The Joe Jusko painted-art comic wax

Why it matters

1992 SkyBox Marvel Masterpieces was the first premium painted-art Marvel card set, with all 100 base cards illustrated by Joe Jusko. Spider-Man at #87 (JW50 anchor) is the marquee. Marvel Masterpieces created the template for premium painted comic cards that ran through the late 1990s, and the 1992 set is considered the peak of the format. Sealed wax boxes contain the Jusko painted base set plus the 5-card holograms and 5-card etched foil chase inserts. Wax remains accessible but Jusko-collector demand keeps the box market steady.

How to identify

1992 SkyBox Marvel Masterpieces wax box, 36 packs. Confirm the original 1992 first printing (SkyBox produced 1993, 1994, and later Masterpieces sets with different painters). Look for Jusko signature on every base card front.