2017 Topps Walking Dead Evolution Trading Cards

Product Review

2017 Topps Walking Dead Evolution Product Review

Reviewed by Trey Treutel

Good: At least one autograph per box; consistent theme throughout set; really draws you into the TWD world.

Bad: Designs can feel a little one-note; not a fan of the manufactured relics; expected more key character autographs from throughout series.

The Bottom Line: A retrospective of sorts, 2017 Topps Walking Dead Evolution is about the character progression during the first seven years of the show. While that gives Topps another angle to work with instead of the seasonal variety, it does ultimately limit the coverage more than anticipated.

Card Design: 3.0/5.0

Similar to the show, the designs are dark and gritty. Unlike the show, some can be rather boring, as well. Using the show image as the prominent feature, designs are limited to a large-text title at the bottom. For the inserts, it's fine, because it lets you know it is something different. The little additions were also nice for the inserts, including the smoking gun on Weapons and curling map on No Safe Haven. I also found the Walker cards to be intriguing given their open-mouth look, complete with rows of teeth on the top of bottom. Gross, but in a good way. I know Topps sticks hard to the non-sport format, but I would like to see some foil, acetate, or any other card technology incorporated into at least one insert per set.

However, the plentiful base options with EVOLUTION spelled out in big letters, dominating the character name, did not work as well for me. Parallels are a little lost here, but I did appreciate the red foil stamping on numbered cards.

The main autograph design actually has the most distinct look as the signing area is an empty, winding road, and the character image is set against an angled background where the colors change to indicate parallels. You'd think the horizontal layout would open up the signing area but it is about the same as the average vertical card.

The rest of the autographs are stickers, including multi-subject and auto relics, and although there are several different relic sets, they are very similar in design.

Make no mistake, Lucille is an iconic prop from the show, and a screen-used relic would be awesome. Nevertheless, the manufactured bat was a bit disappointing. Not because it wasn't clearly marked, as it is labeled "manufactured" on the card, but because it seems lame to have gone this route in the first place. These are exclusive to Walmart boxes so this is not a concern for hobby shoppers.

Checklist: 3.5/5.0

The checklist reaches across the show for specific characters, making the 100-card base seem smaller as it only ends up covering 31 subjects.

These are the options I would expect to be included in the autograph set. While there are some bigger names among the 47 autographs, because some have as many as four different cards, there are only 30 total signers. You do have Daryl Dixon, Negan, Carol Peletier, Carl Grimes, and Shane Walsh, but no dice on Glenn Rhee, Michonne, Rick Grimes and Maggie Greene in the main autograph insert.

Once again, there is a fairly decent portion of the set (mostly relics) that is reserved for retail. I have no strong feelings on it, but it is good to note in case it's not clear.

Value: 3.75/5.0

Coming in at around $80-95 per hobby box (at the time of this review), the value for 2017 Topps Walking Dead Evolution boils down to the two hits. If they are both autographs (like our review box), you stand a decent chance. Sketch values aren't as strong as other sets, but they can save a box. It's also important to remember that retail is an appealing option for TWD Evolution because it has exclusive relics. If autographs aren't as important to you, retail may be the better avenue to take.

The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0

While the designs didn't wow me, it's hard to be too disappointed pulling two on-card autographs that are each numbered under 100. Negan is arguably the biggest name in the set and Father Gabriel is another solid pull. Plus, I am also a fan of Seth Gilliam from his days on The Wire. I admit the signed cards saved the box in terms of fun, as it is pretty bleak and can feel repetitive. That can be the downside to trying to capture the mood of a show that is generally quite somber. I still hope for some creativity in the future when it comes to the inserts.

2017 Topps Walking Dead Evolution Hit Gallery / Pack Odds, NPN Info

The box used for this review was provided by Topps.

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