Joy Of A Completed Set: 2001 Inkworks The Simpsons Mania! Autographs (!!)

Sometimes the last card you need for a set is difficult to track down. Sometimes that card is expensive. And sometimes both of those team up to make it a nightmare to complete a project. The below is an example of a piece of cardboard that fell into both categories and laughed at me as I pursued it.

The 2001 Inkworks The Simpsons Mania! autograph set ran 7 cards deep and features everyone you would want outside of Julie Kavner, who did not sign for either Simpsons' set I worked on. I started at a time when none were outlandish, but being a 20ish year old set made them a fun challenge. Eventually the market caught up and all jumped up in price with Nancy Cartwright being the toughest and most financially draining.

Nancy was the last I needed and I lost out on many an auction and had to let many others pass me by because I simply could not justify the price point. Eventually I relented and found a price I was comfortable with. I don't recall if it was an auction, BIN, or Best Offer as it's been a year and a half.

All that matters now is it is mine!

If grading were actually affordable I might go that route with both sets just because it would look cool and provide security, but it's not affordable and the less money I put into the hobby now, the better I feel.

My personal Springfield continues to grow a little bigger.

Spider-Pig!

Chad Hurd is one of my favorite artists from his time working on Archer in various capacities. Character Designer; Illustrator; Producer; Associate Art Director; and Art Director -- Hurd did it all. He was part of the 2014 Cryptozoic Archer Sketch Card artist list and his stuff has been ludicrously hard to track down. In searching for Chad's cards, I ended up setting up an eBay saved search. Eventually, I contacted Chad directly and bought two Archer Artist Proof sketches from him, documented here. However, I left the saved search up and realized Chad contributed to the sketch card world with other wonderful pieces.

When this fantastic Spider-Pig card popped up on eBay for a reasonable sum, I could not resist adding it to my collection of random sketches and art. Spider-Man is great and the various comedic offshoots of that character always make me smile.

I will happily add Hurd's art whenever I can!

More Custom Simpsons Sketches!

Let's move away from sports and settle in with more amazing custom sketch cards from my buddy who works on The Simpsons! He continues to be a wonderful friend and build out my own personal Springfield. These four pieces have come in over the last couple of years and rather than show them separately I decided to showcase them all together.

I love them all and as fun as it is to get a Bart or Homer I really love opening the bubbler and seeing a side character, big or small, fall out in a toploader on its way to join its brothers and sisters.

Thank you as always my friend, your generosity never ceases to amaze me!!

PSA Graded Simpsons Packs!

I am in no way, shape, or form a pack collector and I never intend on being one. I think some are pretty cool and I like the idea but I collect way too much already and there's not much I would ever want to own unopened. Packs of Simpsons' cards from the auto sets I've been working on for a few years, you say? Well, that I could very easily get behind and drop doh on.

Behold! These two packs are from the 2000 Simpsons Anniversary set released by now-defunct Inkworks. I saw the pair pop up on bids and reeled them in for about $10. It was a deal I couldn't pass up and I quickly decided grading them for display purposes was the right call. Many months later they returned to me and I am the proud owner of two damn cool pieces to my general Simpsons PC. These are the only two packs from this product ever graded by PSA.

I really love that the packs came in different colors and featured various characters rather than being uniform in either aspect. Here's a blue El Barto in a PSA 10.

And, looking aloof as ever, a red Homer in its PSA 9 tomb. The new pack holders are awesome and luckily double as weapons as World War III is underway.

2001 The Simpsons Mania! Auto Pickup: Tress MacNeille

My long-forgotten and possibly out-of-date Want List shrinks by one today but it's a big one. While I have stopped watching new episodes of The Simpsons I am still attempting to complete the auto sets from the Inkworks' releases of the early 2000s. I finished off the 2000 Anniversary set a while back and was in need of just two from the 2001 Mania! issue. Two has thankfully become one (although that one, not surprisingly, is a pain):

Tress MacNeille was tougher than you'd expect as she's not a star on the show, but she took some time to locate and secure. She most notably voices Agnes Skinner and Brandine and has also done work on another of my favorites, Rick and Morty.

My overall Simpsons PC is happy to see some fresh meat.

Just Stamp The Ticket Man Sketch

My buddy who works on The Simpsons was back in the shop and surprised me with a new sketch card addition to the ever-expanding Springfield I'm building. What he didn't know is that he would completely stump me on the character. He wanted to go oddball and minor character and boy did he ever as I can't recall Just Stamp The Ticket Man to save my life.

After YouTubing him I can remember some of the episodes but for whatever reason he still doesn't ring a bell. But damn if he didn't have some funny moments and lines in said episodes. It's a super cool and unique addition to the collection and that's what I love about a show like The Simpsons. It's not just the main or even secondary characters that matter and make the show what it has been for so long.

Thanks as always amigo!

Nancy Cartwright Simpsons' Auto Pickup: 2000 Anniversary Set (i.e. Joy Of A Completed Set!)

It took a lot of patience, eBay searching, and determination but I finally landed a huge auto for my Inkworks Simpsons Auto Project. Between the two years of releases (2000 and 2001) I was down to just three total signatures needed with two being Nancy Cartwright. A couple popped up on eBay and I set my sights first on the BIN/OBO which netted me rejections. I turned to the auction and soon thereafter had the below beauty on its way to me.

Bart! This is Cartwright's card from the 2000 Anniversary Set which is five cards deep. Bart's reaction on the card was essentially mine when I won the auction as I started this quest over four years ago.

Nancy voices Bart, of course, as well as Ralph, Nelson, and a host of others. I'm now down to needing just two voice actresses -- Cartwright again and Tress MacNeille -- both of which come from the 2001 Mania! edition. That would complete this extremely fun and rewarding project which has helped renew my love of The Simpsons. Anyways, here are the five 2000 The Simpsons Anniversary Set autographs together in their cartoony glory.

And here is my entire Simpsons' PC.

(To Chief Wiggum) "Watch It, You Talking Tub of Donut Batter!....Keep The Pig, How Many Broads Do I Get?"

My buddy was back in the shop prepared with a mystery pack for me. Inside were a few Walker Buehler rookies and the most important thing that could have been in there: another fantastic custom Simpsons' sketch card!

Diamond Joe! Mayor Quimby is one of the most consistently funny tertiary characters on the show. He's every well-known Boston or Boston-adjacent politician wrapped into one. Picking a quote to title this post with was not easy as he's produced dozens and dozens of gems.

The kiss on Quimby's cheek is such a nice touch.

Thanks as always my friend!

The Truth About Carl: He's Great!

Here's the second Simpsons' sketch from my friend's last visit. I asked him to pick any character he wanted to draw that I didn't have as the surprise would add to the fun. I was very pleased with the results as I always am with his amazing work.

Carl! Who doesn't love them some Carl Carlson? This completes the pairing of Carl and Lenny. One of America's greatest duos ever.

Thanks amigo!

Oh Yea! Duffman Says A Lot Of Things....

My buddy was back in the shop this weekend and was kind enough to draw me two sketches for my Simpsons' Collection. Today's post features the character I requested, and it's a beaut!

Oh yea! Duffman and Kool-Aid Man need to team up already. Though Duffman doesn't appear often he makes every episode better. I also learned in writing this post that Duffman is Jewish.

"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem! Oh, yeah!"

Thanks once more amigo!

WORST. SIMPSONS. SKETCH. EVER.

Is likely what Comic Book Guy would dub this amazing sketch card from my good friend who works on the show. I think we all know someone in real life like Comic Book Guy....and I'm thinking of that person right now. Mike is right there with me.

Springfield adds another supporting player to its ranks.

Thanks as always amigo!

"I Speak-A, How You Say, Fractured English. It's What My Parents Spoke...."

Another Saturday, another sketch card from my good buddy. He said he wanted to surprise me with the character and I was more than happy to wait and see. I absolutely love who he chose to create!

Luigi! One of the funnier peripheral characters in Springfield is added to the collection. I had no idea Luigi's made-up last name was Risotto, which is just fantastic. Although his real name -- Lothar Folkman -- is pretty cool as well.

Thanks dude!

How's It Going Grimey?

My friend was back in the shop recently and surprised me with his latest creation after asking who I'd like him to draw. One of The Simpsons' shortest-tenured characters but a most memorable one, and the mortal enemy of Homer J:

Frank Grimes! Springfield adds another exciting role player to the fold.

Thanks as always Davy!

Dental Plan! Lisa Needs Braces!

(Alternatively titled: "Oww! I'm Not Supposed To Get Sketch Cards In My Eye!") My buddy was back from a month-long trip and was kind enough to sketch me another masterpiece. The newest addition to my own personal Springfield: Lenny!

Damn fine work as always. I brushed up on my Lenny knowledge and learned his full name is Lenford 'Lenny' Leonard, which is just spectacular. Eventually I will of course need to add Carl to complete the pair.

Thanks amigo!

A Poochie Sketch Card From The Original Source! (Note: This sketch did not die on its way back to its home planet)

This is one of my favorite posts ever. A couple of weeks ago my buddy who works on The Simpsons swung by the shop and dropped off another sketch card for myself as well as one for my friend and coworker Mike. We were beyond ecstatic to see them as we knew they would be of the classic and unforgettable Rastafarian surfer dog with attitude that stole our hearts all those years ago: POOCHIE!

My buddy is actually the first person to ever draw Poochie, so now I can't watch this clip without imagining him in it.

This is the second dog he's sketched for my collection but obviously, with all respect to Santa's Little Helper, the coolest. I know Mike was pleased with his Poochie and Saturdays when he shows up are just that much more exciting and awesome when he passes along some of his phenomenal talent and work to us.

Thanks as always amigo!

Everything's Coming Up Milhouse!

My buddy who creates masterpieces for The Simpsons was unexpectedly in the shop this past weekend and was nice enough to pass along another fantastic sketch for my collection. He had mentioned his favorite character and I've been anxiously awaiting adding that to my own personal Springfield.

Milhouse! I have always been amazed and impressed with and by people who possess artistic ability, as I have none of my own.

We all have a little Milhouse in us.

2001 The Simpsons Mania! Pickup: A Russi Taylor Autograph

I recently added the below 2001 The Simpsons Mania! autograph to my Simpsons' Collection. The "role player" voice actors and actresses from the two sets Inkworks put out command bigger bucks than one might think and Russi Taylor has alluded me for some time. A seller who had three of these eventually dropped their price by a fairly substantial amount and I decided to pull the trigger.

Russi is most well-known for voicing Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri, and Üter Zörker (the pleasantly plump German exchange student) since the show's inception. She also voices Minnie Mouse, which I was not aware of. The final price was less than two blasters but more than one. I'm now just in need of three total autos between the two releases, although two of those are Nancy Cartwright.

A Hans Moleman Simpsons Sketch!

My buddy was back in the shop this weekend and drew me another fantastic Simpsons custom sketch card. He asked who I wanted and I told him to pick anyone he wanted to draw. He snickered while sketching which I've never heard him do before so I knew it had to be someone absolutely hilarious and awesome.

Boy, was I right. As he delves into sketching every Simpsons' character ever we're going to get into some classic townspeople and Hans Moleman is right up there in terms of classic and funny. He told me he picked Hans because he'd been drawing him all week long for the episode he's currently working on. It's an excellent addition to my Simpsons PC and the next character he's going to bring to life has me even more excited.

Thanks Davy!

Lisa! Lisa! Lisa!

My buddy was in the shop this past Saturday and created another Simpsons' masterpiece for me and my ever-growing set of custom sketches. The core family members are now all complete and look great side-by-side in my Simpsons' PC.

Of the main family all that remains is Grandpa and possibly Snowball to pair with Santa's Little Helper (which of the 5 versions would be determined at that time).

Thanks as always amigo!

Santa's Little Helper and Maggie!

My friend stopped by the store a couple of weeks ago to do some shopping and dropped off another of his amazing Simpsons sketches. He also created another for me while there and they are both as awesome and fantastic as the others.

Santa's Little Helper was the one he brought with him.

And good ol' Maggie was drawn while on location at the shop. They continue to make phenomenal additions to my Simpsons PC.

Thanks a million amigo!