2015 Rittenhouse Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1 takes an artistic approach to the classic spin-off. All of the base cards, along with many of the inserts, are illustrated. It’s similar to the 2014 Star Trek: The Original Series Portfolio Prints release with much of the artwork done by Juan Ortiz.
Autographs combine to fall three per box. The large checklist of signers includes a couple of the show’s most recognizable star and an Oscar-winning actress with a recurring role in the series.
Base Set
The 2015 Rittenhouse Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1 base set has 89 cards. It takes on the half of the show’s episodes with never-before-published art by Juan Ortiz. The plan is to have the remaining 88 episodes make up a future Series 2 release.
Each of the cards has a Gold parallel. These combine to land one per box and have a gold facsimile signature from Ortiz. Also randomly inserted are parallels with authentic signatures from the artist.
Autographs
More than 50 signatures can be found in the product. Headlining this list is Whoopi Goldberg who played Guinan. Winner of the 1990 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost, this is just the second set with Goldberg’s autograph.
Jonathan Frakes (Riker) and Brent Spiner (Data) are two of the other major signers appearing in 2015 Rittenhouse Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1.
Autographs do come in a couple of different styles. The first is similar to the one used in other TNG sets from the card manufacturer. Silver Signature Series cards also appear.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1 Autographs:
Rittenhouse has confirmed the following signers as a partial list for the set. They expect more than 50 total autographs in the product.
- J.C. Brandy as Ensign Marta Batanides
- Brooke Bundy as Chief Engineer Sarah McDougal
- Tracee Cocco as Lt. Jae
- Kevin Conway as Kahless the Unforgettable
- Charles Dennis as Sunad
- Salome Jens as Ancient Humanoid
- Leonard John Crofoot as Lal
- Daniel Davis as Professor Moriarty
- Jonathan Frakes as Riker
- Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan
- Bob Gunton as Captain Maxwell
- Jaime Hubbard as Salia
- Robert Knepper as Wyatt Miller
- Rosalyn Landor as Brenna O’Dell
- Joanna Miles as Perrin
- Lycia Naff as Ensign Sonya Gomez
- Robert Schenkkan as Lt. Cmdr. Dexter Remmick
- Brent Spiner as Data
Sketch Cards
Despite their prominence in entertainment trading card sets for more than a decade, sketch cards are actually quite rare in the Star Trek realm. Very few have been done for The Next Generation. But Portfolio Prints is changing that a little. Each case of the product has one sketch card with original art.
Sketch Card Artists:
Here’s a tentative list of artists for 2015 Rittenhouse Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1:
- Irma Ahmed
- Kristin Allen
- Leon Braojos
- Francois Chartier
- Adam Cleveland
- Roy Cover
- David Day
- Anthony Douglas
- Norman Jim Faustino
- Connie Faye
- Bien Flores
- Javier Gonzalez
- Dan Gorman
- James Hiralez
- Scout Houseman
- Gavin Hunt
- Laura Inglis
- Seth Ismart
- John Jackman
- Mike James
- Jason Kemp
- Achilleas Kokkinakis
- Rich Kunz
- Lee Lightfoot
- Tirso Llaneta
- Eva Mae
- Jeff Mallinson
- Warren Martineck
- Eric McConnell
- Chris Meeks
- Rich Molinelli
- Nathan Nelson
- Tanner Padlo
- Gener Pedrina
- Sean Pence
- Prescilla Petraites
- Brent Ragland
- Ian Roberts
- Scott Rorie
- Jason Saldajeno
- Richard Salvucci
- Tim Shay
- Danny Silva
- Emily Tester
- Brad Utterstrom
- Wu Wei
- Helga Wojik
Inserts
TNG Comics is a 40-card set that explores the 1989 comic series. These land one per box. TNG Comics Archives Cuts are twice as hard to pull. A panel from one of the original comics is embedded in the card.
Focusing on characters from the show, TNG Universe has nine cards with one inserted in every box.
The Next Generation has some interesting pieces of space travel. Some are given the spotlight in Ships of the Line (nine cards, 1:48 packs).
TNG Metal cards are case hits. Each of the ten cards are numbered to 100 or less.
A custom binder made specifically for the release has an exclusive promo card.
Incentives
Rittenhouse makes case incentives a regular part of most of their releases. This one’s no different. Every case of the product comes with either a “Make It So, Number One” or “Ode to Spot” card.
Things get a lot fancier for the multi-case incentives. For every six cases ordered, there’s a dual autograph signed by Jonathan Franke (Riker) and Marina Sirtis (Troi). The nine-case incentive is a painted sketch card done by either Matt Glebe, Mick Glebe or Charles Hall.
Finally, there’s an Archive Box for the 18-case incentive. Details of its contents haven’t been announced.
2015 Rittenhouse Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1 at a glance:
Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 5
Boxes per case: 12
Release date: November 11, 2015
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs – 3
- TNG Universe Art Inserts – 1
- TNG Comics Inserts – 1
- Parallels – 1
bought a box the first card was #177. figured I would need two or three boxes to get a set. to my horror and dismay that the next TWO boxes contained exactly the same cards. all odd numbers! whats up with tat? nice case cards do not make up for no set.
Series 2 will have the even numbers.