2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 Trading Cards
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Product Details
Since premiering in 2009, Castle has emerged as one of the most dependable shows on network TV. With its blend of comedy and intrigue, it focuses on the oddball pairing of an author with a member of the NYPD. The chemistry between stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic certainly helps too. Following its continued success, 2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 trading cards focus on the show's earliest moments.
The 72-card 2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 base set centers on episodic recaps of the first 34 episodes that aired between March, 2009 and May, 2010. Collectors can look for images from the show as well as short write ups summarizing the action.
Cryptozoic is promising both autographs and Wardrobe costume cards for the set. Autographs fall one per box. Confirmed signers include many of the show's regulars including lead star Nathan Fillion. The Wardrobe Card checklist is big, at 31 cards. These fall 1:18 packs, meaning every box should have one with solid odds on a second. 2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 also has ten Dual Wardrobe Cards (1:57 packs). An eleventh Dual Wardrobe Card is exclusive to the set's collector's binder.
Most of Cryptozoic's sets have had two basic insert sets. 2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 expands to include a third. Behind the Scenes shows the on-set shenanigans when the cameras aren't rolling. Character Bios showcase the personalities that populate Castle. Finally, there's Scene of the Crime that looks at cases the show tackles. All basic inserts fall 1:12 packs.
Product Configuration: 24 packs per box, 5 cards per pack
Price Point: Low-End Entertainment Card
Target Audience: Castle Fans, Set Builders, Entertainment Card Collectors, Autograph Collectors, TV Memorabilia Collectors
2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 Box Break
- 1 Autograph
- 1 Wardrobe Costume Card
- 6 Basic Inserts
- 120 Total Cards
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Set Checklist
2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 Trading Cards Checklist
Base Set Checklist
02 The Golden Goose
03 Flowers for Your Grave
04 There's Always a Story
05 It's in the Details
06 Apples
07 Inspiration
08 Fluff Cycle
09 The Horn and the Storm
10 A Chill in Her Veins
11 The White Whale
12 Inner Beauty
13 Saved by the Bell
14 Daddy's Little Girl
15 UpaTree
16 Castle's Bluff
17 Back to Basics
18 Airtight
19 If Looks Could Kill
20 The Grumpy Beaver
21 To the Extraordinary KB
22 Here Kitty, Kitty
23 If You're Listening
24 All in the Family
25 The Diabolical, Cool Dad
26 White Collar Pimp
27 Too Many Wives
28 All Grown Up
29 The Ice Bullet Mystery
30 The Benefits of Literature
31 A Night for Martha
32 Always a Bridesmaid
33 The Shining Stars
34 Crime and Punishment
35 Fatherly Advice
36 Rathborne
38 Drago Double Date
39 Third Strike
40 Fallacious Arguments
41 Slick, Not Sticky
42 Carry-On Baggage
43 Tongue Tied
44 The Love Shack
45 Desperately Seeking Venom
46 A Crime of Passion
47 Federal Heat
48 In the Light of Day
49 Eagle Eye
50 Smell the Coffee
51 Death Awaits the Robber of Graves
52 Castle and the Curse of Kan-Xul
53 Want to Buy a Mummy?
54 She's Armed. He's Dangerous
55 Bobby Mann FTW
56 A Steady Bag
57 Mystery's in the Box
58 The 54th
59 Dirty Cop
60 Misdirection
61 Literally and Figuratively Cool
62 Becks and Maddy
63 Demming, Schlemming
64 A Tale of Two Leads
65 Back to Square One
66 Two Good Suspects
67 Two-for-One
68 Kissing Kate
69 A Father's Trial
70 A Game of Envy
71 Ships in the Night
72 Checklist
Autographs Checklist
A2 Jon Huertas as Javier Esposito
A3 Seamus Dever as Kevin Ryan
A4 Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers
A5 Tamala Jones as Lanie Parish
A6 Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Captain Roy Montgomery
A8 Arye Gross as M.E. Sidney Perlmutter
A9 Scott Paulin as Jim Beckett
A10 Michael Trucco as Detective Tom Demming
A11 Juliana Dever as Jenny Duffy-O'Malley
A12 Monet Mazur as Gina Griffin
Autographed Wardrobe Card Checklist
Behind the Scenes Set Checklist
BTS-02
BTS-03
BTS-04
BTS-05
BTS-07
BTS-08
BTS-09
Character Bios Set Checklist
C2 Kate Beckett
C3 Javier Esposito
C4 Kevin Ryan
C5 Martha Rodgers
C7 Lanie Parish
C8 Captain Roy Montgomery
C9 The Cast of Castle
Scene of the Crime Set Checklist
CS2 Hell Hath No Fury
CS3 Nanny McDead
CS4 A Chill Goes Through Her Veins
CS5 The Double Down
A Chill Goes Through Her Veins
CS7 Famous Last Words
CS8 The Fifth Bullet
CS9 The Mistress Always Spanks Twice
Wardrobe Cards Set Checklist
M02 Alexis Castle's Green Coat
M03 Kate Beckett's Green Jacket
M04 Richard Castle's Suit
M05 Lanie Parish's Grey Coat
M06 Kevin Ryan's Suit
M07 Kate Beckett's Red Dress
M08 Richard Castle's Burgundy Shirt
M09 Martha Rodgers's Dress
M10 Kate Beckett's Black Leather Jacket
M11 Alexis Castle's Sage Jacket
M12 Javier Esposito's Jeans
M13 Kate Beckett's Jeans
M14 Lanie Parish's Pants
M15 Richard Castle's Lavender Shirt
M17 Alexis Castle's Green Polo
M18 Javier Esposito's Grey Pants
M19 Captain Roy Montgomery's White Shirt
M20 Kate Beckett's Green Shirt
M21 Alexis Castle's Pajamas
M22 Richard Castle's Grey Pants
M23 Kevin Ryan's Grey Suit
M24 Kate Beckett's Brown Leather Jacket
M25 Lanie Parish's Scrub Pants
M26 Kevin Ryan's Pinstripe Shirt
M27 Richard Castle's Pinstripe Shirt
M28 Captain Roy Montgomery's Navy Suit
M29 Richard Castle's Navy Pinstripe Suit
M30 Martha Rodgers's Coral Top
M31 Javier Esposito's Polo
Dual Wardrobe Card Set Checklist
DM02 Richard Castle and Alexis Castle
DM03 Martha Rodgers and Alexis Castle
DM04 Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan
DM05 Captain Roy Montgomery and Kate Beckett
DM06 Richard Castle and Martha Rodgers
DM08 Kate Beckett and Javier Esposito
DM09 Kate Beckett and Lanie Parish
DM10 Lanie Parish and Javier Esposito
DM11 Richard Castle and Kate Beckett
Promo Cards Checklist
San Diego Comic-Con 2012
P2 Non-Sport Update Magazine
P3 Licensing Show 2012
Product Review
2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 Product Review
Reviewed by Ryan Cracknell
Good: Base card is simple but strong, more basic insert sets than most other entertainment trading card sets, large autograph checklist, plenty of opportunity for extra premium inserts.
Bad: Although the autograph checklist is very good, it is still missing a couple of key actors, some of inserts feel a little plain.
The Bottom Line: 2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 is a strong debut trading card set for the hit series. It captures the characters and major story lines of the early episodes with lots of variety. The base set, inserts and premium chase cards all work together to build a rounded release that should especially appeal to the show's fanbase. That said, there's still plenty for those not as familiar with Castle to appreciate the release.
Card Design: 4.0/5.0
Unlike a lot of sets the focus on TV shows and movies, 2013 Castle Seasons 1 and 2 opts for a vertical design for the base set. While this cuts out a lot of the frame, it works. Rather than merely replicating what you see on screen, the images cut out much of the background and focus on the characters and action. It feels more fitting to the medium, especially in this age where reruns can be caught so easily online or on DVD.
There is plenty of variety in the insert sets as well. While a lot of other Cryptozoic sets have relied on foil cards for chase sets, Castle has none. This is a refreshing change, as is the lack of a puzzle. That said, a couple of the basic chase sets feel more like extensions of the base set. While they look nice, they may not provide some of the pop many collectors might expect from inserts. The exception here is the Behind the Scenes set. These dual-sided cards are printed on acetate and have a pair of images. Usually, by their see-through nature, acetate cards have just one image.
Checklist: 4.2/5.0
2013 Cryptozoic Castle Seasons 1 and 2 has a lot going on. Like most modern entertainment sets, collators are going to gravitate towards the autograph and premium chase card checklists.
As collectors have come to expect from Cryptozoic, the autographs cover nearly every major cast member. The highlight is lead Nathan Fillion, who also has the set's lone autographed costume card. There's also some recurring actors like Dana Delaney who have a lot of appeal outside of Castle. In Delaney's case, her autograph is selling for comparable amounts as Fillion as she's never appeared on an autograph card before. That said, there are a couple of autograph omissions that keep Castle from reaching grand slam status. Co-lead Stana Katic is noticeably absent as is Molly Quinn who plays Castle's daughter and has appeared in every episode thus far.
The couple of gaps in the autograph list are filled in the Wardrobe cards, which include costume swatches from all of the main cast. The addition of Dual Wardrobe cards adds further possibilities.
Value: 4.3/5.0
I really like how Cryptozoic has tweaked their formula a little bit with this release. It adds good opportunities for surprises and extra value. Dual Wardrobe cards aren't guaranteed on a per box basis, although they're not terribly uncommon. This makes them an extra that pops up a couple of times per case. With basic Wardrobe cards falling 1:18 packs, it's possible to get an extra one of those as well.
The autographs, as mentioned, are solid in a worst-case scenario and carry good secondary market value.
Finally, the addition of a third chase card set is another good change to add value. The Character Bios and Scene of the Crime cards are somewhat plain but connect directly into the main set. They're not overly expensive, but that should encourage collectors to go after them like they might short prints in a sports card set.
The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0
I have to admit, I don't watch Castle religiously. But I still enjoyed this set immensely. It's one of the more rounded releases I've seen in a while with the checklist, design and value all coming together nicely. And its ability to reach beyond the core fans and offering something to everyone else is the sign of a great entertainment set.
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