📰 Top 10 News in the Collectible Space
The collectible world never sleeps — from blockbuster NFT launches to record-shattering sports cards and iconic Hollywood props hitting the auction block, this week has been jam-packed with stories that every collector needs to know. Here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest moves in both digital and physical collectibles:
Pudgy Penguins Launch Pudgy Party 🐧🎮
Pudgy Penguins dropped their Web3 mobile game Pudgy Party, now live worldwide on iOS and Android. Built with Mythical Games on Mythos Chain, the Fall Guys-style party game auto-creates wallets for players, helping onboard new gamers into NFTs without friction.Pudgy Penguins Expand in Japan with QR Phygitals 🇯🇵
Japan’s $15.4B collectibles market just got a new player. Pudgy Penguins launched QR-coded toys and cards in 7-Eleven and Don Quijote, linking physical items to NFTs. Collectors can scan codes to claim digital assets and even share in IP revenue via Overpass IP.Blur Reclaims the NFT Marketplace Crown 🏆
Blur pulled in $135M in August NFT sales, beating out OpenSea’s $65M. Courtyard (phygital cards on Polygon) also surged 44% to $39M, while Sorare exploded with over 1,800% growth in fantasy sports NFTs.Coinbase’s Base Network Becomes Top-3 NFT Player 🚀
Coinbase’s Layer-2 Base climbed into the #3 NFT trading spot with ~$47M in 30-day sales, overtaking Solana and ImmutableX. Popular apps like friend.tech are fueling the growth, making Base a fast-rising hub for collectibles.Jordan–Bryant Dual Logoman Breaks Record at $12.9M 🏀🔥
The 1/1 Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant dual-signed Exquisite Logoman just sold for $12.932M, becoming the most expensive sports card ever. The sale dethroned the $12.6M Mantle rookie and cements this as one of the greatest grails in hobby history.Pokémon & Sports Cards Fuel Billion-Dollar Retail Boom 🛒
Big-box retailers are cashing in. Target’s trading card sales are up nearly 70% YTD (on pace to top $1B), while Walmart reported a 10× jump in Pokémon sales. StockX tracked Pokémon demand up 367% YOY, showing the frenzy isn’t slowing down.Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Hits Auction Block ⚔️
Propstore is auctioning off over 1,000 movie props Sept. 4–6, headlined by Darth Vader’s Star Wars lightsaber (estimated at $3M). Other treasures include Indy’s whip and the Aztec medallion from Pirates of the Caribbean.Record-Setting Luke Skywalker Action Figure ⭐
A rare 1978 Kenner Luke Skywalker with a telescoping lightsaber sold for $161K, a new record for a Star Wars figure. Graded AFA 90, it smashed the previous $130K record set by Darth Vader.Elvis Presley’s Diamond Omega Watch Sells for $103K 🎤⌚
Elvis’ Omega wristwatch, gifted by Johnny Cash, sold for over $103K at Goldin’s inaugural music memorabilia auction. Rock relics continue to bring big bids from fans chasing history.Mickey Mantle Jersey Fetches $5.25M ⚾
A 1960 Mantle game-worn Yankees jersey sold for $5.25M, setting a world record for any Mantle jersey. The pinstripes prove once again that Yankee legends dominate the sports memorabilia market.
🔥 Upcoming Heat: Drops You Don’t Want to Miss
Another week, another wave of heat hitting the collectible world. From blockbuster comic NFTs to sports cards that pack grail-level autos, and from premium statues to exclusive Funko Pops, there’s plenty of fire about to drop. Here’s the Top 10 releases for September 1–7 that every collector should keep on their radar:
Marvel Digital Comics – Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #17
📅 Sept 2 | 🎮 Digital (VeVe)
Francine Frye’s debut as Electro hits VeVe in this limited-edition NFT comic. An electrifying key issue for Spidey fans and digital comic collectors alike.Marvel Digital Comics – Fantastic Four (1961) #7
📅 Sept 4 | 🎮 Digital (VeVe)
Classic Marvel Bronze Age goodness: the first appearance of Kurrgo, Master of Planet X. Released as a premium VeVe NFT with scarcity across rarities.Dynamite Artworks: J. Scott Campbell Vampirella #1
📅 Sept 1–5 | 🎮 Digital (VeVe)
A 1-of-1 digital artwork by J. Scott Campbell, offered in a silent auction via VeVe. A rare chance to snag a Campbell Vampirella masterpiece on-chain.2025 Panini Impeccable Baseball
📅 Sept 5 | 🏈 Physical Trading Cards
Panini’s luxury baseball release returns with high-end on-card autos from top prospects and legends. Each Hobby box delivers five autos — grail hunters, this one’s for you.2025 Leaf Optichrome Football
📅 Sept 3 | 🏈 Physical Trading Cards
Leaf’s new football line features only ultra-short prints: base cards are 1/1s and every auto is numbered to 10 or less. Hobby boxes average six autographs, making this a pure chase product.Monster High Howliday Skelita Calaveras Doll
📅 Sept 2 | 🎎 Physical Collectible Doll
Skelita Calaveras gets a Día de Muertos-inspired collector’s edition release from Mattel Creations. Aztec-inspired gown, premium packaging — this Skullector is a lock for doll and pop-culture collectors.Hot Wheels RLC RWB Porsche 930
📅 Sept 2 | 🚗 Physical Die-Cast
A Red Line Club exclusive in Spectraflame Teal. This 1:64-scale Porsche packs RWB flair and drops only for RLC members through Mattel Creations.McFarlane Toys Poison Ivy by J. Scott Campbell Statue
📅 Sept 2 (Pre-order) | 🌿 Physical/Phygital Collectible
A stunning 1:8 resin statue of Poison Ivy designed by Campbell. Bonus for Web3 collectors: McFarlane gave NFT holders first dibs with special discounts — another phygital milestone.Pudgy Penguins Collectible Photo Cards (Japan Launch)
📅 Sept 1 Week | 🐧 Phygital (Physical + Digital)
Pudgy Penguins expand retail reach in Japan with QR-coded trading cards linking to NFTs. Available at convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Lawson, bridging real-world toys to Web3 ownership.Funko Pop! Deluxe Bob with Burger Cart
📅 Early Sept | 🍔 Physical Vinyl Figure
Bob Belcher and his burger cart join the Funko lineup in a deluxe 5-inch vinyl. A Funko Shop exclusive with limited supply — perfect for Funatics and Bob’s Burgers fans.
⚡ Whether you’re stacking digital keys on VeVe, ripping packs from Panini and Leaf, or chasing phygital hybrids from Pudgy and McFarlane, this week has something for every corner of the hobby.
💎 Top 10 NFT Projects This Week
From phygital platforms bridging physical assets to blockchain, to blue-chip collections making market rebounds, this week’s NFT leaderboard shows just how diverse the space has become. Courtyard continues to dominate with tokenized trading cards on Polygon, while stalwarts like CryptoPunks and BAYC remain firmly in the mix. Meanwhile, new names like DMarket and DKTNFT are carving out big volume. Here’s the breakdown ⬇️
Rank | Collection | Chain/Platform | Sales | Transactions | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Courtyard | Polygon | $2,120,803 | 21,477 | 🧊 -27.17% |
2 | CryptoPunks | Ethereum | $1,193,651 | 4 | 🔥 +47.97% |
3 | DMarket | Mythos | $589,580 | 19,419 | 🧊 -15.46% |
4 | DKTNFT | BNB | $569,502 | 177 | 🔥 +16.06% |
5 | Azuki Official | Ethereum | $415,890 | 28 | ➖ 0.00% |
6 | Guild of Guardians Heroes | Immutable-Zk | $403,787 | 447 | 🔥 +1.44% |
7 | Pudgy Penguins | Ethereum | $292,222 | 7 | 🔥 +129.02% |
8 | Bored Ape Yacht Club | Ethereum | $287,417 | 7 | 🧊 -8.39% |
9 | Moonbirds | Ethereum | $252,037 | 20 | 🧊 -44.14% |
10 | Panini America | Panini | $203,629 | 3,607 | 🧊 -42.98% |
⚡ Quick Takeaways:
Courtyard leads with $2.1M, though sales dipped — still the phygital leader to watch.
CryptoPunks roared back with nearly +48% growth on just 4 trades — pure blue-chip energy.
Pudgy Penguins are flying with a +129% spike, powered by their game launch and retail expansion.
Panini America proves sports card collectors are embracing digital, logging over 3,600 transactions despite a sales dip.
📚 Top 10 Comics This Week
From DC characters hitting live-action to Marvel keys heating up with movie speculation, the comic market is buzzing. Silver Age classics are moving alongside modern speculation books, giving collectors plenty to chase. Here’s the breakdown ⬇️
Rank | Comic | Publisher | Key Facts / Notes | FMV (Low / Mid / High) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Batman: The Dark Knight #1 (2011) | DC | 1st White Rabbit (Jaina Hudson), Dawn Golden. Peacemaker S2 hype. | $1 / $3 / $12 | 🔥 +583% |
2 | Batman: The Dark Knight #3 (2012) | DC | David Finch White Rabbit cover. | $1 / $5 / $15 | 🔥 +533% |
3 | Adventures of Superman #500 (1993) | DC | 1st Steel, Superboy, Cyborg Superman, Eradicator, Angora Lapin (White Rabbit). | $1 / $2 / $3 | 🔥 +254% |
4 | Ultimate Spider-Man #8 (2024) | Marvel | 1st Sinister Six (Ultimate), intro Mysterio, cameo Felicia Hardy. | $2 / $8 / $20 | 🔥 +233% |
5 | Fantastic Four #57 (1966) | Marvel | Iconic Kirby Doom cover, Doom steals Silver Surfer’s powers. | $35 / $90 / $350 | 🔥 +233% |
6 | Fantastic Four #52 (1966) | Marvel | 1st Black Panther. Speculation on Black Panther 3. | $180 / $600 / $1.8k | 🔥 +200% |
7 | Incredible Hulk #449 (1996) | Marvel | 1st Thunderbolts team. Disney+ debut boost. | $5 / $15 / $50 | 🔥 +183% |
8 | Secret Wars #10 (1985) | Marvel | Iconic Zeck Doom cover. Secret Wars movie chatter. | $1 / $5 / $15 | 🔥 +181% |
9 | Amazing Spider-Man #546 (2008) | Marvel | 1st Mr. Negative, 2nd Jackpot. Spider-Man 4 “Brand New Day” rumors. | $2 / $8 / $25 | 🔥 +158% |
10 | New Teen Titans Annual #2 (1983) | DC | 1st Vigilante, Harbinger, Cheshire. Peacemaker S2 boost. | $1 / $5 / $15 | 🔥 +146% |
⚡ Takeaway: Modern speculation (Peacemaker, Spider-Man 4, Thunderbolts) is driving huge spikes, while Silver Age keys like FF #52 and FF #57 continue to cement their long-term value.
🦇 Nerdcave Comic Pulls
Every week we dig through the latest releases to spotlight the books with the strongest value-growth potential. Whether it’s first appearances, nostalgic storylines, or creator buzz, these are the fresh issues you’ll want to stash before the market catches on.
1. Amazing Spider-Man #11 (Marvel, 2025)
Why it matters: First appearance of Symbie (a new symbiote), debut of Spidey’s Technarachnid suit, and a variant featuring the first cover appearance of Wretched.
FMV: $1 / $2 / $8
Spec angle: Spider-Man keys tied to new characters and suits are historically strong movers — low entry point now with high upside.
2. Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #8 (Marvel, 2025)
Why it matters: First appearance of Tava Ren, the new leader of the Knights of Ren, challenging Kylo Ren for control.
FMV: $1 / $2 / $4
Spec angle: New Star Wars characters often see huge spikes if they appear in future shows/films — this book is a sleeper first appearance.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog #81 (IDW, 2025)
Why it matters: First appearance of Lunar, a member of the Celestial Troupe and a thief.
FMV: $1 / $2 / $5
Spec angle: Sonic fandom is niche but rabid — new character debuts can quickly become grails if they gain popularity.
4. X-Men of Apocalypse: Alpha #1 (Marvel, 2025)
Why it matters: 30th-anniversary Age of Apocalypse continuation — reintroduces the AoA team into the main Marvel Universe.
FMV: $1 / $2 / $6
Spec angle: Major event issue with nostalgia power; if Marvel mines AoA for future media, this becomes a cornerstone book.
5. Everything Dead & Dying #1 (Image, 2025)
Why it matters: Miniseries debut from Eisner-nominated creators Tate Brombal & Jacob Phillips. A rural zombie tale praised as “the most promising zombie comic in years.”
FMV: $1 / $2 / $5
Spec angle: Critical acclaim + unique twist on a popular genre makes this an indie sleeper with adaptation potential.
⚡ Nerdcave’77 Call: These are the books to scoop cheap now and file away. First appearances + fresh creative runs + nostalgia = long-term profit plays.
🙌 Wrap-Up
Thanks for riding along with us this week, NERDS! Whether you’re stacking slabs, chasing digital drops, or speculating on the next big comic key, we appreciate you making Nerdcave77 part of your collecting journey. Every share, every read, every conversation helps us grow this passionate community of collectors.
Stay sharp, stay curious, and as always — keep collecting smarter, not harder. See you next Sunday at 11:30 AM ET for another round of heat!
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Secret word: Sonic