2023 Wacky Packs Flashback ‘73 online set

[Bigmuc13]

Well, I bit the bullet and bought some of this set.  It's about what I expected.  I like the idea of having the portraits and LOVE the idea of a few Attacky Packages (which will probably be as difficult to get as the comics in the 2023 set). But I could do without the rainbow foil parallels, which just takes up space from getting a chase that I really want.  It looks like another trading frenzy could ensue in about 6 weeks.

I DO hope that I actually get a coupon back in each pack this time....

Packs were 5 cents in1973........

[mikecho]

Packs were 5 cents in1973........

Yeah, and they only contained two stickers (three in the 16th Series), one checklist/puzzle piece and one piece of bubble gum on average for five cents (10 cents with the 16th Series), if you were lucky. I saw on Greg's web site that Topps and OPC had terrible quality control back in the 1970s, so sometimes we'd only get either one sticker (or probably in the 16th Series, two; I'm not entirely sure about that one) and a checklist or only a checklist in a pack (apparently the bubble gum was always there, though, as I've never heard of any packs missing that part of it (of course, I could be wrong)).

[bwing]

The single boxes are still up for sale.  As a test, I "added" 100 to my cart and it went through (I did not purchase them).

Although I did place an order a few weeks back for some, I am getting the feeling that this set is not that sought after.

[ToadallyDude]

Yeah, and they only contained two stickers

--- I distinctly remember pulling 3 stickers from packs all the time out here in CA.  At least after the 7th series.  Anyone else?  But I also remember only getting 1 a couple times and how deeply agonizing that was if it was your only pack.  So, I don't think collation was as stable as they say.

[JailOJohn]

I got one sticker a few times. Never pulled three from a pack….

[DrDeal]

I ended up buying 7 packs from this release. What did others do?

Andrew

[crackedjerk]

--- I distinctly remember pulling 3 stickers from packs all the time out here in CA.  At least after the 7th series.  Anyone else?  But I also remember only getting 1 a couple times and how deeply agonizing that was if it was your only pack.  So, I don't think collation was as stable as they say.

My memory is hazy, but I do know for sure that it wasn't always two stickers in a pack (not counting the 16th series when it was 3 stickers).  I almost want to say I recall a pack with five stickers, but I won't say that for sure.  I think quality control wasn't always either in Topps products in the 70's, especially most likely during the Wacky frenzy.

[lucidjc]

I ended up buying 7 packs from this release. What did others do?

Andrew

7 singles, or 7, 5 packs?

[Paul_Maul]

Another interesting fact….the 1974 Topps release called Monster Initials, like Wackys, came in both white and tan backs. The packs with white backs contained three stickers, but the packs with tan backs contained four. Released at the same time as wackys, but Monster Initials packs were 10 cents.

[crackedjerk]

Another interesting fact….the 1974 Topps release called Monster Initials, like Wackys, came in both white and tan backs. The packs with white backs contained three stickers, but the packs with tan backs contained four. Released at the same time as wackys, but Monster Initials packs were 10 cents.

Loved Monster Initials!  I don't recall different color backs (though I learned/relearned of them in the 90's when I picked up a handful of them).  I was glad to buy an unopened pack and display box in the 90's.

As to the question asked about what I did for this series, I purchased one five pack and one single pack.  Plan to keep the single pack unopened, but we'll see how it goes.  Hoping for decent collation as I would like to put together a set with the five pack and some trading.

[DrDeal]

7 singles, or 7, 5 packs?

7 singles.

[mikecho]

My memory is hazy, but I do know for sure that it wasn't always two stickers in a pack (not counting the 16th series when it was 3 stickers).  I almost want to say I recall a pack with five stickers, but I won't say that for sure.  I think quality control wasn't always either in Topps products in the 70's, especially most likely during the Wacky frenzy.

Maybe I should've said "on average" (UPDATE: I did; fixed).

If you go to Greg's site and click on Packs, then click on the section of the list of pack contents, you'll see what the typical pack contained all the way up to ANS1, plus a few non-sticker and special releases (this is another part of Greg's site that is definitely in need of updating).

[Alexeirex]

Another interesting fact….the 1974 Topps release called Monster Initials, like Wackys, came in both white and tan backs. The packs with white backs contained three stickers, but the packs with tan backs contained four. Released at the same time as wackys, but Monster Initials packs were 10 cents.

Funny, I remember monster initials from the 1960s, around the same time as the first Wacky die cuts.
A

[Paul_Maul]

The ones from the 1960s were called “Nutty Initials.” The ones from 1974 were called “Monster Initials.” The two releases are quite different in terms of art style.

Nutty:



Monster:

[MoldRush]

The ones from the 1960s were called “Nutty Initials.” The ones from 1974 were called “Monster Initials.” The two releases are quite different in terms of art style.

Nutty:

(Image removed from quote.)

Monster:

(Image removed from quote.)

Another good example of Topps’ habit of going back to the well and reviving concepts that worked well with yesterday’s kids, retooling for today’s.

[DrDeal]

And now SideKick Labs is releasing Martian Initials. Very cool set. Sorry for no pics.

Andrew

[Swiski]

I got a shipping notice from Topps for these!

[DrDeal]

Ditto

[bigtomi]

Ditto

Ditto that ditto.

[quas]

Triple ditto.

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

Finally received my tracking as well.

It’s only a notice, so hopefully it actually ships today

Quaditto

[sco(o)t]

Pentaditto

[jleonard1967]

infinityditto

[RawGoo]

It has been a LONG time since sets have shipped while product was still available!  Does anyone remember when it last happened?

I waited and waited for more 5 packs to be made available, but they never did, and just yesterday morning, before all the shipping notices hit, I finally gave in and ordered 10 single packs.  Hoping for a few good foils and coupons (Rawgoo would be nice!!) and a base set.  Don't expect any sketches, what with ordering single packs.  But, I will be in the trading game!

UPDATE:  I just got a shipping notice, too.

[Hawaiian punks]

Ditto

The last set took forever to get to Hawaii...

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

One thing I couldn't quite figure out is the 5 box bundle, five of the one box packs, or is it five packs in a single box like the 2023 Wackys?  The wording would make it seem like the former, but it's the same wording used for the 2023 Wackys, which were the latter.

the wording was actually correct.  Each box has just one pack.
the '5 box bundle' really is 5 boxes, each with just one pack inside.
the "folded lunch sack" box doesn't have room for much more than a single pack.

and there are multiple boxes to collect, as there a large pic of a Wacky on the back, with several different available

[sco(o)t]

I purchased 15 packs with the following pull results:

3 sketches
3 chrome
5 Attacky (2 dupes)
4 portrait (1 dupe)
15 coupons (no dupes)
base set:
   1 base set missing 2 titles
   2nd base set 9 titles short

[crackedjerk]

I purchased 15 packs with the following pull results:

3 sketches
3 chrome
5 Attacky (2 dupes)
4 portrait (1 dupe)
15 coupons (no dupes)
base set:
   1 base set missing 2 titles
   2nd base set 9 titles short

Do those numbers align with what was promised?  I'm assuming you got 3 5-packs.  Did you get one sketch per 5-pack?  Did the collation of the base cards seem decent?  So many questions!  Sorry about that

[sco(o)t]

Do those numbers align with what was promised?  I'm assuming you got 3 5-packs.  Did you get one sketch per 5-pack?  Did the collation of the base cards seem decent?  So many questions!  Sorry about that

Yes, I did purchase 3 five-packs and did get one sketch per five-pack. For the base cards, I pulled 0 of two titles and as many as 7 of other titles. I wish, on something like this, Topps would just make all the base cards equally available rather than forced "rarer" cards. The Attacky and Portrait chase sets already have that collecting element built in.

[DrDeal]

It has been a LONG time since sets have shipped while product was still available!  Does anyone remember when it last happened?

I waited and waited for more 5 packs to be made available, but they never did, and just yesterday morning, before all the shipping notices hit, I finally gave in and ordered 10 single packs.  Hoping for a few good foils and coupons (Rawgoo would be nice!!) and a base set.  Don't expect any sketches, what with ordering single packs.  But, I will be in the trading game!

UPDATE:  I just got a shipping notice, too.

I have 7 single packs ordered.   Hoping for a sketch.  Scheduled to get packs on Mon, Tues and Wed.  Cool to see the cards hitting Ebay already.
Now we are collecting empty packages too?

[crackedjerk]

For the base cards, I pulled 0 of two titles and as many as 7 of other titles. I wish, on something like this, Topps would just make all the base cards equally available rather than forced "rarer" cards. The Attacky and Portrait chase sets already have that collecting element built in.

I couldn't agree more!  Trading base cards can be fun in person, but it's a pain to have to trade via mail when it's a "larger" set like a base set.  An occaionsal trade in the mail doesn't bother me, but I do find having to make multiple trades for what should be equally distributed base cards sucks.

[RawGoo]

I couldn't agree more!  Trading base cards can be fun in person, but it's a pain to have to trade via mail when it's a "larger" set like a base set.  An occaionsal trade in the mail doesn't bother me, but I do find having to make multiple trades for what should be equally distributed base cards sucks.

It costs a lot and there is always the danger of the USPS destroying your cards!

[BattleCaps]

I have 7 single packs ordered.   Hoping for a sketch.  S

Please let us know if you get a sketch!

I wasn't sure if single packs did have sketches randomly inserted in them, so I didn't purchase any.

[OutofStep]

All my sketches were in the Ajerx boxes.  My foils were in the Band Ache boxes.  The portraits and attackys were in the Shot Wheel boxes.

[Corndog]

Do we know if the foil chase cards have just puzzle back? Or do they have Ad backs as well?