Topps No Longer Doing Artist Return Sketches for Star Wars Sets

[Gurds]

Saw on facebook in the Topps Star Wars group from an artist that they got this email this morning that says Topps no longer will be able to provide Artist Returns as compensation due to a decision from Disney.

"Hello Artists,

Hope everyone had a great 2023 and is ready for an exciting new year filled with creative endeavors in 2024. Reflecting on the past year, I'm grateful for the strides we've made in our relationships. I sincerely hope my efforts have contributed to your satisfaction and made our collaboration as smooth as possible. In 2023, I aimed to address past communication challenges, striving to ensure everyone feels heard and valued in our partnership.

Regrettably, I must share news about a change in Disney's policy regarding sketch cards for 2024. They have communicated that we are no longer able to provide Artist Returns as compensation. I understand that this news is disheartening for all the talented artists in our community. Please know that we are actively working on enhancing our payment structures for artists and are exploring new ways to amplify your presence in 2024. Notably, this change applies exclusively to Star Wars products, and for all other projects, we will continue to provide Artist Proofs (APs).

In addition to these adjustments, we are excited to announce improvements to our Entertainment brand. This means more sketch products for licenses beyond Star Wars and GPK, offering increased opportunities for Artist Returns. We are committed to showcasing our artists more prominently on social media and our websites, providing you with a broader platform to showcase your incredible work.

I want to emphasize that this shift may be temporary. Disney's decision is a response to unlicensed products circulating online, capturing their attention. I assure you that I am actively advocating for your interests and working to find a middle ground that aligns with everyone's needs.
Your understanding during this challenging period is deeply appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Together, we will navigate these changes and continue to create remarkable art.

Thank you for your continued dedication and creativity."

[newhobbygeek]

Thank you for sharing.

I wonder what 'unlicensed products circulating online' is in reference? I can only guess AP's on Star wars blanks that never got approval or sketches on custom/unlicensed card stock blanks?

[zonacats8]

Really hope Disney doesn't do this to UD for their Marvel stuff as well

Artists seem annoyed with what they get paid to begin with, if they stop giving them AP's to make a little extra money on, they're going to start to drop out of products all together and we're going to get some really bad sketch quality in upcoming products

[finfangfan]

The Star Wars stuff is probably more due to using actor images… whereas the Marvel stuff originated in comics and easier to avoid actor likenesses than say a drawing of Luke Skywalker.

[zonacats8]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

The Star Wars stuff is probably more due to using actor images… whereas the Marvel stuff originated in comics and easier to avoid actor likenesses than say a drawing of Luke Skywalker.

Not really sure why that would stop them from giving out AP's... they allow actor likenesses to be used in sketches that go in the products because they kind of have to. You can't do it with them like Marvel because like you said, there are really only the actor likenesses to go off of, no old comics.

How are you going to do any SW human character sketch and not have it look like the actor?

Would be kinda dumb to have a Luke that doesn't look anything like him

[HiltonL]

Ever since the Disney takeover of Lucasfilm, we've heard dribs and drabs of actors having final say over use of their specific likenesses. This has also been occurring in MCU sets.

If this leads to *more base pay* for artists, then I say yay. Every artist I've encountered in the last 15 or so years has had trouble offloading APs. Presumably because the approval process is terrible.

Contracts are slow to hammer out and use of actor likenesses just drags them out longer. I'm not surprised by this development.

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by HiltonL

Ever since the Disney takeover of Lucasfilm, we've heard dribs and drabs of actors having final say over use of their specific likenesses. This has also been occurring in MCU sets.

If this leads to *more base pay* for artists, then I say yay. Every artist I've encountered in the last 15 or so years has had trouble offloading APs. Presumably because the approval process is terrible.

Contracts are slow to hammer out and use of actor likenesses just drags them out longer. I'm not surprised by this development.

I'm still annoyed that I don't have a Poe Hot Toys figure for my Star Wars Hot Toys collection. Heard it was Oscar's call and he was a hard no when Hot Toys approached him.

[aggie4ever]

I don't think it has anything to do with actor likenesses. The letter says it's due to unlicensed products circulating online. A few artists are messing it up for all the others, due to doing things like putting Trump on their SW sketch cards, or non-SW characters like Seasame Street, or non-SW actors like putting Marvel actors in jedi garb.

I've noticed one artist in particular who signs their cards on the back CRABB, who does photo realistic cards of famous actors/actresses on a variety of sketch cards, even sets that shouldn't include real actors and just comic book characters. This artist has been listing dozens of cards each week, and I'm fairly certain they have not been an official artist on any of the sets they are doing cards on.

[PurplesaurusRex]

Originally Posted by aggie4ever

I've noticed one artist in particular who signs their cards on the back CRABB, who does photo realistic cards of famous actors/actresses on a variety of sketch cards, even sets that shouldn't include real actors and just comic book characters. This artist has been listing dozens of cards each week, and I'm fairly certain they have not been an official artist on any of the sets they are doing cards on.

Lol, why am I not surprised. Here's some more info on this joker:

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...210443&page=11

[Raymond23]

Originally Posted by zonacats8

Not really sure why that would stop them from giving out AP's... they allow actor likenesses to be used in sketches that go in the products because they kind of have to. You can't do it with them like Marvel because like you said, there are really only the actor likenesses to go off of, no old comics.

How are you going to do any SW human character sketch and not have it look like the actor?

Would be kinda dumb to have a Luke that doesn't look anything like him

Exhibit A:

[greatgradegrate]

Originally Posted by aggie4ever

I don't think it has anything to do with actor likenesses. The letter says it's due to unlicensed products circulating online. A few artists are messing it up for all the others, due to doing things like putting Trump on their SW sketch cards, or non-SW characters like Seasame Street, or non-SW actors like putting Marvel actors in jedi garb.

My first thought as well. That one ebay account that sells the sketches you references seems to commission/consign art from 3 or 4 for artists on licensed blanks and half the time they are Trump-related. So Trump as Vader on Disney stock and they sell for multiple hundreds.

Setting aside how gross I find that specific subject on SW cards, this development truly bums me as a sketch focused collector. Can't see the highest quality artists contributing the same amount of sketches if they are being compensated $20-$30 a card instead of $2-$3 and with the promise of extra Metazoo APs.

[glorbgorb]

Hate to say it, but Topps could have easily added the unique ids on the back of blank cards like UD did back in 20-21 Annual/Spidey Metal time frame. That way they can get rid of unscrupulous artists and sellers like maxxattackk would have minimal impact.

[greatgradegrate]

Originally Posted by glorbgorb

Hate to say it, but Topps could have easily added the unique ids on the back of blank cards like UD did back in 20-21 Annual/Spidey Metal time frame. That way they can get rid of unscrupulous artists and sellers like maxxattackk would have minimal impact.

Yeah, really they just need to account for all blanks. My understanding (pls correct if wrong) was that artists had to scan all sketches and at least send back the pack inserts.

Shouldn't the artist liaison (or whomever is tasked with facilitating sketch cards) be able to track down any missing APs to the artist? How are the blanks that show up on ebay fall through the Topps cracks?

[dd316]

Originally Posted by Raymond23

Exhibit A:

I can guarantee this is the problem.

1. Who asks an artist to draw something like this?

2. Who actually wants to collect something like this?

I wish they would just go after that seller - they have a LONG history of this crap. If there is a legal road Topps/Disney could take I wish they would, because the fact that "official" cards like this exist is straight up BS.

What sucks the most is artists who follow the rules are the ones getting hurt.

[cmixer]

Let me add two-cents -- Note: some of these answers may apply to non-Star Wars sketch cards.

Shouldn't the artist liaison be able to track down any missing APs?
• This is near impossible. First, many artists do not draw on their blanks immediately. They wait for a commission to come in, so they can draw the character being requested. They may stay blank in a drawer for years. Second, you would be surprised at Staff turnover. If a set takes a year from start-to-finish, the artist liaison may have moved on. Third, staff are constantly being tasked with new projects and don't have time to police old projects. Yes, if someone brings an issue to their attention they may fix it, but they don't have free hours to roam eBay looking for trouble.

• One solution is to have a whistleblower contact. Right now, if I want to file a complaint with Topps, who am I going to tell? Do I just post it on Twitter and hope for the best?

• The power will always remain with the licensor. The manufacturer just wants to produce a decent product and get paid. The licensor wants to protect their intellectual property.

• Does the original message hint towards compensating artists with non-Star Wars AP cards? So, they may draw Star Wars for the job, but be compensated with GPK blanks? Could they go all the way back and provide Indiana Jones blanks as compensation? It would be cool if Topps had a "menu" and let artists choose their own blanks.

• In many cases Actor Images are problematic. That's why you may see a Game of Thrones set with sketch cards of scenes & dragons, but almost none of actors. -- Star Wars could easily create a set of instructions that says "no Carrie Fisher or David Prowse" or "only vehicles, robots and weapons are allowed in this set." -- I'm sure a set of instructions already exits. That's why you don't see any more Slave Leia or George Lucas sketch cards. -- I've never understood why Instructions are "secret information." It could benefit everyone to know what's approved by the licensor.

• Some people have suggested making blank sketch card stock individually numbered so it can be traced back to an artist. That seems cost prohibitive because manufacturers would have to print 50 different batches of cards instead of one. And if they do utilize this strategy and catch the "bad artist," what's the payoff? They get banned, but there's no lawsuit or compensation for Topps.

• The most obvious problem is a few "bad seeds" that have been named in this thread. If we can name them, why can't we stop them? Or stop buying from them? The licensor should send them a Cease & Desist letter.

• Grading companies don't know what to look for. It's not their fault that they slab unofficial cards that look good on official stock.

• If Topps wants to hire me (extremely cheap) to be the online police and consultant, I'm happy to slap wrists and alert eBay of fraud. https://twitter.com/sketchcards

[Findingtime]

Originally Posted by PurplesaurusRex

Lol, why am I not surprised. Here's some more info on this joker:

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...210443&page=11

Discussion starts at post #255 for anyone wanting to read/see more.

[newhobbygeek]

Originally Posted by cmixer

• Grading companies don't know what to look for. It's not their fault that they slab unofficial cards that look good on official stock.

Agreed. It would be nice if the card companies would publish all the licensed and approved sketches for a set. Crazy idea. The grading companies could verify against 'sketch checklist'. However, I bet from card company perspective its not worth it. Its easier to just make manufactured hits and parallels.

We have already seen what happens to sets like Star Wars Boba Fett where pulling a sketch card was near impossible. Value tanks on sealed products. Scarcity of sketches doesn't lead to higher value in my opinion. I don't think the Boba Fett sketch I pulled is any more valuable than another Star Wars set where sketches were easier.

MCU sets no longer have sketch cards, which I thought initially was to help UD catch up on backlog. However, after watching the MCC podcast and hearing UD say they were told they couldn't do sketches or autos for What If Season 1. It sounds like Disney/Marvel is more involved.

I guess Disney just wants to get Topps/UD to start selling us facsimile autos, parallels, and manufactured film cels/patches. The future of non sports is bright

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by dd316

I can guarantee this is the problem.

1. Who asks an artist to draw something like this?

2. Who actually wants to collect something like this?

I wish they would just go after that seller - they have a LONG history of this crap. If there is a legal road Topps/Disney could take I wish they would, because the fact that "official" cards like this exist is straight up BS.

What sucks the most is artists who follow the rules are the ones getting hurt.

I know, right?
Since when is R2-D2 burgundy?

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by Findingtime

Discussion starts at post #255 for anyone wanting to read/see more.

That imitation (copy) of fred.ian's Black Cat is up as an active auction

https://ebay.com/itm/126290435801

Well..he does say 'after fred.ian' on the back apparently
This is somewhat off-topic...but I dont like it, the copying of other artist's sketches. This is not a great example since fred.ian's Black Cat looks quite different, is on a larger 5x7, and is painted, compared to this. But there are others it looks very much similar to the original sketch. Saying "after artist X" does help...fair enough. But it lessens the '1/1' aspect of a sketch. It's not the same as drawing the cover of Amazing Fantasy 15, or Joe Jusko's 1992 Marvel Masterpieces Hulk as a sketch since those werent meant to be a 1/1, plus everyone easily recognizes them.

I have no idea what this ebay seller's story is. Is he even an artist, like on licensed sets? Not being that knowledgeable about the art side of things, how hard is it to take a sketch and basically mimic it? This is a fair question to ask from people who have spent a lot of money building up sketch collections- thinking they are 1/1s. I see there are many APs he has listed from a few artists, most look like they were done very recent like 2022-2023...names like Dre (Andrei Ausch) and Charles Hall..almost a steady stream of them. How does that happen? Why wouldnt those artists just sell their own APs instead of having someone flip them? Or was it possibly a large package deal and just a lot of commissions were done (to sell...). Im not sure what that's about. Some of those are very nice quality sketches, but Im not going to bid on something from this seller.

[DynaEtch]

As to the star wars situation, I agree it almost has to be the stuff like that Ashoka causing it. But Disney also owns Marvel right, and surely someone could draw something inappropriate on a Marvel sketch card just the same, no? Is it actually because the star wars are real peoples' likenesses that's the difference? Or is it because this type of art doesnt happen as much on marvel blanks, that I've seen.

The numbering of AP blanks could help. It still wouldnt prevent someone erasing the front of a sketch (if that's even possible) and making their own. Of course if they could do that, wouldnt have to use an AP blank, could do it for a regular sketch card.

Plus even with this new development, there will still be star wars blanks from past sets floating around (probably going to rise a lot in price because of this too).

[jdandns]

There is precedent for a company using serial-numbering on their sketch cards. If I'm not mistaken, Inkworks did it with nearly all of theirs, either by hand-numbering or with the more commonly seen foil-stamped numerals. On at least a couple of sets, they went even further by giving their sketch artists blanks that had the specific artist's name and biographical info printed on the reverse side.

[glorbgorb]

Originally Posted by cmixer

• Some people have suggested making blank sketch card stock individually numbered so it can be traced back to an artist. That seems cost prohibitive because manufacturers would have to print 50 different batches of cards instead of one. And if they do utilize this strategy and catch the "bad artist," what's the payoff? They get banned, but there's no lawsuit or compensation for Topps.

UD has done this with Marvel since around the 20-21 Annual/Spidey Metal timeframe. While there are a ton of exceptions, many artists have one unique number per set that they have. This applies to both blanks that are destined for packs and the APs. Everyone's favorite blank seller and copy-cat commissioner even digitally scribbles over the IDs on the backs when selling blanks.

I have to assume the art director has an Excel spreadsheet that says--as an example--For Marvel Masterpieces 2022, Tony Perna was MM265.

By the way, I track the IDs and any blanks I can find. (see here)

Originally Posted by cmixer

• The most obvious problem is a few "bad seeds" that have been named in this thread. If we can name them, why can't we stop them? Or stop buying from them? The licensor should send them a Cease & Desist letter.

One bad seed in particular comes up pretty frequently in the larger Facebook groups. There are many collectors who just want the artwork. They do not care a) if the artist was not officially on the set; b) the design was copied from another artist; c) the blank was obtained in less-than-honest ways. Sometimes the collectors just don't care. That's a problem itself.

[glorbgorb]

I will state, again for the record, I would fly to UD on my own dime to scan all the sketchcards before pack out. I'll extend this to Topps, as well.

This is 2024, there is nothing unreasonable preventing UD or Topps from publicly making an archive of all sketchcards packed out. Get an intern to sit there for a week and scan them. It would take a minimal amount of organization. I can do html (or even a database for the cards) in my sleep. It's just not hard.

The companies just have to care enough to implement a plan.

[dd316]

Originally Posted by newhobbygeek

MCU sets no longer have sketch cards,

The rules on those were dumb anyway. Artists couldn't draw the MCU characters as they appear in films (even though I've seen a lot of APs where the artists still do it), and many of the sketches don't have any relation to the set. Who wants a sketch of Venom from an Ant-Man set?

[PurplesaurusRex]

I had a feeling it might have something to do with Pornographic art, that's a more serious issue than swiping. I know there's a fan base for this stuff but IMO it's just disturbing to collect that for Star Wars, a lot of the product is geared towards younger kids.

Originally Posted by Raymond23

Exhibit A: