2009 was looking to be a big year for Topps and Terminator trading cards. Terminator: Salvation was slated to be a blockbuster. One would have expected increased interest in the franchise as a whole. Topps was apparently thinking the same thing when they announced plans for a set of Terminator Chrome trading cards in addition to their Terminator: Salvation set. Unfortunately 2009 Topps Terminator Chrome never made it past the announcement stage.
Originally planned for a January release, this would have been the first set to include the original 1984 film. Taking an anthology approach, the base set would have covered all three original films done with shiny opti-chrome stock. When you think about it, it’s a perfect fit.
Being part of the Topps Chrome line, there were also the usual parallel suspects: Refractors (1:6 packs), X-Fractors (1:12 packs) and Superfractors. Today, Supers are some of the most popular one-of-ones in the world of trading cards. Here, they were to going to have 50 copies each.
Each hobby box was to include either an autograph, memorabilia card or sketch card. A Terminator: Salvation box topper was also part of the plans.
This was a similar template from Topps in 2008 with Indiana Jones. Rather than a Topps Chrome set, it was the throwback Indiana Jones Heritage. The product acted as a lead-in to Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Later came the art-based Indiana Jones Masterpieces.
Had 2009 Topps Terminator Chrome made it onto shelves, hobby boxes would have come with 24 packs of five cards.
