2002 Artbox Spider-Man FilmCardz
While Topps grabbed the trading card rights for the Spider-Man movie in 2002, Artbox managed to grab the rights to a non-movie trading card set using their translucent slide-insert card format.
Five cards per pack, 24 packs per box. Despite the fancy format of these cards with their translucent slide show images, the implementation really is rather amateurish. The labeling and logical grouping of the cards is a complete joke. The "Amazing Spider-Man" subset features cover art from "Web of Spider-Man". There are spelling errors, and laughably vague and irrelevant titles and descriptions on the cards.
More annoying, the chase cards are distributed poorly. I bought an entire box and got a complete set of the basic cards. But I got TWO complete sets of the 9-card "Ph" chase set. However, I only have two of the six "rare" cards, and two of the three "ultra-rares".
The chase sets are totally lame. The only difference between an ultra-rare and a regular card is that the border has some holo-sparkle. The rare cards are difficult to tell from regular cards, they have only a hint of sparkle. The only interesting thing about them is that they're "rare". Manufactured rarity.
Every pack includes this fold-out leaflet. Inside is information about how you can send away for either:
- For $20 - The 72 regular cards, or...
- For $20 - A binder, 9-panel mini-sheet, 5-card pack, or...
- For $40 - Both of the above, plus 2 (of the set of 5) promo cards and the viewer.
Now, I bought a complete box of 24 packs. I got all the regular cards, but not the all rares or ultra-rares. Annoyingly, it seems that if I want the viewer, I have to buy a second regular set as well! If I want a complete five-card promo set I need to buy three binders, three viewers, three more regular sets. Even then after $120, I still don't get to complete my rare card sets! What a ripoff!
My box did contain one auto-graphed card "A8" signed by Mike Wieringo. The complete set of autograph cards is: A1 Charles Vess, A2 Glenn Fabry, A3 John Romita (Jr.), A4 John Romita (Sr.), A5 Kaare Andrews, A6 Mark Buckingham, A7 Mark Bagley SN150, A8 Mike Wieringo, A9 Ron Frenz, A10 J. Scott Campbell.
Note that SpiderFan policy says that we don't track exclusive, limited-edition autographed collectibles in the database.
