Dungeon Crawler Carl's Latest Official Release Is Facing Serious Backlash

While the success of Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series has been phenomenal for the author, reaching an astounding number of readers in its relatively short lifespan, that also comes with some downsides. As longtime fans have begun to realize, the once-niche LitRPG series hitting the big leagues and expanding into different mediums also comes with an avalanche of new merch, collectibles, and more, but it hasn’t all been of the highest quality.

One of the companies leading that charge is Borant Corporation, the officially licensed Dungeon Crawler Carl collectibles brand operated by Playmates Toys. Named after the fictional corporation running the dungeon, Borant has introduced everything from action figures to Princess Donut plushies, with its latest release bringing the franchise into the world of trading cards.

Unfortunately, the new collection hasn’t gone over particularly well with some fans. Despite featuring beloved characters, rare variants, and collectible artwork, the cards have sparked criticism over their presentation and promotional imagery, adding to growing concerns about the franchise’s merchandising direction (via Reddit).

The new Dungeon Crawler Carl trading cards have started making their way into fans’ hands, but (perhaps fittingly) fans aren’t all that happy with Borant Corp. In a recent discussion online, one collector shared their disappointment after purchasing two packs at Target for $6.99 each, criticizing both the cards’ physical quality and overall presentation.

According to the original poster, the cards feel cheaply manufactured, with hard edges, questionable printing, and a finish that makes them look like something produced using ordinary card stock and a paper cutter. Even the cards with decent artwork reportedly suffer from disappointing print quality.

Other fans echoed these complaints, with one collector claiming that nearly every card they received had minor corner damage due to the square cuts. Another compared their appearance to something amateurishly manufactured, questioning why officially licensed collectibles weren’t held to a higher standard.

The artwork itself has also proven divisive. Some fans have criticized the character illustrations, while others have taken issue with the inconsistent artistic styles across the collection. Considering how much fan art the Dungeon Crawler Carl community regularly produces, several commenters argued that they’ve seen far more impressive designs and sketches of Dinniman’s characters elsewhere.

However, it’s important to recognize that these reactions represent a relatively small sample of the larger fanbase. Not everyone is disappointed, either. Some collectors have praised individual illustrations, including Uzi Jesus and Architect Houston, while others have expressed genuine excitement about collecting the complete set.

For those interested in judging the cards themselves, the first series contains 100 base cards, with additional collectible variants, including foil, emerald, and signed cards.

The cards have already been spotted at Target and Hot Topic locations, although prices and availability vary. Hot Topic also offered packs online, with its initial stock selling out. Other retailers previously announced as part of the larger Dungeon Crawler Carl merchandise rollout include Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, BoxLunch, Urban Outfitters, and Five Below, although their availability of the trading cards specifically remains unconfirmed.

Ultimately, while the cards have certainly found an audience, their mixed early reception raises questions about whether the franchise’s expanding merchandise lineup can consistently meet fans’ expectations. There’s clearly a market for Dungeon Crawler Carl merch and the trading cards have vast potential, but as fans point out, a low-quality product can be pretty disappointing.