Is Topps losing its Star Wars License?

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by Mattsurewood

Sapphire 25th Anniversary of Phantom Menace out tomorrow to Montgomery Club Members…so I’d say the license is alive and well.

At least alive.

[finfangfan]

It’s hard to believe it was 22 years between ep 4 (1977) and episode 1 (1999) and now we are 25 years past Phantom Menace release date. I don’t think the next generation’s nostalgia for TPM is anywhere close to the nostalgia people had for the 1977 Star Wars in the late-1990’s.

[PoPCulture]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

It’s hard to believe it was 22 years between ep 4 (1977) and episode 1 (1999) and now we are 25 years past Phantom Menace release date. I don’t think the next generation’s nostalgia for TPM is anywhere close to the nostalgia people had for the 1977 Star Wars in the late-1990’s.

The 16 years between ROTJ and TPM felt like a lifetime. Mainly because there was almost zero licensed merchandise for 10 of those years from 85 to 95. Star Wars was basically dead with nothing to create a buzz and the only way to watch them was if you had a copy on VHS.

It has now been 19 years since the prequel trilogy ended and it feels like just yesterday that ROTS was in theaters.

[DynaEtch]

So what set will this be 'sapphiring'? Like the original sapphire redid the blue border 1977 Topps set. I dont follow SW cards that closely, but was there a regular Topps Phantom Menace release, or would this be sapphiring the Widevisions? Or are they creating new cards.

As for TPM...admittedly I have a nostalgia for it. Neither it or any of the prequels are near the level of the OT, but there is a lot of iconic imagery from TPM, and visually I always liked the film. Id also take the prequels over the Disney-era sequel trilogy easily....I never got over Force Awakens basically rehashing A New Hope, such a lazy effort.

I will be interested in this release. I dont know SW cards as much, but if it a set like this has Portman, Jackson, Mcgregor, or Nissan autos, it should do well. Who knows maybe thats one reason to jump around in order, to get a new mix of autos in as opposed to ESB.

[PoPCulture]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

So what set will this be 'sapphiring'? Like the original sapphire redid the blue border 1977 Topps set. I dont follow SW cards that closely, but was there a regular Topps Phantom Menace release, or would this be sapphiring the Widevisions? Or are they creating new cards.

As for TPM...admittedly I have a nostalgia for it. Neither it or any of the prequels are near the level of the OT, but there is a lot of iconic imagery from TPM, and visually I always liked the film. Id also take the prequels over the Disney-era sequel trilogy easily....I never got over Force Awakens basically rehashing A New Hope, such a lazy effort.

I will be interested in this release. I dont know SW cards as much, but if it a set like this has Portman, Jackson, Mcgregor, or Nissan autos, it should do well. Who knows maybe thats one reason to jump around in order, to get a new mix of autos in as opposed to ESB.

This was the first question I had yesterday also. The only sets for TPM were the 2 series of Widevision that were released in 1999 and then the 3D version, released a year later, also In Widevision format. Very interested to see what they are doing with this.

[finfangfan]

Maybe a blue star field set? ��

[Fenway55]

I like the Widevisions - especially the 3D - but I think they would not make for good Sapphiring. I hope they keep the Chrome Sapphire standard size.

When does the sale begin? I am very curious about retail pricing. I was expecting this set later in the spring so now I need to go rob a bank or two.

[collectivetoys]

Tuesday, April 16th at 12pm EST

[Mattsurewood]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Maybe a blue star field set? ��

The box itself looks really cool and will serve as a nice display piece, hoping there won't be redemptions, I'd just keep it sealed.

[collectivetoys]

$285 yikes!

[fenwaykid]

What’s comes in the sapphire box for $285 presale?

[PumpnDumpling]

Originally Posted by collectivetoys

$285 yikes!

I concur, although seems the parallel guarantee is 4 per vs 2...how many more parallels and how high are they numbered?

Was hoping for a lower buy-in (who wasn't)....not enough info for me to bite on a case...may pass completely

Is this a complete Hail Mary for a Portman Sticker Auto?

[StlBen]

For all we know it could litterally be 4 cards per box....

[Boo]

Originally Posted by fenwaykid

What’s comes in the sapphire box for $285 presale?

A swift yet hard kick in the nards.

[ztaylork]

Have they ever had Knightley sign before?

[oldgoldy97]

Not a bad four box case price.

[oldgoldy97]

Wait, that’s one box?

[DynaEtch]

Who are the autos, does it say?

[Fenway55]

I need to rant:

I am getting pretty sick of Star Wars Anniversaries. They are starting to do it every year, which IMHO cheapens the whole thing. We had the 40th Anniversary of ANH which, to me, is a valid one.

Then we have the 40th anniversary of ESB 3 years later. Not as valid as ANH but OK w/e.

Then we had the 50th anniversary of LFL. That was ridiculous. Who cares about the founding of LFL? What, are they going to release a commemorative Star Wars product for the 50th anniversary of American Graffiti?

Then they rounded off with the 40th anniversary of ROTJ, which I guess they had to do since they did 40 for ANH and ESB.

Now we have the 25th anniversary of TPM.

Next year will the the 20th anniversary of ROTS and the 10th anniversary of TFA (which is kind of depressing in and of itself for separate reasons).

2026 will probably be a lull because that leads us into 2027, which is the 50th anniversary of the whole she-bang, no doubt bringing us into the 2027-2030-2033 cycle for all 3 original movies.

50 is a big one, but I am getting anniversaried out before we get there

</old man ranting at clouds>

[PumpnDumpling]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Who are the autos, does it say?

Images show a Portman sticker AU, Ewan Sticker AU and a Kiera K/Portman Dual Sticker AU

Cards look cool but this movie sucks, the price sucks, 10Xing the hobby sucks

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by PumpnDumpling

Images show a Portman sticker AU, Ewan Sticker AU and a Kiera K/Portman Dual Sticker AU

Cards look cool but this movie sucks, the price sucks, 10Xing the hobby sucks

Box prices aside, that's a pretty sweet lineup of autos though. Keira/Portman dual sounds pretty nuts. Is there a reason Liam Nissan never seems to have an auto, does he just not sign?

[StlBen]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Box prices aside, that's a pretty sweet lineup of autos though. Keira/Portman dual sounds pretty nuts. Is there a reason Liam Nissan never seems to have an auto, does he just not sign?

Based on those autos I'm 100% interested. Not knowing the autos odds, checklist, or even number of cards in a box....I'm OUT!