Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Star Wars Black & White (Empire)

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 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Black & White trading cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 56
Base set completion: 
41 of 150 (27 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Insert cards: 14 (all in gallery below with some base)
Sepia parallels (4) – Exploring the cave, Reactivating Threepio, Outside the Falcon, Han's update
Blue Hue Shift parallels (1) – Darth Vader's Conference
Green Hue Shift parallels (1) – Lando Calrissian (/99)
Red Hue Shift parallels (1) – Defending the escape (/10)
Posters (2) – Atop the tauntaun, The whole ensemble
Concept Art (1) – Imperial Stormtrooper
Behind The Scenes (3) – Paper city, Wake of the wampa attack, The probe droid shop
Iconic Characters (1) – Dengar

Autographs/Sketches: 1
Blue Hue Shift Autographs (1) – Alan Harris as Bossk (/99)

What's Buzz-worthy: Today Force Friday -- the "holiday" where Disney gets rich when the new wave of Star Wars stuff is unleashed upon the globe for the masses in advance of a new film -- and for that one I present my favorite Star Wars release of the recent past. This is the second of a three-set trilogy -- at least from what we know already -- and it revisits the second and arguably still best film, The Empire Strikes Back. Jedi arrives early next year and the original arrived for this brand last year. As previously said here, when this concept arrived I was immediately a fan as it gives us all a documentary-style look at the franchise we've seen on cardboard many, many times over the last 40 years. This one is a mini-box with just seven packs but a hit every time with some big autographs among the possibilities. This is a move that helps keep these boxes more affordable but also makes me want more -- just like last year. Also like last year? This set is rich in detail with even more looks we have not seen before -- likely because there was more behind-the-scenes photography done as the franchise had been established for this film. This particular box included a parallel auto that's one in every 46 packs, while the rarest parallel in this box was one in 53 -- both good but nothing Earth-shattering subject-wise. ... These cards aren't on Heritage stock but more of a standard stock that feels a little thicker and slightly less glossy than basic Topps cards. (That said, it's still a bit chippy with corners paying the price at times. The inserts here are basic cards with a color applied to them just like last year (still sometimes confusing) as you can see above and in the gallery below. It's simple, but this one is an affordable winner in my book.

Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: A-

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