Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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: 2019 Topps Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trading cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for what arrived in this A+ box ...

Cards per box: 106
Cards in this box: 107
Base set completion: 
100 of 100 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Inserts: 5 (all inserts in gallery below with some base)
Green parallels (3) – Shadow's Canoe Trip, TMNT Issue No. 50, Michaelangelo Issue No. 1 (/99)
Blue parallels (1) – Surrounded by The Foot (/10)
Red parallels (1) – Out on the Rooftops (1/1)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Purple autographs (1) – Kevin Eastman (/50)
Sketch card (1) – The Foot by Oscar Chavez (1/1)

What's Buzz-worthy: These are actually out of stock at the moment ... and this box is an example as to why. This set's bonus cards inclusions hit the hardest type of parallel here -- a one in 44 set 1/1 Red -- atop the guaranteed 1/1 sketch (I've seen much stronger ones in this release but guaranteed sketches are good) and, most importantly, an autographed parallel card from one of the creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kevin Eastman, who is also the editor and publisher of Heavy Metal magazine. This one, which was about half of the price of what it was at release, also included an extra parallel that was mangled on one of the top edges probably before packaging. ... As noted last time, when you first hold one of these boxes you might wonder what's up. It's a factory set that's comic-book size but is the weight of an oldschool cello card box -- a dense brick that's certainly not the norm for today's releases. But once you pop the lid here, then you know why -- it's a super-premium set with high-glossed 96-point stock for all cards except the sketch. The set is heavy on past comic art -- stuff seen as legendary for fans of this multimedia franchise -- and the last third includes newer stuff. The card backs detail what's on the fronts while also noting the subsets -- Vols. 1-4 and then "micro & mini series" make up 73 past comic cover pieces and then "new visions" from artists who are keys to the franchise. They all get their credits on the backs, too, which adds to the info approach that's meaty here in contrast to minimalist fronts that only have a stamped logo. The parallels are tucked into one corner of the box and have foil changes (and numbering on backs) along with an auto and a sketch every time. Parallels seemingly default to Green (not on odds) with Orange cards in every other box and then a rainbow that also has Blue and Purple. The autos also have parallels -- and notable creator ink can be found here in good volume -- while sketch cards also can be found with shapes (one in nine) and panoramic versions (one in 29). I wasn't that sold on this one when it was first announced since the comic art isn't as refined in those early years, but the approach gives it a very high-end feel without a big high-end price while also offering a solid starting point with the set and a chase, too. All in all, it gets a "cowabunga" out of me -- and I haven't had TMNT on my mind all that heavily since maybe the first movies or the original Nintendo game.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A+
Fun Grade: B

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