With season 1 on dvd stands everywhere, and Topps preparing to release one of its most highly anticipated non sports sets ever, fans are scrambling everywhere for info!

Heroes is now live! 

With Heroes "official" release date being Weds Jan 23rd, some distributors have broken the street date and cards have already shown up on ebay. 

As we go, images are slowly being found on the internet of Topps upcomming release of Heroes Season 1 trading card set. While quite a bit is still speculative, there is confirmation of autographs and scene worn material/costume cards.

Most were fearing that costume cards would only give us material "used in the making of" cards, people attending this years San Diego Comic Con have said Topps will be using the actual clothes and materials seen in the tv show.

Others feared that Topps would be using sticker autographs for their cards. It seems to be a fairly split group of fans that feel if the actor didnt actually hold the card and sign, it looses a certain special something by not being handled by the signer. Some people feel its a good thing that using the stickers keeps the cards being used from being shipped a few times and being handled way too much and thus creating damaged cards. While the SDCC autos where signed in person and without the use of stickers, its still up in the air in my eyes as to what exactly which path Topps will be taking with this set.

With Batman Beings fans got on card autographs yet the coating of the cards often had signatures bubbling up and not being nice and smooth. Superman Returns went with the sticker autograph cards. Granted most card sets the auto sticker will stick out like a sore thumb but with the Superman set, they actually fit the look and design of that set.

Both Batman Begins and Superman Returns had a killer lineup of autograph guests that gives me alot of hope with the release of Heroes. Being a HUGE fan of the show myself, I feel better knowing the costume cards will be actual show worn. As far as Im concerned with the autographs, its a show I LOVE to watch and personally I dont care one way or the other if they are on card or sticker autographs. I just want a killer lineup of autograph guests. If Topps can get Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Brandon Routh, and Kevin Spacey, I have high hopes for Heroes.

For those who were lucky enough to attend the SDCC and obtain promos there or via Ebay, the backs of those cards include the following being included with this already rich insert driving product-

Foil Cards
Flix Plix Lenticular
Authentic Autopgraphs
Sketch Cards
Memorabilia Cards

Personally I can do without sketch cards but rumors seem to be so far that there will be 1 hit per box between the costume, sketch, and autograph cards. Ive been spoiled by Inkworks and Rittenhouse where I want at least 1 auto per box. Being a huge fan, I want to know what Im dealing with before going out and getting a case or two for easily one of my highest wants since Strictly Ink started the CSI series. With most Topps cases, you get 8 boxes per case. So if the rumor is true about one hit per box stretched between 3 inserts, this is going to be a tough set to build insert wise.

Going along with other rumors and fan talk, Topps is looking at an October 15ish 2007 release for Heroes. Lets hope all autographs are signed and all sketch cards are drawn and all returned in time to keep this set being released on time!

Update!!!!!!

Topps Announced another list of "confirmed" signers for this set-

James Kyson Lee (Ando Masahashi)
Santiago Cabrera (Isaac Mendez)
Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah Sanders)
Zachary Quinto (Sylar)
Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli)
Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura)
Jack Coleman (Noah Bennet)
Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman)
Adrian Pasadar (Nathan Petrelli)
Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh)

*Update*

Topps has now confirmed the addition of Hayden Panettiere as an autograph signer!

Those that attended the Philly show recently have reported that Topps is trying VERY hard at getting Hayden Panettiere and Ali Larter to sign autographs as they were showing off the autograph blanks.

Topps has released more info in regards to the costume card inserts. They WONT be used in the making of material cards but will be actual worn in scene costume cards! The following release was given to us by Topps showing the 4 actual worn pieces from the show that will be cut up for the cards-

After speaking with several sketch artists working on this set, Ive been given permission to post some of their work thats been accepted for pack insertion. We will add more sketch cards throughout the week so keep an eye out!

*Update*

Several people have talked about complete sketch runs being turned down during the approval process and with that happening another delay has been created and Topps has gone back to artists that have already been approved asking them to do more sketch cards to help meet the production numbers.

Russell Walks-

Katie Cook-

Leah Mangue-

Ingrid Hardy-

Rich Molinelli-

John Watkins-Chow-

Cat Staggs-

Mark Mchaley-

Sean Pence-