Readers note: This is from the first of two podcast episodes on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Topps Star Wars Galaxy card release.
To listen to the full episode, you can download the episode on Apple Podcasts or most major pod catchers, click below or try the Spotify link here.
Sealed box of 36 packs
In the spring of 1993 Topps launched its first Star Wars product in 10 years, since the last cards, stickers and candy were gobbled up by kids after the Return of the Jedi (now passing the 40 year mark). The folks from Topps had a bold idea, to feature an entire set dedicated to the art of the famous trilogy, plus bring in new art from renowned comic artists of the time which would help define a new interpretation for the trilogy and become a classic, which would not only spawn 9 future sequels, but arguably set the stage for bringing a steady flow of Star Wars cards for the next 30 years.
Series 1, 2 and 3 boxes
In part one of a two part series we get a unique and inside look in to the making of that historic set with our guest, artist Sean Taggart who was the Topps Project Manager for Star Wars Galaxy 1.
Instagram: @seantaggart
Sean’s website
In part 2 we will feature several more guests who can give us a wide breath of how the hobby was at the time of the first galaxy release to the modern Chrome Galaxy cards of today. The influences on the hobby and those who might pick up a pencil and start making their own dent in the art universe.
With the number of Topps Star Wars cards out there these days, it’s hard to think of a time they weren’t around.
But that was the situation in the early 90’s. You’ll often hear of fans referring to the time after Jedi and before Phantom Menace as the Dark Times. Star Wars had been off the big screen and store shelves for a time. Even with the Ewok Movies and cartoons of the mid 80’s, most had thought that was it for the franchise.
But some things happened in at the turn of the decade that would set the scene for a return to that Galaxy far far away. Timothy Zahn breathed new life into the Star Wars universe with with the Heir to the Empire, the first of three books continuing the adventures of Luke Leia and Han after Return of the Jedi. Comics and Trading cards had had a huge resurgence since the late 80’s. Now with more direct market shops, companies like Marvel, DC, Topps and others had access to a more die-hard audience, who were interested in bigger takes on their favorite franchises. And speaking of which The 1989 Batman film and its sequels proved that super heroes could appeal to mass audiences and summer blockbusters were getting bigger and bigger budgets.
The early 90’s Marvel captured the imagination of card collectors with its Marvel Universe card releases and the smash 1992 Marvel Masterpieces with original art by Joe Jusko. Clearly the writing was on the wall that collectors took to these art sets.
Topps had been looking for a way to resurrect Star Wars cards and with the 15th Anniversary of A New Hope coming up, an opportunity presented itself to make a splash. Topps’ Ira Friedman, head of New Product Development turned to Gary Gerani, the architect behind the vintage Star Wars cards of the classic films to make a impression with a bold set. With consulting help from Stephan Sansweet they would create a 140 card set - broke up into several sections, that would showcase classic art and be capped with art created just for this release.
Galaxy 1 starts off with a bang! An Impressive title card featuring A Ralph McQuarrie DARTH VADER and Luke. Card 2 is a Drew Struzan tribute to the Maker, George Lucas. The next dozen are amazing portraits done by Joe Smith and called The Star Wars ensemble
Title card featuring art from Ralph McQuarrie
The Design of Star Wars is the first of three large sections. This first features lots of concept art packed with details and more images on the back.
The backs of many of the cards feature rich detail and secondary pictures
The Art of Star Wars is the middle section and features poster, promotional and merchandising art.
Dave Dorman’s cover art for the Dark Empire comic series from Dark Horse
Finally New visions would feature nearly 60 cards of new original art by the likes of Dave Stephens, George Perez, Steve Ditko, Dave Dorman, Cynthia Martin, Gil Kane and scores of others. The backs of those would feature a picture of sketch of the artist with a small bio.
Steve Ditko’s contribution to the New Visions subset from the first Galaxy set.
Chase cards in Galaxy 1 would feature a 6 foil card puzzle by Walt Simonson.
Since mine are still sealed in the box, here’s a Simonson foil from Series 3
All told this was the larger base set than any previous Star Wars one. Its success would spawn a trade paperback with huge full color renderings of the cards. The next year came series 2 and in 1995, Series 3. Topps Comics division would eventually spawn Star Wars Galaxy Magazine and eventually Star Wars Galaxy Collector.
Spin offs of Galaxy included two trade paperbacks, magazines and a later book.
After Galaxy 3, Topps would have its first Finest set in 96, along with the Shadows of the Empire Tie in, featuring a full set from the brothers Hildebrandt. A large sized Master Visions would cap an impressive run in the mid 90’s of amazing art cards, and along with the wide vision and 3D cards would carry the momentum through the special editions hitting the big screen, and then in the late 90’s the beginning of a new trilogy of movies and of course movie photo cards.
But that first set needed to get off the ground and it would need a person with an artist’s insight that could help reach out to an expanding roster of comic artists and ensure their artwork was approved by Lucasfilm, and more importantly, get finished on time.
That’s where Sean Taggart comes in. A great artist in his own rights, he was the Project manager for this set. On the podcast episode, you’ll hear part of his story on how he comes to Topps and his job in helping bring the first Galaxy set to life.
His story in many ways is just as amazing as this set and I think it’s a perfect part one for this special 30th Anniversary look into Topps Galaxy one.
For part two, several guests give a great spectrum of comments about Galaxy throughout its run, from the state of the hobby in the early ‘90s, to the Chrome versions of today. Collectors and artists as well as folks who work on the Digital versions in the mobile app.
More on the Star Wars Digital Galaxy cards in part two
Norris Radd, Karl Schmidt, Steve Stolk and David Dickson are collectors who have enjoyed Galaxy sets from long ago and today talk about what the cards mean to them and how they collect. We also talk with Ben Abusaada who returns once again to the program. He was an artist on the 2018 series 8, but also collected Galaxy as a youth. And we get a taste of a new member of the Galaxy family, as Brandon Bernard, Lead Graphic Designer for Topps Star Wars Card Trader, talks about the amazing original art that collectors can chase under the Digital Galaxy title in the mobile app. And one of those contributors, artist `Robert Jimenez, helps us close out the show talking about art being enjoyed right on your smart phone. Dave Dorman, a last minute addition from a small conversation at Joliet Star Wars Day helps make this a great cap to the two-part special.
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you liked what you read and saw, make sure to comment below and you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Threads and Hive @rebelbasecard.
Love the historical context here!