1962 Topps Mars Attacks: A Collector's Guide

The set so gruesome that Topps hid its own name, and the most famous non-sports issue of the 1960s.

In 1962, Topps released a 55-card set about a Martian invasion of Earth. It was so violent, and so lurid for its time, that the company issued it under a different name, pulled it amid complaints, and saw it become one of the most collected non-sports sets ever made. Mars Attacks is pulp science fiction in its purest form, and condition-sensitive in every way that matters.

The Story Behind the Set

The idea came from Topps product developer Len Brown, inspired by a Wally Wood cover for EC Comics' Weird Science. Brown and Woody Gelman developed the story and rough sketches. Wally Wood refined them, Bob Powell finished the pencils, and Norman Saunders painted most of the final artwork, with Maurice Blumenfeld painting a share.

Topps test-marketed the set under the title Attack from Space, then renamed it Mars Attacks. To keep its own brand at arm's length, it issued the cards through a dummy company, Bubbles, Inc. Packs sold for five cents with five cards.

Controversy and Withdrawal

The cards showed Martians incinerating soldiers, giant insects attacking cities and, infamously, a Martian blasting a dog. Parents and community groups objected. Topps toned down the gore on 13 cards before production stopped entirely after inquiries from a Connecticut district attorney. The short production run, plus cards lost to disapproving parents, help explain why the set is scarce in high grade today.

Key Cards

• #1 The Invasion Begins. The opening card and a set anchor. It's condition-sensitive because it sat at the top of rubber-banded stacks.

• #21 Prize Captive. A frequently cited key in the set's checklist.

• #36 Destroying a Dog. The card most often cited in the controversy, and one of the set's most sought-after singles.

• #55 Checklist. The final card is the checklist. Unmarked copies are notoriously hard to find, because kids ticked off the cards they owned.

Reprints and Later Issues

Mars Attacks has been reprinted more than most vintage sets, so identification matters:

• 1984 Renata Galasso reprints. A licensed reprint of all 55 cards, plus a 56th card reproducing the wrapper art.

• 1994 Topps Mars Attacks Archives. The original 55 cards reissued alongside 45 "New Visions" cards by contemporary artists.

• Later Topps anniversary and tribute sets, which are new products with new numbering.

Originals are on period card stock with the Bubbles, Inc. credit and the wear and toning you'd expect. Reprints typically have brighter stock and modern printing. Compare any expensive raw card with a known original, and buy high-value singles graded.

Condition Issues to Inspect

• Corner and edge wear, universal on cards that were traded, flipped and hidden from parents.

• Centering. Topps cutting in 1962 was inconsistent.

• Checklist markings on #55, and occasional writing on other cards.

• Gum and wax stains on the backs.

• Creases, especially on the #1 and #55 cards at the ends of stacks.

• Print registration. The painted art depends on crisp color, and out-of-register cards lose impact.

Wrappers and Packaging

Original Mars Attacks wrappers are prized pieces of non-sports history, and the Attack from Space test-market wrapper is a true rarity. Collectors who can't justify an original often use the 1984 reprint wrapper card as a stand-in.

Building the Set

Lock in the ends. Buy the best #1 and #55 you can afford before the commons. They're the cards that make or break a set's overall condition.

Pick a condition band. Mid-grade sets in VG to EX look terrific in a binder or frame. High-grade sets are a long-term project.

Budget for #36. It's the card every Mars Attacks collector wants, so it tends to carry a premium in every grade.

Grade selectively. Grading the keys adds authentication against reprints. Most commons can stay raw.

The Legacy

Mars Attacks never really went away. The 1984 and 1994 reprints introduced the set to new generations. In 1996, Tim Burton directed the feature film Mars Attacks!, inspired by the cards, with Jack Nicholson heading an all-star cast. Topps has continued to issue new Mars Attacks sets and tributes, and the bug-eyed Martians have appeared in comics, toys and games. That ongoing pop-culture presence keeps fresh collectors coming to the original 1962 set.

Storing and Displaying the Set

The 1962 cards fit standard vintage sleeves and toploaders. A nine-pocket binder shows the set as a story, from #1 The Invasion Begins to the final card. If you frame cards, use UV-protective glass, because Saunders' saturated reds and yellows fade in sunlight. Store wrappers flat in archival sleeves. Don't fold or roll them, and keep them away from any pressure that could crease the wax paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the 1962 Topps Mars Attacks set?

Fifty-five, including the #55 checklist.

Why does Mars Attacks say "Bubbles, Inc." instead of Topps?

Topps released the set under a dummy company name to distance its brand from the graphic content.

How do I tell an original from a 1984 reprint?

Originals carry the 1962 Bubbles, Inc. credit and show period card stock and wear. The 1984 Renata Galasso reprints were made on brighter, modern stock. When in doubt, buy graded.

Shop Mars Attacks at Crafted TCG

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