Buzz Break: 2025 Leaf Metal Pop Century 1/1 Proofs

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 pack: 2025 Leaf Metal Pop Century 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs 
Where to buy: Click here (these are box-toppers in Pop Century boxes)

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

Cards per box: 2 (yes, it's two ... there's a typo on the pack that they didn't fix since these are box-toppers)
Base set completion: 
N/A
Duplicates: 0

Inserts/short-prints: 2 (all in gallery below)
Leaf Metal Pop Century Pearl Paragon Signatures Cyan Printing Plate (1) – Ewan McGregor (1/1)
Leaf Metal Pop Century Villains Autographs Orange Kaleidoscope Pre-production Proof (1) – Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films (1/1)

What’s Buzz-worthy: This year's Pop Century proof packs have a different twist to them. They arrive two top-loaded cards per pack this time around -- and sometimes packs can have printing plates instead -- and they're also only found inside the actual boxes of Pop Century as sealed box-topper packs along with the hits in those far-pricier boxes. My cost on a pack within what looks to have been a case lot? About $10 per pack -- and for a pair of 1/1s every time I'll do that. In past years, these were issued as bonuses with box buys and that meant they could be/would be stockpiled and sold on their own in lots. This time? It will take time, but I suspect that the lots will come ... though plates add some extra heat here and an incentive to open. This was the sole plate pack in my case's worth of packs and it was from what would be a somewhat premium find -- a Leaf Pearl auto -- for a notable name of recent years but one who has plenty of cardboard thanks to Star Wars stuff. Carter also has her share of cards, but this one is a little different in this release as it spotlights her in a specific role. This isn't done as often but the slightly tweaked approach adds to the appeal as she also has standard cards to hunt down. The plates add a nice touch though the top-loaders are not sealed shut for this one, so you might see some scary top-loader spots when you open packs. (Cards should still be fine way more often than not, though, as there's not a boatload of room to move around in the packs.) The checklist is pretty strong but also pretty deep ... so there will be hits and there will be misses. I'm fine with that at this price with everything a 1/1 for its particular color or texture. You'll see a few more breaks here for sure from my new lot and I'd totally open more if they presented themselves at the right price.

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Product Grade: A+ (plates improve this one, though being box-toppers makes them harder to find in lots)
Lot Grade: A+
Fun Grade: A

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