I didn't like the Fleer Metal series when I first saw it, but in the end it really grew on me.  I was never a big fan of player cut-outs pasted onto a off-the-wall background, but this series was the exception. The earlier designs were a little weird, (See the 1995 Metal "Garrison Hearst" #1 card below), but the designs did get better as Fleer built the Metal brand.  

 I am still a little confused about the 1997 series though, What made Fleer think that this is what we, the collector, wanted?  (See the 1997 Fleer Metal Tony Gonzalez #193 below).  Well, one thing is for sure and that is that no one tried anything like that before.  The 1997 series makes me think it was something out of the labs of Collector's Edge.

I have the following sets:

Metal Series:

1) 1995 Metal Set

    A) Gold Blasters Insert

    B) Silver Flashers Insert

    C) Platinum Portraits Insert

2) 1996 Metal Set

    A) Gold Flingers Insert

    B) Gold Fingers Insert

    C) Freshly Forged

    D) Molten Metal

    E) Platinum Portraits Insert

3) 1997 Metal Set

    A) Iron Rookies Insert

    B) Body Shop Insert 

    C) Marvel Metal Insert

4) 1998 Metal Set

5)  1999 Metal Set

    A) Quasars Insert

    B) StarChild Insert

    C) Planet Metal Insert

Other Metal Series:

1) 1999 Skybox Molten Metal Set

My Metal Grades: