1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Trading Cards
Product Details
Although Joss Whedon had a nice little career going for himself before he launched the TV version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it was this show that was his major breakthrough. Mixing equal parts of horror, comedy, drama and teenaged angst, it became a pop culture phenomenon. 1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 trading cards helped take the card maker to another level too. During the show's run, the franchise was one of the hottest in the hobby. This first set remains very popular today with many key cards now somewhat tough to come by. As one might expect, the prices have followed as well.
The 1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer base set has a lot going on considering its moderate 72-card checklist. Besides recapping all 12 episodes that launched the series, there are subsets for character profiles for both heroes and villains, backgrounds on different types of monsters and one called "Slayer Speak." A title card and a checklist hold the set together. Considering how little most modern base sets go for today, expect to pay much more for this one. While the value has dropped a little since the show went off the air, it still commands a solid premium.
As one might expect, autographs are the key cards in the product. Released at a time when autographs weren't guaranteed in any given box, the combination of rarity and star power make them extremely pricey. Although there are only four signers, three of them have gone on to big careers beyond the show. Show creator, Joss Whedon, is now not only one of the most powerful filmmakers in Hollywood but one of the most beloved. Other big-name 1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 signers include Alyson Hannigan (Willow) and David Boreanaz (Angel).
As far as basic inserts go, Inkworks had a formula -- nine-card foil puzzles and a six-card set. They're both here, although the inclusion of a short print insert sees the formula tweaked a little.
The foil puzzle is called The Chosen One (1:12 packs) and forms a portrait of the title character. Like a lot of Inkworks foil puzzles, the individual pieces are a little odd. One might have a shoulder while another is a piece of the shirt. But when the entire set is complete, it does look good. Inkworks also offered an Uncut Mini Press Sheet that had the full puzzle. This was sold separately and limited to 3,500 copies.
Slayer Kit cards look at the different tools that can be used to kill a vampire. Inserted 1:18 packs, there are six cards in the set.
The Coffin Card (1:108 packs) is a die-cut card that flips up to explain how one might go about slaying a vampire.
1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 has several promo cards including a five-card set that was available in DVDs sold at Suncoast Video stores. There was also a binder made for the set.
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Set Checklist
1998 Inkworks Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 'New Girl'
3 'I Got Hungry'
4 'Who Are You?'
5 'Amen'
6 In the Beginning
7 First Reaction
8 The Prophecy
9 Be Afraid
10 'Release the Unworthy'
11 'Take Her!'
12 Catherine, The Great
13 Sweet Dreams
14 The Substitute
15 'It Just Bugs Me'
16 Instant Chemistry
17 'A Fairly Slim Lead'
18 'You Killed My Date!'
19 Absolutely No Admittance
20 Leader of the Pack
21 An Act of Agression
22 First Aid
23 'I Better Go'
24 'I Miss Him'
25 Betrayal
26 'Let's Get It Done'
27 'Where Am I?'
28 'This Is Very Bad'
29 'You Have Mail!'
30 The Digital Circle
31 'She's the Last'
32 'I Got It'
33 He's Coming, Right?
34 Fear
35 Send In the Clown
36 'No More Hiding'
38 'You're the Lesson'
39 'This Is a Sign'
40 Apocalypse Stuff
41 'Think It'll Hurt?'
42 A Child Shall Lead Them
43 I Like Your Dress
44 I Have No Breath
45 Welcome Back
46 Buffy Summers - Sarah Michelle Gellar
47 Rupert Giles - Anthony Steward Head
48 Willow Rosenberg - Alyson Hannigan
49 Xander Harris - Nicholas Brendon
50 Angel - David Boreanaz
51 Cordelia Chase - Charisma Carpenter
52 Vampyr
53 Daemons
54 Lycanthropes
55 Becoming a Vampire
56 Dating
57 Starting Over
58 Privacy
59 Rivals
60 Helping Others
61 Knowledge
62 Decorating
63 Strategy
64 the Master
65 Luke
66 Darla
67 Thomas
68 the Witch
69 Moloch, the corruptor
70 the Anointed One
71 the Birthday Clown
72 Checklist
Autographs Checklist
The Chosen One Checklist
C2
C3
C4
C5
C7
C8
C9
Coffin Card Checklist
Slayer Kit Cards Checklist
S2 Cross
S3 Holy Wate
S5 Crossbow
S6 Sword
Box Loader Checklist
Promo Card Checklist
BP2
MS1
M2 Buffy Summers
M3 Willow Rosenberg
M4 Xander Harris
M5 Angel
