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: 2016 Topps Star Wars Rogue One: Mission Briefing trading cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 189
Base set completion:
110 of 110 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 27
Insert cards: 51 (see more in gallery below)
Death Star Black parallel (12) – Luke Finds The Force, Jyn Erso, The Emperor’s Transmission, Sandtrooper Checkpoint, Kanan Fires Back, Mon Mothma, Ready to Go, The Attack Begins, A Senator’s Grand Plan, The Rebellion is Victorious, Captain Cassian Andor, Escaping The Empire
Green Squadron parallel (8) – Rescuing Han Solo, The Tractor Beam, Battle on the Beach, The Execution of Order 66, Clones Evolve, TIE Fighters in Pursuit, Millennium Falcon, Assembling the Death Star
Blue Squadron parallel (6) – Briefing the Rebel Forces, Alderaan’s Sad Fate, Finale of a Friendship, Springing Kallus’ Trap, Admiral Motti, Death Star Destroyed
Death Star (6) – Trash Compactor 3263827, Superlaser, Docking Bay 327, Imperial Conference Room, Tractor Beam Controls, Thermal Exhaust Port
Heroes of the Rebel Alliance (3) – Han Solo, Wedge Antilles, General Madine
Villains of the Galactic Empire (3) – Stormtrooper, Admiral Ozzel, General Veers
Comic Strips (4) – K-250, Baze Malbus, Bodhi Rook, Death Troopers
Darth Vader continuity (3) – Darth Vader Nos. 1-3
Character stickers (2) – Director Krennic, Bistan
Character foils (3) – Cassian, Darth Vader, Deathtrooper
Commemorative patch (1) – Bistan
Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Sketch card (1) – Stormtrooper sketch by Carlos Cabaleiro (/1)
What’s Buzz-worthy: When this one was originally unveiled it was known as “Journey to Rogue One” because its approach mirrored the challenges Topps faced when it embarked on its Journey to The Force Awakens — tease an upcoming movie on cardboard without giving anything away. Somewhere since that time, its name changed to Mission Briefing and, while the box looks like it’s a slick modern approach to cards, this one still carries its retro feel like the first Journey. It’s a tad disconnected in spots, but it still generally works. The basic set uses the design from the 1983 Return of the Jedi set with crisp, clear images and printing that shows us the story surrounding the upcoming movie — in other words scenes from past films that tie in here. It’s a solid set. … You get a number of parallels in each pack since there are three commonly found types (and more if you get lucky) in a box while there is a smattering of inserts. The character foil and Darth Vader cards stand out well with their look and their holoboard stock, while the Death Star insert is solid with a full-bleed design on retro stock that makes one wonder what Stadium Club Retro might feel like or what the recently released Star Wars sets could have been on retro stock. Overall, this one was more fun than this collector expected with a sketch card and some fun surprises on inserts. Why was it surprising? There’s been a lot of cardboard for the franchise in the last year — so it all starts to feel the same. This one does follow the Journey formula of a past design with a retro feel — and that just feels fun as long as the box isn’t too pricey. This collector wishes this kind of approach would be used after the film arrives, giving us the true Heritage feel of the 1980s with new material — enough to tell the whole story this way.
Product Grade: B+ (solid base set though maybe too many parallels — also not fan of patches)
Box Grade: A (can’t argue with a 1/1)
Fun Grade: A (good variety of inserts)
Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.
>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com
BlowoutBuzz.com 