Company: Fleer/Skybox International
Release: 1997
Name: Marvel Premium QFX
Number of Packs: 18
Number of Cards per Pack: 5
Insert/ Chase Cards:
PhotoGraphix Heroes Reformed - 1:6
LazerBlast Die-Cut - 1:9
Joe Quesada Autograph Parallel
The 90's was an awesome decade - Friends was on, Michael Jordan rocked, and pagers were cool. So every once-in-awhile when a wave of nostalgia hits, I'd kick up the old N64 for a game of GoldenEye 007 or bust open some 90's Marvel card packs.
Fleer/Skybox issued their Marvel Premium QFX cards in 1997 which featured the art of Joe Quesada. The creative use of photography and Marvel characters really made this an unique set.
Card Design (9.0/10)
In my opinion, the base card design was extremely well thought out. It brought to life what the characters would look like in real-life settings. One of my favorite cards is a superimposed Rhino stampeding on the city streets filled with high-rise buildings and taxis in the background. Another favorite, which showcased Joe's sense of humor, is of Impossible Man who unwittingly shape-shifted into a fire hydrant amidst a pack of eager canines.
The chase cards had two different designs. PhotoGraphix cards were printed on clear acetate and introduced well-know heroes and villains in an inventive, albeit unusual new look. LazerBlast cards had die-cut designs complete with bullet holes for Punisher and web netting for Spider-Man.
Character List (8.5)
There was a wide range of characters, from the well-known and popular Captain America, Wolverine, and Iron Man to the lesser known Squirrel Girl, Devil Dinosaur, and Moonboy. Even though the card set had only 72 cards, it had an extremely good mix of mutants, aliens, and wannabe world conquerors.
Box Break
Each box had 18 packs so with 5 cards per pack, the chance of completing a base card set was a real possibility. In this box break, I did not get a full set but was only short 4 cards. I received a total of 5 chase cards - three PhotoGraphix acetates and two LazerBlast die-cuts.
Here are some samples of the base cards:
I could totally see Paul Rudd in his Ant-Man costume, bringing the above card to life in live-action.
Here are scans of the inserts:
Entertainment Value (8.0)
Although the card designs were fresh and imaginative, the shortage of insert types made me felt like something was missing. There were 3 different insert/chase types since Joe Quesada's autographed parallel cards were randomly included but he only signed 35 copies of each card, making them extremely rare. Regardless, the pack-busting experience was truly enjoyable.
Price/Value (9.0)
Most boxes are selling on EBay for under $35.00. I was lucky enough to pick one up for $24.50 including shipping so if you're patient, I'm sure another one for around the same price will pop up. Even individual inserts can be found for just a couple of dollars each. It's an incredibly affordable box and the chance of scoring a Joe Quesada autographed card makes it even better.
Final Thoughts
Excellent box to open if you're looking for some pack-opening entertainment. Although I am a huge fan of the innovative blend of photography with Marvel characters, I was not intrigued by the PhotoGraphix acetate inserts. Thor was given a Mohawk, Hulk had an extremely long tail, and the Thing looked like the cockroach alien from Men in Black. Regardless, I highly recommend this set so if you haven't, get yourself a box and relive the 90's!
Overall Score
8.5 out of 10
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