Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Chrome Star Wars (blaster 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: 2023 Topps Chrome Star Wars trading cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Pack/Box Odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 4-5 (Purples are fifth card when appear)
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
33 of 100 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Insert cards: 9 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Journey of Grogu (3) – Grogu
Manga Madness (1) – see gallery
Return Of The Jedi 40th Annivrsary (1) – Chewbacca
Monikers (2) – C-3PO, Darth Sidious
Purple Wave parallels (2) – Han Solo, Tusken Warrior

Autographs/Sketches/Manufactured Relics: None

What's Buzz-worthy: This one was perhaps just a notch better than my first box -- some of the finds were the same but some better names popped out of the base along with that Purple Solo -- but there were a lot more cards here with big scratches on the surfaces (thankfully not on the best names) and several with crimped cards (small creases) as well. That hurt the appeal here a bit but these are still a pretty strong buy. Why? The price and size of box here is an interesting one for retail -- 10 packs for just $19.99 which is certainly not the norm for Chrome in any year or type of release. Atop that, it's a small set so you can basically land a third of it in a blaster ... so bad thing, good thing. Had this one been a bigger set -- could easily be done as this one includes characters from all shows, all movies, all eras -- that would be lower but this would still be a good deal on that front. (Most Chrome retail packs have been four cards for $3 or more for a long time ... $2 a pop here is unheard of.) Hit the odds up top and you'll see that pretty much everything was the norm here with the 40th Anniversary card the only tougher find (every third blaster or so) with the Purples seeded as extra cards in their packs. These aren't barren blasters, either, with almost everything possible here but no basic Refractors or multi-person autos or sketches in the mix. Autos aren't easy at one in 1,172 packs (one in 118 boxes) but it's better than the Obi-Wan set that, well, just don't expect ink in your blasters unless you're buying tons of blaster cases. (And you'll still probably strike out.) That makes this one even better in comparison. The bargain price gets this one an A in my book for the fun factor -- it's a lot for Chrome at a good price -- but the results will still be hit and miss like many boxes that would be $35 or more if plastic out there. The set is interesting with its depth and that could limit some appeal (I don't really care about the animated series and got several base cards there in both boxes) but I think it gets enough others in there that the set works ... I just feel like it needs some extra touches. (The Purples are fine but I think something regularly appearing would be better here to add to the feel of it all ... and perhaps in hobby boxes, too.) If Chrome were to start popping everywhere with a configuration like this, I'd be ripping ... even if the autos aren't easy.

Product Grade: B+ (feels like set should be a little larger with focus on characters ... and that's a move I like)
Box Grade: B+ (a slightly better box than last time ... but more damaged cards this time)
Fun Grade: A- (10 Chrome packs for $19.99 is a bargain ... makes me want to do more and I will)

--

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com