LOTR Evolution

[Guest]

[grecopa]

I read the posts at the "other" site.  I'm not collecting LOTR anyway, so I could care less, but I wonder how the LOTR die hards feel about getting Punk'd? 

[sketchqueen]

I am. And, although I realize it's foolish, when a person posts something, I assume it to be true. From now on, every other artist that posts images will be more deeply scrutinized "Are these what they really submitted? - which is a pity.

[tialessa]

I read the posts at the "other" site.  I'm not collecting LOTR anyway, so I could care less, but I wonder how the LOTR die hards feel about getting Punk'd? 

As Joanna mentioned, I'm relieved, but I'm also angry that he pulled a joke like that.  I know nothing about photoshop nor about the typical quality of his work and I assumed that what he posted was what was submitted.  I am VERY thankful that Topps stepped in after receiving comments and he's admitted that the whole thing was a joke.  How is it funny to lie about something?

[savage727]

I think we have a maturity issue here with Randy.   

[Nienna]

Thing is, he might have put-off those LOTR fans who were considering buying these cards from actually doing so - not the reaction Topps would've been wanting is it?

I'm sure once the boxes/cases have been opened and they're up on then we'll see a free-for-all on prices similar to those on the Star Wars sets.
LOTR collectors will still buy the boxes/cases to try and pull the rarer sketches, but I also think dealers will be wary of getting their fingers burnt because of the sheer number and variety of sketching-styles apparent with the artists Topps have chosen to illustrate the set and the fact that the less popular artists won't command the same prices, which in turn will mean those selling them won't recoup their outlay.
I would be worried about losing a LOT of money on this set if I was a dealer thinking of selling it.

I'm undecided as to whether to buy anything from this set or not ... they've pretty much thrashed it to death in my opinion and unless there's something radically different which ALL of us stand a decent chance at getting in this set, then I probablly won't bother. Sad really ...

[RupT]

Couldn't agree with you more. this may now actually reinforce that i may invest in a box or two!!!

[CC]

Here are a few more cards that were approved:)

[grecopa]

WOW! 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Stunning artwork once again Cynthia!

[Nienna]

More wonderful sketches Cynthia - thanks for sharing!!

[beckham1]

Just was checking some prices on the net and saw this at the end of the description on the Potomac website:

Hand-drawn Artist Sketch Cards will be inserted at an estimated rate of 1 per box (this rate could change without notice).

Kind of scary that they actually said that.  Especially with Topps track record - Can you say SW ROTS Widevision auto ratio change

I can't imagine with all those sketches that at least one per box.  In fact those idiots should make it at least 1.5 per case just to make it up to us for all the other LOTR & SW crap they have pulled. )SO BITTER

[Scifi Cards]

Hand-drawn Artist Sketch Cards will be inserted at an estimated rate of 1 per box (this rate could change without notice).

Kind of scary that they actually said that.  Especially with Topps track record - Can you say SW ROTS Widevision auto ratio change

I can't imagine with all those sketches that at least one per box.

Honestly I don't believe that Topps has ever stated that these will be 1 per box.  Their website says 1:TBD for both sketches and costume cards, which is exactly what they said about the SW RotS Widevision autos.  They have learned to cover their butts pretty good with fancy words and not enough information.

On the flip side, they were telling us 1 per box on the Chrome autos and Batman Animated sketches as well.  They showed up 2 per box, so it goes both ways.

Ed

[Goofyjas]

yea dont pre order anything ans they rations change in our favor

topps said they are trying to get one perbox. so dont order any until after the release!!

[banditwolf]

I haven't seen too many sketches that I really like. If the odds are 3 a box then I might think about it though. I think I'll just stick to the costumes.

[Scifi Cards]

yea dont pre order anything ans they rations change in our favor

topps said they are trying to get one perbox. so dont order any until after the release!!

Unfortunately, I don't think that strategy will work this time.

I talked with 3 different distributors, and all of them said this one was selling quite well.  Seems word of the www.lotrsketchcards.com has hit some of the mainstream e-news outlets.

Pre-Orders for this one have been very good so far with my customers.  I'm thinking that getting an order in early might be the best bet for this one!

Ed

[Trey]

I think this is going to be a nice set but im still undecided as to whether I get a couple of boxes or just buy a sketch or two I really want. I really like the more natural looking ones, not the cartoonish ones so I dont know what to do....maybe I might wait and see 

[beckham1]

Even with a strong preorder on the product it is still a pretty safe bet that you will be able to find plenty of the product, likely at a price the same or close to the presell price for a while afterword IMO.  At least I can't remember the last Topps product that was hard to find.  Even LOTR FOTR took a while for those prices to skyrocket on the boxes, right? 

Batman Begins at one point was thought to be drying up fast after the initial frenzy on the product, but you can still find boxes and cases at prices not much more than preorder.

[Scifi Cards]

Actually, sketch cards do strange things to a product.  Try to find a box of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith (not the widevision, but the first one) at pre-order pricing...

I don't think this one will be that hard to find right off the bat, but I don't think there will be as much dumping of sealed product.  More likely you'll see lots of mediocre sketches flooding the market as people break boxes looking for the best of the best.

Ed

[beckham1]

I could certainly see getting 2-4 nice sketches per case that you would want to keep, but the flip side some are going to likely be crappy in the case.  I am not anti sketch cards by any means I opened a few case of SW Heritage and got some great sketches.  The big question is how to make these manufacturers up their standards for sketch cards they put in boxes. 

For example the cartoon art sketches.  I think all collectors would be happy with a realistic sketch like the ones CC does, but don't think that even close to half of collectors want a "cartoonish" sketch card in their box. 

[savage727]

I know I would not be happy if I pulled a cartoonish sketch and I think Becks that even fewer Collectors than you mentioned would be happy with one.  Just remember not to get drawn up into this sketch card frenzy as you can always have a sketch of whatever LOTR's character you want done the way you want by commission work.  I cannot wait to see how much people are going to spend for this product and what they actually are going to get for their money.  I think many will be disappointed with what they pull.  It is going to be interesting to see what the best sketches are going to sell for on ebay.  Anyone want to make any predictions?