🗞️ This Week’s Collectible News

From million-dollar sports cards and major toy reveals to nostalgic TCG drops and NFT momentum, this week was packed with fire across the collecting world. Here are the 8 biggest stories you don’t want to miss:

A signed 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card just sold for $2.5 million through Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter platform—nearly triple its estimated FMV of ~$1M.
Graded PSA 9 with a perfect 10 auto, it became one of the highest-selling Jordan cards ever, stirring renewed investor interest in high-grade basketball grails.

Held June 20–22 in NYC, Fanatics Fest 2025 drew an estimated 125,000 attendees, doubling last year’s numbers.
Highlights included appearances by sports stars like Victor Wembanyama, an immersive card show floor, and live breaks. Dealers noted the event’s professional setup and fan-first approach. This could rival The National in the years ahead.

A 1-of-1 Carlos Alcaraz “Racket Knob” card from Topps Royalty sold for $222,000, smashing the previous men’s tennis card record.
The relic + auto card featured part of Alcaraz’s actual racket handle from his 2024 Indian Wells win. It’s the most expensive men’s tennis card ever sold—second only to Serena Williams’ $266K grail.

Hasbro’s annual Yo Joe June livestream revealed several new G.I. Joe Classified Series 6-inch figures, including deluxe editions and retro-themed throwbacks.
Fans also got a teaser for an upcoming HasLab crowdfunded vehicle project—likely to follow in the footsteps of the successful H.I.S.S. Tank. Pre-orders are now open, and collector buzz is strong across socials.

Magic: The Gathering is teaming up with Sonic the Hedgehog for a new Secret Lair “Superdrop” set.
The crossover includes custom-themed MTG cards featuring Sonic, Tails, Dr. Eggman, and more—tapping into ‘90s nostalgia. This follows a growing trend of pop-culture collaborations (Street Fighter, The Walking Dead) to bring new audiences into Magic collecting.

On June 13, Pokémon released the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Box, bringing villain-era vibes back to the TCG scene.
The set includes a new Mewtwo ex card, boosters, and collector inserts. Part of Pokémon’s 2025 focus on remixing classic Gen 1 content, it’s already trending on eBay and in collector communities as a must-have.

NFT sales rebounded this week, with overall volume up 10% to $127 million.
Immutable X led the charge, with $34M in gaming-related NFTs (up 21%). Ethereum NFT volume also climbed 33%.
Projects like Guild of Guardians and Parallel dominated, highlighting growing interest in NFTs with utility—not just hype.

Gary Vee’s VeeFriends just dropped a physical-meets-digital collectible surprise:
The “Super Sticker” box, released June 25, features a manga-inspired version of Steph Curry known as “Kind Warrior,” alongside classic VeeFriends characters.
This is VeeFriends’ first-ever celebrity crossover with a physical character insert—bridging sports, pop culture, and NFTs. The sticker boxes are limited in quantity and come with digital access perks, making them prime collector items.

VeeFriends Comic Book #3 is officially SOLD OUT!
The third issue in the series was gone within minutes of going live, proving demand for VeeFriends physical storytelling is still very real.
Collectors rushed in to grab the latest installment featuring GaryVee’s expanding character universe. If you missed out, keep a close watch on aftermarket listings or future restocks—it’s already becoming one of the most sought-after issues yet.

Cirque du Soleil is entering Web3 with two digital games on The Sandbox metaverse platform.
Fans can use Cirque-themed avatars, explore virtual experiences based on “Luzia” and “Mad Apple,” and even earn NFT rewards. The project headlines Alpha Season 6 and marks one of the most creative brand crossovers in the digital collectibles space to date.

VeVe collectors now have a brand-new resource. Collectors Gone Digital just launched a website designed to help fans build custom VVV worlds.
The site features tutorials, creative ideas, and six brand-new blogs to inspire and educate.
Explore it now at collectorsgonedigital.com

Heritage Auctions closed out June 2025 with another blockbuster comic event, as Auction #7418 delivered serious heat across Golden, Silver, and early Marvel Age keys. From grails like Hulk #1 and Fantastic Four #1 to historic books like Action Comics #1 (cover only!), this lineup proves the high-end comic market remains alive and well—especially for investment-grade copies. Here's a look at the Top 10 highest-selling comics from the sale:

From iconic collabs to nostalgic reboots and digital-first drops, the next two weeks are loaded with releases that collectors won’t want to sleep on:

🎴 Magic: The Gathering – Secret Lair x Sonic the Hedgehog
📅 Releases: July 14, 2025
🧾 Platform: SecretLair.wizards.com
💡 Sonic, Tails, and Robotnik race into Magic’s multiverse! This 3-set crossover features nostalgic art and fast-sellout potential for Magic and Sega fans alike.

⚡ Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet “Black Bolt” and “White Flare”
📅 Releases: July 18, 2025
🧾 Platform: Pokémon Center & major retailers
💡 Unova-era cards, new mechanics, and special illustration rares are generating serious heat. Pre-orders already moving.

🏀 VeeFriends Super Stickers: Manga Series (feat. Steph Curry)
📅 Releases: July 7, 2025
🧾 Platform: VeeFriends.com & select hobby shops
💡 Manga-style sticker card set featuring Curry as “Kind Warrior.” Look for rare inserts, dual autos, and collector buzz across sports + Web3 circles.

🕷️ Amazing Spider-Man #1 – Peach Momoko SDCC Variant
📅 Releases: July 24–27 (SDCC exclusive)
🧾 Platform: On-site at KRS Comics / The Comic Mint
💡 Only 1,000 printed. Momoko’s signature art + Spidey #1 = a perfect storm of demand. Already a con standout.

🦇 Funko Pop – DC Heroes SDCC 2025 Exclusives
📅 Releases: July 24–27
🧾 Platform: SDCC booth & Funko.com
💡 Azrael Batman (1,500 pcs), blueprint repaints, and anti-counterfeit stickers. SDCC Funko is back in a big way.

📚 West Coast Avengers #1 – Marvel Digital Comic (VeVe)
📅 Releases: July 1 at 8 AM PT
🧾 Platform: VeVe
💡 First appearance of the West Coast Avengers with 5 unique variants. Includes exclusive covers by Paco Medina & Federico Blee.

🚀 Hasbro Star Wars Black Series SDCC Reveal (TBA)
📅 Expected Reveal: July 10, 2025
🧾 Platform: Hasbro Pulse & SDCC
💡 Star Wars Black Series fans know—SDCC always delivers a hit. Watch for the big figure drop announcement.

The NFT market has been anything but quiet. While some collections are pulling back, others are gaining major traction. Whether it’s historical art blocks, playful brands, or gamified ecosystems, here are the top 10 projects making moves right now—ranked by floor action and momentum:

🐧 1. Pudgy Penguins
Floor: 9.75 ETH (+5.1%)
The penguins keep waddling upward. With new licensing deals, toys in stores, and Web3 brand consistency, Pudgy Penguins remain one of the most bullish community-driven projects in the space.

🧬 2. Deafbeef
Floor: 8.70 ETH (+24.5%)
One of the most respected generative audio-visual artists in Web3, Deafbeef is surging. Serious collectors are rotating back to on-chain art—and this rise reflects renewed interest in OG crypto-native work.

🦍 3. Bored Ape Yacht Club
Floor: 11.06 ETH (−0.2%)
Flat on the week, but still king of the jungle in terms of floor. With HV-MTL forging and Otherside teasers, eyes remain on Yuga’s next move.

📦 4. Courtyard.io
Floor: <0.01 WETH (+13.4%)
Tokenizing physical collectibles continues to catch attention. Courtyard’s recent drops and consistent volume in phygital cards and slabs are keeping this platform steadily trending upward.

💀 5. Abstra Universe
Floor: <0.01 ETH (−27.4%)
Despite a steep floor drop, Abstra remains one of the most traded on the week—possibly due to speculation and low entry cost. Strong community, but high volatility.

🧊 6. Punkism
Floor: <0.01 ETH (−21%)
Punk-inspired generative art with an edge. Though down this week, volume remains strong, and the low floor is pulling in collectors looking for entry-level plays.

🛸 7. Pixelady Maker CATA
Floor: 0.02 ETH (−35.3%)
A pullback week for the Pixelady community, but the CATA edition still shows life in terms of listings and trades. One to watch if floor stabilizes.

🎭 8. Megalio
Floor: 0.17 ETH (0%)
Steady at 0.17 ETH, Megalio hasn’t moved in floor price but continues to trend due to increased wallet holders and attention from art-focused collectors.

⚡ 9. PAWAverse
Floor: <0.01 ETH (−13.6%)
Anime/gaming-style IP project that’s seeing slight losses, but remains active in terms of community engagement and mints.

🎮 10. Chimpers Cards – Against All Odds
Floor: <0.01 ETH (−50.4%)
A sharp dip this week, but the trading card-style spinoff from the Chimpers ecosystem still makes the list for its activity. One to monitor for potential rebound plays.

Hollywood deals, trailer drops, and casting news have once again lit a fire under the back issue market. From first appearances to nostalgic returns, these are the 10 comics seeing the biggest sales spikes this week across the hobby:

🔥 The Ghost Fleet #1 (Dark Horse, 2014)
💹 +900% increase in copies sold this week
💥 Why it’s hot: Just optioned for film by Grey Skies with Creed II director Steven Caple Jr. at the helm. An early Donny Cates story about dangerous cargo and dark conspiracies.
💰 FMV Range: Low $1 | Mid $2 | High $4

🦸 Superman #2 (DC, 1987)
💹 +650% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: James Gunn confirmed Stephen Blackehart will play Sydney Happersen (first appearance here) in the upcoming Superman film.
💰 FMV Range: Low $1 | Mid $2 | High $3

🛡️ Invincible Iron Man #9 (Marvel, 2016)
💹 +567% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: The Ironheart series just debuted on Disney+, bringing fresh heat to Riri Williams' full first appearance in armor.
💰 FMV Range: Low $4 | Mid $12 | High $40

☢️ The Toxic Avenger #1 (Marvel, 1991)
💹 +425% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: Toxic Avenger trailer just dropped! With stars like Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, this cult classic reboot is finally real.
💰 FMV Range: Low $2 | Mid $8 | High $25

🐉 Dragon’s Lair #1 (CrossGen, 2003)
💹 +333% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: Director James Bobin (The Muppets) will helm the Dragon’s Lair movie, produced by Ryan Reynolds.
💰 FMV Range: Low $5 | Mid $15 | High $50

🦾 Hero for Hire #1 (Marvel, 1972)
💹 +325% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: Ongoing Luke Cage rumors and Weapon VI references keep this iconic first appearance in the spotlight.
💰 FMV Range: Low $40 | Mid $120 | High $400

🔫 Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1 (Marvel, 1993)
💹 +200% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: With Deadpool & Wolverine looming, early Wade Wilson books—especially his first solo series—are heating up.
💰 FMV Range: Low $2 | Mid $8 | High $20

🌌 Silver Surfer #3 (Marvel, 1968)
💹 +200% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: Speculation continues that Mephisto is coming to the MCU (possibly in Ironheart). His first appearance is here.
💰 FMV Range: Low $175 | Mid $475 | High $1,400

🪖 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (Marvel, 1982)
💹 +186% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: Heavy G.I. Joe speculation and vintage toy nostalgia are boosting this book. It features 15+ character first appearances, including Snake-Eyes, Cobra Commander, and the Baroness.
💰 FMV Range: Low $18 | Mid $60 | High $180

⚔️ Masters of the Universe #1 (DC, 1982)
💹 +150% increase in sales
💥 Why it’s hot: First-look photo of Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man just dropped. First DC-published He-Man comic is seeing renewed demand.
💰 FMV Range: Low $2 | Mid $8 | High $20

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That’s a wrap on this week’s collectible highlights—from breakout comic sales and top NFT movers to the drops everyone’s watching.

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