What: 2016 Topps Star Wars Evolution
Arrives: May 4, 2016
Box basics: Two hits in every 24-pack hobby box with 12 boxes per case (hobby only)

What's buzz-worthy: One of Topps memorable Star Wars brands from the past returns with a new wave of autographs, hits and more from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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It's a trend that's been growing for the last decade, but there are probably more than a few collectors who have walked right by them in the card aisle at retail stores not realizing what can be had inside packs.

They're generally known as blind-wrapped mystery toys -- a small vinyl figure inside a box or mylar pouch. They're something that's been popular in Japan for a long time, but have  taken off in the United States for the last decade.

Think of them as one part coin vending machine, one part toy and one part sports card.

Oh, and they can be one part fun.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

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There will be an awakening in less than a month and we've all felt it in some form or fashion as collectors.

The latest example of that might be Empire magazine's newest issue, which arrives this week with not one, not two, but six different covers for stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens arriving on Dec. 18.

Each cover arrives with a 3D look delivered via lenticular plastic -- you know, like the old school Kellogg's and Sporflics cards ... but just more intergalactic and stuff.

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It's no secret that Ringo Starr isn't a fan of signing autographs -- even though he's done so thousands of times up until a few years ago when he posted a video on his website saying "no more."

But now The Beatles' drummer is signing just 250 copies of “Property From The Collection of Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach” which is the auction catalog box set for the upcoming sale of his memorabilia collection though Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions.

How much?

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If you've collected non-sports cards in the last decade or so, then you know just how interesting a good sketch card can be. They come in all media and subjects, but they all have one thing in common.

Real hand-made art on a trading card that's typically just 2.5 by 3.5 inches.

Buzz was buzzing around Facebook today and found this image of a work in progress by Julio Nar, aka NAR!, who has created some of the most-detailed sketch cards in the hobby. The card above is all hand-inked with various passes to add detail and color.

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A mysterious package arrived at BlowoutCards.com HQ on Monday morning with some sample images and a flash drive with a single video clip inside.

Here is that video.

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The third Blowout Black Friday Doorbuster Preview this year is one that will make a case for buried treasure and cinematic greatness all in one pretty large package.

Autographs of Harrison Ford, George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg aren't the easiest pulls in the world, but they all can be found in Topps Indiana Jones Heritage. An eight-box case of this one will be one of the dramatically discounted Doorbuster deals on Black Friday (Nov. 27) at BlowoutCards.com.

How much for a case?

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If he signs it, they will come.

Leaf Trading Cards revealed on Friday that it has the first certified autographs of actor Kevin Costner found in packs of the upcoming 2015 Leaf Trinity baseball product.

Other than occasional cuts, he had never signed for a card company.

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Variant editions of comic books are sometimes the Superfractors of that world, commanding crazy cash because of their scarcity and, of course, demand for them.

While this copy of Star Wars Vader Down issue No. 1 is not a 1/1 creation, it's estimated by those in the know to be as rare as a dozen copies because it was only available to dealers who ordered ... wait for it ... 4,999 copies of the standard book. You buy that many, you get one of these.

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What: 2015 BenchWarmer Holiday Past & Presents
Arrives: Dec. 11
Hobby box basics: Box breakdown is TBD (16 boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: This upcoming product is a combination of new cards and "ultra-low numbered archive cards" and, according to the company, there will be only 65 cases produced.

See a gallery and more ... below.

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Star Wars is a force. We all know that it's a behemoth at the box office, a trailblazer in the toy aisle and just about everywhere else these days in advance of The Force Awakens' arrival next month.

But the sales figures estimates for the toy sales alone so far are staggering.

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What: 2016 The Walking Dead Season 4 Part 1
Arrives: February 2016
Hobby box basics: 24 packs of five cards, 12 boxes per case (hits TBD)

What's buzz-worthy: The latest Walking Dead set will include autographs, prop and wardrobe memorabilia cards and sketch cards along with a selection of cardboard chronicling what has been TV's top show for the last few years.

Keep reading for more.

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What: 2016 Big Bang Theory Seasons 6-7
Arrives: March 2016
Hobby box basics: 24 packs of five cards, six boxes per case (hits TBD)

What's buzz-worthy: The sixth and seventh seasons in this long-running series will be captured in a 72-card base set with foilboard parallels and three insert card sets.

Keep reading for more.

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After a few heavy weeks for new releases -- and with Black Friday still to come later this month -- this week's schedule for new products just feels lighter. But it still packs some punch.

For football collectors, 2015 Topps Chrome is set to arrive on Wednesday with one rookie autograph in every 24-pack hobby box. It comes on the heels of Topps Finest's colorful and delayed arrival and Panini Prizm's expanded rainbow hitting last week, but the allure of Superfractor autos has been among the strongest out there for football cards in recent years.

It's also not the only heavyweight coming.

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Fans of Funko Pop! figures may not see a change in their seemingly always-arriving collectibles, but there was a change in ownership for the Everett, Wash.-based company that makes them earlier this month.

Funko, which was founded in 1998, was acquired by ACON Investments for an undisclosed sum. Its CEO, Brian Mariotti, and management team will continue to lead operations.

"We are excited to be partnering with Brian and the entire Funko team," said Ken Brotman, Founding Partner of ACON, in a prepared statement. "Funko has established itself as a fore-runner in the pop culture space and we look forward to building value in a business that is very well positioned for continued growth."

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Fans of Arrow have just a few more days to wait before Cryptozoic's newest set of cards chronicling the series arrive packing one autograph and one memorabilia card per box.

The set is 2015 Arrow Season 2 and it will include a deep roster of signers with several signers signing cards for their dual roles on the show, which is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

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Many of us live in an iTunes world, jettisoning the tangible plastic and paper of CDs for a simple download, but there's one reason why you might want to consider returning to your collecting roots and have a CD in hand.

Sometimes they can come with free autographs.

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The long-running tale of Doctor Who spans generations as well as more than one TV series, and the international appeal of the time-traveling adventures will all be showcased in a new trading card set arriving later this month from Topps.

It's 2015 Topps Doctor Who, and it's set to arrive on Nov. 25 with two hits per box.

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Upper Deck Authenticated has added a new chapter in its ongoing line of comic book and movie gallery prints that showcase memorable stories and characters on a monthly basis.

Gangs of New York joins The Crow among the movie properties to appear on the prints, which are printed on premium paper and are individually hand numbered and also have variants. They are sold via the Upper Deck Store online. Among the Marvel Comics characters to have prints so far are Wolverine, Daredevil and The Avengers.

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Update (Nov. 10): Leaf Trading Cards' Brian Gray said he recently completed a signing with Chase and his first autograph cards will be found in packs of 2016 Leaf Pop Century.

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He's a comedy icon with memorable roles as Clark Griswold in the National Lampoon Vacation films, Ty Webb in Caddyshack, Irwin Fletcher in Fletch, Dusty Bottoms in Three Amigos and so much more.

But there's one place you haven't seen Chevy Chase and that's on a certified (non-cut) autograph card.

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With so many notable films set to arrive between now and the end of the year, it's easy to miss things when it comes to the varied -- and largely un-checklisted -- world of movie memorabilia.

After all, a single movie can have countless advance posters teasing the forthcoming film released months or even years in advance. Then, upon arrival, there can be all kinds of promotional materials -- posters, in-theater giveaways, in-store promotions and merchandise to chase. You know, the playbook started by Star Wars.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

Continue reading →

There are several new products on tap for this coming week with some brands that had experienced some delays finally getting the nod along with some memorabilia-based and cut autograph releases.

The biggest arrivals will be 2015 Panini Prizm football cards and 2015 Panini Contenders baseball cards.

For Prizm, it's the return of the rainbow of parallels with plenty of new touches and inclusions sure to get football fans going. Standard Prizm boxes will include two autographs per, while jumbo boxes will double that.

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