, director of new business development at Upper Deck. “Gamers and trading card enthusiasts alike will benefit greatly as a result of the collaborative efforts by both companies.”

Paul Gitter, president of consumer products, North America at Marvel, added: “The Marvel Universe and Marvel Studios’ upcoming slate of feature films are ideally suited for trading cards and trading card games that will appeal to a wide audience.”

That sounds like party time to me. The first new products will be released this January, stay tuned to this station for more news as it breaks.

Marvel Masterpieces: Squirrel Girl.

What a beautiful little day this is. First I found that original drawing of Squirrel Girl by Katie Cook on a Marvel Masterpieces Sketch Card. Then I got permission to start an expansive new project with one of Alan Moore’s most obscure masterworks.

Life is good.

Two-tone Tuesday: Benjamin Glendenning.

He calls himself skulljammer on deviantart, and I just can’t get enough. Here’s more in full color.

Thursday Thirteen: Expansion Favorites.

That was the first ever expansion set of Vs. System. Marvel Origins, released on April 1st, 2004. We were eventually blessed with 18 full sets by Upper Deck, and today I will pick my favorite card from each of the most recent thirteen. Cardboard bliss.

1. Marvel Evolution: X-Babies Attack. This is the final production set, and that card is the pinnacle of my influence on the game. I created a weenie burn deck and named it “X-Babies Attack!” back in the day. Upper Deck honored me with a matching plot twist, and thanks to alphabetical order it turned out to be the last expansion card ever printed.

2. Marvel Universe: Squirrel Girl. Doreen Green finishes a close second in the homage race. I lobbied, I pleaded, I threatened and I begged. Finally she appeared in the packs. Sigh.

3. DC Legends: Sea Creatures. I made my name by playing one-cost army characters, then they shocked me with this. Rare. Two resources to play. Pony!

4. Marvel Legends: Domino. I waited a long time for this lucky lass, and I used her in my original X-Babies deck for good luck.

5. World’s Finest: Kim Hoshi. This expansion brought some serious bang to the table for DC, and none was brighter than Kimmy.

Marvel Team-up: Shuma-Gorath. The card did not see much play, but I can still hear the taunt from Capcom’s video game version… “Waste of FLESH!”

Infinite Crisis: Zazzala, Mistress of the Hive. There may not have ever been a better legacy card. She made War Paint possible.

Heralds of Galactus: Rogue, Total Transformation. If you never got to see this trick pulled off in real life, you missed something really special.

Legion of Superheroes: Supergirl, Lost in Time. Scariest. Painting. Ever.

X-Men: Multiple Man <> Jamie Madrox. This card leaves me breathless. Such incredible possiblities.

Justice League of America: Infestation. My swarming weenies had nothing to compare. Such insane potential beats.

Avengers: Chaos Magic. They may have named this card after my subtitle on Realms, but prolly not. Then again, they did get my buddy Dave Devries to paint it. Hmmm.

Green Lantern Corps: Xallarap. You thought I would pick AGL, but no. This guy never existed in the comics. That’s right, he was created by a fan on a Green Lantern tribute site. It is one of the coolest trivia facts ever about Vs. System. And it ends our list.

Such great stuff.

Two-tone Tuesday: Daniel Campos.

Can you believe that? With an insanely talented pen dedicated to the one-of-a-kind sketch cards randomly inserted in the Marvel Masterpieces set, Daniel Campos produced a sheet of original drawings that serves as the most mind-blowingly challenging mystery line-up of Marvel Comics heroes and villains the world has ever seen.

How many can you identify? (Click on the image for a closer look.)

Two-tone Tuesday.

 

I have showcased original art from the sketch cards randomly inserted in Upper Deck’s Marvel Masterpieces many times before, but today we start a new tradition.

Tw0-tone Tuesdays are here.

Our first artist is Otis Frampton, with his very distinct style.

Those make me grin from ear to ear, but obviously Two-tone Tuesday’s can’t be a solo act. Therefore, I will tickle you into a two-tone tizzy by signing off with some similarly simple pallette action from Pat Carlucci.

If you dig this stuff and can’t get enough just like me, head on over to deviantart.com and search for Marvel Masterpieces and see. You’ll be glad you did.

Fantastic Friday: Skulljammer.

Can you imagine pulling one of those original drawings from a pack of cards?

Marvel Masterpieces Rules. Especially in the hands of Skulljammer.