Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader Sets of 2021

The Top 5 Topps Digital 2021 favorites continue with Star Wars Card Trader Sets.  The Top 5 come from cards that I have actually collected in the SWCT app. I may not have the complete sets, so I note how many I have of the set.  If you have any of the cards I'm missing from these sets, I would entertain fair trades.  My SWCT username is JEDIGROSS.  

If you are evaluating your collection and can't believe I would have passed on a certain set, it may be that I didn't collect that set, or it may be that we just have differences in opinion which is awesome!  Here are my Top 5 sets of 2021:  

5. The Mandalorian - The Legend Continues - Wave 1 Standard, Uncommon, 5/5 collected

This set is unique.  I enjoy the "card pack" look of the set which makes if fun.  Clearly, if I opened these packs they would be Mandalorian cards, but what would the set look like with pack covers like these?  It is a fun and colorful little set that comes in at number 5 for me this year.  

4. Daniel Govar Original Art: Pilots & Ships Wave 1 Parchment, 

    "Tora Doza and the Blue Ace," Uncommon, 9/9 collected

Going along with my affinity for the ships of Star Wars, this set goes a step further and gives me the pilot of my favorite ships.  My number 3 card of SWCT for individual cards came from this set (see here), but I chose to display the "Tora Doza and the Blue Ace" card here.  I enjoy any card that uses a Star Wars subject that we don't get to see often. I really enjoyed Tora Doza's character in Star Wars Resistance, but I enjoy the entire set done by Daniel Govar.  There is a full-color set of this in the Rare variant which is awesome, but since the black and white sketch is more accessible, and I just like the shading of the black and white, I chose it as my number 4 in 2021.

3. Kevin-John Original Art, Helmets, Wave 1 - Signatures "Bo-Katan Kryze," 

    Super Rare, 2/5 collected

If you love Mandalorian helmets, this is a must-have set!  The raw feel to the art with the "bleeding" paint matches the style of the Mandalorians.  Not much else to say other than I love the aesthetics of these cards.  

2.  Derek Laufman Original Art Series, Color Art, "Zori Bliss," Rare,  / collected

This is a super cool series of characters that Laufman chose to create.  I love the interpretation of the characters with some "cartoon" feel to many of the images.  I chose the Zori Bliss card to represent the series because I really like how he makes her out to be the gun-slinger that I imagine her to be.  I don't feel the film brought out that aspect of her, but Laufman shows it clearly in this card.  Check out this series and I think you will agree that it should be in the Top 5 of any list.  

1. Widevision 2021, Series 1-4 Bronze, Uncommon, 

    26/26 Series 1, 26/26 Series 2, 25/25 Series 3, 26/26 Series 4 collected

One item to start with this set of amazing cards. An apology, no apology to Cory Clubb of CWK Pourover, this is kind of a four-way tie as I am including four sets as my Number 1 choice.  I give forgiveness to this because they are all the same series, just in 4 waves.    

Anyway, this set is awesome!  I really liked the editors' choices on what scenes they captured for the wide vision treatment.  The captured essence of wide vision went from human conflict to galactic battle.  I really appreciate all aspects of how they used this format.  I tried to display some of that with the cards I chose to represent the sets.  Enjoy!  

A quick note:  Acquiring information for the cards was kind of frustrating this year which is why some cards don't have actual names of the cards or sets.  I had to guess at that.  I normally get that information by clicking on the card, then using the information button on the bottom left.  About 85% of the cards did not have any information available.  All the fields were filled with "???"  I hope this feature is fixed in the future, but don't get me wrong, I love this app and hope it continues for a very long time!

Top Five Star Wars Card Trader Insert and Award Cards in 2021

The Top 5 Topps Digital 2021 favorites continue with Star Wars Card Trader Insert and Award Cards.  The Top 5 come from cards that I have actually collected in the SWCT app.  If you are evaluating your collection and can't believe I would have passed up on a certain card, it may be that I didn't collect that card, or it may be that we just have differences in opinion which is awesome!  I always love this quote that highlights the benefit of thinking differently, "If everyone is thinking the same thing, then someone isn't thinking."  I think it was U.S. General Patton who said that, but you can probably easily prove me wrong.  I am focused on SWCT cards not who said what!  Here we go!

5.  Star Wars Visions: Ronan,  Rare,  9642 GC  

I love the look of this card.  It is dramatic art for who may be the subject of my favorite Visions episode.  The dramatic red of the saber really pops with the black and white art.  Ronan's robe is not just flowing in the wind, but it appears to be whipping in the wind adding a sense of action to the image.  

4. Ahsoka Tano Authentic Autograph, Uncommon, 4381 GC

Who doesn't want an Ahsoka card with Ashley Eckstein's autograph?  I mean, seriously.  It is a pretty stock image of Ahsoka, but the autograph is enough to make it my 4th top card of 2021!  

3. Mandalorian and the Razor Crest Daniel Govar - Original Art: Pilots and Ships 

    Wave 1 Parchment, Uncommon, 33,368 GC

I absolutely love original art!  I am thankful that Star Wars Card Trader has made a commitment to these artists and giving them top billing for their work.  This card comes from one of my top sets of 2021 (coming soon) "Pilots and Ships."  It also is one of my favorite subjects of Star Wars these days: the Mandalorian and his ship, the Razorcrest!  

2.  Topps Choice Series 3 - Loth Wolf, Uncommon, 4342 GC

The subject of this card is a family favorite and was a total shock when it appeared on the Topps Choice list.  At Star Wars Celebration Chicago, I bought the plush Loth Wolf in the store for my youngest daughter who is an animal lover.  She fell in love with the white Loth Wolf and he quickly became her favorite stuffed animal. She appropriately named him "Wolfie," so my second favorite card of 2021 is "Wolfie!"  

1. The Mandalorian: The Heiress Card #9,  Uncommon, 9236 GC

I believe this card actually hit the app in December of 2020, but it is part of the 2021 collection.  I knew that this would be in my top 5 when it came out a year ago.  I love ships.  I love action.  I love epic shots. This card is all of it.  The shot of this Imperial transport alone is beautiful, but the four Mandalorians flying above it for their raid adds just enough to make it an epic shot, in my opinion.  This is a magnificent card and tops my list for 2021.  

A quick note:  Acquiring information for the cards was kind of frustrating this year which is why some cards don't have actual names of the cards or sets.  I had to guess at that.  I normally get that information by clicking on the card, then using the information button on the bottom left.  About 85% of the cards did not have any information available.  All the fields were filled with "???"  I hope this feature is fixed in the future.  

Top 5 Marvel Collect Sets for 2021

The Topps Digital Cards "Top 5" lists continue!  If you missed the first post that revealed my choices for the Top 5 Insert and Award Cards from Marvel Collect, click here to view that first.  Today, I will be looking at the  Top 5 Marvel Collect sets for 2021.  The criteria for this list are that these are sets that I chased during the year.  I may not have been able to finish the sets, but I did chase them and I have several cards from the sets.  It is likely we collected different sets; therefore, your list will be awesome but different.  The purpose of this list is not to evaluate all sets in the app for 2021, just the ones I attempted to collect.  Have fun and let me know what your top digital sets are for Marvel Collect in 2021!  If you want to see more cards from these sets, check out my collection on Marvel Collect Username: CYCLELIBRARIAN

I only trade doubles, but if I have doubles, make a fair trade.  I just might accept!

5.  Black Widow Premiere Collection, Rare, 12 card set, DNF 7/11 collected

This set was released in coordination with the film last spring.  What drew my eye to this set was the "dirty," unrefined style of the art to match the grittiness of the film and the Black Widow story.  I also was drawn to the dramatic use of the black and white format with the red splashed in on select cards.  There were a couple key cards to this set that I was not able to get (there are only so many credits!), but the cards I do have in my collection are cherished.  

4.  Avenger Bookmarks, Uncommon, 8 card set, finished 8/8 collected

As a librarian, how could I pass up on this set?  Avenger Bookmarks?  Yes, please.  Turns out, I really liked the modern art and style of these bookmarks.  I am waiting for these to come out as actual bookmarks one day!  Love these.  

3. Sanctum Sanctorum, Rare, 9 card set, DNF 4/9 collected

If you are a fan of Dr. Strange like I am, it would be hard to keep this set off a "best of" list.  This set is full of dark purple and red colors as Dr. Strange is depicted in different scenes of spell casting.  He is joined by other Marvel characters in several cards.  Characters like Clea, Spider-Man and Loki make appearances in this set.  It hits number three on my list for the dynamic value of color and scenes of magic.  

2. Vintage Panels, Uncommon, Waves 11 and 12 include 10 cards each wave, finished 20/20 collected

I have been collecting these cards from the first wave.  In fact,  I am only missing three cards from all waves and all three missing cards come from the first wave.  As you may remember from past lists, I really enjoy comic panels on cards and that is what this set is all about!  Each panel focuses on one character and each set follows a variety of classic characters including, Spider-man, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Ant-man, Nova, Hawkeye, Rocket Racoon, and many more.  

1. Marvel Architechs, Rare, 11 card set, DNF 7/11 completed

Most of my list is made up of some pretty classic art and comic panels, but the Marvel Architechs set is digital candy for the eyes!  With black backgrounds, the color make the characters pop right out of the cards.  Characters whose uniforms are dark, as seen on the X-Force card, create a menacing tone with white and gray shading.  The detail in the characters are sharp, and perspective lines coming out of the center of the card push the characters right off the screen.  This set is exceptional and worth a look.  

Top 5 Marvel Collect Insert and Award Cards for 2021

It is time for my second annual review of the Topps Digital Card apps top cards.  This week I will be looking at my Top 5 Marvel Collect Insert and Award Cards for 2021.  Sticking with the same criteria as last year, this is a list of the Top 5 cards that I collected.  If you are looking at your sets, it is likely we collected different sets and cards; therefore, your list will be awesome but different.  The purpose of this list is not to evaluate all cards in the app for 2021, just the ones I have collected.  Have fun and let me know what your top digital cards are for Marvel Collect in 2021!  If you want to see these cards and others from the sets, check out my collection on Marvel Collect Username: CYCLELIBRARIAN

I only trade doubles, but if I have doubles, make a fair trade.  I just might accept!

5. Peter Parker from the Comic Impact Collection, Super Rare, 842 Global Count

Spider-man makes several of my top five cards.  I like the aesthetics of this card titled Peter Parker with the black/gray brick border.  The card features Spider-man with his mask off, suspended on his web over New York City.  This card is all Spidey, but it shows his uncertainty of having his mask off in public.  Being Spider-man, though, his identity is probably pretty safe up in the sky.  

4.  Infinity Cover #8 from the Infinity Comic Collection set, Super Rare, 1086 Global Count

This card is a reproduction of a variant cover to the Infinity Comic.  The card is fun to look at and very light in content as the baby Avengers play on a classic arcade game that has Thanos on the outer case of the video game console.  I like the retro feel of the hero community playing an arcade game console along with the dire situation of combating Thanos.  I especially appreciate a brooding hulk letting Cap stand on his shoulders to command the battle. My guess is these baby Avengers probably don't have enough quarters to finish the game.  

3.  Spider-Man #5 from the 90's Collection, Rare, 3605 Global Count

I love the comic panel cards and 2021 brought us a common set with tons of cards with comic panels.  Spider-Man #5 comes from a different set, the 90's Collection which has some really cool and unique cards in a sharp-looking card design.  I like how the right-hand side of this particular card has the larger border on the right and the Spider-Man title printed down the side with the Marvel logo at the bottom right corner.  This page of panels is cool, and the card is very appealing.   

2. Carnage vs. Spider-Man Award Card

There is so much happening in this classic Spider-Man vs. Carnage battle card.  First, the border is all comic book look with comic box and lettering background with blue, black and red colors.  Then, the action is in the center of the card.  It appears that Carnage has the upper hand on Spidey (as he often does in a battle with Spider-Man), but it appears that maybe Spidey has a plan to perform an upper kick to the face of Carnage as they battle on the top of a skyscraper in NYC.  I love the realism and detail to this card and the blinding white of the background brings the battle to focus. I've spent more time than I should just playing this moment of battle out in my head.  

1.  Cable from the Topps Weekly Original Art Set, Rare, 5258 Global Count

While the Carnage vs. Spider-Man card is full of color, action and detail, my top card of 2021 is all about the simplicity of a sketch card.  It isn't often that you come across a card with Cable where the focus isn't massive guns, weaponry, and armor that Cable typically carries with him.  This card is just the man.  The techno-organic virus is clearly present on the left side of his body, and his organic arm, showing the massive bicep and musculature that we have come to expect, is all Cable.  This card demonstrates Cable's dominance as a soldier and a leader of the X-Men.  I love original art, and I love original art of my favorite X-Man, Cable. 

Digital Card Trading Part 2 "Hoarding"

The Topps Digital Card apps have become a big part of my life as I carry those apps on my phone with me
wherever I go. Which means I also get to carry my card collections with me everywhere as well.  Notifications let me know when new sets or new cards of marathon sets are released.  It is great!  I get to celebrate some of my favorite things from Star Wars, Marvel Comics, and baseball.  I get to share the fun of card trading with my kids with the Disney Collect app, and I get the sheer joy of cracking open packs in an app that doesn't necessarily appeal to me in the WWE SLAM app.  I still don't know why I collect those cards except it is just fun to open packs and see what's in there!  

I noticed a certain culture develop in the Star Wars Card Trader app pretty early.  It is a culture where people try to collect as many duplicates (or dupes) of a certain card.  This practice is called Hoarding.  I don't know why, but I found myself looking for a card that was my favorite to try to hoard for the fun of it.  If you take a look at my BATTLEJUMP SWCT account in the 2015 set, I attempted to hoard Darth Maul.  My attempt got me to 695 copies of this card.  I will say this is quite a small hoard as I have seen many card hoards in the upper 1000's, but I would not be surprised to see some hoards over 10,000.  This is a really interesting and in my eyes a fun and silly way of collecting.  For a few years and sets, I would find a card or two and start collecting as many as I could.  Then, I started collecting and hoarding teams.  One year I collected all the Rebels, then stormtroopers, etc.  Of course, the more cards I try to "hoard," the more difficult it becomes to accrue a large number of those cards without spending a ton of time trading.  

I have started using this concept of hoarding to try something new with my collection.  I don't actively go out and trade for as many of certain cards anymore (okay maybe a little), but I use the workshop to help shape and curate my collection.  For example, in my CYCLELIBRARIAN account in the current 2020 card sets, I am collecting as many of the animated (Clone Wars, Rebels, Resistance) cards as I can. 

Then, to get those cards to the top of my collection, I "workshop" any base cards that aren't animated to try to get those to drop below all of my animated cards, and when I look at my collection, I choose to look using the duplicates settings, so the cards with the most dupes are at the top.  

I know this is all pretty silly, but it makes for a fun way to curate your collection and it brings some fun to collecting "just" the base cards.  So, here is one more thing I am playing with the Disney Collect app.  In the base tier 1 collection, I have been able to separate my curated dupe collection from the rest of the collection by a large span of cards.  There is a 30 card separation between my top dupes and the rest of the collection.  So now using the Workshop, I'm going to start putting in order my favorites of the "favored" cards.  It is one more level of curation so that my very favorite card is at the top and then in descending rank they will show up by the amount of dupes each card has.  For example, right now I have 136 Kristoff cards, 128 Sven cards, 122 Elsa, 116 Olaf, and 107 Anna cards.  I would like Elsa and Anna to be at the top of my collection. 

So I will probably trade to get Anna's count up and then start workshopping Kristoff and Sven so they drop below the 122 count.  Wow!  That's a lot of work for Tier One cards, but, hey, they are Tier One so why not have some fun with "throwaway" cards now that I have the award for the set.  

What do you think?  Do you hoard cards in the digital card apps?  Do you hoard print cards?  What do you think of using the idea of hoarding and the workshop to curate a collection?  Leave a comment and let me know what your largest hoard or card count is.  Want to trade?  Check part 1 of my Digital Card Trading posts for the card apps that I am in and follow my user ID's.  Have fun!