When I saw the preview for Unparalleled, I literally laughed for about 3 minutes. Not only was I completely shocked that Panini actually had the balls to call a set by this name, but also that they chose to do it with some of the ugliest parallels I have seen since 2015 Spectra. Then to see them decide to do an entire set with rookie content that uses posed photos, and it becomes premium filling in this shit pie.

There are always going to be sets that invoke a violent reaction from me. Panini has really hit the jackpot with two in as many years, and I dont think they are far from stopping. I am actually curious who believes the approach they are taking is the right one, as I am seeing more and more evidence that the final sellers of their product are not happy either.

I mean, lets break this down just so that we can all have a lesson in how NOT to build a product.

First, I am looking at the base design and I just dont understand why they look the way they do. The player is way off to the side, there is a big blob background of color, which is only made worse by the UNPARALLELED amount of foil used in this set. The worst part is, this disaster is just the start. Its almost like they are using this as the testing ground for new terrible patterns that make Lisa Frank look tame, and its getting annoying that anyone even thinks this trash is worth putting out to the public.

Secondly, football has amazing photography available as a main point of attraction. They literally JUST got done taking tens of thousands of company owned photos at the rookie premiere, where the players can be pictured as close to game ready as possible. Instead of using these photos, they choose to trot out these posed wet farts and hope that collectors appreciate the feel of seeing gladiators without their gear. Football is violence, not touchy feely bullshit, and this is a set built around all the wrong elements. It is literally UNPARALLELED in its stupidity.

Then, to see the main hits, with a typical Panini approach of a posed photo, a big white box, and a sticker autograph, who WOULDNT be excited? These rookie auto relics might be the ugliest rookie cards in a long time, and considering the hot mess that Spectra was, that is saying a lot.

Panini is literally sitting on the pot and trying to squirt out that last bit of diarrhea, and as horrible of a visual as that is, this set is on that same level. They need to fill their product calendar and it should be obvious how much of a task that is turning out to be. They have already shown time and time again that they have no ability to create new brands in football, at least without stealing directly from their competition, and that should scare everyone.

Unparalleled is the new face of Panini ineptitude, and I dont think we are done with crafting this face quite yet.