Just like everything, Batmania hit trading cards with the release of the Tim Burton film. 1989 Topps Batman Movie trading cards delve into both the story and production over two series. It’s a memorable release that still stands out today. A big part of that is the movie’s enduring popularity but Burton’s vision certainly lends itself nicely to the medium.
1989 Topps Batman Movie Checklist Details
The full 1989 Topps Batman Movie base set has two separate series, each with a sizeable 132 cards. That’s 264 total. This makes for plenty of room for the story, characters, action sequences and even some behind-the-scenes looks. Most look strong as well thanks to the breathing comic book look that the film conveys.
The design is nothing spectacular with a large single-colored border, an image in the center and both the Batman logo and a caption along the bottom. It’s easy to tell the Series 1 cards from Series 2 at a quick glance. The first 132 cards have white borders. Series 2 opts for yellow.
Series 1 backs have the film’s title and logo at the top and the front caption repeated inside a bar directly below it. A lengthy write-up follows to provided added context and flavor. Yellow is the dominant background color. Series 2 backs change things up. The Batman logo now sits throughout the background and the hue is changed to blue. The text on these tends to be shorter as well.
Like most Topps movie and television sets in the 1980s, there are also one-per-pack stickers. The full set has 44 total — 22 in each series. For Series 1, stickers have red backgrounds. It’s white for Series 2. Backs in both sets form puzzles.
Collectors’ Edition Factory Sets
In addition to the regular packs and boxes, both 1989 Topps Batman Movie series have separate factory sets. Labelled Collectors’ Edition Sets, there are different from the standard cards.
Base cards are all glossy, similar to Topps Tiffany sports cards. They also have white stock on the back that’s noticeably brighter than regular cards. For completists, these variations make for a separate chase. That said, they’re fairly easy to find and not overly expensive.
Factory sets also have the corresponding stickers and 11 exclusive Bonus Cards that aren’t in packs. Series 1 Bonus Cards showcase storyboards while Series 2 highlight parts of costumes and gadgets.
1989 Topps Batman Movie Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 264 cards (Series 1 – #1-132, Series 2 – #133-264)
Cards per pack: Series 1 – 10, Series 2 – 10
Packs per box: Series 1 – 36, Series 2 – 36
Shop for 1989 Topps Batman Movie boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
264 cards (Series 1 – #1-132, Series 2 – #133-264)
Buy on eBay:
Series 1
1 Title Card
2 Darknight Detective
3 Bruce Wayne
4 The Clown Prince of Crime
5 Jack Napier
6 Vicki Vale
7 Alexander Knox
8 Commissioner Gordon
9 Alfred the Butler
10 District Attorney Harvey Dent
11 Crime Boss Carl Grissom
12 Alicia Hunt
13 Gotham City After Dark
14 Mugged!!
15 Rooftop Rendezvous
16 Night of the Bat
17 Nailed by the Dark Avenger
18 Who…What are you?!!
19 Gotham City’s Dark Knight
20 The New D.A.
21 Knox on the Job!
22 The Set-Up
23 Bruce in Wayne Manor
24 Meeting Their Host
25 View from the Batcave
26 The Axis Chemical Factory
27 Mysterious Manhunter
28 Batman’s Weapon
29 Toxic Flood!
30 In the Batman’s Clutches
31 Commissioner Gordon—Hostage!
32 Holding Batman at Bay!
33 Hero and the Horror
34 Jack loses his grip!
35 Plunge into Toxic Oblivion!
36 Rising Above it All
37 Spotted by Commissioner Gordon!
38 Front Page Story!
39 Ghastly Revelation
40 Back From the Dead
41 No Deals, Grissom!
42 Call Me…Joker!
43 Grissom’s Gruesome Demise
44 Wait’ll They Get a Load of Me
45 Hi Honey!
46 The New Crime Boss
47 Gotham City’s Gang Lords
48 Joy-Buzzed to Death!
49 Evil of the Joker
50 Fried Alive!
51 I’m in Charge Now!
52 A Final Farewell
53 Lord of Wayne Manor
54 Outside City Hall
55 The Mime of Mayhem!
56 Funny Meeting You Here!
57 City Hall Massacre!
58 Outrageous Assault!
59 Who’s the Wildest One of All?
60 The Joker’s Lair
61 Vicki’s Most Devoted Fan
62 Keep Up the Bad Work!
63 Smylex Attack!
64 The Joker Conquers TV!
65 Love That Joker!
66 Let’s Go Shopping!
67 At the Flugelheim
68 The Art of Crime
69 A Date with Vicki
70 You Light up My Life
71 Alicia’s New Look
72 No! No! I’m Melting!!
73 Crash!!!
74 The Rescue
75 Swing to Safety!
76 A Daring Escape!
77 The Batmobile
78 Fantastic Chase!
79 The Batmobile Tears Away!
80 Cocooned!
81 Is It Halloween?
82 How Much do you Weigh?
83 Death-Defying duo!
84 Hang on, Vicki!
85 Batman Overpowered!
86 The Challenge
87 Urban Warriors
88 Slashing Assault!
89 Photographed by Vicki!
90 Friend…or Mad Vigilante?
91 Within the Batcave
92 Vicki in a jam!
93 The Joker is Wild!
94 Haunting Memory
95 Fate of the Wayne Family
96 Gearing Up for Danger
97 Knight Patrol!
98 Sabotage!
99 The Axis Fireball!
100 Escape from Flaming Death!
101 The Master of Disaster
102 Bicentennial Nightmare!
103 Twisted Terrorists!
104 Flight of the Batwing
105 Batwing Cockpit
106 The Joker’s Secret Weapon
107 Taking Aim at the Batwing
108 Super-Sleek Craft!
109 Crash Dive!
110 Vicki to the Rescue!
111 The Joker Takes a Hostage
112 Batman Lives!
113 Grim Vendetta
114 In Danger’s Domain
115 Watch out Behind You…!
116 Assault on the Caped Fury
117 Desperate Struggle!
118 Grip of Death!
119 Perilous Plunge!
120 Batman in Action!
121 No Match for Batman!
122 Bruised but not beaten!
123 The Joker’s Final Stand!
124 Dance of Death
125 Vicki Imperiled!
126 The Titans Clash!
127 Batman vs. Madman
128 The Dark Knight Triumphs
129 The Joker—Over the Edge!
130 He Who Laughs Last…
131 The Bat-Signal
132 The Guardian of Gotham City
Series 2
133 Title Card
134 The Man and his Quarry
135 Hand of Vengeance
136 Parked in the Batcave
137 Fistfulls of Funny Money!
138 Onward, to His Fate…
139 Doppelganger
140 Time to Die, Grissom!
141 Armadillo Effect
142 The Last of Eckhardt
143 Leer of the Clown Prince
144 I’ve Got to Work Tonight
145 Leap from the Belltower
146 March of the Misfits
147 Meltingly Beautiful
148 You Know Who I Mean…!
149 Power of the Batmobile
150 Flugelheim Aftermath
151 Alley Bat
152 Aiming to Kill!
153 News of the Battle!
154 The Wayne Manor Party
155 Of Mimes and Memories
156 Danger in the Streets
157 The Oddest Couple
158 Knight and the Damsel
159 Hanging on for Life!
160 Murder…Just for Laughs
161 Twisted Pitchman
162 Copter Escape
163 Instructions for Alfred
164 Gotham City Landscape
165 Flugelheim Museum Interior
166 Elevated Subway Exterior
167 Flugelheim Museum Exterior
168 Grissom’s Office
169 Their Final Bow?
170 The Batmobile—Head On
171 Dangling Devil
172 See Rotelli Roast
173 The Defeat of Batman
174 Sneaking up Behind Jack…
175 Festival of Madness
176 Battered but Unbowed!
177 Mission Accomplished!
178 Retreat into Darkness
179 You want to get nuts…
180 The Master’s Mimes
181 Knox chats with Alfred
182 Savage Sneak Attack!
183 Madness Wears a Smile
184 The Batmobile Escapes!
185 Jack and Alicia
186 Trick or Treat!
187 The Fiend Flies High!
188 His Card…
189 Silent but Deadly
190 The Phantom Avenger
191 A New Mad Plan!
192 Friends and Lovers
193 Fiery Finale
194 Another Man Down
195 The Batwing Soars!
196 The Joker by Tim Burton
197 Batman Costume Design
198 The Joker Costume Design
199 Batman Design Concept
200 Metal Walkway
201 Tugging the Line
202 The Hanging Hood
203 Over the Gantry
204 The Joker Knocked Backwards
205 Danger Directly Ahead!
206 Clearing the Trigger
207 Preparing for an Assault
208 Cathedral Dead Ahead!
209 Goons in Hot Pursuit!
210 Mysterious Millionaire
211 Alleys of Gotham City
212 The Villain Supreme!
213 Who Is Jack Napier?
214 The Joke’s on Alicia
215 Weapon Against Evil
216 His Foul and Fiendish Grin
217 Armor Inspiration
218 Grotesque Reflections
219 A Gift for Vicki
220 The Night is His Again!
221 Kids Playing “Batman”
222 Brains + Beauty = Vicki
223 Everyone Needs a Hobby!
224 Throttling a Punk
225 An Artist Most Bizarre
226 Batman’s Public Service
227 A Goon and his Tune
228 City of Light and Danger
229 Heroic Escape!
230 How the Joker Lives
231 Batman in the Belfry
232 Classic First Issue!
233 Directing Grissom’s Murder
234 The Clown and the Clapboard
235 The Director’s Vision
236 Maniacal Murderer!
237 Knox Takes a Shot at Heroism
238 What Tim Burton Wants…
239 Getting the Worst from Grissom
240 Directing Helicopter Escape
241 Special Advice from Batman
242 Directing Michael Keaton
243 Flight of the Dark Avenger
244 Interviewed by Knox
245 Tim Burton, Filmmaker
246 Alicia—Exquisite!
247 Presenting the Batmobile!
248 Relaxing with Key Players
249 Filming the Dance Macabre
250 Shooting the Rescue Scene
251 Dining at Wayne Manor
252 Secret Life of Bruce Wayne
253 City Street Miniature
254 At the Nerve Center
255 Computerized SFX
256 Fantastic Miniature Set
257 Trail of the Mystery Man
258 Directing Jack Nicholson
259 Dance of the Deranged
260 From Burton to Batman
261 Batman’s Revenge
262 Gruesome Grimace
263 Buildings of Gotham City
264 The Killer Clown’s in Town!
Glossy Parallels
264 cards.
Available in factory Collectors Sets.
Series 1 – #1-132
Series 2 – #133-264
Bonus Cards Checklist
22 cards.
Exclusive to factory Collectors Sets.
Series 1 – #A-K
Series 2 – #L-V
Series 1
A Batman in Batwing
B The Batwing Swoops Down
C Canyons of Gotham City
D Zeroing in on the Joker
E Setting the Missile Sights
F Hitting the Switch
G Firing Away!
H The Joker Avoids the Onslaught
I The Dark Knight Reacts
J The Batwing Bounces
K Cathedral Directly Ahead
Series 2
L Grappling Hook, Spring Action Reel
M Batarang
N Darkly Humorous Pistols
O Batman’s Time Bomb
P Smoke Capsules
Q Handset & Tracer
R Batmobile Communicator
S Cocooned Batmobile
T Acid-Squirting Flower
U Batman’s Gauntlet
V Utility Belt & Body Armor
Stickers Checklist
44 cards.
Series 1 – #1-22
Series 2 – #23-44
Series 1
1 Batman
2 Batman Logo
3 Vicki Vale / Bruce Wayne
4 Batmobile
5 Joker
6 Joker’s Goons
7 Batman / Joker
8 Batmobile
9 Three Faces
10 Joker
11 Batman
12 Batman Statue
13 Batwing
14 Batwing
15 Joker
16 Joker
17 Batman with Batmobile
18 Joker
19 Batman
20 Batman
21 Joker
22 Vicki Vale
Series 2
23 Joker / Batman
24 Batman
25 Joker
26 Batman
27 Joker
28 Batman
29 Joker
30 Batman
31 Joker
32 Batman
33 Joker
34 Batman
35 Batman
36 Bruce Wayne
37 Joker
38 Batman Logo
39 Batman
40 Joker
41 Batman
42 Batman / Vicki Vale
43 Joker
44 Batmobile
