2013 Upper Deck Iron Man 3 Heroic Threads Costume Card Showcase

Ryan Cracknell

April 25, 2013

One of the most iconic parts of any superhero is their costume. For all the jokes about tights that have been told over the years, they're what help make heroes instantly recognizable. Masks, capes and powers go a long way too. And while Iron Man himself may not have a costume card in 2013 Upper Deck Iron Man 3, just about every other key player does -- including lots of Iron Man's alter ego, Tony Stark. The 2013 Upper Deck Iron Man 3 Heroic Threads checklist is one of the most expansive for a movie costume card set. They come with anywhere from one to four swatches as well as a pair of autographed Heroic Threads costume cards.

Heroic Threads cards combine to fall 1:12 hobby packs, or two per box. Nine different characters are included in the various sets. The swatch counts break down as follows:

Single Swatch: 11 cards
Autographed Single Swatch: 2 cards
Dual Swatch: 16 cards
Triple Swatch: 15 cards
Quad Swatch: 5 cards

There is also one ultra-rare Tony Stark patch card.

Costume swatches come from wardrobe pieces used for the film, similar to game-used jersey cards used in sports.

The images used on the various 2013 Upper Deck Iron Man 3 Heroic Threads cards show quite a bit of repetition, but it's unlikely a lot of collectors are going to get more than a handful. Card makers are often limited in what they can and can't use with their licenses, particularly when it comes to yet-to-be-released movies.

The many combinations allow a much stronger chance of getting top characters like Tony Stark, Pepper Potts and the film's new villain, the Mandarin.

Below is a complete visual look at all of the 2013 Upper Deck Iron Man 3 Heroic Threads costume cards (minus the patch card). They're arranged according to the number of swatches. You can click on the card name to shop for singles on eBay.