LOTR Evolution

[Guest]

[reidelmundo]

Topps has posted info about LOTR Evolution on their website!!!

There is going to be a retail set with costume/memorabilia cards and a hobby set with sketch cards (a list of 47  artists is listed).

Both will have level A and B foil inserts just like it was the case with Star Wars evolution and both will have stained glass cards.

That's a lot of insert sets. NICE!!! 

But how in the world am I going to complete a master set with one sketch from each artist.  Impossible!!! 

[beckham1]

With 47 sketch card artists it sounds like they are going to try to make a crap load of this product, which should be easy if only sketches are in the hobby version.  So 47 artists lets say they did 250 sketches each=11,750 sketches (8 box cases ((assuming)) that would be almost 1,500 cases of LOTR Ev hobby.  That is alot of product.  maybe I am way off, just a fun guess.  250 sketches per artist probably isn't a ton

[Bryanjs14]

oh no!
this is bad, this is really bad....I should have known...
Randy Martinez.....oh joy, now we have really crappy cartoon like lord of the rings sketches to look forward to.

[savage727]

Cynthia Cummins is one of the artists doing sketchcards for this set.  She said in another topic here that she did 350 sketchcards for LOTR Evolution.  I saw her work and it is first rate but I know nothing about any of the other artists listed to do the work.  Anyone have some tips on who to look for that they think will produce some nice artwork in this set?

[Scifi Cards]

With 47 sketch card artists it sounds like they are going to try to make a crap load of this product, which should be easy if only sketches are in the hobby version.  So 47 artists lets say they did 250 sketches each=11,750 sketches (8 box cases ((assuming)) that would be almost 1,500 cases of LOTR Ev hobby.  That is a lot of product.  maybe I am way off, just a fun guess.  250 sketches per artist probably isn't a ton

Actually, many of the low tier (Randy Martinez, etc) artists do 500 sketches.  However, many of the upper tier artists do 100 or less typically with previous sets having sketches with only a couple of dozen by an artist.  The sell sheet for this one has some sample sketches.  Half of them will appeal to all LotR fans, the other half are more charactures and might not be very popular with most fans.

They also say they are shooting for 1 sketch per box, however if pre-orders don't hold up to expectations Topps has been known to reduced the odds.  This happened for both LotR Trilogy Chrome and Batman Animated.

The stained glass cards are printed on clear acetate stock, so the background colors are transparent.  Rittenhouse has done several chase sets of these as have other manufacturers.  They make white backed pages that make them look much nicer in a binder.  If anybody needs some of those when the time comes, just let me know.  I stock them.

Ed

[savage727]

Thanks for the info Ed.  The white backed pages sound like they will work like a charm and now I know where to get some - thanks again!   

Any word on what clothing/memorabilia cards will be for this set?

[dayhiker]

With 47 sketch card artists it sounds like they are going to try to make a crap load of this product, which should be easy if only sketches are in the hobby version.  So 47 artists lets say they did 250 sketches each=11,750 sketches (8 box cases ((assuming)) that would be almost 1,500 cases of LOTR Ev hobby.  That is a lot of product.  maybe I am way off, just a fun guess.  250 sketches per artist probably isn't a ton

Actually, many of the low tier (Randy Martinez, etc) artists do 500 sketches.  However, many of the upper tier artists do 100 or less typically with previous sets having sketches with only a couple of dozen by an artist.  The sell sheet for this one has some sample sketches.  Half of them will appeal to all LotR fans, the other half are more charactures and might not be very popular with most fans.

They also say they are shooting for 1 sketch per box, however if pre-orders don't hold up to expectations Topps has been known to reduced the odds.  This happened for both LotR Trilogy Chrome and Batman Animated.

The stained glass cards are printed on clear acetate stock, so the background colors are transparent.  Rittenhouse has done several chase sets of these as have other manufacturers.  They make white backed pages that make them look much nicer in a binder.  If anybody needs some of those when the time comes, just let me know.  I stock them.

Ed

great info! thanks for sharing them! was wondering though about how many diferent costume cards there would be... also any news on pricing per box or per case?

thanks.

[Goofyjas]

well a shot in the dark 300 a case 35-45 a box

[Scifi Cards]

great info! thanks for sharing them! was wondering though about how many diferent costume cards there would be... also any news on pricing per box or per case?

I will have the hobby version for $42.00 a box or $308 a case for pre-paid pre-orders.

I'm working on getting the retail version as well, but no promises just yet.   As normal, no additional information on how many costume cards we might expect from the retail product.

Ed

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Interesting look with the cards - Evolution A = 1:4 packs, Evolution B = 1:12 packs







I like the look of the memorabilia ones! [Odds: TBC]


...but am still not sure about the stained glass ones [Odds: 1:6]


And of course we have drooled over this lovely Cynthia Cummins example sketch [Sketch card odds: TBC]

[Scifi Cards]

Here are some more images from the sell sheet:

Some Sketches



And some of the acetate Stained Glass cards:


I'll probably re-size them later, but I wanted everyone to see the actual size image first...

I'll let you all give feedback on them...

Ed

[tialessa]

I will have the hobby version for $42.00 a box or $308 a case for pre-paid pre-orders.

I'm working on getting the retail version as well, but no promises just yet.   As normal, no additional information on how many costume cards we might expect from the retail product.

Tempting tempting tempting...  An 8 box case?  (LOTR:TTT Update was a 4 box case)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

And WOW!  Those extra sketch images are freaking sweet!  WOW! WOW! WOW!

[Scifi Cards]

Just found out I'll be able to get retail on this one as well!

Retail is 12 boxes per case, 24 packs per box, 6 cards per pack.
Hobby is 8 boxes per case, 24 packs per box, 6 cards per pack.

I will have the Retail Version for $39.50 a box or $432 a case.
I will have the hobby version for $42.00 a box or $308 a case.
A Half case of each (4H,6R) will be $370.00 for pre-paid pre-orders.

Ed

[robwaddle]

I'm not convinced about the Stained Glass cards. But I wants them sketches 

Rob 

[savage727]

The sketch cards are going to be interesting and from what I can see by Ed's post there is going to be a big spread in quality of work.  The Frodo card looks bad to me and the Gandalf and Aragorn ones look cartoonish.  I would not be happy if I received those kinds of cards in my boxes.  The other three look just great - CC's Gimli is outstanding and the Arwen and Aragorn are as well.  As far as the clothing card shown - we already have elven cloak cards from other sets.  I need a lot more info before I shell out money on this one.  I know I will be watching ebay for sketch cards.  I am unsure of the stained glass cards as well at this point.

[dayhiker]

i will agree with Ed (savage) on this one... some sketch cards are too cartoony- dont care too much about them. the others are beautifully done. stained glass cards are ok but if the main characters photo is sl out of focus (see legolas), then it ruins it. would love better photos. i like the uncommon and rare cards.

Ed SciFi- when do you need to know about prepaid preorders? plan to get some...when will we get news on the costume cards?

ed

[Scifi Cards]

i will agree with Ed (savage) on this one... some sketch cards are too cartoony- dont care too much about them. the others are beautifully done. stained glass cards are ok but if the main characters photo is sl out of focus (see legolas), then it ruins it. would love better photos. i like the uncommon and rare cards.

That's one of the big problems with sketch cards, art is subjective and what one person loves another hates.

Ed SciFi- when do you need to know about prepaid preorders? plan to get some...when will we get news on the costume cards?

Do we have enough Ed's running around here?

My distributor has an order date of January 9 for this one, with a release date of March 1st.  Sooner is better, but barring quick sellout (doubtful) I need to know by the 8th of January.

Unfortunately, we may find out about the costume cards when the first one of us opens a box and reads the packs.  That's pretty much the way both RotK and RotKU were.

Ed

[beckham1]

Interesting on the "cartoonish" sketch cards, I was thinking the same thing.  Something you would expect out of a product like SW Clone Wars, but not something I would be happy if I pulled from a box.  I agree on the Gimli, I think we all do that it is a fantastic sketch card.  I always have thought CC sketches were very well done.  I liked her Heritage ones alot.  I will likely try to collect all the costume cards as I have almost all of them from the previous sets, but don't think I can place an order for anything if I have no idea (in a retail product) if they will fall one per box or one per case

How do they expect you to place an order with no ratios?  Looks like it will be  for the costume cards and a few sketches.  After Topps Heritage sketches (of which some I pulled I was happy with the rest not so much) I think I will let someone else do the opening....well maybe I will get a couple of boxes.

[CC]

Hello everyone,
Topps has given permission to begin posting sketch cards. Here's a sample:


And to see many more, visit my site: http://www.cynthiacummensart.com/ToppsLOTR/LOTR1.htm

Enjoy!
Cynthia

[Sharon]

Thanks Cynthia and thanks to Topps.  They are gorgeous