Link

When it's October it's standard operating procedure to watch horror movies.  This past October was no exception.  I did the regulars; Freddy, Jason, and Michael.  I also added Link to the VHS queue.  Sure, Link isn't your typical slasher horror movie, more of a suspense type of horror; add in a maniacal ape.  Plus, you hardly need a reason to watch a movie starring Elisabeth Shue and General Zod.

Link is a movie I've known about for many years thanks to my lifelong crush on Elisabeth Shue.  But, I only viewed it for the first time maybe three years ago, and several times since.  I'd watch the movie even if it didn't have the gratuitous Elisabeth Shue bathroom scene, but that certainly only adds to it's watchability.

While I was watching I thought a Link trading card set could be pretty cool and unique but I doubted I would be able to make one assuming there would be a lack of quality images available being that Link is a bit obscure.  To my pleasant surprise my assumption made an ass out of you and me.  Well, maybe just me, you had nothing to do with it.  I found a decent number of photos online and the only thing left was to commit them to cardboard.

Most of my cards you'll notice have a sports card influence to them.  I wanted this set to have a 100% non-sports card feel.  I couldn't really find any card set from 1986 --the movie's release year-- to match what I had in mind.  So, I went would a non-sports design that was inspired by a look that Topps used at least twice that I can recall.  Once was with the 1979 Incredible Hulk set and the other was the 1984 Gremlins set.

A lot of time and effort went into this and I'm super pumped with the end result.  I think of all the sets I've done this one is right up there as far as being able to pass as an actual vintage set.  A true "phantom" of a card set.

I think the jagged border fits great plus the little link cameo in the lower corner.  I'm just as proud of the card back.  I used sort of a inverse design of the front of the cards and then researched fun facts and quotes to complete the cards.

There are 17 numbered cards and to top it off there's a card sized sticker to really give it that vintage non-sports set finishing touch.

Ali Mills

In my never ending quest to come up with excuses for making new custom Karate Kid cards, I present to you my latest creation.

This Ali Mills "Heart Breaker" card is a play on the 1984 Topps football "Record Breaker" subset.  The photo is either a behind the scenes shot or a deleted scenes shot, I'm not 100% sure.

Not That Boy From Reseda

With the YouTube Red original series Cobra Kai being released today I put together these two cards. For all the the times I’ve thrown the word “favorite” around The Karate Kid is the movie that stands alone as my #1 all-time favorite movie.

I got to see the first two episodes of Cobra Kai in the theater on April 25th as a part of a special screening that was followed by the original 1984 masterpiece. That in and of itself was a treat for me having never seen it on the big screen. As for the Cobra Kai episodes... they were better than I even imagined they could be. From a production standpoint, a story standpoint and nostalgic tie-ins, the first two episodes had everything a Karate Kid fan could ask for. I’ve subscribed to YouTube Red and am counting down the moments until I can veg out to the series.

1984 Figurina

I’ve made a number of different Karate Kid themed cards. I’m always trying to think up new Karate Kid card ideas. These two are my latest offerings; Daniel and Ali soccer cards. Soccer is what first brought these two star crossed kids together so why not soccer cards?

I know nothing about soccer cards. I want to say the only soccer cards I ever owned came in a Classic blister pack that highlighted athletes from different sports that competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. So, I had to do some research. I wanted to keep it 1984 so I searched for different soccer cards that came out that year. The design I liked best was from the 1984 Figurina Calciatori Forza Goal Series. I liked the shape of the image box and the overall clean design. In looking at different cards from the set I noticed the the soccer ball streak matched the player’s soccer jerseys. For that reason Daniel got the grey and blue to match his gym sweats, and grey and green for the same reason for Ali. In the text above the ball where the player’s team/country was displayed I added Encino and Reseda for Ali and Daniel respectively. I used that to play on the division of class that is a central theme of the movie.