2011 Cryptozoic The Walking Dead Product Review
Reviewed by Ryan Cracknell
Good: Clean base card design, one autograph and two costume cards pack a lot of value into boxes, no filler in autograph checklist
Bad: Basic inserts lack focus, two autographs from each signer on the same design is a little much
The Bottom Line: It’d be easy to give Cryptozoic a free pass just for landing the license to The Walking Dead and offering something fresh to the hobby. However their first set for the zombie-centric show truly is a great one, combining solid design elements, stunning photography and a value-laden box configuration that shouldn’t leave anyone feeling shorted.
Card Design: 4.5/5.0
Simply put, the clean design of the base set is one of my favorite of the year. Most of the card fronts feature a high-quality horizontal photo with a blood-splattered yellow nameplate. Card backs go vertical, adding a second photo and a short block of text. The photos are sharp and capture the apocalyptic feel of the show.
Both the autograph and costume card designs stick with a similar feel. I particularly like the lines on the costume cards. Autographs are all on-card. My one beef with the autographs are that the portraits used aren’t necessarily the strongest.
The basic inserts come across as reasons to use different technology rather than something focused. Part of this stems from the fact that they’re not given a name. They’re simply called inserts on the packs, even though they have very specific numbering. The first inserts showcase the show’s zombies, often called walkers. They feature a gold foil title and gruesome zombie shot. The second series of inserts is a die-cut Behind the Scenes set. I love die-cut cards and some of the photos are hilarious, but I’m still scratching my head about why they’re die-cut.
Checklist: 3.5/5.0
At 81-cards, the base set actually felt a little big for a show that had just six episodes. Some might also be a little disappointed by the overall lack of zombie action. All eight signers in the autograph set are part of the main ensemble, with no single-scene background actors. Some may not be happy that Rick and Lori Grimes (Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies) are missing from the autograph checklist, but that leaves some big-time signers for future sets. Cryptozoic had each sign two different cards, which leave me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it limits each card and helps the long-term collectibility. However, it also stretches things too thin. Perhaps for future sets, if Cryptozoic decides to stick with the same format, they could have multiple designs, similarly to what Rittenhouse has done with their James Bond sets. This will give collectors a chance to choose the one they prefer and add more variety.
Value: 4.0/5.0
It’s tough to have a bad box of 2011 Cryptozoic The Walking Dead. With an autograph and two costume cards in every box, the hits should recoup a good chunk of the reasonable box price. Random sketch cards should put case breakers over the top. Falling one per case, sketches show a ton of effort and creativity. The treasure hunt is further fueled by an extremely small number of patch card redemptions. Cryptozoic also found the right balance of base cards per box. Collectors should expect a full set with only about a third of a second set in duplicates. This will make sure that there’s not a massive flood extra sets floating around.
The Fun Factor: 4.5/5.0
For a company still in its infancy, Cryptozoic has done an impressive job of landing a major new license and coming up with a set to meet the high expectations. My quibbles about the set are largely very minor. Combining strong-looking cards and tremendous value, 2011 Cryptozoic The Walking Dead is one of the top entertainment card releases of the year.
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When The Walking Dead first aired last fall, it instantly became one of cable TV's biggest hits. Centered around a small group of survivors fending off hungry zombies, The Walking Dead is a character-focused show that reaches above the shocking gore (although, let's face it, that's part of the draw too). Cryptozoic's first set of Walking Dead trading cards focuses on the show's abbreviated first season as well as elements of the comic. The release promises autographs and costume cards from key cast members as well as rare sketch cards.
Estimated Release Date: 12/13/11
Product Configuration: 24 packs per box, five cards per pack
Price Point: Mid-End Entertainment Card
Target Audience: Walking Dead Fans, Entertainment Card Collectors, Autograph Collectors, Comic Collectors, TV Memorabilia Collectors, Sketch Card Collectors, Zombie Lovers
The Walking Dead Trading Cards Box Break
- One Autograph
- Two Memorabilia Cards
- 120 Total Cards
The Walking Dead Trading Cards Product Highlights:
- 81-card base set.
- Confirmed Autographs (1:24) include Emma Bell (Amy), Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon) and Steven Yeun (Glenn).
- Autograph gallery.
- Memorabilia Cards (1:12) featuring show-worn costumes.
- Sketch Cards (1:288) are a rare case hit. Sketch card samples show a lot of detail and color.
- Two nine-card insert sets.
- A custom binder, limited to 500 copies, will include an exclusive costume card entitled "Rick's First Kill."
Card Gallery:
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