Without a set for the original film, 1978 Topps Jaws 2 trading cards are the next best thing by default. Like the movie that they’re based on, there isn’t much that’s memorable about them other than the connection to the Jaws franchise — which actually is a pretty big deal.
With just 59 cards, the checklist is a small one. But everything about it falls in line with virtually every movie-based set from the trading card manufacturer at the time. They go through and give a loose recap of the film’s story. However, they do so without showing much of the shark. Steven Spielberg famously built suspense in the original film by keeping the monster invisible for as long as possible. The approach doesn’t work as well on trading cards, though. 1978 Topps Jaws 2 has a handful of cards with the iconic fin sticking out of the water and a few illustrations. But there are no live action shots that show the shark’s face.
The base set has black borders, which basically means that top-condition cards are virtually impossible to find. Even pack-fresh cards can show dings and chips along the edges.
Backs come in two styles. Fifteen have “Movie Facts” that provide information and trivia for the film. The rest of the backs are puzzle pieces.
The checklist also has 11 stickers. Landing one per pack, these have a different blue border and layout but recycle images used in the base set. Backs are generic, giving basic instructions on how to peel the stickers.
Jaws 2 also has an O-Pee-Chee release that was distributed in Canada. Cards are virtually identical except for the addition of French text to go with the English.
1978 Topps Jaws 2 Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards or to check current market values on eBay.
Set size: 59 cards
Cards per pack: 8
Packs per box: 36
Boxes per case: 16
Shop for 1978 Topps Jaws 2 boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
59 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Stalked by the Killer Shark
2 Brody’s Leap for Life!
3 Chief Martin Brody
4 Chewing Out Mayor Vaughn
5 Remains of a Sea Monster
6 Demolishing a Boat
7 A Close Brush with Death!
8 Beware the Oncoming Horror!
9 Trapped!!
10 Cornered by the Monster!
11 Spotting the Monster Shark
12 Youth of Amity
13 The Calm Before the Storm!
14 Brody’s Close Call
15 The Charging Fury!
16 Dodging the Monster!
17 Shark Alert!
18 Observing the Sea Battle!
19 Too Close for Comfort!
20 The Investigators
21 The Hunted!
22 Shark Fighters of Amity
23 The Devil from the Deep
24 A Cruel and Violent Fate!
25 Rescued from Certain Death!
26 The Shark Closes In…!
27 Look Out!!!
28 Capsized!
29 Serene Voyage
30 Night of the Hunter!
31 Scrambling for Their Lives!
32 Horrendous Sights!
33 Trapped in the Inferno!
34 Brody States His Case!
35 The Image of Terror
36 Circling…!
37 Horror of the Seas!
38 The Craft Is Sinking!
39 Watching in Horror!
40 Brody at the Beach!
41 Plunge into Death!
42 An Alarmed Chief Brody!
43 Preparing for the Kill!
44 Sitting Ducks!
45 Smashed Like a Matchstick!
46 The Shark’s Meal
47 The Monster Attacks!
48 Attacking a Helicopter!
49 The Final Charge!
50 Mauled by the Monster Shark!
51 Shark Prey!
52 Alone against the Shark!
53 Aiming against the Monster!
54 Sea Explorer
55 Brody…Clinging to Life!
56 The Supreme Moment of Fear!
57 Roy Scheider
58 Monarch of the Ocean!
59 The Jaws of Death
Stickers Checklist
11 cards.
1 per pack.
1 Captain Martin Brody
2 Sunset
3 Rising Shark
4 Crew and Diver
5 Poster Art
6 Brody Pointing Gun
7 Brody Holding onto Line
8 Girl in Water
9 Shark and Sinking Boat
10 Orca Carcass
11 Shark Circling Girl in Water
I enjoy your posts
Thanks, Gary!