Marvel Collect: Top 5 Cards of '25

This is part two of a three-part post highlighting the top insert cards on Topps Digital platforms from 2025. Last week, I took a look at the top cards from Star Wars Card Trader. This week, I look at Marvel Collect.

5. Magik, Gold Label 25, Series 1 - Golden Stars - White, Uncommon, Card Count 25465

This is a really sparkly card for the Queen of Limbo. The action pose Magik keeps is pretty awesome, with the sharp edge of the sword taking center stage. The gold sparkle and lettering on this card really bring it to life.

4. Thor vs. Hercules, Fight of the Week ‘25, Series 1 - Green, Uncommon, Card Count 48,971

I always like the weekly sets, but this card really stood out. Yes, the “Fight of the Week” theme of this card is cool. Yes, the art of these two muscle-bound heroes is awesome. But the win of this card is that it brings back the classic childhood arguments of the “who is tougher” or “who would win if…” conversations with friends on the walk to school or on the bus.

3. Symbiote Spider-Man, Web of Heroes - ‘25 Season 1, Series 1 Base - Free Pass, Card Count 25,273

There are three things I love about this card. 1. The perspective looking down from above on Spidey, with the lines of the buildings and street below giving us a sense of danger that he faces every day. 2. The color theme highlights the colors of Spider-Man but it seems off and misplaced in some way with the symbiote suit. 3. This card highlights Spider-Man.

2. Galactus, Midnight ‘25, Seres 1 - Horizon, Base - Uncommon, Card Count 33,736

I don’t have much to say about this card because it speaks for itself. Galactus, power, cosmic, goliath. The coloring with what appears to be a star shining on him as he sizes up a planet that is likely to be the next victim of his insatiable hunger really pops on this card.

1. Warlock, Convention Collection, NYCC ‘25, Series 1 - Black, Uncommon, Card Count 28,807

This is a special card. I love the look of this convention set with the star field border. The subject of Warlock is pretty rare. I only have 4 other Warlock cards other than this one. Warlock is such a unique character and creates a very dramatic image in this card making it my favorite Marvel Collect card of 2025.

Bonus Entry: Lowest Card Count of the Year

Spider-Man #12, Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing! Series 1 - Homage - Red, Epic, Card Count 265

My Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader 2024 Base Cards

Those base cards of a set are the cards that start to pile up after purchasing multiple packs.  In my non-expert/fan of years opinion, to make a good base card, the boarder should be interesting and draw your eye to the subject of the card.  Speaking of the subject of the card, I feel like the base cards should focus on unique images of not only characters, but in the galaxy of Star Wars, have ships, creatures and maybe even locations.  

I think you will see the qualities of a good base card show up here in my Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader 2024 Base Cards:  

5.  Grogu, 2024 - Series 1 - Tier 1 - White

Okay, I'm a sucker for the cute factor.  Who doesn't want the most popular character in Star Wars at the moment on a base card?  I am glad they didn't try to do too much with the card and just gave us...well, Grogu!  

4.  Shin Hati, 2024 - Series 2 - Tier 1 - White

Something that brings a base card set to life is introducing new characters.  I think this is a solid card that gives us a good look at Shin Hati.  She moves fast and furious in the Ahsoka series, so it is nice to get a good look at this new character in the base.  

3.  Dume, 2024 - Series 2 - Tier 1 - White 

I love the creature cards.  I especially like the creature cards of creatures that make a major difference in the story like the Loth Wolf.  Now with the Rebels 10th anniversary set, we get a few new Loth Wolf cards, but before that the Loth Wolf cards were just a handful.  

2.  N-1 Starfighter, 2024 - Series 3 - Tier 1 - White

The starships in Star Wars are part of what bring the cool factor.  To see the Falcon blast out of Mos Eisley, watch a Star Destroyer come out of hyperspace is just awesome.  Base cards that include the ships of Star Wars really make a set interesting.  What cooler than the sleek N-1 Starfighter from The Phantom Menace?  This ship was brought back to prominence and "cool factor" when the Mandalorian rebuild one after he loses the Razor Crest.  

1.  Ezra Bridger, 2024 Series 3 - Tier 1 - White

I love the look of this card.  First, it is a new shot of the new Ezra from the Ahsoka series.  It is great to see his lightsaber and a moment from the show rather than a posed shot.  This is my top card from SWCT 2024 Base set.  

A note about the card design that I really like and appreciate.  The character name is clearly stated at the bottom of the card, and the show/movie the image/subject is found is appreciated.  There are many characters who appear in multiple stories, but the image may not clearly state what story the image is from.  In addition, the base set has several important minor characters who we know but may not remember where they are from.  Several of the Andor characters are that way for me.  

My Top 5 Topps Bunt 2024 Base Cards

Ah, collecting the classic Topps baseball cards as a kid in the 1980's.  That was me.  Coming home from the drug store with 3-4 packs in my pocket.  I was looking for Chicago  Cubs players: Ryne Sandberg, Ron Cey, Leon Durham, and others.  My friends and I would trade, but we would always end up with doubles of players we didn't know or care about.  So, we would slap a clothespin on the back forks of our bike, slide that baseball card double in the clip and stick it through the spokes.  We would cruise up and down the street with our bike-cycle buzzing.  Base cards of a set are like that; you end up with a whole bunch.  But they are a great way to get a good look at who these players are.  Some card pictures are staged and profile-like.  Some cards are position players up to bat, and the pitchers often get a mid- throw shot.  All of them are pretty cool when flipping through the cards and checking career stats on the back of the card. 

In Topps Bunt digital card trading app, there are 450 series 1 base cards, and while I haven't checked recently, I would bet I have dupes of most of them if not all.  The other day I decided to flip through the base cards, since I don't really take a good look at them after the initial release.  Who are the names?  Who has had a good season?  Are there any rookie sensation base cards?  It is fun; it's why we collect.  

Here are my Top 5 Bunt 2024 Base Cards with a comment about the style of each one:  

5.  Brandon Lowe, 2024 Bunt Base Series - White

Classic shot of the backswing of a hitter while catching most of his face so fans can recognize him.  Also does a nice job of showing the "battle worn" helmet.  Super cool.  

4.  Andrew Abbott, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

If I were a pitcher, this mid-pitch action shot is definitely what I would want on my base card!  

3.  Ezequiel Tovar, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

The action shots get my attention, and what better way to capture a short stop than on a throw over to first base.  This is a great mid-motion shot for Tovar.  

2.  Kyle Hendricks, 2024 Bunt Base Series 1 - White

I love this "in the stretch" position for a pitcher's card.  This card also gives a good sense of background.  A good card will also place you in the game like you are there watching.  This card, blurred, has lots of fan space.  That is a good quality for a card.  

1.  Francisco Alvarez, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

I love this in-game action of Alvarez lifting his mask and his colorful chest pad popping on this card.  It also has the background factor too.  

I want to take a second to discuss the boarder features.  The boarder has a modern look all the way around with the right side multilayered.  Pretty coo.  I like the team logo in the bottom right.  It is clear, but it doesn't dominate the picture/card.  The name of the players is clearly found at the bottom of the card.  The only criticism is the that the player's position does blend in at the bottom.  I don't mind the placement, but maybe a bit larger font.  Still, I really liked this set.  How about a bonus card?  

Bonus: Austin Gomber, 2024 BUNT Base Series 1 - White

What's up the the bonus?  It is my list and I couldn't leave this one off.  As the top 5, this card has good action in mid pitch, but what I really like about this card is it shows rain falling.  The drops are all around him.  Once again, anything that makes me, the collector, feel like I was there to take the picture myself is awesome.    

My Top 5 Marvel Collect Base Cards

I love opening packs of trading cards.  It makes no difference if they are physical cards that I can hold and flip over or digital cards that I flip on the screen of my device.  The hope of getting something special, an epic card or even a legendary card, is always hiding right behind the package. But the heart of a trading card pack is the base card.  These cards are fun to collect at first, but over time they start to pile up and the value seems to be lost.  However, I believe they all deserve another look because they are the the heart of the set.  

Here are my Top 5 Marvel Collect base cards from the 2024 set.  

5.  War Machine, '24 Base, Series 1 - White - Tier 1- Search Term: 24base

I have a couple of these "in your face" action cards in the Top 5.  This one just kinda catches your eyes.  I like the use of light in this card, quite dramatic. 

4. Old Man Hawkeye, '24 Base, Series 1 - White - Tier 1 Search Term: 24base

The grit and action here really capture the character of Old Man Hawkeye.  You can see the movement, and I'm pretty sure I know what is about to happen.  Somebody's day isn't going to go how they thought it might.  

3. X-23, '24 Base, Series 1 - White - Tier 1 Search Term: 24base

As promised, another "in your face" action card.  X-23 is a super cool character, so I was glad that she got a super cool base card.  Don't blink, she'll get you!  

2.  Spider-Punk, 24 Base - Series 1 - White - Tier 1 Search Term: 24base

Okay, you all know my love for Peter Parker Spider-man, but Spider-Punk has really caught my attention in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.  Spider-Punk is from Earth-138, and let's just say, he's a pretty cool punk.  He definitely has a great look.  

1.  Green Goblin, '24 Base - Series 1 - White Tier 1  Search Term: 24base

He is the only villain on the list, but take a look and you'll see why.  Check out the use of color on this card!  It really pops.  I especially like this card with the Base Tier 6 purple boarder.  It is just a beautiful card with some pretty beautiful awfulness coming Spidey's way.