Whiskey Media presents Heroes of the Internet

Here's a blast from the past. If you were around a few years ago (exactly three years ago to be clear), you may remember a secret collection of cards that were released through the Whiskey Media online store. It was a magical time. A time of big live live shows that were live, big red phones, and baby shaking. How one would obtain one of these cards was hotly debated at the time. Those who did qualify for a card received them in a direct email from one Dave Snider with the user's name emblazoned across the bottom. The real kicker was that it was entirely up to the user to share them with the rest of the community, so some of them were never seen.

Until now...

Now that it's been a few years, Dave sent me a zip file of all of them. So, here they are in all their glory including the likes of Ryan, Norm, Vinny, Ethan, and the Big Red Phone.

And, yes. Luchadeer's last name is Williams. That's canon.

#0001 Jeff Gerstmann

#0002 Will Smith

#0003 Big Red Phone

#0004 Norman Chan

#0005 Ryan Davis

#0006 Benjamin Franklin

#0007 Karen Mills

#0008 Vinny Caravella

#0009 Luchadeer Williams

#0010 Cool Baby

#0011 Ethan Lance

#0012 Patrick Klepek

#0013 Brad Shoemaker

#0014 Alex Navarro

#0015 Mike Tatum

#0016 Melissa Durkin

I'm disappointed at the lack of a Dave Snider card.

Oh wow, totally forgot about these! That's awesome. (and yes, I'd totally buy a physical pack of these)

Edit: I used "totally" twice. That actually bugs me. I need a life.

Those usernames.

Damn that Vinny card is amazing.

Also.. THE CRUSHER.

Also.. it's fantastic that the card you unlocked was cool baby. Hell of a legacy to leave behind.

I didn't even know these existed, and I was around during that time too. These are awesome.

All those Move controllers on Patrick's face ew.

This just reminded me of how much I miss Dave and Karen. Now I'm sad.

Beautiful!

Now that this past era has been fully revealed, we need a new line of cards which include Dan "Aioli" Ryckert!

It's weird Drew never got one. Or the ComicVine guys, for that matter.

It's time to bring this back, with a twist: Giant Bomb Top Trumps. Stop buildin' a website, Dave Snider, and make us more cards.

Huh, has it really been three years since then? It's weird seeing these now. Also makes me miss the old offices. Something about them that felt pretty comfy.

Maybe I am misremebering but I honestly don't remember Drew getting as much attention until the CBS buyout. He always was around for the odd flight/racing QL, but I don't recall much else.

If anything I think it's a crime Rorie didn't get one; that mother fucker always killed it on Screened(RIP).

Oh shit, I didn't know Luchadeer had a canon last name.

These are beautiful.

Amazing.

I saw this title and thought this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6r0ZnrjPA

Oh man, I remember the Big Red Phone so fondly. Norman Chan's voice is so beautiful.

Is the "like" or "recommend" or whatever button for blogs gone? I can't up-anything this blog post! GHAAAAA!!!

Really cool stuff. Also, Heroes of the Internet reminded me of GFW Radio's brilliant Heroes of the Web segments.

Yeah man these are awesome! It feels like yesterday we were shaking Cool Babies and had unbearded Patricks around... Good Times!

I was pretty pleased to see these pop up on twitter. These were such a weird thing when they first popped up, and they're still weird today. Also, for anyone wondering where Luchadeer's last name came from:

Awesome! I remember Dave saying on twitter he was going to release them a few months back. Great to see all of them finally!

No Drew?

Jesus christ, Patrick looked so much younger before he became a cyborg and grew a goatee.

I wonder what Fun'gineering has been doing for the last couple of years. We haven't checked in since near the buyout.

Free the Fun'Gineer.

What the heck, I've been on the site longer than that and this is the first I've seen on this!

EDIT: Oh, and I miss the neighborhood Fungineer.

Aww, no Rorie card!

Hey that's me! I got the Patrick card.

I always wondered how people got them, was it ever revealed?

I really do miss the dumbness that was the big red phone.

R.I.P Big Red Phone.

<3 this...i mean <> this

Melissa was probably one of the nicest people I've ever worked with.

SO much <>

I forgot all about these. I remember really wanting one but just wasn't at a point to be able to grab one.

And now I have them all! :D

I like that the Alex card was unlocked by "thoseposers." It's fitting.

Ya, I remember these.

They came and went pretty quick. Was a cool idea at the time, though.

Does anyone know a printing company? Call Max Temkin!

I'm still blown away by the quality of these. THEY'RE SO GOOD.

now to go all baseball card vandals on 'em >:)

Those are great, I want one. :D

i didnt know that baby had a name and all...i always just assumed it was supposed to be a reference to Patrick

Whiskey Media truly was a magical thing.

Now we just need to know what was on Dave's GOTY note.

Also, if anyone wondered "I wonder how much it'd cost to get a copy of Babysitting Mama with the Cool Baby doll?", as I did after looking at these, it's actually pretty decently priced on Amazon. Especially if you get a used copy, which I assume comes with the doll.

I miss that basement....

Of course, I am fine with the CBSi transition and all of that - after all, we've seen some amazing stuff come out of that place. With that being said, I miss all the hijinks of the old Unprofessional Fridays with Tested and Comic Vine (even if others didn't like it). Having Will, Norm, Sara, Tony, Dave, and all of the crew around in the random office videos... Hell... We haven't seen someone eat a nearly exploding can of fish in years.

It was a magical time. I'm glad we can remember at least part of it in these cards =)

I'm guessing you're in the US? 'Cause on Amazon UK a new copy is £6.95

This is the first edition....time to make another!

Including Rory, Dan, Drew, Dave Lang, Max Temkin, Brad Muir etc etc etc