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TL;DR before the long pour-over

  • Topps Chrome Labubu is an official collab between Topps, Pop Mart, and How2Work celebrating Labubu’s 10th Anniversary — yes, with Chrome shine, refractors, SuperFractors, and ultra-rare artist autographs signed by Kasing Lung. Topps

  • Rarity (cards): Think classic Chrome ladder — Refractors, color refractors (Aqua, Purple, Gold /50, Red /25) and SuperFractors (1/1) — plus limited Kasing Lung autographs. One detailed hobby preview also lists pack odds such as Refractor 1:3 packs, Aqua 1:10, Purple 1:25, Gold /50 1:70, Red /25 1:150, SuperFractor 1:650, with signed cards in Gold/Red/1/1 tiers. (Odds are from a hobby preview; Topps’ public page confirms the parallel + auto structure but not ratios.) Sports Card Dad+1

  • Rarity (toys): Standard blind-box Labubu figures commonly have a “secret” chase around 1/72 boxes, and some series run even tougher (1/144). That’s why people camp in lines like it’s a concert. Also: prices for rare Labubus can explode; there was literally a human-sized Labubu that sold for ~$150k at auction in Beijing. Yes, one hundred and fifty grand. For a big mint-green gremlin. Daily Telegraph+2Prestige Online+2

  • Product configurations: Topps’ 10th Anniversary listing describes a compact box with 4 Chrome base + 1 Chrome parallel plus a keyring case (cute!), while preview guides discuss a hobby configuration (e.g., 24 packs × 4 cards) for a fuller rip experience. In other words, it looks like multiple SKUs exist: a little “souvenir-style” box and a standard hobby rip. Topps+1

If that’s enough for you, go forth and prosper. If you want the full, funny, overly caffeinated deep-dive with a verdict on whether these are worth collecting — buckle up.

Labubu 101 (for the sports-card folks who just squinted)

Labubu is the star creature from Kasing Lung’s “The Monsters” universe — imagine a scruffy, big-eared, sharp-toothed woodland imp who raided a candy shop and then sat for a high-fashion portrait. The IP exploded thanks to Pop Mart’s blind-box releases, celebrity cosigns, and oodles of variants (Pirate Labubu, Space Labubu, Vampire Labubu, Chef Labubu — pick a vibe). It’s a cultural moment, and the toy line has become a bona fide phenomenon in Asia and increasingly worldwide. Wikipedia

Pop Mart’s business model is built on blind boxes (mystery figures), occasional secrets, and collabs. The “secret” rate commonly cited by the community is ~1/72 per box for many series (sometimes 1/144). That’s why you see queue lines, YouTube unboxings, and the occasional collector crying happy-tears on Instagram. Daily Telegraph+2blindboxdaily.substack.com+2

Meanwhile, Topps saw a bridge: take an art toy with a fanatical base, translate it into Chrome trading cards, and let two collecting worlds collide. Their official page spells out the collaboration (Topps × Pop Mart × How2Work), confirms Chrome parallels up to 1/1 SuperFractors, and teases ultra-rare Kasing Lung autos — a chef’s kiss of a chase for both toy people and card people. Topps

Card rarity: where the rubber (and refractor) meets the road

From the most complete early preview I’ve seen, 2025 Topps Chrome Labubu (hobby configuration) reportedly breaks down like this:

  • Base Chrome of multiple Labubu variants (Classic, Pirate, Space, Halloween, Chef, Fairy, Vampire, Bunny, Astronaut, Detective, etc.).

  • Parallels with pack odds (preview):

    • Refractor: 1:3 packs

    • Aqua: 1:10

    • Purple: 1:25

    • Gold /50: 1:70

    • Red /25: 1:150

    • SuperFractor 1/1: ~1:650 packs

  • Kasing Lung autographs (the headline chase): Gold /50, Red /25, SuperFractor 1/1.
    These ratios may adjust slightly when/if Topps posts a formal odds sheet, but the structure is clear: it’s classic Topps Chrome — just…with a toothy forest sprite instead of shortstops. Sports Card Dad

Important nuance: Topps’ own product page for the 10th Anniversary box describes 5 total cards per box (4 base + 1 parallel) plus a keyring case (adorable flex for display), and confirms refractors, 10th anniversary logo borders, 1/1 SuperFractors, and ultra-rare artist autos — but doesn’t list the 1-in-X math. That suggests the souvenir-style SKU is meant as a bite-sized collectible (and maybe a gateway for Pop Mart fans), while the hobby box is for pack-rippers chasing the long odds. Topps

Either way, your hit pyramid looks like:

  1. Base Chrome (lots)

  2. Refractors (frequent)

  3. Color refractors (rarer as the colors warm up)

  4. SuperFractors (1/1) (send help, I’m shaking)

  5. Kasing Lung autos / numbered (knee-bucklers)

If you’ve chased Star Wars Chrome or GPK Chrome, you know the drill — it’s just the first truly designer-toy Chrome to hit like this.

Toy rarity: how blind-box odds translate

Pop Mart Labubu toys are typically sold either per blind box or by the case. Community and media reports routinely cite “secret” odds around 1/72 (and some series at 1/144). That means, in crude terms, you might expect one secret per 72 boxes on average. Folks will line up in the rain for that chance — and they do. Daily Telegraph+1

Why the frenzy? Because resale can be spicy. Beyond the common figures in the $15–$30 USD retail zone, rare/secret/event pieces can hit hundreds to thousands on the secondary market. The art-toy auction receipts are now wild enough that a human-sized Labubu crossed $150,000 at a formal sale. So yes, there’s a serious collector economy, not just “cute plushies for shelves.” Vaulted+1

So which is rarer — toy secrets or Chrome 1/1s? Apples and clementines. But if you’re comparing a 1/72 toy secret to a Topps SuperFractor 1/1, the SuperFractor is conceptually rarer (there’s literally one of that exact card). The flip side: toy secrets have enormous brand-wide demand (Pop Mart’s global machine is…not small), which can turbocharge prices when the right sculpt hits. Cards lean on parallel scarcity; toys lean on design scarcity — both can pop, just via different levers.

The vibe check: why this crossover works

Topps didn’t just slap a logo on Labubu and call it a day. They leaned into the art, using Kasing Lung’s illustrations and Chrome tech to create what are effectively mini art prints on premium stock. That, plus artist autos, is the exact bridge between “toy collecting” and “card collecting” people like me have been yammering about for years. Topps

And early hobby chatter/previews talk about insert concepts (e.g., Dreamworld Reflections, Character Fusion, “Sketches”) that echo what makes Labubu charming: playful, slightly unhinged, stylish. If you’re used to hunting rookie logos and stat lines, this is hunting vibes — and honestly, it’s refreshing. Sports Card Dad

Okay, Dad, make the case: should I collect these cards?

I’ll do you one better: here are two cases — For and Against — and then I’ll tell you what I’m doing (no financial advice; I’m the guy who once PC’d a backup catcher).

The case FOR collecting Topps Chrome Labubu

  1. First-of-its-kind crossover
    Topps Chrome + Labubu’s global IP is new territory. “Firsts” in the hobby (especially with strong IPs) tend to age well if the culture sticks. Topps explicitly frames this as a 10th Anniversary celebration with official partners. That’s not a throwaway licensing job. Topps

  2. Clear, proven chase architecture
    Chrome’s parallel ladder (Refractor → Color → 1/1) is familiar and liquid. If you pull a Gold /50 or Red /25 of a popular Labubu (Space, Vampire, Pirate), you’ve got something instantly recognizable to card buyers. The SuperFractor is a universal language: there’s one. Sports Card Dad

  3. Artist autographs are blue-chip hobby candy
    Kasing Lung autos bring an art-collector audience into the fold. That’s not just “a signature”; it’s the creator. If you believe in Labubu as a long-term cultural IP, these are the “rookie autos” of the universe. Topps

  4. Multiple SKUs = entry points
    The compact 10th-anniv box (4 base + 1 parallel + keyring case) makes an easy gift or gateway. The hobby rip scratches the pack-odds itch. That duality is smart: Pop Mart fans can dip a toe; card people can cannonball. Topps+1

  5. Macro hype isn’t fake
    The toy side is booming: lines, sellouts, crazy auctions, legit press coverage. This isn’t an IP du jour; it’s a sustained wave. Cards are hitching to a train that’s already at full speed. Daily Telegraph+1

  6. Grading + display makes sense
    Chrome pops in a slab. And Topps even tossed in a keyring display case with the souvenir box — they know the aesthetic matters to this crowd. Topps

The case AGAINST collecting Topps Chrome Labubu

  1. No stats. No rookies. All vibes.
    If your brain needs “PPG and WAR” to assign value, welcome to the art world, where value is taste + scarcity + culture. That’s exciting… or terrifying.

  2. Parallel fatigue is real
    Some collectors are burnt crisp by rainbow chasing. If the only story you see is “another color, another serial,” you might prefer the toy side, where design differences (sculpt/fabric/pose) feel more meaningfully unique.

  3. Early odds = still congealing
    A detailed preview gives us a solid odds picture — but until Topps posts an official 1-in-X sheet for every SKU, odds may vary with configuration. If you absolutely need certified ratios before ripping, you might wait. (Topps does confirm 1/1s and autos, just not the math.) Sports Card Dad+1

  4. Counterfeit risk exists in both worlds
    The toy market is already fighting fakes (“Lafufu”) because the hype is bonkers. The card market always battles counterfeits and reseals too. Buy from reputable sellers. (Consider this your dad-voice PSA.) Le Monde.fr

  5. Pop Mart secrets have their own magic
    For some, nothing beats the 1/72 blind-box Secret high — the tactile “I pulled the secret plush!” moment. If that’s your endorphin engine, Chrome might feel like a side quest. Daily Telegraph

How the rarity experiences compare (feel, not just math)

  • Cards: Your rarity is codified. A Gold /50 is 50. A SuperFractor is 1. Pack odds telegraph the difficulty. It’s precise, grade-friendly, and globally understood by card people. Sports Card Dad

  • Toys: Your rarity is narrative. That Secret 1/72 might be easier to explain to a non-collector friend (“there’s only one secret per so many boxes, and this sculpt was the one”). Plus, toys are immediately display-ready at 6–7 inches of cuteness (or 4 feet, if you’re rich and your spouse is terrifyingly patient). Daily Telegraph

Both paths have grails: Chrome has 1/1s and creator autos; Pop Mart has Secrets, store/event exclusives, and giant auction-level pieces. The right answer is honestly: why not both? (Says the guy running out of shelves.)

Practical buying advice (from a man who once sleeve-toploaded a grocery receipt)

  1. Pick a lane (or two).
    If you’re a card person, target Gold/Red parallels of the Labubu variants you love and Kasing Lung autos when you can. If you’re a toy person, try one 10th Anniversary mini box for the keyring case and a taste of Chrome, then decide if the hobby box odds appeal. Topps+1

  2. Don’t ignore singles.
    If you specifically want Vampire Labubu Gold /50, buying singles might be cheaper than ripping blind. (Yes, I said it. Ripping is fun; singles are sane.)

  3. Grade selectively.
    If you hit a clean /50 or /25, or (be still my heart) a SuperFractor or creator auto, grading can make the piece more liquid — especially for cross-over buyers who shop slabs first.

  4. Beware fakes on both sides.
    Stick to the official Topps shop, major retailers, or your reputable LCS for sealed product; for toys, Pop Mart’s official channels or trusted partners/community sellers. The Labubu hype train has spawned knockoffs; stay sharp. Pop Mart+1

  5. Display what you love.
    These are beautiful objects. Throw a Chrome Vampire next to your plush Vampire. Add a backlight. Pretend you’re curating a museum of weird gremlins. Live your truth.

“So, card-dad, are you collecting this?”

Yup. I’m grabbing:

  • A 10th Anniversary mini box for the keyring case (I mean, c’mon — a little display case for a Chrome Labubu is objectively adorable). Topps

  • A hobby box to take a swing at a Gold/Red of Space or Vampire — and to pray to the SuperFractor gods like a man who still believes. (The preview odds give me hope… and also fear.) Sports Card Dad

  • A couple of singles of favorite variants, because my blood pressure said “let’s be adults… occasionally.”

If I whiff? They’ll still look fantastic in the display case next to my toy Labubus. And my kids will still cackle at the sharp little teeth. Win-win.

Final verdict (with a bow on top)

Should you collect Topps Labubu cards?

  • If you like Chrome shine, clear scarcity, and the idea of creator-autographed art cards, the answer is yes. It’s a historic first for this IP in cards, with a chase that makes sense to card people and a theme that makes sense to toy people. Topps

  • If you only collect things with box scores and can’t compute “vibes as value,” you may struggle — but I’d at least try the mini box to see if the spark hits. (Worst case, you get a slick pocket display case and one nice parallel.) Topps

  • If you’re purely a Pop Mart hunter, keep chasing 1/72 Secrets and snag a few Chrome singles of the characters you love for your shelf. The styles complement each other better than peanut butter and even more peanut butter. Daily Telegraph

In the immortal words of every collector who’s ever justified another box: “It’s art.” And in 2025, art can be 1/1, numbered, slabbed, or stuffed — sometimes all at once.

Happy hunting, Labubu fam. May your refractors be colorful, your autos be legible, and your household CFO surprisingly tolerant of mint-green forest goblins.

Sources & useful links

  • Topps official product page (10th Anniversary box; parallels, 1/1s, artist autos; 4 base + 1 parallel + keyring case). Topps

  • Independent hobby preview with pack-odds and hobby configuration details. Sports Card Dad

  • Background on Labubu / Pop Mart boom and blind-box culture, including secret odds reported around 1/72 (and sometimes 1/144) and global frenzy. Daily Telegraph+1

  • Auction benchmarks for Labubu (human-sized figure ~$150k). Reuters

  • Labubu brand context (Kasing Lung; Pop Mart partnership; commercial impact).

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