Buzz Break: 2018 Topps Finest Star Wars (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 Topps Finest Star Wars (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 58
Base set completion: 
36 of 100 (36 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Insert cards: 21 (all in gallery below with some base)
Gold Refractor Lightsaber Hilt Medallion (1) – Ahsoka Tano (/50)
Extended base set (SPs; Nos. 112-120) (1) – R2-D2
Refractors (5) – Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Captain Phasma, Padme Amidala, Chancellor Palpatine
Gold Refractors (1) – Bo-Katan Kryze (/50)
Green Refractors (1) – Teebo (/99)
Blue Refractors (1) – Padme Amidala, Ahsoka Tano (/150)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (4) – Han Solo, Moloch, Range Trooper, Argus "Six Eyes" Panox
Solo: A Star Wars Story Gold Refractors (1) – Rio Durant (/50)
Droids & Vehicles  (4) – 2BB-2, Magnaguard, EV-9D9, Battle Droid
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2) – Baze Malbus, Corporal Ansin Thobel

Autographs/Memorabilia/Sketch Cards: 1
Sketch Cards (1) – BB-8 by Erin Lefler

What's Buzz-worthy: My first thought here ... What took so long? Star Wars has been a part of the Topps portfolio since the start of the sci-fi franchise and a regularly appearing brand since the return of the original films to the big screen in the 1990s and through everything since. Despite all that, this is the first Finest release in a long time despite that brand being around since the early 1990s. There are a couple of oddities to me here -- how this one uses a two-box mini format but only one guarantees an autograph or sketch and the other (I'm assuming) delivers a manufactured Relic every time based on this one. Having an imbalance kind of forces you to buy a full box -- or at least discourages people to sell mini boxes. I didn't check, but medallion cards have to inevitably be heavier as they are distinctly thick cards to hold the embedded metal. The second oddity to me here? A heavy reliance on sketches, which seems odd in a chromed Finest release. They're kind of the anti-Chrome card to me, though it's good to get a 1/1 creation regularly. (While neither of these things is bad, they do strike me as different.) The extended base set short-prints are printed on Refractor stock so that's something to check as they can easily blend in with other Refractors. The base set here seems simple and solid -- an all-encompassing character look -- and the numbered Refractors should have solid appeal. The manufactured Relics here are new and I like these, though they are not that traditional in their feel. This Gold Refractor is a one in 52 packs find, while the Gold Solo is one in 90. Other Star Wars brands deliver autos in every box so there's room for this one to improve next time around, though I think this first release is solid.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: B (only one auto or sketch per master box seems odd using two minis)

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type="image_grid" images="139339,139340,139341,139342,139343,139344,139345,139346,139347,139348,139349,139350,139351,139352,139353,139354,139355,139356,139357,139358,139359,139360,139361,139362,139363,139364,139365,139366,139367,139368,139369,139370,139371,139372,139373,139374,139375,139376"][/vc_column][/vc_row]