Review – Star Wars Power Plates
Now here’s a creative idea that deserves applause. The Star Wars Power Plates (search Amazon.com*) from Topps are metal license plates with a magnet on the back, sold one per pack for $2. And with a combination of blind packaging, a low price point, and a low number of unique pieces in the first wave (only 30 different designs) I suspect there will be more than a few Star Wars fans trying to grab complete sets. Just imagine what refrigerators are going to look like if this idea takes off.
Metal!
These mini-license plates are actually made of metal and they feel really tough. I wouldn’t suggest trying to build a house out of them or trying to stop a bullet, but the metal is a decent quality and overall the plate feels like it’s worth the $2 price tag. I only bought one — I was curious and wasn’t totally sure of what I would think of them — but I could see myself grabbing one or two more from time to time. The one I did buy is now on the refrigerator and it stays just fine; the magnet on back is pretty big.
See all 30 Designs!
While the official webpage sucks — really, it’s a lame page — you can see all 30 of the license plates on starwarsguide.net. A third of the designs are prequel pieces while the other twenty are all classic trilogy-based pieces so regardless of your Star Wars preferences there’s something here for you . . . except for Clone Wars fans who will likely have to wait for a future set. I don’t see any info on a Clone Wars set, but if these sell well there’s no way it won’t happen.
Closing Thoughts
As Vader says, Impressive. $2 for a single metal license plate is a much better deal than I thought before opening the package. And at 4″ x 2.25″ these plates are fairly large and really do look good on the refrigerator. Custom license plates aren’t anything new, but I can’t remember seeing tiny license plates in trading card-like packaging before. Of course there is very likely several instances of this idea being marketed in the past, but it’s one I can’t remember so I’m impressed.
But then I’m sometimes too easily impressed, so find someone who has bought one or two of these plates and check them out for yourself. I think it’s a great idea.
Philip Reed may not go after a full set of these but he seriously respects the creativity behind them. Inexpensive and fun collectibles are always popular with Philip’s brain.
Ooo, cool. I’ll have to keep an eye out for these.