Four years ago, Topps released its Star Wars Galactic Files trading cards --- a massive 350-card set that documented the entire history of Star Wars character, vehicles, moments and more from across the first 35 years of the franchise. In addition to providing some insight into all those aspects, the cards also featured stats for each character, much like the old Marvel Universe cards. It was a fun way to look back at these characters and see how they truly ranked, with characters like Luke getting better stats as the films progressed.

Next year, the Galactic Files will be "reborn" as a new set, adding in The Force Awakens, as well as the Clone Wars and Rebels animated series. Now we'll finally know just how powerful characters like Rey, Kylo Ren and Kanan are compared to the rest of the Force-sensitive heroes and villains from the saga.

The new Galactic Files will offer a 250-card base set, with seven different base variants scattered throughout. The variants will change the background color design, with the default being black. Orange and blue won't be too hard to track down, but full sets of green (#'d/199), purple (#'d/99), gold (#'d/10), and red (1/1) will certainly be a challenge to complete.

Beyond the base set, there are inserts for vehicles, quotes, locations, weapons, and galactic moments. Most are fairly self-explanatory, but galactic moments were a limited set in the previous release that captured specific moments in time from all the movies. It'll be interesting to see if that is again the track they follow, or if Topps has new plans for this insert chase.

 

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Of course the big draw for any new Star Wars hobby box are autograph cards. Galactic Files: Reborn won't disappoint in that regard, as at least one autograph is guaranteed per box. The autograph cards have been traditionally tough to pull in some of Topps' more recent hobby boxes, but there are going to be more than 75 different characters with autographs in the set.

You will have an opportunity beyond just single signatures too, as there are going to be 10 dual-signature and five triple-signature cards, too. There is even one six-signature card in the set, though like the dual and triple, the odds are dramatically more difficult to find it. Gold (#'d/25) and red (1/1) parallels will be in the signature set too, with printing plates offering another 1/1 shot at an ultra-ultra-ultra rare card.

Manufactured relics will again be used for this Topps set, with no authentic relics or sketch cards to be found. The manufactured relics this time around won't be medallions or character patches, but instead poster patches from each of the films in the saga. Fifty different patch relics will be in the set, with variants in purple (#'d/199), gold (#'d/99) and red (1/1) also available. Basically just keep your eyes open for any red cards you get because those are going to be the most sought-after for the series in any format.

With the relics and printing plates (which also exist for all the base cards in the set), along with the autographs, you have your two guaranteed pulls in any given box all sorted. Whether or not you get one of those prized autos for actors like Mark Hamill, John Boyega or Ashley Eckstein will depend on the will of the Force a great deal. Including more manufactured relics as one of the guaranteed hits is sure to draw the ire of collectors that already have dozens from previous Star Wars sets, but with the more limited actual relics tied up in Topps' more expensive sets, such is the way of the hobby.

Topps Star Wars Galactic Files: Reborn will be available Feb. 15, 2017. Boxes will offer 24 packs with eight cards each. No price or pre-order details are available yet.

 

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