Topps has expanded its trading card deal with Disney to include global distribution for brands such as Pixar and Marvel, the company announced Thursday.
Under the expanded deal, Topps will release its first global Marvel trading card series in 2025, with Topps Finest X-Men ‘97 expected to arrive in the first quarter.
Topps has expanded its deal with Disney to add the Marvel and Pixar brands to its lineup of global releases. pic.twitter.com/0GKIeSceEV
— cllct (@cllctMedia) September 12, 2024
Topps’ previous deal with Disney limited distribution for Pixar and Marvel products exclusively to Europe, the Middle East and Africa through Topps.com and local conventions.
Marvel Topps Chrome 2024 made its debut earlier this month as a Topps UK release, though hobby boxes quickly made their way to North America through major trading card retailers.
The expansion of Marvel and Pixar greatly bolsters Topps’ lineup of non-sports products, which have been anchored by "Star Wars" since 1977 and Garbage Pail Kids since 1985.
Though Marvel trading cards and stickers have been released by a number of manufacturers over the years, the brand has been most associated with Upper Deck over the last decade. It’s currently unclear if Topps’ expanded deal with Disney includes any exclusivity, or whether Upper Deck will continue to make Marvel trading cards moving forward.
"Upper Deck is proud of the over 20-year relationship with Disney and Marvel producing innovative and premium quality Marvel licensed trading cards," Upper Deck told cllct in a statement. "We are committed to continuing to lead the entertainment trading card industry with our iconic licenses that include Warner Brothers and DC Comics, Halo, Neopets, James Bond and more."
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.