WHAT'S POP'N V47
Issue 47
V47. Let’s get into it.
October is in full swing, and there is plenty moving across the Solarpop world. We’re turning up the volume in Top of the Pops with King of Tokyo: Godzilla, creeping into the season with Ooky Spooky Specials, and looking back at the huge brand moments that made Comic Con Africa 2026 our biggest one yet.
On the product side, closing pre-orders, clearance and new arrivals keep the shelves busy, while Special Announcements locks in the revised Pokémon TCG Mega Forces Tin date. Stefan dives into Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Beyond the Brave, and Terry opens the spellbook on Dungeons & Dragons: Arcana Unleashed. Plenty to browse, plenty to play, and just enough October chaos along the way. 🎃
Now Playing: King of Tokyo: Godzilla
Good day everyone! The King of the Monsters has stomped his way into Top of the Pops. This round is inspired by King of Tokyo: Godzilla, where legendary kaiju collide in a fast, loud and gloriously over-the-top fight for Tokyo.
It is all giant monsters, big dice and radioactive table energy, with exactly the sort of chaos that deserves the volume turned up. Hit play, choose your monster and let the city-shaking showdown begin. 🎶🦖
Pre-Orders Expiring
The closing window is creeping closer. This round gives stores and players a handy mix of expansion content, quick-thinking competition, cosy head-to-head play and classic family-game lightning in a bottle.
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Retail partners: Don't miss out, these pre-orders are closing fast:
VIEW CLOSING PRE-ORDERSPlayers & collectors: Chat to your Friendly Local Game Store and lock in your copy before the window shuts.
Ooky Spooky Specials!
October has crept onto the calendar, and the specials have come out after dark. 🎃👻
Ooky Spooky Specials is our Halloween-flavoured October promotion, packed with monsters, mysteries, undead mayhem and tabletop treats for shelves that want a little more bite this month.
Think Pokémon BOOster packs, costumed kaiju, vampire dice, Lovecraftian trouble and full-blown zombie chaos. Here are a few suitably spooky picks to get the cobwebs moving.
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Clearance this week has a wide little treasure map: evolution-driven strategy, Marvel miniatures, spellcasting, prehistoric survival, modular terrain and taco-fuelled end-times energy.
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Explore all our clearance items here:
SHOP CLEARANCE
New arrivals bring a clean mix of trading card staples, galactic conflict, collectible cuteness and high-magic adventure. It is a tidy spread for hobby shelves, giftable discovery and players looking for their next table moment.
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Go explore all our New Arrivals:
VIEW ALL NEW ARRIVALSSPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pokémon TCG: Mega Forces Tin Release Update
Revised Release Date
The Pokémon TCG: Mega Forces Tin, originally scheduled for release in August and then postponed due to a production delay, now officially has a revised release date.
The Tin will go on sale on 13 November.
Some of the most powerful Mega Evolution Pokémon ex are ready to show off their strength. The Mega Forces Tin gives fans a choice between the majestic wings of Mega Dragonite ex, the terrifying gaze of Mega Darkrai ex, or the lightning-fast reflexes of Mega Zeraora ex, each bringing powerful attacks and big-damage energy to the table.
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 Mega Darkrai ex |  Mega Dragonite ex |  Mega Zeraora ex |
Clear new date, clear Mega Evolution moment.
With the revised date now confirmed, the Mega Forces Tin gives Pokémon TCG fans a focused November release to look forward to, with three Mega Evolution Pokémon ex options, four booster packs, and a collector-friendly tin format built for shelves and wishlists.
MARKETING CORNER
Comic Con Africa 2026: Solarpop Went Big
Comic Con Africa 2026 was our biggest Comic Con to date, and the win was bigger than simply putting product on display. Across KidsCon, Tabletop Gaming and the Main Stage, we built experiences around the brands and gave fans something to play, trade, create, collect, dance with and remember.
Pokémon 30th Took Centre Stage
Our Poké Party brought together learn-to-play, trading, Pikachu crowns, facepainting, quizzes and kids cosplay, while the Krispy Kreme collaboration added a sweet Pokémon twist. Solarpop and Takealot worked together to push the celebration across the Con, giving fans hands-on access to new 30th Celebration products and helping drive a sell-out weekend. Stefan Roets closed the loop on the Main Stage with Pokémon history, community, a quiz and giveaways.
K‑Pop Demon Hunters Became The Showstopper
Rumi, Zoey and Mira alongside the Saja Boys came to life through daily dance lessons, fan interactions and KidsCon performances before the activation exploded onto the Comic Con Main Stage. The Mario Gomes Hip Hop Dance Academy and their 58 additional dancers produced a flashmob takeover. Becoming one of the defining crowd moments of the weekend.
The Collectibles Arcade Stayed Packed
Pembe Café brought bento builds and prize moments, while Cherry Pets, My Little Pony, Tattoo Zoo and Beep Boop gave fans constant reasons to discover, trade, collect and come back for another look. The space became a destination in its own right.
Tattoo Zoo Made A Loud Debut
The skate-ramp selfie moment gave fans the perfect chance to step into the Tattoo Zoo world, with one lucky participant taking home a Tattoo Zoo prize hamper. The Comic Con exclusive first look landed with plenty of attitude, and fans quickly turned into collectors chasing their favourite characters across the weekend.
Beep Boop Turned Nostalgia Into Play
Personality wheel spins, passports and the four Beep Boop companions reintroduced virtual-pet fun through an interactive experience that let fans discover which character matched them before getting officially “Beep Booped”.
Creativity Became Part Of The Show
Doctor Squish Glow It! and Slime Academy had queues wrapping around the Glow Room, while Hunter Studio, Hook & Heart and My Vibe helped turn the Arts & Crafts Gallery into an all-ages space built around making, learning and doing.
The Big Win
Comic Con Africa proved what happens when we activate brands instead of simply displaying them. People did not just see Solarpop products. They interacted with them, built memories around them and took that excitement home.
STEFAN'S CORNER
Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Beyond the Brave Core Booster
The Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Beyond the Brave booster set is scheduled for release on 9 October 2026. Official Tournament Stores have an early release date of 7 October and Duelists will have the opportunity for early access at Premiere Event tournaments the weekend of 3-4 October.
The set is themed around duelists who embody courage and risk-taking, with several standout archetypes and reimagined cards. Front and centre is master duelist, Joey Wheeler, in the first Core booster to feature Joey on the cover.
| Launch Date 9 October 2026Core booster release. | Early Access 3-4 October 2026Premiere Event weekend, with OTS early release on 7 October. |
Who’s the Bravest of the Brave?
The bravest of the brave? The Duelist willing to risk it all on a roll of the dice, the flip of a coin, or a spin of the dial? Joey Wheeler, that’s who. A new reimagining of Joey’s favourite cards is here for Beyond the Brave.
Joey is certainly one for high-risk, high-reward strategies, and there is no better example than his Dark Time Wizard cards.
Dark Time Wizard: Safe Search or Risky Wipe
Dark Time Wizard is a Quick‑Play Spell Card with two effects. Duelists choose one when it is activated: one is safe, and the other is classic Joey-level risky.
- The safe effect adds another card from your Deck to your hand that mentions Dark Time Wizard, then rewinds itself during the End Phase to return a copy from your Graveyard to your hand.
- The risky effect calls on Lady Luck. Win the coin toss and destroy all your opponent’s monsters, then inflict damage equal to half their combined original ATK. Call it wrong and your monsters are destroyed instead.
- If monsters are destroyed by Dark Time Wizard, you can Tribute a monster from either field to Special Summon Red‑Eyes Black Dragon Exceed from your Extra Deck.
Aster Phoenix’s Destiny HERO Reworks
Aster Phoenix is another famously brave Duelist, and Beyond the Brave comes with reimagined Destiny HERO cards you can add to your Deck.
- Destiny HERO – Doom Overlord still banishes an opponent’s monster, while also grabbing Clock Tower Prison or Dark City at Midnight from your Deck.
- Destiny HERO – Destro‑Dogma can be Special Summoned with 3400 ATK and creates more pressure through burn damage and Fusion Summon support.
- Destiny HERO – Dreadnought Master adds Destiny HERO support cards and scales its ATK from your field and Graveyard.
Atlantis & Daedalus Theme
Discover the secrets of the deepest oceans and the ancient link between Atlantis and Daedalus.
Atlantis, City of the Sea Dragon reduces monster Levels and makes Extra Deck Summons easier. New evolutions like Azure Ocean Dragon Lord – Neo‑Daedalus Rage and Levia‑Dragoon – Daedalus interact with Umi cards, helping the strategy flood the field with oceanic pressure.
Ashtra Trap Strategy
Drag your foes through Ashtrashen – Gate to the Worlds Beyond and besiege them with terrifying Traps. The Ashtra monsters can be Summoned by revealing one of your face-down cards and returning it to your hand or Extra Deck.
Every Ashtra Trap Card can also be Summoned as a Tuner monster, opening the door to flexible Synchro plays. Cards like Ashtraja Susanoo and Ashtraya Mikumari‑no‑Mikoto provide mass removal, precision control and more ways to set up your next Trap.
World Premiere Cards
Audhumla, Progenitor of the Frozen Expanse enhances Trap‑based decks and WATER strategies. As long as there are four or more cards on the field, Audhumla can help swap out Spells or Traps you do not need for fresh draws, with extra upside in WATER builds.
Speaking of world premiere cards, there is also a certain GREY king who does not seem to care whose side he is on.
Existing Archetype Support
Beyond the Brave also fills gaps for existing Decks. Look for Verre, the Maid of Endymion to team with Regulus, the Prince of Endymion, add Clown Crew Cappello to your Clown Crew Deck, or slot Predaplant Daredevil into your Predaplant builds.
The complete Beyond the Brave card set includes:
10 Secret Rares | 14 Ultra Rares | 26 Super Rares |
50 Commons | 5 extended art Ultra/Starlight Rares | 20 additional Starlight Rares |
This expansion blends nostalgia with bold new mechanics, giving Joey fans, Destiny HERO players, and Atlantis enthusiasts plenty to explore.
TERRY'S CORNER
Take Your Magic to the Next Level with Dungeons & Dragons: Arcana Unleashed
September saw the release of two new Dungeons & Dragons books, the sourcebook Arcana Unleashed and its companion adventure Deadfall, giving players and Dungeon Masters a whole new array of high-magic additions to their games, while also reworking a few fan-favourite options for the latest edition.
Take your magic to the next level
Step into a high-magic society where legendary spellcasters, arcane factions and ancient traditions shape the fate of entire realms.
Master evolving magic items, uncover forgotten secrets and wield power worthy of legends.
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The player options in Arcana Unleashed are some of the most varied and interesting we have seen in recent sourcebooks. It includes 33 new spells, 10 new backgrounds, 25 new feats, almost 50 new magical items, a reworked Necromancer class, a brand-new Warlock patron and eight new subclass options. Goth Kids rejoice.
Fifth Edition | 160 Pages | 8 Subclasses | 30+ Spells |
19 Monsters | 9 Arcane Factions | 40+ Magic Items | 1 Adventure |
It also adds evolving magical artifacts, which increase in power as your character does. The book provides five pre-generated options and adds a set of general rules for building that progression into any magical item, which is a very exciting official addition for DMs who enjoy long-form character growth.
Define Your Arcane IdentityExpand your arcane potential with subclass options including Arcana Domain Cleric, Arcane Archer Fighter, Warrior of the Mystic Arts Monk, Vestige Patron Warlock and revised Wizard traditions. | Expand Your SpellbookDiscover new and revised spells, including Wail of the Banshee, Iron Body, Spirit Lantern and Zone of Amicability. |
Denizens of High MagicEncounter magical creatures born from arcane experimentation and ancient power, from elven undead Baelnorn to Living Spells, Darkenbeasts and beyond. | Treasures of LegendChannel legendary power through evolving magic items, rare relics designed to grow with characters and a vault of other arcane treasures. |
For Dungeon Masters
There is no shortage of world-building here either. Arcana Unleashed details nine new magical factions and a variety of patrons for your party, opening the door to political arcane drama, magical allegiances and campaign-shaping choices.
The bestiary, while comparatively small, includes new Archmages for each school of magic and a variety of new living spells. Living Thunderwave, anyone? There is also a short low-level adventure that can introduce players to the new mechanics and serve as a jumping-off point for a longer campaign.
The Deadfall adventure book is certainly not for novices. Starting at level 11, this magical spy-thriller pulls players into a world of enchanted espionage, fragile alliances and clandestine missions, set against the backdrop of Thay and the machinations of the sinister undead Red Wizard, Szass Tam.
Both Arcana Unleashed and Deadfall are available now, and should be a strong fit for anyone looking to delve deeper into the magical arts.
