Mars Attacks (Topps) Kindle & comiXology

Many people can still remember a time, arguably a now long lost era, when cardboard reigned supreme. Companies would simply print images on this material, organize them into some sort of thematic unity and usually individually number them to make those possessing "the collecting disease" go absolutely berserk with completion anxiety. Pursuing complete sets could become ferocious youthful obsessions for past generations. Though printed cards such as "Pokémon" and "Magic: The Gathering" still hold considerable sway over today's young and old alike, they don't possess the once nearly exclusive cultural dominance of their distant ancestors. Prior to the Internet, mobile phones, video games and other now ubiquitous electronic and digital distractions, cardboard provided a simple, and usually an inexpensive, way to bond with others via a shared maniacal euphoria of acquisition. Pocket change, now also a disappearing cultural phenomenon, exchanged and converted easily into slick and shiny wax packs containing small piles of thin cardboard renderings of anything from cultural figures to animals, historical events or even newly wrought narratives.One of the most notorious of these new stories told through successively numbered cardboard slabs has become a modern day rarity due to its initial controversy. Released in 1962, "Mars Attacks" used lurid horror to depict a Martian invasion of Earth, complete with graphic violence that included flesh searing rays, people engulfed in flames, bloody impalings, giant insects eating people alive and scenes of mass devastation and death. Martians even killed pet dogs. Though intended for children, the artists didn't sugar coat the images whatsoever. Many of them will still horrify people today. One look at the series will likely raise the question: "how did they get away with it?" For the most part, they didn't. Yet the brutal violence had precedence in at least two other card series. Bowman released "The Horrors of War" in 1938, arguing that exposing children to war's ghastly side would ultimately promote peace. The cards even stated, in bold text, that "to know the HORRORS OF WAR is to want PEACE." True to its word, the series included numerous gruesome images of human casualties and death.In a similar spirit, and just before "Mars Attacks," Topps released "Civil War News," which told the story of the American Civil War through outright blood and gore. Card titles such as "Flaming Death," "Crushed by the Wheels," "Painful Death," "Wall of Corpses" and "Dynamite Victim" adequately convey the corresponding imagery. Many found the cards sensationalized, and not always historically accurate, but their alleged "educational" aspect apparently made them acceptable to the public, despite their target demographic of children. Maybe the general lack of criticism to the Civil War series inspired the art department at Topps to push even further. In that same year, "Mars Attacks" appeared to nearly universal condemnation, but kids who could obtain the cards seemed to love them. After a short limited release, Topps, working under the fake company name of "Bubbles, Inc.," had to pull the cards from circulation. The series definitely pushed boundaries for its time, not only with violence, but also by including images of young alluring women in distress. This added sensual dimension arguably caused the public outrage, but the gore in many ways also far surpassed the Civil War series. Not to mention that "Mars Attacks" couldn't fall back on any kind of "educational" premise. Calling it a lesson in astronomy would have stretched credulity beyond limits.Not surprisingly, the cards became infamous and highly desired collectibles. The first reprints appeared in 1984 and, as interest in the original series grew, in 1994 Topps reissued and expanded the set beyond the original 55 cards. 1996's feature film retelling, which then garnered mostly mixed reviews, led to a slew of new merchandise and increased hype around its cardboard origins. To celebrate the cards' 50th anniversary in 2012, Topps published reprints of all of the cards, including the updates and known set extensions up to that point, in a full color hardcover book complete with a wax pack dust jacket. Though it doesn't recreate the original tactile sensation of handling the cards themselves, it nonetheless provides a great way to view the series in handy book form. The front and back of every card in the series appears in glossy full color with commentary from the series's creators and artists. Two short essays by series co-creator Len Brown and the daughter of series artist Norman Saunders, Zina Saunders, bookend the volume.A glance through the cards themselves reveals what enraged parents and authorities of 1962 (Len Brown said that a Connecticut District Attorney had warned him about the set). Full of what a lot of adolescent boys would probably consider "gory fun," and what some today would consider "shock" entertainment, many of the cards depict true horror. Card number three "Attacking an Army Base," shows multiple men on fire and one reduced to a skeleton in a Martian ray. Card number nine, "The Human Torch," as well as card number nineteen, "Burning Flesh," remain self-explanatory. Card number eleven, "'Destroy the City'" features piles of smoldering human bodies. "Burning Cattle," card number twenty-two, shows even cows in flames. Some of the most terrifying cards feature the giant insects that Martians "scientifically enlarged" to help subdue humans. None of the insects look very biologically correct, but that doesn't keep cards twenty-eight, "Helpless victim," and card twenty-nine, "Death in the Shelter," both featuring humans in the bloody jaws of enormous insects, from inspiring true terror. They will still make many spines today curdle with horror and disgust.More comically, many of the Martian robots look right out of clunky 1950s science fiction, though they still do unspeakable things to people. This almost perfect combination of actual horror with pulp fiction camp probably explains the series's enduring appeal. Not to mention its attempt to stretch the envelope a bit too far for its time. Along those lines, card thirty-six, "Destroying a Dog," apparently proved too much for Topp's executives, who demanded that the original art showing the dog's seared skeleton get painted over with fur. A Martian frying a dog aptly demonstrated their true inhumanity, especially as the dying dog's "young owner" pleads with the heartless Martian. Card thirteen, "Watching From Mars," emphasizes this point by showing joyous Martians happily watching the Earthly carnage. They even drink celebratory martinis. What brutes!Each card back contains a description of the scene on its front, along with some background information. 54 cards complete the story, which makes for an interesting variation on the serial. Depending on the cards first obtained, kids might know the end of the story before the beginning, or just scattered fragments of it. This added another dimension to completing the set, since it also completed the story. In any case, the checklist and final card of the series provided a brief summary of the entire narrative. The first card of the set, "The Invasion Begins," not only provides the most memorable image of the series, but the back also explains the origin of the attack. Apparently, Martian scientists had discovered that their planet will erupt with an "atomic explosion" in perhaps weeks or days, so they need to attack the Earth to survive. So much for diplomacy. The plot has many holes, of course, - and as expected - but overall the series holds together thanks to its artwork and its generally over the top approach to its very fictional subject matter. Its creators very likely didn't intend kids to take it too seriously. They probably hoped that the violence would appeal to their young sensibilities and imaginations and inspire purchasing more packs to see more "gory stuff." Pop culture has produced many other such artifacts for many similar reasons.The 50th anniversary book continues up to card 66. Some may find these welcome additions, others may find them extraneous or unnecessary. They continue the tradition of shock and gore, but they inevitably lack the original series's now quaint charm. The rest of the book features comic art, sketches and often hilarious early attempts to "clean up" the original series. Many of these replace the seductive women with men and remove the blood, flames and corpses. Not surprisingly, they also have far less impact than the originals. Concerning the women depicted on the cards, Topps apparently made the artists paint over far more slinky and revealing clothing and even over bare skin. The commentary to card twenty-one, "Prize Captive," points out the paradox: "We could show skeletons of dead human beings or people in flames, but we couldn't show the rounded, pretty flesh of a woman's shoulder."Cardboard will likely never reign again in the way that it did in the early twentieth century. Despite this, many still collect cardboard relics and many rare specimens still fetch thousands or even millions of dollars at auction. Original 1962 "Mars Attacks" cards can demand nearly unimaginable prices today given their short release time and their subsequent genuine rarity. Those possessing only limited means who want to see the series up close need to purchase either a reprint set or the Topps "50th Anniversary Collection" volume. The latter completely removes the fear of soiling or degrading any actual cards. Plus, it provides additional information about the series, though it arguably could have provided more. Perennial morbid curiosity and a need to understand why society often rejects things from some kind of moral perspective, not to mention why some people keep trying to push that envelope, will probably keep "Mars Attacks" on the cultural radar for some time to come. It provides yet another example that censorship, in the long run, often only increases interest in the censored item.

Can you smell the Bazooka Joe bubble gum?? I swear, Abrams somehow permeated this book with Eau-de-Bazooka Joe! Fantastic!This is one amazing book! In every way! The dust wrapper is lovingly made with a semi-transparent paper that mimics the original Mars Attacks pack wrapper. The text, mostly by Len Brown who is well-known to us card, comic and monster-mag fans, presents the most in-depth portrait of Woody Gelman (of Topps and Nostalgia Press) that I've ever read. Zina Saunders, the daughter of the painter Norm Saunders who painted most of the finished cards over Bob Powell's pencils, also contributes an excellent and touching account of the "Mars Attacks" days with her dad. And the cards... these are the finest reproductions I've ever seen. Even better than the originals. I'm a big fan of Topps' 1994 reissue set, but this book's repros are the best. The original (and 1994 reissue) cards were about 2.5" x 3.5". The repros in this book are about 3" x 4.25". Needless to say, gorgeous repros of all 55 original cards, full page, with the back of the card on the facing page, are included. The card images are crystal clear. The reason? The book's repros are shot from the ORIGINAL TRANSPARENCIES! This is the ultimate Mars Attacks book!Also included are the 11 cards from the extended 1994 set, as well as various other random magazine premiums and Screemin' cards.The book is a treasure. I sold my set of Mars Attacks cards in 1965 for $1, and have regretted it ever since, but this book makes up for it. Thank you, Abrams!!

This book is a fantastic look at the Mars Attacks card series covertly put out by Topps under the name Bubbles Inc. because of their fear of the public backlash. Seems they were correct in their assessment, there are small parts of anecdotes of the bad press and "concern" from busybodies regarding this sci-fi trading card set. I wish the book expanded more on these topics. There are mentions in the book of files of these public responses being kept at the Topps offices - that's the kinda stuff I'd really love to read more of in depth.Onto the book itself the original 55 cards are printed with the "backs" coated in a spot matte finish and the "fronts" with a spot gloss finish to simulate the original card style. It also shows a few other Mars Attacks spin offs and a censored set that looks absolutely hilarious. The book has a giant wax wrapper as the dust cover and includes 4 new cards (not by the original artists). Overall it's a cool book, just wish it were longer and more indepth on the societal aspects of it's limited but "shocking" (at the time) release.And if you happen to wonder, no the original Mars Attacks doesn't have anything to do with that movie.

When these came out for sale, we combed our entire small town on Halloween night and by focusing only on Mars Attacks cards offered as treats we were able to collect the entire set! We spent two hours sorting through probably a hundred packages and towards the end of them, when we were fearing coming up short, we found the one we lacked. All four of us kids leaped, whomped and hollered for fifteen minutes that we'd completed the entire set. After several moves they were never seen again, except for Zelda's (?) website. When Topps released it, I had to get it.Mars Attacks, one of the most violent, lurid and outrageous cards sets ever produced. Back then we wouldn't show our Moms what they were."Destroying a Dog" was the card that made me hate the Martians the most. I felt bad for the kid attacking the Martian because you knew he'd be fried next. As most have stated, this is the next best to having an original card set!!

The media could not be loaded.  In the 1960's I was a puny primary-school kid, and like all my friends I spent my pocket money buying Mars Attacks cards, eating the gum, then trading unwanted duplicates (of which there were many). I still *vividly* remember my delight on the day that I handed over an astonishing *16* cards just to get one in return. But it was worth it, because that's how I got the hitherto elusive card 27 - and completed my collection!All of this was done below my Dad's radar - he'd already made me burn my entire collection of Horror comics because he thought they'd be bad for my impressionable young mind (to be fair, he paid me quite a lot of cash to do this!). But the Mars Attacks cards were MUCH more gory, and some of them were verging on the erotic. Dad would NOT have approved, but I wanted to keep my cards, so he didn't find out about them. And I didn't turn out to be TOO much of a psycho (I have a doctor's note to prove it).Bring back any memories? If so, then like me you're probably of the age when you develop a strange obsession with this nostalgic stuff, and this is the book for you.For me, this really is the ultimate Mars Attack book. You get the entire collection of cards (front and reverse) in handy book format, printed on quality paper, and you also get a massive host of extras: Concept art, background information etc. You also get the second series which was produced a few years before the Tim Burton movie, illustrations from the spin-off comic books, and even four bonus cards!There's nothing here not to like. Whether you're an antique like me, or a young whippersnapper who discovered a later incarnation of the cards, if you're a Mars Attacks fan, this is for you.PS Please forgive my one-handed video (non)skills! But I wanted to give you a sort of 'virtual browse.'

Perfect little collectible item for anyone interested in collectable merchandise memorabilia. The book was in great near perfect condition considering the listing said it was used and its sleeve was perfectly intact.It even still had the collectable card pack still attached to the inside of the back page. Great illustrations.

This book is a must for anyone wanting to find out more about the history of the Mars Attacks cards, and to have all 55 illustrations and story from the cards in the book is great.Including sketches of the pics created during production, and great little anecdotes from the original producers.They have also given some exclusive cards at the rear of the book which is an added bonus.Awesome book that is outta' of this world.

Great trading card book with a full reprint of every card -front and back.Nice wax dust jacket (although my copies was misding) idea and 4 sample cards (reprinted) .A must for a fan of thr era and Mars Attacks.Lets hope theres more diffrent set up for this type of treatment. Monster Laffs and the James Bond sets spring to mind

I loved reading this and learning about the origins of the characters, Topps books are superbly made and very well researched with free cards and stickers to add to the experience. I will look out for other titles as they're released because they are wonderful things to own and this book is a great addition.