As with all things in this hobby, there was a peak in the early 90s of card sets barely worth the paper they were printed on. However, the availability of these sets on the trade market allow collectors a quick and inexpensive means for beginning their collection and many of the sets, although worth very little, are beautiful and of of the highest quality.

Look at Batman, for example. Being the cornerstone character of DC Comics for over 75 years, spawning movies, television shows, comic books, and cartoons, Batman has been the sole subject of dozens of trading card sets. A collector interested in compiling a complete collection of Batman trading cards would be well advised to hit eBay for unopened boxes of the "junk wax" era cards for a modest price point. Out of these boxes, a collector should be able to compile a complete set, a handful of chase cards, and several duplicates for trading or resale. Between 1989 and 2000, there were card sets released for four films, several television cartoons, and several sets devoted to original comic-based artwork. For a fairly modest investment, a new collector could begin their collection with several hundred cards and a wide range of card types.

Taking a cue from the success that autograph and relic cards have had in the sports collecting side of the hobby, many entertainment sets now come with a wide range of variations for both. Of course, sets based on films and television shows are a natural fit for autographs and relics and you will often find the biggest celebrities in the world have put pen to card for a set.

It is worth noting that in most cases autographs are signed on-card as opposed to the sticker autographs that you'll find on many sports cards these days. Also, there are a number of celebrities who only have signatures on one card which makes those a highly attractive collectible. For example, Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the Reeves Superman movies, is featured on a Smallville card. Because her Superman films predated autographed cards and she's unlikely to appear in another action film again, it is very likely that this is the only autograph card you will find of hers. Unlike sports, you won't find the same checklist of signatories year after year.

Relics can include pieces of costumes, uniforms, set pieces, animation cells, and much more. To accommodate the comic or cartoon collector, Cryptozoic has developed a "Totally Fabricated" line of cards that feature relics manufactured specifically for the set that take specific cues from the show in question. While this may sound a bit like a cheat, these cards actually resell on the trade market for a competitive price in comparison to their authentic relic counterparts and can be fun additions to a collection.

Beginning in the 1990s, entertainment card sets began to include short-print chase sets. These sets were often Refractor, hologram, or spectra etch-based cards and were limited to ten or less cards per set, making them relatively easy to complete.

Another option, Spectra etch cards were very popular, particularly among comic book card sets, and are featured in most junk wax-era sets. These cards, which look as if they're printed on metal, often feature stunning original artwork and are rarely alternatives to base set cards (although there are occasional alternatives).

Holograms, once all the rage of card collecting, have fallen out of favor for the most part. Possibly due to their unappealing aesthetic when not shown in the proper light, these 3D-simulated cards have been replaced by Refractors in modern-day cards but the junk wax era has plenty of hologram subsets for a collector to find. Hologram cards were also popular as giveaway sets in cereal boxes during the 90's and those complete sets can be a fun treasure hunt.

Parallel cards, just like in sports collecting, have become incredibly popular in the entertainment card market and virtually every set released will have some sort of parallel to collect. Many comic-based sets have complete Refractor base sets and there are plenty of chase sets designed in this style.

The greatest potential for true investment-quality cards lies in the vintage sets pre-dating the 1980s. These sets, in premium condition, can be difficult to complete but are highly collectible. Collectors of vintage cards may also go "full completest" and seek out particular printings such as Canadian or UK prints of the same sets. Because of the popularity of these sets, it is common to find reprints on the trade market that look strikingly similar to the originals. It is important to remember how unlikely it is that a 1966 Batman Black set in mint condition is going to appear on eBay for $20 and that all of these reprints will have some sort of distinguishing characteristic to set it apart, often simply stating that it's a reprint on the card.

The good news for collectors on a limited budget, though, is that these reprints are often very affordable and allow collectors of the artwork, as opposed to financial collectors, the chance to include the designs in their collection.

Collectors who truly love the thrill of the hunt may also find great satisfaction in searching out obscure cards like those given away in cereal boxes, cookies, gas stations, comic book shops, vending machines and a million other unlikely sources. These cards can be difficult to find and locating the information needed to compile a "want list" can be a hassle but collectors with a keen eye and some persistence will find these types of cards pretty frequently on the trade market.

These obscure cards also span the entire length of card production and can be found in every country. A Superman set of cigar cards (minis) from 1972, which were distributed by the Primrose Confectionery in the UK in 1972, are incredibly rare and a complete set may be hard to collect but it may be a rewarding set that most collectors don't even know exists.

Another uncommon subset of entertainment card collecting is Promo Cards which are often included in first printings of sets, distributed with corresponding collector binders, found as a bonus in a trade magazine, available direct from the company online, or included with other related products. These cards are easily searched online if you're not lucky enough to find them on your own.