Non-Sport & Entertainment Trading Card News from Non-Sport Update

The 58th Philly Non-Sports Card Show Starts Next Saturday

Written By: Harris Toser - Apr• 26•13

We know things have been pretty quiet here on the NSU blog the last week or so. We are busy wrapping up the Jun/Jul issue of Non-Sport Update (featuring American Horror Story on the cover with Once Upon A Time, American Horror Story, and Star Trek: TNG Heroes and Villains promo cards inside) and getting ready for the 58th Philly Non-Sports Card Show in Allentown, PA.

Speaking of the “Philly Show”, we look forward to welcoming collectors to the show next weekend. As has now become commonplace at the Philly Show, we have a bevy of promotional cards to give away–some are handing out with paid admission to the show, some at manufacturers’ tables, and some at various artist tables. For a look at the promos, visit the Philly Show promo page. We’re adding a promo or two to this page nearly every day between now and the show. You can see a few of the promos below but for the up-to-the-minute, complete list, be sure to visit the Philly Show promo page.

We also have a great artists line-up at the show including Matt Glebe, Mick Glebe, Rhiannon Owens, Sean Pence, Dave Sharpe, Lark Sudol, and Jeff Zapata. Look for artist Laura Inglis at Derek Woywood’s table and artist Chrissy Spallone at Monsterwax’s table. For details on the artists, including sames of their work, visit the Philly Show guest page.

Here are some other show highlights:

The theme of the 58th Philly Non-Sports Card Show is Star Wars. With the show’s first day taking place on Star Wars Day (May The Fourth be with you!), we thought the timing was perfect. Look for an exclusive Topps’ Star Wars promo handed out at the Topps table and members of the Garrison Carida (the local 501st Legion serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia) on Sunday. Bring your camera and get your picture taken with your favorite Star Wars villain.
Topps’ Licensing Manager Adam Levine will be on-hand to discuss the upcoming Mars Attacks set (Mars Attacks: Invasion) with collectors and debut some new artwork. The very first Mars Attacks: Invasion promo card will be handed out at the show.
In an effort to encourage kids to start their own collection, many Philly Show dealers will be giving out free sets to children 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Introduce our great hobby to your kids by bringing them to the show. Be sure to ask at the admission desk for your voucher.

We hope to see many of you at the show! For complete show details, visit the Philly Non-Sports Card Show website.

Star Wars Jedi Legacy (Topps)

Mars Attacks: Invasion (Topps)

Bench Warmer

Cryptids Series 2 (Viceroy Card Company)

2013 True Blood Archives (Rittenhouse Archives)

Mars Attacks: Invasion – The Sequel 51 Years In The Making!

Written By: Harris Toser - Apr• 15•13

A brand-new Mars Attacks card series. We all knew this would come one day. Topps has re-released Mars Attacks twice now. They’ve added new elements such as last year’s “Deleted Scenes” subset and sketch cards, and 1994′s “New Visions” subset. But we all wondered what a totally brand new Mars Attacks series might look like—Who would create the cards? What might the story entail? And now, we’re about to find out.

“Last year’s Heritage re-issue was a smash hit with fans,” says Topps’ Adam Levine, who has overseen the recent resurgence of Mars Attacks, “and this brand-new series is what we’ve been building to. It will be a fresh re-imagining of the original series and will stay faithful to Mars Attacks‘ pulpy, classic sci-fi roots. This means all-new, traditionally hand-painted cards illustrated by a group of artists carefully selected to carry forward creator Norm Saunders’ legacy.”

Mars Attacks: Invasion will be the first all-new Mars Attacks card set. Topps tells us the set will boast an impressive roster of talent, from living legend Earl Norem and master illustrator Joe Jusko to renowned painters Ed Repka, Glen Orbik, Gregory Staples and more to be announced. Artists contributing to the 63-card story-based portion of the set will each illustrate multiple cards, with the set being divided into themed subsets that combine to tell the story of an alien apocalypse unlike any other.

“Topps hasn’t done a set like this in more than twenty years,” says series editor David Waldeck. “It’s a return to the days when trading cards hooked audiences with incredible imagery and imaginative storytelling. We’ve loaded the set with everything fans know and love about Mars Attacks: giant insects, flying saucers, ray guns, robots, damsels and death rays!”

We can’t wait to see what Topps cooks up for the story and art and feel sure it will will impress. Of course, no modern-day set is complete without inserts. While Topps isn’t quite ready to play all of its cards on that front just yet, they have told us about one thing collectors will find in packs—original 1962 Mars Attacks cards. Topps will detail additional chase card levels in the months ahead.

Topps has supplied two brand new images by Earl Norem from one of Invasions’ subsets that details early secret missions to Earth by the martians before the invasion. See them below.

Mars Attacks: Invasion is scheduled for release in October 2013.

Mars Attacks: Invasion subset card, artwork by Earl Norem

Posted in New Releases , Mars Attacks, Topps | 2 Comments »

Visit the Philadelphia Comic-Con This Sunday

Written By: Harris Toser - Apr• 10•13

The Philadelphia Comic-Con takes place this Sunday at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center (formerly the Ramada Philadelphia Airport; 76 Industrial Highway, Essington, PA 19029). While the show boasts many comic book dealers, there will also be non-sport cards for sale at the show via dealer (and Philadelphia Comic-Con show promoter) Derek Woywood. Derek is also a dealer at the Philly Non-Sports Card Show and will be selling discounted Philly Show tickets at the show.

Guests at this Sunday’s Philadelphia Comic-Con include:

Paris Cullins – Artist for Blue Beetle, Blue Devil, and more.
Darren Auck – Marvel, DC, Pacific, and Black Bull Artist; Auck has also worked on sketch cards for many trading card series including Golden Age of Comics, DC Legacy, The Complete Avengers, and many more.
Samuel Guerrero, Jr.- Digital artist with Engine 9 Studios.
Laura Inglis – Artist on over 20 sketch card sets including Batman, Vampirella, Dracula; Cover artist for Firebringer Press’s novels By Your Side and Testing the Prisoner); Contributor to Non-Sport Update‘s blog.

In addition to the artists, the Philadelphia Comic-Con will also host a 1960s TV Batmobile replica. Admission is just $3. For more information, visit the show website: philadelphiacomic-con.com.

Posted in Shows , Derek Woywood, Philadelphia Comic Con | No Comments »

Previewing Ted Dastick Jr.’s Mars Attacks Sketch Cards from the IDW Limited Hardcover Editions

Written By: Harris Toser - Apr• 08•13

Today, we’re happy to bring another preview of the sketch cards from the IDW Limited Mars Attacks hardcover editions. We’ve covered this project extensively having previous interviewed IDW Limited’s Nate Murray, previewed cards by Charles Hall, revealed sketch cards numbers, and previewed cards by sketch cards by John McCrea.

Just to bring those of you who may have missed the earlier stories up to speed. IDW Limited is collecting Mars Attacks comics issues 1 through 5 into two hardcover editions–A red label edition (SRP $125; limited to 250) containing one sketch card created by a top illustrator; And a blue label edition ($400; limited to 50) containing four sketch cards, again, created by top industry talent.

Today, we’re happy to preview sketch cards by Ted Dastick, Jr., or as IDW Limited’s Nate Murray calls him, “Ted Freaking Dastick.” Dastick has been working in sketch cards longer then most and has more credits then you can shake a stick from a sketch card tree at. Dastick worked on the Mars Attacks Heritage set last year and created some awesome sketch cards so it’s no surprise that his work on this project is steller. Murray says “I thought I couldn’t be surprised by anyone else on this set. I thought the bar had reached the top. Then Ted Dastick came along!”

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Above is a preview gallery of Ted’s cards. Ted created 28 sketch cards for the book project and the gallery represents 24 of those cards. You’ll notice that Ted’s cards are all a take-off on famous paintings, album covers, and other popular images. I spoke with Dastick about the project and asked him a few questions:

Some of your recent sketch cards have been started with an album cover, a modern masterpiece painting, or some other pop culture starting point and taken off from there. I’ve seen this not only in the Mars Attacks sets but seems to me like you have done this in other sets. What is it about these album covers and paintings that makes you want to insert Martians into them?

There’s always an attachment to something familiar. The original Mars Attacks cards that always stood out the most to me were the ones with recognizable settings – The Eiffel Tower, Times Square, etc. I just think it’s fun to parody these things. I guess that’s my upbringing with Mad Magazine coming through. But really, is there anything that isn’t better with adding Martians?

What makes a good album cover or painting to populate with our friends from Mars?

It needs to be instantly recognizable. The best part is if you’re caught off guard, you’re first interested in looking at it because it’s “Led Zeppelin IV” or Klimt’s “The Kiss”, but then you do a double-take and realize it’s not what you originally thought. At that point you get the joke, then you can scrutinize it further and see where else I took liberties. It’s almost like solving a puzzle for me. I see these different elements of the original piece, and then try to figure out what I could do with that particular part.

Actually, I think it also works if it’s NOT recognizable. You might be wondering what the heck it’s all about, then decide to research it further and you learn about something you may not have known about before. Then you get the joke! Some of the best punchlines are the ones that take some effort.

Are these mostly albums and paintings that you like or do you base your choices on images that seem like they are missing Martians? ;-)

Yes and yes!

We thought it might be fun to compare Dastick’s pieces with the originals. We’ve created a gallery of those below in addition to the two pieces found within the article. Wouldn’t you agree that Dastick has vastly improved on the originals?

For more info, visit the IDW Limited product pages: Red Label | Blue Label (Please note, contrary to what is noted on the pages, the books are not sold out and are not available for sale yet). You can also find more info on the IDW Limited Facebook page and Twitter feed.

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