I Saw This Question on Reddit

[theCapraAegagrus]

Are we in the 1990's comic book era of playing cards? The 90's consisted of needless variants and "limited editions" that crashed the hobby/market.

[KingfisherZero]

It's an interesting question. I don't think that it's quite applicable outside of perhaps the Fontaine/A1/hype deck world. The key feature that I recall in comics at the time was speculative buying from people who weren't themselves even collectors. It gave an inflated view of the supply/demand dynamic that wasn't sustained when it became clear that the speculators were not going to hang around. Superman #75 was printed in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. There were NEVER that many core comic collectors.

Even most of the playing cards that resell for high numbers are still justifiable in the number of collectors in most cases. A Lotrek deck sells for way more on the secondary market, but at his low print runs, there's little doubt that there's enough collectors to support the purchase of all of his decks. I don't know if the hype deck world has the same long term prognosis. The market is a mixture of collectors, speculators and more fleeting followers of a trend. When the trend moves on, are the collectors enough to sustain the quantity out there? At the inflated price? It has all the signs of some of what killed comics in the 90s.

So yeah I think there's a potential parallel for hype decks. There's definitely signs that certain decks even from other collector-oriented designers are leaning that way unfortunately. I think most of the older collector decks out there from Oath, Thirdway, Stockholm, etc. are spiking more based on the collector market relative to print runs. Can definitely find exceptions even in those lines, but that feels like a more sustainable case.

[Harvonsgard]

Let's hope so. Can't wait for the bubble to pop.
Seeing what some are happily willing to pay for decks on the secondary market (or even retail (cherry's for $75!)) is ridiculous.

[guru]

Are we in the 1990's comic book era of playing cards? The 90's consisted of needless variants and "limited editions" that crashed the hobby/market.

Made me remember this thread...


https://unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php?t=13027

[LoneStar]

I’m one of the new collectors contributing to what may or may not be a bubble. One thing that troubles me is the number of non-collectors I see grabbing up limited edition decks and flipping them for massive profits on eBay. You look at their listed items and see that is the only deck of cards they have for sale along side of their broken Barbies, second-hand tools and creased Pokémon cards. That’s a troubling sign for the hobby, imo, and does smack of the baseball card/comic book bubble.

[Harvonsgard]

One thing that troubles me is the number of non-collectors I see grabbing up limited edition decks and flipping them for massive profits on eBay.

It's an interesting notion that it irks people when people come from outside, to harvest some honey. They wouldn't come if the scene wouldn't have happily inflated the prices.

[Bradius]

I agree that the limited edition and endless varieties is out of hand with some creators. I do think it is a problem and could potentially damage the business. It definitely underscores that collectors should enter this more as a way to have a collection for interests other than monetary. You have to really accept that you will most likely never get back what you put into the hobby.

That said, the playing card production and distribution model is completely different that Comics. In fact the Comics industry is getting a lot more like playing cards than the other way around. There are a lot of very niche comics going into the self-publishing route as the big box producers go under for a variety of reasons. I think being close to creators makes this place much more interesting for me. I may not make money, but enjoy the hobby more.

I think eventually the designers that just get stuck in the same thing over and over again, whether recolors or very same style will struggle more than those that keep pushing themselves creatively. Also, I think playing card artists that do other things with their art will, for the most part, be more financially resilient in that if one market (playing cards) dries up, then other areas can keep things going financially. Also, it is a way to share an artists style to other groups. I think that would be best for most artists, and many actually follow that model.

[Strag]

Artists proofs (that aren't really but just overruns in a fancy label), gilding, tuck swaps, book boxes, etc etc.

It's not there yet, but it's getting closer.

[jerichoholic]

Tell me about it, getting pretty annoyed with every creator on Kickstarter having projects with like 8 decks with all the limited editions, gilded editions, private reserves, artist proofs, foiled variants, marked variants, signed decks, ugh.