2025 Topps Chrome Spongebob

[crdbored]

Originally Posted by nonsportguy

I have no idea if this is how Topps usually operates but I'm super overwhelmed with the amount of parallels/variants in the market right now. There were already tons of variants and parallels with the original release as it was, and now all the sapphire parallels on top of that feels like way too much.

For example.. the 200 base cards had a possible 13 variants, now with sapphire there's an additional 6 bringing it to 19 different cards for each of the 200 base card. Let alone the dozens of subsets, autos, etc. and all the variants/parallels for those.

Is this overkill or just the way Topps operates? I haven't really gone after a non-sports release in years and have never seen this many variants in a set. It's making me want to stop collecting all together and be happy with whatever I already have, which isn't much unfortunately.

Yeah, Fanatics/Topps have been printing/making so many products and milking every single IP.

If you think sponge is bad, don't look at Marvel chrome, star wars, or disney lol

Good thing about this is that singles are coming down and you'll be able to snap some at good prices.
But a whole master set is a tough undertaking these days.

[eldavojohn]

Originally Posted by nonsportguy

Is this overkill or just the way Topps operates?

It's simply less work to develop a color variation and apply it to a card.

You want a new design or something original for a "hit"? Get ready to seek approval from the IP holder and to have the artists/designers finalize their work.

Then the other side is the fans love the variations and have and will continue to. Bowman Chrome got silly long ago and that did not stop the prospect hunters -- seemed to fuel the madness even more.

Today they will do inserts and then do color variants on those inserts -- why not? It's still cheap to do compared to make new cards and artwork. Maybe that changes with generative AI? IDK but the approvals have just killed other sets, maybe Spongebob is less protected?

Anyway, I probably didn't answer your question but that's my perceived reason we are where we are.

[dd316]

Originally Posted by nonsportguy

Is this overkill or just the way Topps operates? I haven't really gone after a non-sports release in years and have never seen this many variants in a set.

Assuming you've been on the sports side? If so, this should be nothing new, and is not limited to Topps. I collect Will Clark, and his 2025 Donruss card, including the base, has 59 parallels.

[CicadaMound]

Parallel inflation is SOP for most of the companies out there right now. Topps and Panini are pretty bad about it, Upper Deck has a little more restraint.

[HiltonL]

'rainbow collecting' is a thing these days