Can you spot the difference between the two pictures?
The both are the first card in the Marvel Heroes vs. Villains trading card set by Rittenhouse Archives. They both feature an interpretation of War Machine #10, with War Machine vs. Iron Patriot.
But, obviously, one has an easy-to-see embossed “Marvel” in the upper left hand corner (it’s silver, when not poorly scanned). The other card has a “Marvel,” too, but you just can’t see it because it’s black.
The black (but unseen on the picture) “Marvel” represents the card from the base set.
The silver (but showing up black in the picture) “Marvel” is part of what is known as a “parallel set.”
Huh? But it’s basically the same card. Exactly. A parallel set is, according to this site, a “set of cards that depict the exact same images as either the base or chase set but are slightly different in that the cards can be: printed on different type of card stock; embossed; have a glitter outline; or can be reflective/prismatic foil.”
So now, instead of collecting one set, you are trapped into collecting two of the exact same thing.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is how they get ya!
The back of both cards looks the same, in case you were wondering.
They know us so well.
Moneygrubbers.
You got that right! … Sigh.
Dont forget to pick up the mandelbrot set while your at it.