1996 Topps Mars Attacks Widevision is the trading card adaptation of the movie based on a set of trading cards. But that’s not to say that there are some touches to the past.
The base set consists of 72 cards. Using both the font and back, there are plenty of images to recap the campy Tim Burton classic. Fronts act as the main piece of real estate with a large image. The 1962 original acts as inspiration for the caption stripe. The icon’s a little different and so is the color gradient, but it should definitely feel familiar to those who are fans of the original cards.
Backs have two more stills, albeit much smaller. One is a preview of the following card. However, the other gets a full description along with the main one on the front.
Towards the end of the set, there’s a Behind the Scenes subset. Not only does it showcase some of the practical effects in action but there are some cards that show the planning stages with Maritian models.
The most noticeable feature of 1996 Topps Mars Attacks Widevision is its size. Like Topps’ other Widevision sets, most notably several Star Wars sets, everything is in an oversized tall boy format. Cards measure 2.5 x 4 11/16 inches. The idea is that the larger dimensions maintain the aspect ration of what’s on the screen. Basically, there’s no cropping and images are shown in full.
Inserts
The checklist includes just one insert set. Destruct-O-Rama Holo-Foil cards take six classic Mars Attacks cards and adjust them to the larger format. More than that, a speckled foil background runs throughout it. Destruct-O-Rama cards land 1:9 packs, or approximately four per hobby box.
Like the film they’re based on, 1996 Topps Mars Attacks Widevision trading cards have taken a little time to gain traction. Boxes aren’t rare, but they are getting tougher to find and more expensive. It’s the same with single cards and sets.
1996 Topps Mars Attacks Widevision Checklist
Set size: 72 cards
Cards per pack: 9
Packs per box: 36
Shop for 1996 Topps Mars Attacks Widevision boxes on eBay.
Base Set
72 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Title Card
2 Burning Cattle!
3 Unearthly Visage!
4 First Contact Calamity!
5 Blasted by the Aliens!
6 A Message from Earth!
7 Within the Control Room!
8 Discussing the Message!
9 A Mag for Men and Martians!
10 Message from the President!
11 Lure of the Girlie Mag!
12 Scoffing at Earth’s Plea!
13 Beast and the Beauty!
14 The Leader’s Plan!
15 Examining Human Artifacts!
16 A Visit to Capitol Hill!
17 The Martian Ambassador Speaks!
18 The Martian Ambassador Fires!
19 Blasted into Oblivion!
20 The Martians Kill Congress!
21 Victims of the Death Ray!
22 Congressional Massacre!
23 Jerry Gets the Point!
24 Keeping an Eye on Jerry!
25 A Martian in Disguise!
26 The Assassin Revealed!
27 Mission: Fry the First Family!
28 Rusty’s Last Stand!
29 Roasting a Retriever!
30 Blown Away by Mitch!
31 The Invasion Begins!
32 Death of a Tour Guide!
33 Martians in the White House!
34 No Respect for Our Heritage!
35 Invading the Oval Office!
36 A Martian Bites the Big One!
37 Kids to the Rescue!
38 Blasted by Their Own Blaster!
39 Target: Las Vegas Casino!
40 Getting Into the Act!
41 Alien Show Stoppers!
42 Observing Earth’s Customs!
43 Trailer Park Imperiled!
44 Death in a Junkyard!
45 A Gunslinging Martian!
46 Heartland Holocaust!
47 There’s Martians Everywhere!
48 Retirement Home Horror!
49 Grandma’s Unexpected Visitor!
50 The Plan to Waste Grandma!
51 Rolling in the Death Ray!
52 Targeting a Senior Citizen!
53 Oblivious to Impending Doom!
54 Grandma Faces the Fiends!
55 Slim-Slamming the Enemy!
56 Meeting with the Martians!
57 The Incredibly Shrunken General!
58 Martians on the Runway!
59 Byron’s Supreme Sacrifice!
60 Mankind Clobbers the Martians!
61 Behind the Scenes
62 Behind the Scenes
63 Behind the Scenes
64 Behind the Scenes
65 Behind the Scenes
66 Behind the Scenes
67 Behind the Scenes
68 Behind the Scenes
69 Behind the Scenes
70 Behind the Scenes
71 Behind the Scenes
72 Checklist
Destruct-O-Rama Holo-Foils
6 cards.
1:9 packs.
MA-1 Martians Approaching
MA-2 Beast and the Beauty
MA-3 Burning Flesh
MA-4 Crushed to Death
MA-5 Prize Captive
MA-6 Destroying a Dog
Promo Cards
Martian Close-Up – Green Logo
Martian Close-Up – Red Logo
Reading Martian
