Upper Deck is closing out its DC and NHL crossover run with a compact digital release built around one of the most recognizable comic book themes there is: the hidden identity. 2026 Upper Deck DC x NHL Crossover: Secret Identity is an e-Pack exclusive product that delivers one card per pack and uses lenticular technology to give each card two distinct views of the featured player.
The concept draws from Clark Kent and Superman, pairing hockey stars with a design that shows them in two different settings. In practical terms, collectors get a card that shifts between on-ice and off-ice imagery, turning a small 12-card checklist into a novelty-driven release with a strong visual angle. For NHL and pop culture collectors, it is another unusual entry in a partnership that has leaned heavily on presentation and themed storytelling rather than traditional pack formats.
This release is also notable because it serves as the final installment in the DC x NHL crossover line. The collaboration opened in 2025 with a DC Fanimation set, then expanded with a Superman-themed release tied to the 2025 film and later a Fortress of Solitude installment. Secret Identity now acts as the closing chapter for the program.
What Is 2026 Upper Deck DC x NHL Crossover: Secret Identity?
Secret Identity is a digital-first product sold through Upper Deck e-Pack. Each pack contains a single card, and the full set is intentionally small, with just 12 base cards in the lineup. That limited scope makes the release straightforward for set builders while still offering a distinctive collectible format through its lenticular construction.
Lenticular cards are the defining feature here. Instead of a standard static image, each card presents two looks depending on viewing angle. In this set, that visual shift is used to spotlight a player in hockey action and in a second lifestyle or off-ice presentation, playing into the secret identity theme without moving away from recognizable NHL stars.
Upper Deck has also kept the release exclusive to e-Pack, continuing the company’s recent approach for niche crossover projects. Collectors open the product digitally first, with the opportunity to obtain physical versions later through the platform’s standard transfer and fulfillment structure. That hybrid setup remains a major part of the appeal for e-Pack users who like immediate access but still want tangible cards in hand.
Why This Set Stands Out
Although crossover sets can sometimes feel gimmicky, Secret Identity has a clearer design purpose than many novelty releases. The dual-image lenticular format is not just a visual extra. It directly supports the theme of public persona versus hidden identity, which makes the card design feel more integrated than a simple logo mashup.
The checklist also focuses on star power. Rather than stretching the concept across a large roster, Upper Deck kept the lineup to major names, current standouts, and one of the hobby’s most watched young talents. That gives the product broader appeal across several collector groups, including player collectors, team collectors, modern hockey investors, and fans who have followed the entire DC crossover series.
There is also some added interest because the release is the final DC x NHL crossover set. When a branded run reaches its endpoint, completists tend to pay closer attention, especially if they have already collected previous entries in the line. Even with a small checklist, that kind of status can help a product remain relevant well after its pack sale window closes.
Pack Format and Availability
The structure is simple. One pack equals one card, and every pack yields a base card from the 12-card set. Because there is no oversized checklist to chase through dozens of names, this is a release where collectors can quickly understand the scope of the product before buying in.
Packs are available through Upper Deck’s e-Pack platform through May 2. As with other e-Pack exclusives, the digital opening experience is immediate, and collectors who complete platform requirements can later convert eligible items into physical cards. For this set, that physical possibility matters because lenticular cards tend to have their strongest impact when viewed in person rather than on a checklist image alone.
Another major incentive is the achievement card tied to set completion. Collectors who assemble the full digital set receive a bonus Clark Kent/Superman achievement card, giving dedicated builders something beyond the 12-card base run to pursue.
2026 Upper Deck DC x NHL Crossover: Secret Identity Checklist
The full base checklist features 12 players from across the league, including superstar veterans, elite scorers, award-caliber talent, and high-profile names from major hockey markets.
- SI-1 Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- SI-2 Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
- SI-3 David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
- SI-4 Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
- SI-5 Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
- SI-6 Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
- SI-7 Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
- SI-8 Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens
- SI-9 Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- SI-10 Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- SI-11 Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
- SI-12 Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Player Breakdown and Notable Names
Headliners with broad hobby appeal
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, and Alex Ovechkin give the set a strong foundation. Those are among the most recognizable names in modern hockey collecting, and any themed release that includes multiple generational or era-defining stars usually gets attention beyond pure team collectors.
McDavid remains one of the hobby’s most important active players, and crossover issues featuring him can attract both set completists and player-focused buyers. Crosby and Ovechkin add long-established collector demand, while Matthews and MacKinnon strengthen the checklist with elite contemporary star power.
Premium modern stars and award-level talent
David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk, Cale Makar, Jack Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck help deepen the lineup. Makar is especially notable because defensemen with high-end hobby relevance do not appear in every novelty-style release, and Hellebuyck gives goaltender collectors a meaningful target in a checklist otherwise driven by skaters.
Jack Hughes adds appeal for collectors who focus on younger franchise faces, while Tkachuk and Pastrnak continue to be reliable names in modern hockey products thanks to their combination of production, visibility, and team followings.
Montreal presence and young collector intrigue
The Canadiens land two spots on the checklist with Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov. Caufield brings established hobby recognition, while Demidov stands out as one of the more intriguing names in the release because prospect and early-career demand can be especially strong in digital and crossover products. A Montreal tie often gives cards an added layer of market attention, and having two Canadiens in a 12-card set is a meaningful share of the overall lineup.
Achievement Card Details
Upper Deck is rewarding digital set builders with an exclusive Clark Kent/Superman achievement card. That bonus is a key part of the release structure because it gives collectors a reason to complete the full checklist rather than simply chase favorite players one at a time.
Achievement cards on e-Pack often become important secondary targets, particularly when they are tied to limited-run themed products. In this case, the Clark Kent/Superman concept neatly matches the full set identity and adds an extra comic-book element that may appeal to collectors who came into the release primarily from the DC side of the crossover.
For completionists, the path is clear: secure all 12 digital base cards, redeem the achievement, and add the bonus card to finish the intended build. Because the base set is small, the challenge is not size but making sure every card is acquired before availability and trading activity shift.
How the Design Theme Fits the Product
The strongest part of Secret Identity may be the way the visual design and checklist concept support each other. The set is inspired by Superman’s concealed identity, and the two-image lenticular format gives Upper Deck a natural way to show each featured athlete in different roles or environments. That makes the cards more than simple portraits with crossover branding attached.
For collectors who enjoy cards as display pieces, this matters. Lenticular issues are often remembered for how they look in hand, not just for what is printed on the front. If the execution lands well, Secret Identity could become one of the more memorable entries in the short-lived DC x NHL partnership simply because the format matches the storyline so effectively.
That approach also helps distinguish the product from standard hockey releases. In a market filled with chromium finishes, autographs, parallels, and relics, a small themed lenticular set can carve out its own lane by offering something visually different.
Where This Release Fits in the DC x NHL Line
Secret Identity is the fourth and final DC x NHL crossover set released through Upper Deck e-Pack. The partnership began in summer 2025 with the DC Fanimation Crossover set. After that came a release inspired by the 2025 Superman film, followed by Fortress of Solitude. This new installment closes the run.
That sequence matters for collectors building the entire crossover catalog. Once a branded mini-line is complete, individual sets can gain importance as pieces of a larger run rather than as stand-alone products. Even smaller releases sometimes benefit from this, especially when they are e-Pack exclusives and tied to a recognizable entertainment property.
Collectors who skipped earlier entries may still find Secret Identity approachable because of its 12-card base checklist and clear achievement path. Those who already own cards from the first three releases will likely view it as the necessary final piece of the DC x NHL program.
Collector Takeaways
For player collectors, the main draw will be obvious: McDavid, Crosby, Ovechkin, Matthews, MacKinnon, and Makar are enough to make the checklist relevant on star power alone. For set collectors, the compact size and bonus achievement card make it a manageable chase. For crossover fans, the final-release status and comic-inspired theme give it a specific identity within Upper Deck’s broader hockey catalog.
The product is not trying to be a massive flagship-style release, and that is part of its appeal. Secret Identity looks designed to be quick to understand, visually distinctive, and easy to pursue on e-Pack without requiring a huge commitment. If the lenticular execution is strong in physical form, it should land as a memorable niche set for collectors who enjoy hockey cards that break from the usual format.
With packs on sale through May 2, the full 12-card chase and the Clark Kent/Superman achievement are the central targets for anyone looking to complete the final chapter of Upper Deck’s DC x NHL crossover series.
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