Panini Offers a First Look at Upcoming Michael Jackson Set

It's been almost a year since Michael Jackson suddenly passed away. In that time there's been much speculation over which company would step forward and produce the inevitable card set commemorating his life and career. Topps and O-Pee-Chee produced sets back when Thriller was big but there's been nothing since.

Set for a late-August release, Panini's Michael Jackson set looks like a very classy tribute featuring strong designs and a wide-range of material. Card themes include Top Ten Singles, Decades and Number Ones. Early materials make it tough to tell whether these are part of the base set or inserts.

Although there doesn't appear to be any autographs this time around, either in the form of Jackson cut signatures or autographs from people connected to the star, there is a variety of memorabilia cards featuring different costumes. Memorabilia programs include:

• Eclectic Threads Shirt, Pants and Dual Swatches numbered to 499 or less.
• Televised Fashions numbered to 499 or less.
• Jackson Live Single and Dual swatches numbered to 499 or less.

Finally, in typical Panini fashion, there's the parallels. Diamond parallels will be numbered out of 10 or less. Again, promo materials don't state whether these are for the regular cards, inserts, memorabilia cards or combinations of all three.

Five-card packs will carry a suggested price of $3.00 with 24 packs in a hobby box. Twenty boxes will make up a case.