In the 1980s, movie trading cards were still primarily kids stuff — especially when it came to Topps. But the decade was a funny period where R-rated movies became kids stuff too when it came to merchandise. Case in point: 1985 Topps Rambo First Blood: Part II trading cards.
The action film is a classic but it’s definitely not Disney. Sure, plenty of kids saw it in the theater with a parent (or some classic sneaking in skills) or at home thanks to the magic of top-loading VHS players, but it’s not what you’d think of as a traditional trading card target. The cartoon? Maybe, but not a film filled with close-combat killings, torture and the like.
But you know what? ’80s kids turned out just fine. And the world is a little bit better because we do have vintage Rambo trading cards.
The checklist is straightforward with 66 main story cards that jump right into the action. Border are red with a barbed wire inner frame. The color makes them a little condition sensitive as nicks show up easily.
Each pack also has one of 22 different yellow-bordered stickers.
1985 Topps Rambo First Blood: Part II boxes come with 36 packs, each containing nine cards and one of the sticker inserts.
Although not rare, the set isn’t that common either. As a result, it costs a little more than the average movie or TV set of the day.
1985 Topps Rambo First Blood: Part II Checklist
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Cards per pack: 10
Packs per box: 36
Shop for 1985 Topps Rambo First Blood: Part II boxes on eBay.
Base Set
66 cards.
1 Title Card
2 Caged!
3 Trautman’s Offer
4 Is Rambo Reliable?
5 The Strategists
6 For Luck!
7 Friend…or Foe?
8 Duo for Danger!
9 Rambo’s Plan
10 Deathblade!
11 The Prison Camp
12 Rescued!
13 Blow ‘Em Away!
14 Pirates in Flames!
15 Grip of Death!
16 To the Extraction Site!
17 Surrounded!
18 “Where’s Trautman?”
19 Help from Above!
20 Shameful Betrayal!
21 The Bog
22 Killer Leeches!
23 The Prisoner
24 Man with a Mission
25 Pain Is My Ally!
26 The Unkindest Cut!
27 Rambo Gets the Point!
28 Rambo…Tool of the Enemy?
29 Words of Betrayal
30 Down to the Wire!
31 Escape through Barbed Wire!
32 The Death of Co Boa
33 Retribution!
34 By Co’s Grave
35 Rambo’s Revenge!
36 Killing Machine!
37 Hidden Death!
38 Aiming To Win!
39 Up from the Depths!
40 “I’m Coming for You!”
41 Unstoppable!
42 Blasted to Bits!
43 No Escape from Rambo!
44 Bridge — Obliterated!
45 Target: Rambo!
46 Super Bowman!
47 The Enemy Fries!
48 One-Man Army!
49 Blowing the Prison Camp!
50 Escape!
51 Destination: Freedom
52 Warship Battle!
53 Fighting Back!
54 To the Death!
55 Safe at Home!
56 Don’t Cross Rambo!
57 Getting Even!
58 “Next Time…You’ll Die!”
59 What Rambo Wants
60 “I Want Respect!”
61 Fit for the Part!
62 Julie Nickson Is Co Boa
63 “Action!!”
64 The “Ram-Bow”
65 Awaiting His Next Mission!
66 Checklist
Stickers
22 cards, 1 per pack.
1 Holding Crossbow Down
2 At Waterfall
3 Holding Knife
4 Looking Up
5 Running with Someone
6 Kneeling with Gun
7 At Fence
8 Reaching Behind
9 With Missile Launcher
10 Arms Up with Crossbow
11 Captured
12 Jumping Out of Water
13 Co-Bao
14 Aiming Crossbow
15 Close-Up of Face
16 Crawling with Soldier
17 Ducking Behind Pile
18 Sam Trautman
19 In Water, Two Fist Up
20 Crouching, Aiming Crossbow
21 With Missle Launcher, Explosion in Background
22 Aiming Crossbow, Black Background
