Gorgeous Artwork Highlights Set From TCM

Throughout the month of August Turner Classic Movies will be airing their "Summer Under the Stars" festival, showcasing a different star for each day of the month. The cable network is also offering up 500 sets of gorgeous trading cards specifically for the event.

The cards feature the stunning artwork of Michael Schwab. The back of each card includes a quote from the movie and character featured, as well as a list of the star’s other films being shown.  For a chance to win a set of cards, visit http://tcm.com/summer (although the contest doesn't seem to be live yet).  Two sweepstakes drawings will be held, with 250 winners chosen in the middle of the month and another 250 chosen at the end of the month.

iCardz Remembers Canada's War Contributions With Gorgeous Promo Cards

Today is a day where we remember those who fought for our countries and continue to make sacrifices for freedom and the good of humanity even today. Last year iCardz released their first set, Lest We Forget: D-Day, which celebrated the Canadian contributions on the beaches of Normandy. They're also putting the finishing touches on America at War: WWII, which I previewed in September. The manufacturer is also busy getting a follow-up Canadian set ready for the new year: Canada at War: WWI and WWII. To launch the set, iCardz produced a series of promo cards that were distributed in packs attached to a recent issue of Legion Magazine, a Canadian publication that celebrates the country's military and its veterans.

The promo set has a total of 20 cards plus two headers, one for each of the wars. iCardz was kind enough to pass along two of the promo packs to share. They each contained eight cards, seven from the numbered set and one header. Doing some quick math, it'd take three copies of the magazine and a little luck to complete the set. The cards are also skip numbered, so figuring out what you need could be a little difficult. Thankfully, some fine folks over at Non-Sport Update's Card Talk did their homework. The complete set of Canada at War: WWI and WWII promos has the following cards:

LM26
LM27
LM29
LM36
LM40
LM46
LM48
LM55
LM60
LM61
LM63
LM67
LM68
LM70
LM71
LM72
LM96
LM114
LM118
LM125
WWI Header
WWII Header

Design-wise, these cards are gorgeous. The photographs are intense and help tell the story of the wars. The images are sharp and appear to be digitally colored. The name plates and choice of fonts are both very classy. Red plates and backs are for WWI and WWII is accented with blue. Card backs are text driven and contain lots of information.

iCardz project manager Alastair Grant did let me know that these promos do not totally reflect the quality of the final cards. He mentioned the promos were printed in-house, which explains some of the chipping on the edges. The final release of the set will see improved cardstock printed on recycled paper.

Here is a look at some more of the Legion Magazine promos:

 

iCardz has an excellent site for their products that not only has info on the sets but links and content that compliments the cards.

San Diego Comic Con Card Swag List

I'm going to do my best to keep a tally of the cards handed out at this year's Halloween costume mecca better known as Comic Con. The list will get to the point and that's about all, meant purely for reference purposes. If you know of anything that's missing (cards only, please), please email me so it can be added.

Artbox:

Harry Potter
Artbox is once again selling goodie bags that contain an assortment of previously released products and some new exclusives:

Prop/Costume Cards
SDCC09-CP1 Just Like That & Boxing Telescope Boxes
SDCC09-CP2 Slughorn's Office Cushions and Armchair
SDCC09-CP3 Slughorn's Christmas Party Guest Costume and Lantern Prop
SDCC09-CP4 Death Eater & Dumbledore Dual Costume

Prop Cards
Three different prop cards featuring pieces from Quidditch stand material. The cards are numbered /550 and showcase Gryffindor, Slythrin and one for all schools.

Harry Potter Stinks button. This will likely be one of the more popular exclusives from the show as it's limited to 33 copies and will only be given out through a raffle - five per day with three left over for the Artbox and licensor vaults.

Oversized Autograph
SDCC09. Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

Breygent:

Dexter
Breygent will be offering special Dexter sets at SDCC. According to the Canadian company you get a 72-card base set, two costume cards and seven foil cards.


Ghost Whisperer
The first Ghost Whisperer cards will arrive at Comic Con with Breygent selling a box with a 72-card base set, two costume cards, two autographs and nine foil cards. The two autographs I've seen on eBay have the SDCC logo.

Rittenhouse Archives:
Althout RA won't be set up at the show themselves, they are making promos available at several card dealers' booths.
 

Lost 
P1 (Wednesday)
P2 (Thursday)
P3 (Friday)
P4 (Saturday)
P5 (Sunday)

 

  

  

Spider-Man Archives

SD09 available only at the Marvel booth. 

Stargate Heroes

SD09

 

Star Trek: The Original Series 2009

P4

 

  

Summit Entertainment:

New Moon
Two different promo packs for the upcoming Twilight sequel. The first is a set of five that focuses on Team Jacob. The second set of promos has four cards: Bella, Edward, Jacob and a header.

Unknown Manufacturers:

Spartacus
Promo pack of eight cards promoting the new series or mini-series that debuts in the winter.

The Karate Kid Invades Philadelphia

I have to say that after looking at the initial checklist for the upcoming Donruss Americana III, there was very little that caught my attention. The autograph checklist has a lot of familiar names who have already signed for the series.

There is one exception that I'm very stoked for: Ralph Macchio, better known as The Karate Kid. The promo card pictured below will be one of several exclusive cards handed out at the Philly Non-Sport Card Show this weekend in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Macchio's autograph card debut will come with several parallel's in Donruss Americana III, which is scheduled for release at the start of June. Other Americana "rookies" include James Caan (Sonny from The Godfather), Michael Madsen and JOEY LAWRENCE! Understand my lack of excitement, now?

For more product info, here's Donruss' page.