WHAT'S POP'N V21

Issue 21 - What's Pop'n

Issue 21



The Post-Comic Con Africa Exhale



As we step into spring, the Solarpop team has plenty of exciting updates to share. From trade show highlights to product arrivals, there’s lots happening to set us up for a strong festive season.


The Solarpop team has worked tirelessly for months and – in the blink of an eye – Comic Con Africa 2025 has come and gone. We may be tired, but we’re also buzzing with excitement to share everything that transpired at this incredible event.

We’re also shining a spotlight on our friends at Skycastle, who launched their brand-new Kickstarter, Am I Human, this past Tuesday. Trust us – you’ll want to check this one out.

And of course, beyond the Comic Con recap, you’ll still find all your favourites in this issue: from pre-orders closing to the latest Spring into Play promotion. So don’t skip a single line. 😉



SPICE ROAD TONIGHT 🌙✨


This month’s track takes us straight back to the neon glow of the 80s. Spice Road Tonight pulses with retro synths, shimmering keys, and a steady beat that feels equal parts arcade and adventure.

Just like Century: Spice Road, the song is about rhythm, flow, and building momentum. The beats rise and layer as though you’re trading spices across continents, each deal adding a new note to your growing engine. It’s smooth, stylish, and brimming with that timeless vibe — the perfect soundtrack for late-night gaming sessions.

🎧 So turn up the volume, shuffle those cards, and let the spice flow tonight.



🏛️ More musical marvels on the way — stay tuned!


Pre-Orders Expiring

Pre-Orders Expiring

Catch pre-orders closing next week and take advantage of any pre-order incentives that may be on offer for them!

Please view all our Pre-Orders Expiring soon here:

Click here


Section Layout

Promotions

View all the promotional deals currently running across our entire product range!

🎲 ON PROMOTION: Spring Into Play! 🌸🕹️

Spring has sprung and its time to step into a season of sunshine, strategy, and seriously good games! Our Spring into Play promo is here — and it’s blooming with fresh picks for every kind of player.

Whether you’re plotting your next big game night, refreshing your shelves, or just love discovering hidden gems, this hand-picked lineup will have you rolling, racing, and rivalling your way into the new season.

🌼 From family favourites and party starters to deeper strategy titles, there’s something for every mood and every table.

📆 Promo runs 22 August – 25 September.

Don’t miss your chance to stock up, show off, and SPRING INTO PLAY!

SPRING INTO PLAY!️

Section Layout

On Clearance

Final chance to get these items (at amazing prices) before they are gone for good!

Go explore all our Clearance items:

Click here


Etienne’s Corner

Hear from Solarpop’s resident expert in Board Gaming & Miniature Gaming!

With Legends of the Force now behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the sixth set hitting the South African market in early November 2025. I’m personally excited, not only for the theme but also for the fresh mechanics this set brings to the game.


Theme


Secrets of Power dives into the hidden world of schemers, officials, and spies from across the Star Wars saga. Expect plenty of intrigue with inspirations drawn from The Clone Wars and Andor series.

New Mechanics & Tokens


  • Plot: Play cards directly from your resource row by paying their printed cost. The resource is then replaced with a new card from the top of your deck, creating powerful tempo swings.
  • Disclose: Reveal specific aspect icons from your hand to gain special benefits, perfect for players who love bluffing and managing hidden information.
  • Spy Tokens: These 0/2 tokens with the Official trait and Raid 2 can be deceptively powerful, especially when paired with cards that boost their interactions.

Spotlight Decks


The new Spotlight Decks feature Chancellor Palpatine and Padmé Amidala as leaders, each with four exclusive Special-rarity cards in their pre-built decks.

  • Chancellor Palpatine: Search your deck for plot cards, and when deployed, reduce their cost for game-changing plays.
  • Padmé Amidala: Deals damage whenever you reveal or discard cards - a perfect match for the new Disclose mechanic.

Boosters & Carbonite Boosters


Just like the previous two sets, Secrets of Power offers two booster options:

  • Booster Packs: 16 cards per pack, including commons, uncommons, rares/legendaries, leaders, bases/tokens, and foils.
  • Carbonite Edition Boosters: Premium, limited-edition boosters with exclusive variant cards featuring special aesthetic treatments.

Pre-Release Box


Get ready for Pre-Release events by grabbing a Pre-Release Box at your favourite local game store. Starting 31 October 2025, about a week before the official launch, players will be able to take part in this exciting event.


Launch & Logistics


Mark your calendars, the official street date is 7 November 2025. While international shipping can be unpredictable there is a chance the official street date for South Africa could move out. The team at Solarpop will keep you updated on any changes to product delivery timelines.

I trust this gives you all the information you need to get ready for the next exciting chapter of Star Wars Unlimited.

Stefan's Corner

Stefan’s Corner

Renowned expertise giving us the inside track into the world of Trading Cards Games & Accessories!


Pokémon



Mega Evolution Release Date Change


This is a reminder about the recently announced change to the release date of the September 26th expansion. Please see the below announcement from The Pokémon Company International:

"Due to challenges impacting product delivery dates, the release of the upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game: Mega Evolution expansion will be slightly delayed in markets for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We apologise to our fans and understand that this news may be disappointing. We are working hard alongside our logistics partners to ensure products will be available for purchase by 10 October 2025. We would like to thank our community for their continued support and patience."

Solarpop’s stock will be in our warehouse by mid-September – on time for the revised release date on October 10th. The product is sold out to pre-order and allocations have been communicated to retailers.



Magic: The Gathering



Marvel’s Spider-Man is releasing on 26 September and due to allocations from the supplier, all products from this range are sold out on pre-order. Specific retailer allocations have been communicated to stores.



Dungeons & Dragons



Solarpop received the below notice from Wizards of the Coast:

Due to logistical issues, the EU release date has been adjusted. While the US release is scheduled for September 16th, we now expect the product to be available in EU stores by October 14th.

If retailers receive stock earlier than October 14th, they are permitted to begin sales anytime from September 16th onward. Please note that this is an estimated date, not a sales restriction.

Solarpop will share updates as more information becomes.



Marketing Corner

News and insights from the Solarpop Marketing Team

Comic Con Africa 2025 Highlights


Comic Con Africa 2025 was massive – and every hour of planning paid off. Our friends at Unplug Yourself were in full force with the Tabletop Area, where board games galore brought joy to fans old and new.

Meanwhile, Solarpop unveiled the brand-new Tabletop Alley, joined by some of the world’s most prominent suppliers – including Asmodee, Konami, Wizards of the Coast, Lucky Duck, Gigamic, Mindware, Thames & Kosmos, Iello, TeeTurtle, Happy Camper, and more. With double-wide aisles, top-tier guides, and exciting first-look demos, this space quickly became a sanctuary of fun for convention visitors.

But the real family magic was found over at KidsCon, where Solarpop brought three powerhouse brands to life:

  • 🏁 Freak Marbles Track – A roar of excitement filled the hall every 30 minutes as kids cheered their favourite marbles to victory. The track was bigger, bolder, and more interactive than ever, turning every race into a mini-spectacle.

  • 🧪 Dr. Squish – The official South African launch of Dr. Squish was a smash hit. Children lined up to try the Squishy Maker, crafting their own glittery, goo-filled creations.

  • ❄️ Slush Puppie – The booth was a sensory delight: bright colours, the nostalgic smell of syrup, and the whirr of icy machines. Fans queued up to sip, slurp, and snap selfies.

From the high-energy Freak Marbles races to glitter-filled Dr. Squish creations and refreshing Slush Puppie selfies, the Solarpop presence at KidsCon brought pure joy to kids and parents alike.

No Comic Con Africa would be complete without our Retailer Conference, and this year’s gathering was a true highlight. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our retail partners who joined us, shared their insights, and spent valuable time with our team in the middle of such a busy show. Your support and collaboration make all the difference, and we look forward to reconnecting at the next conference — where even bigger ideas, opportunities, and game-changing moments await.

Already, the Solarpop team is hard at work planning Comic Con Cape Town 2026 and Comic Con Africa 2026, ready to bring even more happiness home to fans across the country.

Greetings fellow humans!



Fellow Humans!

Am I Human Game’s Kickstarter campaign is finally live. If you would and if it so pleases you, do engage your flesh digits to the button below and back the game (how else can you save your fellow humans from AI slop whilst having a great time with your… fellow humans?).



We’re also very excited to inform those who are human averse that we also have a ‘Kitteh’ version of the game. If saving the cats from the memes is more your scene, well then, we have the purrfect companion for you… fellow human/cat mums and dads!

You could even be one of the Humans and Superhumans featured in the game itself!

Save the Humans from AI Slop today!

No AI was used or abused in the making of this game, only free-range, ethically-treated humans were utilised in the making of this product.





Section Layout

Marketing Content

Push your marketing to new levels with the content library.


📂 UNLOCK YOUR NEXT BESTSELLER 💥📸



Ready to turn browsers into buyers? The Solarpop Marketing Library is your secret weapon — loaded with high-impact visuals, campaign-ready assets, and plug-and-play social content built to boost your brand.

💡 Plan a showstopping shelf display?
💬 Want scroll-stopping posts for your feed?
🎯 Need promo graphics that actually drive sales?

It’s all there — easy to access, easy to use, and updated with every major launch.

🚀 Start your next in-store or online push with assets that work as hard as you do.

Click here to access the share box


Back

WHAT'S POP'N

0 Products

Sorry, we couldn't find any products.