INSERT IDEAS - 2012-13 Certified "Masked Marvels"

I was sifting through some cards today when I came across an insert that might have some mixed reactions; in fact, I can guarantee it has received mixed reactions. So the best way to figure out if it's a good insert or not would be to put it through the test of "Insert Ideas."

The card in question is the 2012-13 Certified "Masked Marvels" set. Here is the only card I have from the set but I've seen the bulk of them online already...

NAME: Masked Marvels
YEAR: 2012-13

First let's discuss the concept or "idea." Pick any synonym of the word over-used and you hit the nail on the head. It seems that most products these days have a goalie mask variation of an insert set. That's why it will be hard for this insert set to get a good mark. They really have to "WOW" me if they're going to use a generally popular idea. Products like "Between the Pipes" from ITG have done that right. They were one of the first to put out the concept (if not the first) and now they have a loyal fan base that look forward to the cards each and every year.

Next to determine the quality of the insert would be the design factor. What makes a good mask card? Masks! I have no problem with the size of the picture they chose for the front. Not only does it show off most of the mask (which I'll get to later) but it also shows how the mask meshes in well with the jersey. Additionally, the foil background and black and white banner/logo gets an A+ from me. By using this much foil and non distracting colours, it doesn't take away from the art on the mask or the colours on the picture. Therefore, the picture is really what determines the colour of the card. Its like making a team coloured theme card but not adding any extra colours; brilliant!

But the back is where things get nasty!

Instead of following along with the sleek and smooth design of the front, the back of the card goes all Pinnacle on me (much like the base cards). The same picture is re-used on the back AND the paragraph on the player mentions NOTHING on his mask. Thumbs wayyyy down. In my opinion, you scratch the team colours, you scratch the stats and you start the bottom in an all grey fading into a head on shot of the mask (not the same as on the front) in the top half of the card. That way you get a different angle of the mask, you continue with the non distracting colours and you let the picture and colours of the mask do all the work. Underneath that picture in the grey area, you can do a small write-up on one part of the mask in white ink. All logos (NHL, Panini and NHLPA) can go on the bottom and the card number and team logo can go on the top left and right corners. What you DO NOT need is the position, I think it's pretty obvious he plays goalie guys...

As for the picture, like I said, I like the idea of using a shot from the chest up; but, you need to see at least 2/3 of the mask (i.e. the Lehtonen card above). Other cards in the set (i.e. Jimmy Howard) show just half the mask and that does not cut it. As well, as I already mentioned a head on shot of the mask on the back of the card would be a great touch instead of the debacle we see on the back of the card currently.

Last but not least is the player selection. There are 20 cards and therefore 20 goalies in the set. I would like to see one goalie from each team just for variety's sake, but I'll only dock them minimal points for that.

RATING:

IDEA - 2/5 (Overused and getting old)

DESIGN - 2.5/5 (Front of the card gets a near perfect 2/2.5 but the back gets only 0.5 points)

PICTURE - 3/5 (Like the pics from the chest up but need to show more angles of mask)

PLAYER SELECTION - 4.5/5 (I can't be too picky)

TOTAL - 12/20

Passing grade I think is acceptable but nothing to chase IMO.

What do you think? What do you rate the card out of 20?

GO NUCKS GO!

INSERT IDEAS - 2011-12 Score First Goal

I've decided to pick another Score insert set for my "Insert Ideas" post today. This set I think will fair better in terms of overall score compared to the last. Today, we are going to discuss the "First Goal" insert set.

Let's take a look at the front of the card:

NAME: First Goal
YEAR: 2011-12

I picked up this insert card from Kyle in a trade a week back. The entire premise behind the insert set is to show a past rookies first goal. For example, Linus Omark's rookie season was in 2010-11 so this card shows the exact moment when Omark scored his first NHL goal from the season before. 

I'm sure this insert set has been done before although no specific sets come to my mind. But I really like the idea of the insert set and the fact that I can't remember any other particular sets that were similar help to boost its mark for idea. 

As for the pictures they use, this is where it gets tricky. The only pictures they can use is of the players celebration after their first goal. Therefore, if the celebration was crappy, you get a crappy picture. But sometimes you'll get the odd shot of a player smiling or in shock that makes the picture stand out. The Omark card is kind of boring though... The Taylor Hall is my favourite picture from the set.

This card is what makes me appreciate the pictures in this set even more. I love the look of relief on Subban's face and even more his two teammates holding their arms up beside them. The picture is framed really well. 

The design on the front of the card is simple and 90's like. The "First Goal" lettering on the top reminds me of something that would come out of a Pro Set subset or something. It looks classic and flows well from left to right. The picture takes up most of the card and is not cluttered which I appreciate. The basic name and team sits on the bottom, but most importantly is the date of the goal that sits on the right side. 

The back is where the design loses marks. The reuse of the picture in this case is acceptable, it's more the left two thirds of the card that worries me. First is the GIGANTIC logo right in the middle. The point of this card is not team based, instead it is player based so why did they have to throw a HUMUNGOUS logo randomly in the mix? The name and position on the top along with stars is a huge waste of space. I would re-design it so that you have the logo, name, position and date of goal in the bar above. Leaving that white patch in the middle for a write-up. The paragraph mentions the date, game and final score of the game. I think they could even add how they scored. For example, "Subban scored on the PP when he got a pass from _____ to rip a slapshot home to make the game 1-0". Get it? So you could have more info on what happened and less about simply what team he plays for.

Player selection can't get too out of hand considering their isn't a huge list of players to chose from. That being said though, nobody wants to get a card of a player they don't know, so by keeping the player selection among those young guys that are better known is a plus.

There are 15 cards in the set and with guys like Hall, Subban, Omark, Hodgson, Tatar, Skinner, Condra, Fowler etc. I'm liking the variety.

RATING:


Idea: 4/5
Pictures: 3.5/5
Design: 3/5
Player Selection: 5/5


TOTAL - 15.5/20


Overall I really like the insert set and might even think of pursuing it, especially since one of my PC guys is in it.

What do you think of the insert set? What do you rate it?

GO NUCKS GO!

INSERT IDEAS - Score Playoff Heroes

Inserts are the middle ground of hockey cards. I believe they're something most collectors enjoy to have in their collection, whether it be by complete accident (pulled from a pack) or on purpose. Inserts aren't quite your common base junk (which isn't always junk) and they're not your super exciting AUTO or GU pull. They fit right in between those two and will always have a place in the hobby IMO.

Inserts were the backbone of the hockey card industry in the past and I think they've lost some of their steam in this new era of AUTO's and GU. Once in a while though, a product really comes out with a nice concept and/or design on an insert that gets collectors going (and their wallets). Off the top of my head I think of ITG Between the Pipes "Masked Men" and the Pinnacle "Tough Times" set more recently.

Other times there are those insert sets that make you think "Uhhh...why?". Either the ideas have been recycled, the pictures are boring or the design is just plain ugly.

Well in any case I've decided to start giving inserts the credit they deserve. Every once and a while I'll take a few inserts out of my collection and rate them on three categories:

1. Idea /5
2. Pictures /5
3. Design /5
4. Player Selection /5

That means every insert will have a mark out of 20. So let's start the quest to find the best (and worst) inserts created.

Today we start with a fairly "new" insert set from the past two seasons of the Score release by Panini.

NAME: Playoff Heroes
YEAR: 2010-11

First off the concept or lack there of. This seems like a vey lazy and generic idea to put on an insert. It's kinda your typical low end product insert (which I guess you can't blame them for). You get what you pay I guess. I just don't see the point in making another set featuring playoff heroes when half the players you chose are in no way heroes. 

On a side note, Sidney here should have his own insert set called "Playoff Beast" with the points he's putting up. Mind you Giroux should have his own then too ;)

Next let's take a look at the design of the card. Pretty much all the writing is written vertically while the picture is horizontal. Hmmm...that just seems careless on Panini's part. It has all the essentials: name, position and team. 

The back seems like more of the same junk. Almost identical design to the front besides replacing the picture for a short biography. 

This is the main insert set for Score (I believe it is the biggest). With that comes pour player selection and exceptionally boring "turning while skating" pictures.

RATING:

Idea - 1/5

Pictures - 1.5/5

Design - 1.5/5

Player Selection - 2/5

TOTAL - 6/20

NAME: Playoff Heroes

YEAR: 2011-12

Let me say right away that they definitely improved on the design this year but it's still far from perfect or even "great", I'd say average. They stuck with the all vertical look which is nice and I'm a sucker for the 3D pop out design.

The idea is still lame but the photos definitely got a bit better. I believe most if not all of the pics are of the players celebrating a goal. 

The backs are similar but not exactly the same as the front. The problem I have with this set is this: when you're picking players for this set does that mean if one guy scores a big goal one series that he is forever entitled to be a "Playoff Hero" and permanently has a spot on this set? I think not but you may have a different view.

RATING:

Idea - 1/5

Design - 2.5/5

Pictures - 2/5

Player Selection - 2.5/5

TOTAL - 8/20


Unfortunately both sets did not get a passing grade and thus I think it would be wise for Panini to drop the set. But what do you think, what would you rate these sets on my scale of 20?

GO NUCKS GO!