Topps – Star Wars Galaxy 5 (2010)

Issued in late February 2010, and available in stores beginning in March 2010, this card set continues the Star Wars Galaxy franchise. Star Wars Galaxy cards feature original artwork by well known, and lesser known Star Wars artists. Cards typically cover topics of interest to the artists, reproductions of production artwork, poster artwork, and commercial artwork. Star Wars Galaxy takes Star Wars beyond the every day images we see with Star Wars. Collectors have always enjoyed the Star Wars Galaxy card sets because of the wonderful artwork, and the excellent information included on the card backs.

Only in a Star Wars Galaxy card set will you see a King Kong Ewok, Leia as an X-Wing pilot, or an enlistment poster featuring Darth Vader. The sheer scope of a Star Wars Galaxy card set is a reminder of the fun of Star Wars, and the joy that fans take in the fullness of the universe created by George Lucas.

Star Wars Galaxy Five is not simply a new entry into the Galaxy collection, it connects to earlier card sets and expands their reach. Each card is numbered with both a number from this set, and a number reflecting where it fits in the overall Galaxy universe (if numbering had continued from set 1 through 5). Card 1 in Galaxy 5 is therefore also card 486 in the overall Galaxy set. Chase cards also continue themes originally developed in the first Galaxy card sets. Etched foil cards create a continuing montage. These etched foil cards feature artwork by Joe Coroney and Brian Miller with scenes inspired by The Empire Strikes Back. Fifteen Foil Art Cards feature character images against a silver background, with parallel cards on a copper background, and another parallel set with a gold background in limited numbers (stamped #/770).

Lost Galaxy cards (red stamped instead of silver stamped) feature images not previously used, but created for the original Galaxy series.

As with the Galaxy Four card set, and most card sets issued in recent years, the card set also includes original sketch cards. A large group of artists produced cards for this set, including cards in the Manga style. Sketch cards were available one per box. Manga sketch cards are marked 'manga sketch card' on the front and had a different card back from 'regular' sketch cards. A smaller number of shaped sketch cards (cards cut in the style of either Vader's helmet or a Clone Trooper helmet) were also inserted into packs. Some sketch cards were drawn with a red color theme, and were inserted exclusively into packs of cards sold at Target (at a much lower rate than sketch cards for the hobby set). Printing plates have also been inserted as chase cards in a small quantity. Retail card packs have different odds for chase cards, but do not otherwise differ from hobby packs.

Hobby packaging included a display box where cards were positioned in three rows, tilted to allow easy access for shelf sales. A point of sale poster topped the inside of each box for store display in card shops. The poster features the same artwork found on the card box. Artwork features Vader, and character montage, with a fire burst in the center containing the Star Wars Galaxy Series Five logo. All wrappers featured a single design of Luke and Leia. Both the Hobby box and Hobby wrapper feature a letter H in a circle.