Bernie Sanders mitten memes immortalized in new NFT collection

Topps Digital released its latest line of nonfungible token collectibles on Wednesday, featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders and his winter mittens as the subject of the promotional series. 

The collectibles, dubbed “GPK Bernventures,” are digital packs containing two NFTs issued on the Worldwide Asset eXchange blockchain. The card drawings are in the style of Topps’ long-running Garbage Pail Kids series, which was originally launched in 1985.

The series features 18 unique depictions of Sanders’ now-famous Inauguration Day pose — masked up and bundled in winter weather apparel — capturing the meme for all eternity through the immutability of blockchain technology.

In the series, Sanders is cast in pose through a number of comical situations, such as living underwater and surviving a Martian invasion.

2021's MEGA-meme machine hits the blockchain! Travel the globe and beyond with our favorite mitten-touting Garbage Pail Kid! Collect hilarious original art & motion sketch collectibles featuring the lovable, stoic Bernie! @GeePeeKay @WAX_ioCollect: https://t.co/wHmgqPEeAD pic.twitter.com/LFvXJl4OBA

— Topps Digital (@ToppsDigital) January 27, 2021

After NFT packs are “opened” by executing a transaction on the WAX blockchain, and the pack itself is replaced by two NFT cards that are randomly generated upon opening. Cards are assigned one of five levels of increasing rarity: Base B, Base A, Rare Artists Sketches, Epic Artist Raws and Legendary Artist Signatures.

NFT holders have the opportunity to “bern” unwanted tokens through the official website — allowing users to destroy the NFT in exchange for points that can be exchanged for future releases in the series.

.@GeePeeKay Bernventures secured? ✅ Time to “Feel the Bern!” Trade-in or “bern” dupes or higher card count collectibles for a chance to earn rare Mitten cards! More you bern, more you climb the leaderboard! Program ends 1/31! More: https://t.co/jKBeb08N7Y @WAX_io @eosiodetroit pic.twitter.com/z2lxQxmTSQ

— Topps Digital (@ToppsDigital) January 26, 2021

Previous releases of the Garbage Pail Kids series on WAX have sold out in a few hours, and individual NFT cards sell for $1,000+ on secondary markets on a regular basis.

GPK S1: Rarity "Base" Mint #1/774 The All-Time High for "Base" #GPK trades has just been Detonated!! This #1 minted Adam Bomb 8a Garbage Pail Kid #NFT just sold for 45K #WAXP ($2,380) There will only ever be ONE @Topps Series 1 AB #GarbagePailKids on @WAX_io pic.twitter.com/omb5AJRvRP

— Chewnold Schwartzbacca (@Chewnold) July 10, 2020

An American staple for trading cards and popular culture since the 1950s, Topps has made deals with the likes of Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel and WWE over the years, as well as most major American sports leagues. It also owns a significant amount of intellectual property related to popular collectibles. According to the management of the digital arm of the company, these qualities render Topps a prime candidate for growing NFT collectibles into the view of the mainstream.

Big upgrade. Much improved UI and great features. Nice job @WAX_io ! Good step towards better user experience in #NFTs on #blockchain https://t.co/MGXnfOQv48

— Tobin Lent (@tobinlent) November 19, 2020

After the success of Topps’ Garbage Pail Kid Series 1 release in May 2020 — during which 12,000 packs were sold in 28 hours — other companies and artists began to take note of what WAX had to offer NFT creators.

On Aug. 8, 2020, Bad Crypto Podcast co-hosts Joel Comm and Travis Wright launched their "Blockchain Heroes" collectibles series on WAX, consisting of NFTs loosely based on real-life crypto industry personalities. Later that month, Star Trek captain William Shatner launched his own line of NFTs as a way to share memorabilia from his life and career as an actor, selling all 10,000 packs in nine minutes.

More recently, EDM superstar Deadmau5 released his own NFT collectibles on WAX in December 2020, a line of digital artwork under the brand name Rarez.

Please list @WAX_io they are bringing not only the new generation to crypto and nfts world but also bringing the old generation from 1960s, 70s , 80s, 90s via topps gpk atari , capcom , kogs, bch and many more so please list @WAX_io https://t.co/96hywRLvMs

— salman (@salman445526) January 18, 2021